18 Must-Play Switch 2 Games This Fall — From Hades 2 and Silksong to Pokémon Legends: Z‑A

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is still new, but there are already plenty of games worth playing this fall. The console launched with first-party hits and many ports, and now it has recent releases and Switch 2-specific updates that take advantage of the new hardware.

1. Top Switch 2 picks for fall 2025
2. How we picked these games
3. Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer
4. Cyberpunk 2077
5. Deltarune
6. Donkey Kong Bananza
7. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
8. Fast Fusion
9. Hades 2
10. Hollow Knight: Silksong
11. Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World
12. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
13. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom
14. Mario Kart World
15. No Man’s Sky
16. Pokémon Legends: Z-A
17. Split Fiction
18. Street Fighter 6
19. Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV
20. Survival Kids
21. Best free Switch 2 upgrades

Top Switch 2 picks for fall 2025

This list focuses on recent releases, Switch 2 Editions, and titles that benefit from the console’s performance improvements. Expect high-refresh handheld support, official Switch 2 patches, and backward-compatible classics. In addition, Nintendo scheduled several first-party exclusives for November and December 2025: Kirby Air Ride, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

How we picked these games

We looked at developer support for Switch 2, whether a title has a dedicated Switch 2 Edition or a free upgrade, and how the game runs on the new hardware. Games here are chosen for broad appeal across genres and for being notable additions to a Switch 2 library.

Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer

Developer/publisher: Hamster/Bandai Namco. Genre: arcade racing. This release is a faithful port of the 1993 arcade game and focuses on authenticity rather than extra modes. The package typically includes the original track and car roster from the coin-op version. It aims for smooth frame pacing on modern hardware.

Cyberpunk 2077

Developer: CD Projekt Red. Genre: open-world RPG. The Switch 2 version runs the main game and some expansions, with better stability and resolution than the original Switch port. The Phantom Liberty expansion may show variable performance, while the base game is generally stable on Switch 2. The port includes motion and optional mouse-like controls for aiming when using Joy-Con 2 features.

Deltarune

Developer: Toby Fox. Genre: RPG. The Switch 2 release includes the chapters available up to 2025. Deltarune uses a turn-based combat system with timing-based mechanics, and the game is sectorized into Dark Worlds with distinct themes and mechanics per area.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Developer: Nintendo EPD. Genre: 3D platformer. This is Nintendo’s first in-house Donkey Kong game in two decades. The title emphasizes melee-heavy, physics-driven interactions and was released roughly six weeks after the Switch 2 launch window. It targets typical Nintendo platforming design with progressive difficulty.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Developer: Level-5. Genre: RPG / life sim. This title is a follow-up to the 2014 3DS game and blends job systems with crafting and gathering. It offers multiple “Lifes” (jobs) and emphasizes long-term progression, crafting depth, and a cozy presentation aimed at players who like gradual advancement.

Fast Fusion

Developer: Shin’en. Genre: futuristic racing. Fast Fusion uses high-speed racing mechanics with boost systems tied to collectible coins on course. Tracks include gravity-defying sections and jumps that reward planning and precision at high velocities.

Hades 2

Developer: Supergiant Games. Genre: action roguelite. Released out of early access in 2025 and available as a Switch 2 exclusive on Nintendo hardware for a period, the game follows protagonist Melinoë and centers on roguelite runs, unlockable upgrades, and narrative beats that evolve across runs.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Developer: Team Cherry. Genre: action-platformer / Metroidvania. The Switch 2 version supports up to 120 fps in handheld mode on the console’s high-refresh screen. The game focuses on precise platforming and combat, multiple areas, and a progression system tied to exploration and encounters.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World

Developer: HAL Laboratory. Genre: 3D platformer. This Switch 2 Edition includes the original 2022 game plus a new campaign called Star-Crossed World. The expansion adds new level remixes, collectible objectives, and additional Mouthful forms for Kirby.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

Developer: Capcom. Genre: hybrid strategy / tower defense. The game combines daytime base-building and villager placement with nighttime defense waves. It uses Japanese folklore themes and tasks players with protecting a shrine maiden during a ritual while adapting strategies to unpredictable enemy behavior.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom

Developer: Nintendo EPD. Genre: action-adventure / open world. Both titles received Switch 2 Editions at launch of the console. Key technical changes include a higher, consistent 60 fps target and improved resolution compared with their original Switch releases. The core gameplay and maps remain the same, with Tears of the Kingdom also featuring sky and underground areas added in the 2023 sequel.

Mario Kart World

Developer: Nintendo EPD. Genre: kart racing. Mario Kart World shifts toward open, point-to-point races on a larger world map while retaining classic Mario Kart modes and items. The game supports local multiplayer and includes a free-roam mode for single players.

No Man’s Sky

Developer: Hello Games. Genre: space exploration / survival. The Switch 2 upgrade is a free, official update that improved performance, resolution, lighting, and asset streaming compared with the original Switch port. The title continues to receive content updates, and the Switch 2 patch brought the settlements update and better visuals.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Developer: Game Freak. Genre: action / open-area Pokémon spin-off. Released in 2025 and added to this list in the Oct. 22 update, the game experiments with real-time combat within the Pokémon franchise. It is set in the compact area of Lumiose City and focuses on atmosphere and trainer fashion in its world design.

Split Fiction

Developer: Hazelight Studios. Genre: split-screen cooperative adventure. Split Fiction is designed for two-player local co-op and uses split-screen mechanics and bespoke puzzles that require both players to coordinate. The Switch 2 release benefits from detachable controllers and tabletop mode for portable co-op sessions.

Street Fighter 6

Developer: Capcom. Genre: fighting. The Switch 2 version retains the game’s tutorials, diverse roster, and core mechanics. On Switch 2, the game is playable in handheld mode, though players seeking optimal online performance and precise inputs are advised to use a Pro Controller or wired controller in tabletop or docked play.

Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV

Developer: Nintendo Cube/Nintendo. Genre: party / minigames. This Switch 2 Edition adds minigames that use the console’s camera, microphone, and mouse-like controls. It also expands game modes and includes the original board-game style play from the Switch release.

Survival Kids

Developer: Unity (in-house exercise) / Konami branding. Genre: survival / co-op. This title is top-down and designed for family-friendly co-op, including GameShare support that lets a Switch 2 beam the game to nearby Switch systems for additional players. The focus is on simple interactions like gathering, crafting, and cooking.

Best free Switch 2 upgrades

Several Switch-era games received free updates for Switch 2 that improve performance, visuals, or add Switch 2-specific features. These are notable because they either significantly benefit from the new hardware or add functionality like GameShare.

• Arms — Runs at 4K/60 fps on Switch 2 and benefits from improved resolution and framerate compared with the original Switch release.
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics — Added GameShare support for local multiplayer sessions on Switch 2.
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening & Echoes of Wisdom — Switch 2 patches improved stability and reduced judder from the original ports.
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury — Bowser’s Fury benefits from a 60 fps target on Switch 2.
• Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 — Switch 2 patches increase available resolution and smoothness; the core remasters remain the same.
• Super Mario Odyssey — Gains smoother performance and GameShare support for co-op with Cappy.

Note: Our list was last updated on Oct. 22, 2025 to add Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Hades 2, along with the Switch 2 update for Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2.