Nintendo’s move into the Switch 2 era has made 2026 an especially exciting year for Nintendo fans.
The console now has a growing lineup of games built specifically around its more powerful hardware, while several Switch favorites have received enhanced editions that make them worth revisiting.
From massive platforming adventures and open-world kart racing to Pokémon, Splatoon and Zelda, there is plenty to choose from.
After looking at the games available in 2026, these are some of the best Nintendo games you can play right now.
1. Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is arguably the best showcase of what Nintendo can do with the Switch 2.
Instead of simply creating another traditional Donkey Kong platformer, Nintendo built the game around destruction.
Donkey Kong can smash through walls, floors, and large sections of the environment, turning destruction into a core part of exploration and puzzle-solving.
The game also has a substantial single-player adventure with plenty of secrets and collectibles to discover.
Its combination of creative level design, satisfying movement, and destructible environments makes it one of the strongest reasons to own a Switch 2.
2. Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World gives Nintendo’s long-running kart-racing franchise a major shake-up.
Rather than limiting the experience to traditional isolated tracks, the game introduces a connected world that lets you travel between different racing locations.
This Mario Kart experience is larger than previous entries. The traditional racing remains at the heart of the game, but the new world structure adds another layer to exploration and multiplayer.
Mario Kart World has been one of the defining Switch 2 launch-era games, with its open-world approach and new racing design.
3. Splatoon Raiders
Splatoon Raiders is one of Nintendo’s more interesting experiments in 2026. The Raiders focuses on a single-player adventure.
You take on the role of a mechanic and travel across the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside Deep Cut.
The adventure involves fighting Salmonids, hunting for treasure, customizing equipment, and using gadgets and ink-based weapons.
The game launched on July 23, 2026, meaning it’s a new game. It’s also a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
The change in direction makes Splatoon Raiders particularly interesting for players who enjoy the franchise’s world and mechanics but would prefer a more focused solo experience.
4. Pokémon Pokopia
Pokémon Pokopia takes the Pokémon formula in a very different direction.
Instead of focusing primarily on becoming the strongest trainer, the game puts you in a world where you can build, explore, and interact with Pokémon.
Its relaxed town-building and adventure make it one of the easier-to-play Pokémon experiences available on Switch 2.
The game has also continued receiving additional content in 2026, including the Bubbly Basin expansion and a major free update that adds new Pokémon, habitats, quests, and building features.
Pokopia is more appealing if you enjoy the collection and world-building aspects of Pokémon more than traditional battles.
5. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is another excellent Nintendo platformer released in 2026.
The game mixes Yoshi’s platforming abilities with a colorful storybook-inspired presentation.
Nintendo released the game on May 21, 2026, and it is available specifically for Switch 2.
Yoshi games have traditionally had approachable platforming and creative level design, making this a strong choice for younger players as well as anyone who prefers a lighter Nintendo adventure.
6. Star Fox
The return of Star Fox is one of the more notable Nintendo releases of 2026.
Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team returned on June 25, giving the classic Nintendo franchise another opportunity to shine on modern hardware.
For longtime Nintendo fans, its biggest appeal is obvious: Star Fox has been away from the spotlight for far too long.
The 2026 release gives the franchise a chance to introduce its space combat to a new generation as well.
7. Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Although Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t a 2026 debut, it remains one of the strongest Pokémon games available for Nintendo players this year.
The game takes you to Lumiose City and offers real-time combat and exploration rather than the traditional Pokémon formula.
Its urban setting also gives the Pokémon world a very different atmosphere compared with previous games.
The game is one of the standout Pokémon experiences on Nintendo’s current hardware and is an obvious recommendation if you want a large-scale Pokémon adventure.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Switch 2 Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was already one of Nintendo’s biggest games, but its Switch 2 edition makes it an excellent choice for anyone who missed it or wants to return to Hyrule.
You can explore the surface, sky, and underground areas while using Link’s abilities to solve puzzles and create unusual machines and weapons.
The Switch 2 version benefits from the newer hardware, making it an especially attractive way to experience one of Nintendo’s most ambitious open-world games.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch 2 Edition
Before Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild completely changed expectations for what a 3D Zelda game could be.
Its enormous open world, physics-based systems, and more exploration still hold up remarkably well.
The Switch 2 edition makes the experience even more appealing for players who want to revisit Hyrule with upgraded performance and presentation.
If you haven’t played Breath of the Wild before, this is one of the easiest Nintendo recommendations to make in 2026.
10. Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders may have arrived earlier in the Switch 2 generation, but it’s still one of the platform’s most enjoyable multiplayer-focused games in 2026.
The game has Kirby’s colorful characters with high-speed vehicle-based action, creating something quite different from the traditional Kirby platformers.
Its simple controls make it easy to play, while the variety of characters and modes provides plenty of room for more experienced players to master the game.
11. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Switch 2 Edition
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of Nintendo’s most relaxing games, and its Switch 2 edition gives the hugely popular life simulator another reason to return.
The basic formula hasn’t changed: you move to an island, build your home, decorate the environment, collect resources and develop relationships with the game’s colorful residents.
Nintendo has continued supporting the game in 2026 with updates and new compatibility features, including Switch 2-related improvements and collaborations.
If you are looking for something slower and more relaxing than Nintendo’s action-heavy releases, Animal Crossing is the one to beat.
12. Metroid Prime Remastered
Metroid Prime Remastered is one of the best examples of Nintendo’s older games receiving the treatment they deserve.
The first-person adventure takes Samus Aran to Tallon IV, with exploration, environmental puzzles, and combat. Its remastered presentation makes the GameCube classic feel modern.
It is also a great entry point for players who want to understand why Metroid Prime is so popular.
Which Nintendo Game Should You Play First?
If you own a Switch 2 and want the game that best demonstrates what Nintendo’s new hardware can offer, Donkey Kong Bananza is the easiest recommendation.
For multiplayer gaming, Mario Kart World is the obvious choice, while Splatoon Raiders is the better option if you want a Nintendo-developed single-player experience with a familiar franchise.
Pokémon fans have two strong choices. Pokémon Pokopia is ideal for players who want something more relaxed and creative, while Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers a more traditional adventure with a modernized battle system.
Meanwhile, players who missed the Switch’s biggest adventures should absolutely consider Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom on Switch 2.
