With the release of highly anticipated games like Tales of the Shire, Hello Kitty Island Adventures, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, 2025 is shaping up to be the biggest year in gaming for the Nintendo Switch. And with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, there are sure to be bundle packages and special editions in the work as well.
The Nintendo Switch 2 features significant upgrades like a larger screen and built-in stand - hinting that it will be functional for much more than games.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be released in 2025, with the next Nintendo Direct announcement coming on April 2nd, 2025! Throughout April 2025, there will be Nintendo Switch 2 experience days hosted in big cities around the world.
Here are the 18 biggest upcoming Nintendo Switch games of 2025! Whether you're looking for a new cute Nintendo Switch game or an action-packed souls-like, there's a game in this list for you!

Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a cozy gamer's dream, and it's finally releasing on PC and Nintendo Switch on January 30th, 2025. Even if you're not an avid Hello Kitty and Friends collector, fans of cozy games like Animal Crossing and Disney Dreamlight Valley will love Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
Create your own character and start helping Hello Kitty and her friends rebuild their island. Decorate cottages to entice new characters to move to the island. There's no end of things to do on this abandoned amusement park-turned adorable island! If you're looking for a new cute Nintendo Switch game to play, this will keep you entertained all year!

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game
Tales of the Shire has been a highly anticipated cozy game since the first clips were released on Tiktok in late 2023. This Lord of the Rings cozy game takes place completely in the Shire. Channel your inner hobbit by decorating a cozy hobbit hole, farming, cooking, and spending slow days enjoying the quiet outdoors.
Tales of the Shire is releasing on PC and Nintendo Switch on March 25th, 2025.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
The next game in the FANTASY LIFE franchise is releasing on Nintendo Switch in April 2025. Even if you've never played a game from this franchise, you'll love this cozy farming life sim with a twist.
In FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time, restore a ruined island and build your own city from scratch! Your character travels between the past and present to unravel the mysteries around the island, and you can experience different occupations as well. This cozy game is like the Sims and Stardew Valley combined.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
If you've ever played the Rune Factory series, you're in for a surprise. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is taking the series in an entirely new direction. Use your power as an Earth Dancer to restore the land, battle corrupted monsters, rebuild farms and villages, and develop relationships with the locals.
In Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, you'll harness the power of the elements to both water your plans and defeat powerful enemies in the rich action-packed story. This combination of farming and combat is more similar to Square Enix's Harvestella than previous Rune Factory games.
Guardians of Azuma is releasing on PC and Nintendo Switch on May 30th, 2025, and is one of the best upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch!

Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends Z-A is arguably the most anticipated Nintendo Switch game of 2025, since Pokémon fans were disappointed with no new game releases in 2024. Instead of traveling back in time to the Meiji Era of Japan, Pokémon Legends Z-A takes place in a futuristic city.
In Lumiose City, assist in an urban development project to shape the future into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon. This game doesn't have an official release date yet.

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
The Layton franchise has over 18 million copies sold, and the next game in the franchise is releasing this year. This adorable detective game takes place during the Industrial Revolution in America. Follow Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke Triton on a steampunk riddle-solving adventure.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII
Sid Meier's Civilization is the most successful and loved simulation franchise, and it's been 9 years since the release of Civ VI. The next game in the franchise, with updated graphics and more ways than ever to build your dream empire, is releasing on Steam in February 2025 and on the Nintendo Switch June 2nd, 2025.

Hollow Knight: Silksong
Fingers crossed, Hollow Knight: Silksong is getting released in 2025! This sequel to the instant cult classic Hollow Knight has been nearly 7 years in the making. Hollow Knight is known for its beautiful hand-drawn art and memorable characters.
Play as Hornet, the princess and protector of Hallownest. Face over 150 brand new enemies in your race to the Kingdom's peak. Hollow Knight is universally loved by both souls-like fans and cozy gamers in search of beautiful hand-drawn stories.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter
Tails of Iron 2 is an upcoming dark fantasy action-RPG. Play as Arlo, heir to the Warden of the Wastes, and explore dangerous Northern Lands in this dark medieval game.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is a Metroidvania game with punishing souls-like combat. Face horrific bats, overwhelmingly large snakes, and other monsters as you make your way to the front doorstep of evil itself. Tails of Iron 2 releases on PC and Nintendo Switch on January 28th, 2025.

Amber Isle
Amber Isle, the beloved prehistoric cozy game, is finally being released for the Nintendo Switch on February 13th, 2025. This cozy farming and life sim is set on a prehistoric island full of Paleo folk. Craft and sell items, upgrade your shop, and rebuild the island to invite even more adorable dinosaurs to your neighborhood!

Trading Card Shop Simulator
If you prefer simulators to farming sims, keep an eye out for Trading Card Shop Simulator, releasing for the Nintendo Switch on June 2nd, 2025. This Nintendo Switch game is perfect for players that love collecting Pokémon cards.
In Trading Card Shop Simulator, upgrade and customize your dream card shop! Balance your budget while you buy, sell, and trade cards. Host tournaments in your new shop to build prestige and design your shop layout to bring in as many customers as possible!

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
If you love Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series, the next set of remastered games are releasing on PC and the Nintendo Switch on February 14th, 2025! Play The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and the Angel of Darkness, toggling from the remastered graphics to the original graphics at any time!

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
The Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X is releasing for the Nintendo Switch on March 20th, 2025. This upgraded edition includes enhanced graphics, new story elements, and an Exploration Support Pack for pre-orders!
Pre-ordering the Definitive Edition includes 100,000 credits, a unique ranged weapon and melee weapon, a survival armor set, 6 weapon appearances, and 5 armor appearances.

Yu-Gi-Oh! EARLY DAYS COLLECTION
If you loved Yu-Gi-Oh growing up, get ready to feel some nostalgia with the Early Days Collection releasing on February 27th, 2025. The Yu-Gi-Oh! EARLY DAYS COLLECTION includes FOURTEEN original games and a gallery featuring original artwork. You can even challenge Duelists online and rewind time to watch your matches again any time.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero
Set sail as Marona, a young girl with the power to speak to phantoms, in Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero. This action- RPG releases on January 30th, 2025. Traverse an ocean teeming with ghostly pirate ships. Recruit different ghosts and bind them to gadgets or let Marona channel the ghosts herself to take on powerful enemies!

The Stone of Madness
The Stone of Madness is a tactical stealth game set in an 18th century Spanish Monastery. Escape a Monastery used as a madhouse and prison. Play as five unique prisoners, each with their own phobias, strengths, and weaknesses, and help them escape this hellish nightmare.
Manage their Madness levels, play two completely different campaigns, and experience stunning hand-painted graphics in this mysterious and haunting game. The Stone of Madness releases for the Nintendo Switch on January 28th, 2025.

Cuisineer
Cuisineer is a rogue-like and restaurant sim releasing for the Nintendo Switch on January 28th, 2025. Dive into dungeons to gather ingredients and then open your restaurant at night! Wield your cooking utensils against giant chickens, fire-breathing peppers, and artillery shrimp in this adorable restaurant sim!

Carmen Sandiego
Carmen Sandiego is a narrative-driven game of espionage. Travel the world as the scarlet thief Carmen Sandiego. Use high-tech gadgets and capture criminals in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and more. Uncover clues in immersive environments to solve million-dollar heists! Carmen Sandiego releases for the Nintendo Switch on March 4th, 2025.

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