Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games You Need to Play

While many may still be riding the epic high of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom from last year, the Nintendo Switch has plenty of exciting games coming out in 2024 that will offer Nintendo fans a fun time, whether you’re looking for action, fantasy, or just cozy vibes. There’s an inspiring tale of grief and loss based in African mythology, a long-awaited remaster featuring our favorite plumber Luigi (don’t tell Mario), and so many others. 

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy guide of upcoming games that Nintendo Switch owners should keep an eye on in 2024.

Grounded

Obsidian Entertainment – April 16

The Xbox game with major Honey I Shrunk the Kids vibes is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch this year. Grounded follows a group of four teens who have been inexplicably shrunk down to the size of an ant. They now must traverse the backyard and the new dangers that lurk within in order to find a way to make themselves normal size again. As a single player experience, or with up to three friends in cross-platform co-op, the player must navigate the treacherous surroundings, help the teens build a base of operations with appropriate defenses, and discover the secrets hiding within the backyard.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Surgent Studios and Electronic Arts – April 23

This Metroidvania style game follows Zau, a Warrior Shaman who sets off on a journey to bring back his father by helping the God of Death, Kalunga, obtain the spirits of three monsters. As Zau, the player channels the energy of the sun and the moon to take on these monsters as well as other spirits and creatures in this mystical realm. Inspired by Bantu tales and creator Abubakar Salim’s own struggles with grief, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a story of love and loss that also happens to have some incredibly fun looking gameplay. 

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Nintendo – May 23

Twenty years after it was first released on the Gamecube, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch with updated graphics and features to make the game even more enjoyable for those who want to revisit the game as well as newcomers. The Thousand-Year Door follows Mario as he journeys through a storybook world made of paper on a quest to find the treasure behind the Thousand-Year Door before the nefarious X-Nauts. Equipped with a map from Princess Peach and the help of his friends and some friendly locals, Mario definitely has his work cut out for him in this paper world.

Monster Hunter Stories

Capcom – June 14

Set in the world of the Monster Hunter franchise, Monster Hunter Stories features a major twist – instead of hunting monsters, the player now gets to raise them as a Monster Rider. In this RPG, the player is tasked with leaving their village in an effort to bring Hunters and Riders together to keep the Black Blight from destroying the land. Monster Hunter Stories features a turn-based combat system as well as an online mode that allows you to create a powerful party with friends and take part in epic battles with your monsters. This game is great for anyone looking for a fun fantasy RPG, whether you’re familiar with the lore of Monster Hunter or not.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble

SEGA – June 25

The next installment in the Super Monkey Ball franchise has a variety of play options for those seeking to become the Top Banana. The online multiplayer mode allows for up to 16 players as you and your customizable monkey roll to compete for the top prize. If you’re looking for less competition, or would rather play with your friends than against them, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble also features a local multiplayer mode for up to 4 players as well as an all new Adventure Mode that allows you and 3 friends to join AiAi on his quest to retrieve seven mysterious artifacts that are rumored to reveal the location of the Legendary Banana. With 200 all new stages and three modes, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the perfect party game for all-ages.

Luigi’s Mansion 2

Nintendo – June 27

The Nintendo 3DS game Luigi’s Mansion 2 is finally getting a remaster for the Switch this summer, and it appears to be just as fun and spooky as the original. Tasked with investigating the eerie Evershade Valley, Luigi learns he must retrieve the missing shards of the Dark Moon, restore the valley to its former glory, return the now hostile spirits to their more friendly form. Using the Poltergust 5000 and a variety of other tools, the player must channel their inner Ghostbuster as they explore the many haunted mansions and buildings found in the valley. This updated version of the game also comes with a four-player online co-op mode that allows you to team up with friends for an extra spooky ScareScraper level not found in the single-player story.

Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time

Level-5 – Oct. 10

If you’re looking for your next cozy Switch game, then look no further than Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time. With the ability to move across two time periods, the player’s customizable character is tasked with rebuilding the island of Reveria with resources from the past and ensuring its prosperous future. The player can also choose between a variety of “lives,” or jobs for their character that determine how they help the island flourish. This game is perfect for fans of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, or really anyone looking for a chill way to pass the time.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

THQ Nordic – TBD 2024

Another remake coming to the Nintendo Switch this year is Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Now a vibrant 3D platformer, this game promises to be a faithful remake of the Wii game Disney Epic Mickey as the player, armed with paint and paint thinner as the titular Mickey Mouse, journeys through the Wasteland of forgotten Disney characters and shapes the future of this mysterious realm. With appearances from various Disney characters and levels inspired by animated films and shorts, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is perfect for Disney fans both young and young at heart.

Star Wars: Hunters

Zynga – TBD 2024

Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, on the Outer Rim planet of Vespaara, Star Wars: Hunters is a PvP game set in the planet’s Grand Arena. With battlefields that evoke familiar locales like Tatooine, Hoth, and Endor, the player must choose their characters wisely to end up victorious. The playable characters were created for this game, and there are a wide variety of backgrounds to choose from, from Bounty Hunters to Stormtroopers to heroes of the Rebellion. The player has the ability to make their team their own with customizable costumes, weapons, and animations. Not only is this game a unique slice of the Star Wars galaxy, but it will also be free to download when it drops on the Nintendo Switch later this year.

The Plucky Squire

All Possible Futures – TBD 2024

The Plucky Squire is an action-adventure game that follows the young squire Jot on a journey to save his home. After being thrust from his storybook by the villainous Humgrump, Jot must uncover the secrets of the three-dimensional world he’s been thrust into and find a way to restore the happy ending of his story before Humgrump ruins things for good. With both 2D and 3D levels, The Plucky Squire looks like a fun mash-up of fantasy and reality. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a fairy tale lept from its pages, then this is the game for you.