Best Nintendo Sequels Currently In Development

Now that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is out, Nintendo’s major releases for the Switch and the new Switch 2 are largely finished for the year. But don’t worry, several big-name sequels are planned for 2026, and they’ll be available on either the Switch, the Switch 2, or both. As usual, Nintendo will likely share an updated list of upcoming games around February in a Nintendo Direct presentation.

Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated upcoming games. Some are continuations of popular series, while others are inspired by classic titles. Plus, let’s speculate on what might be revealed at the next Nintendo Direct, based on what we’ve seen before. Let’s dive in!

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

Olympian Tactics

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: Switch 2

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is the latest installment in the long-running Fire Emblem series, which began on the NES in 1990. Coming to the Switch 2 in 2026, this new game features a unique visual style that sets it apart from previous titles.

The game has a grand, classical feel, reminiscent of Roman coliseums or ancient Olympic arenas, which is promising. While Fire Emblem fans recently got a new installment with Fire Emblem Engage in 2023 for the Switch, it’s always exciting when a new game arrives quickly after that.

Mario Tennis Fever

What A Racket

Planned Release Date: 2/12/26
Planned Systems: Switch 2

The upcoming game, Mario Tennis Fever, is set to be a launch title for the Switch 2 in February. A key feature of this new installment appears to be special rackets with unique abilities – for example, a fire racket that can add heat to the tennis balls during gameplay.

I’ve been playing Mario sports games for ages, and this series started way back in 2000 with Mario Tennis on the N64. The latest one, Mario Tennis Aces, came out on the Switch in 2018. If you’re like me and enjoy these kinds of games, Mario Tennis Fever looks like a really fun one to play with the whole family.

Professor Layton And The New World Of Steam

Math-Based Detectives

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: Switch and Switch 2

Fans of the Professor Layton series have been eagerly awaiting a new installment, and Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is scheduled to release on Switch in 2026. While details are currently limited, players can anticipate an engaging mystery and plenty of challenging puzzles.

The Professor Layton series started on the Nintendo DS with Professor Layton and the Curious Village in 2007 in Japan, and 2008 in North America. While Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy came out in 2017 on mobile devices and the 3DS, it was a bit different from the main games. As a result, fans have been eagerly waiting for a new, traditional Layton and Luke adventure.

Rhythm Heaven Groove

Get Into The Groove

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: Switch

Fans of the Rhythm Heaven series are incredibly excited about the upcoming release, as it’s been more than ten years since the last game. While it’s disappointing that the new game is exclusive to the Switch and won’t utilize potential features of the Switch 2, like mouse controls, it still promises a collection of catchy and addictive rhythm mini-games.

The original game, Rhythm Tengoku, came out in Japan for the Game Boy Advance in 2006, but it was never released in other countries. The most recent installment, Rhythm Heaven Megamix, launched in North America for the 3DS in 2016, a year after its release in Japan.

Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream

Animal Crossing With Miis

Planned Release Date: 2006
Planned Systems: Switch

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a new game that will only be available on the Nintendo Switch. It’s a lighthearted life simulation game, similar to Animal Crossing, where you manage the lives of characters, but with a bit less gameplay. The series began in 2009 with Tomodachi Collection, which was originally released only in Japan on the DS.

The 3DS game Tomodachi Life was the first installment released in North America in 2014, and it remains the last major game in the series. While the Miitomo mobile app from 2016 was connected to the same universe, it was discontinued in 2018, leaving fans to wait a very long time for Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream.

Yoshi And The Mysterious Book

Take A Look, It’s In A Book

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: Switch 2

Yoshi first appeared in the Mario series with the release of Super Mario World for the SNES in Japan in 1990. His newest game, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, is a charming 2D platformer. Visually, it’s most similar to Yoshi’s Story, a game originally released in North America for the N64 in 1998.

Both this game and the next one coming out are based on storybooks. It’s been a while since Yoshi last starred in a platforming adventure – his previous game, Yoshi’s Crafted World, came out on the Switch in 2019.

The Next Zelda

Will It Be Link Or Zelda?

Most likely, Nintendo is already developing the next Legend of Zelda game. The last major release was The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, and before that, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out in 2017.

Given the six-year gap since the last 3D Zelda game, it’s likely we won’t see a new one until 2029, though Nintendo might offer a sneak peek in 2027. However, it’s almost certain Nintendo is developing either a full new Zelda adventure or several smaller games, similar in scope to The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

Pikmin 5

Close To You

It hasn’t been long since the last Pikmin game came out – Pikmin 4 was released on the Switch in 2023. While Pikmin isn’t one of Nintendo’s best-selling series, it’s a beloved franchise, especially among developers like Shigeru Miyamoto.

We believe Nintendo is likely working on a new Pikmin project because of a short video they released on YouTube in October 2025 called “Close to You.” The video featured Pikmin creatures, and while it could simply be a way to remind people about the series, it might also be a subtle announcement of a new game for the Switch 2.

Pokemon Wind/Wave

The 10th Generation Games?

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launched in 2022 as the main games for the ninth generation. While several Pokémon games have come out since, including Pokémon Legends: Z-A, each new generation of Pokémon titles is typically the most anticipated release.

New Pokémon generations typically come out every three years. Considering the latest rumors and past releases, fans expected the next games, reportedly called Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Wave, to be available by 2025. However, based on leaks and the franchise’s pattern, it’s now highly likely that the tenth generation of Pokémon games will launch in Fall 2026.

Luigi’s Mansion 4

It’s Luigi’s Turn

Both Luigi’s Mansion 3 (released in 2019) and a remastered version of Luigi’s Mansion 2 (2024) are available on the Switch, meaning the series hasn’t had long gaps between installments. While not as widely popular as the core Mario games, Luigi’s Mansion continues to thrive thanks to its dedicated fanbase.

The first game was previously available on the Switch’s online service, which might have been a hint of things to come. Since Nintendo doesn’t have many established horror series, they’re likely creating a new haunted house adventure for Luigi on the Switch 2.

2025-12-17 23:07