Everything announced in the June 2026 Nintendo Direct

Right, let’s talk Nintendo.

Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct was a corker, wasn’t it? Regardless of your tastes and preferences, that really was a showcase for every gamer. From huge first party heavy hitters to new third party announcements and more ports than you can shake a stick at, it was 50 minutes of back-to-back games, with only a small dip in pacing in the middle (when we spent a bit too long on thumb wrestling).

Here’s a quick run-through of everything we saw:

Rhythm Paradise Groove

• 2 July 2026
• Nintendo Switch (also playable on Switch 2)

We kicked off with a look at the rather funky Rhythm Paradise Groove, with 80+ new rhythm games and 4-player multiplayer.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

• 25 September 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Along with an appearance at the Sony State of Play, Onimusha: Way of the Sword showed up at the Nintendo Direct with the announcement of a Switch 2 version featuring Joy-con motion controls (for those that fancy them).

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

• 9 October 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

My personal highlight (other than the big one at the end), Dragon’s Dogma 2 is getting both a Switch 2 version and an huge expansion. Amusingly titled Dark Arisen again, this expansion includes a new icy region called Norgan and comes with new weapons and skills. Two large QoL updates are due out for the base game between now and October too.

Stellar Blade

• 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Popular slash-em-up Stellar Blade is getting a Switch 2 port following its release on PS5 and PC.

Orbitals

• 3 September 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Fans of co-op games like Split Fiction will enjoy Orbitals, which looks to scratch a similar itch but with a rather lovely anime aesthetic instead.

Rayman Legends Retold

• 1 October 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Announced at the Sony State of Play, Rayman Legends Retold packages up both “recent” Rayman games with one fully remade while the other gets a fresh lick of paint.

Big Walk

• 4 August 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

One of these trendy co-operative trekking games that are all the rage, Big Walk looks like a lot of fun. It’s no simple walk in the park, you’ll be tackling puzzles and trying to communicate effectively with your pals while you make your way through the world.

One Piece: Grand Gourmet

• 23 October 2026
• Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch 2

Despite not being a One Piece fan (I don’t even know what it is, if I’m being honest), this game looked delightful. With lovely pixel graphics and jaunty music, you’ll be cooking meals and serving them to, what I can only assume, is the cast of the anime.

Pokémon Pokopia

• August 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

We’ve got an expansion pass coming to Pokemon Pokopia! A free update is due in August that brings underwater exploration, while the DLC brings a new region, Pokemon, furniture and more. This will arrive in three phases split across 2026 and 2027.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

• 17 September 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

The latest Fire Emblem has all the things fans of the series love most: turn-based combat, epic music and a varied cast to befriend. A nice little collectors edition was also announced.

Ninjala 2 The Uncharted Planet

• Spring 2027
• Nintendo Switch 2

This one was a bit of a surprise: I didn’t realise anyone cared (or even remembered) Ninjala. I didn’t either, but this new entry looked pretty fun.

Donkey Kong

We got a pair of announcements featuring the king himself: Donkey Kong.

DK Challenge is a limited-time event coming to Nintendo Switch Online for Nintendo Switch 2 where you’ll be taking on challenges set in classic Donkey Kong games. Beat the challenges and earn digital challenge cards to show your pals.

DK Challenge is running from 10 June 2026 – 1 September 2026.

 

Donkey Kong Bananza is getting a limited release collab with Super Mario Bros to celebrate the 40th anniversary. It’s packed with Mario outfits and items to find and try.

This event is being held in four waves. All times below are for the UK:

• 9 June to 30 June at 8:59am
• 14 July at 9.00am to 21July at 8:59am
• 4 August at 9.00am to 11 August at 8:59am
• 25 August at 9.00am to 1 September at 8:59am

Jujutsu Kaisen Rumble: Survivaton

• 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Poncle, the makers of Vampire Survivors, are making a game based on the Jujutsu Kaisen anime. If that wasn’t weird enough, it’s also a battle royale of sorts, as 8 players slowly whittle down to 2, who then fight to the death in 1 vs. 1 combat.

Lords of the Fallen II

• Autumn 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Lords of the Fallen 2 is getting a Switch 2 version, further cementing the console as a genuinely viable place to play third party games. While I probably won’t play it, I love seeing third party games coming to Switch 2 alongside other consoles.

Lies of P: Complete Edition

• 6 August 2026 (digital), 2 October (physical)
• Nintendo Switch 2

Another big third party game comes to Switch 2! This is one I’ve not got round to yet, and now I know I can play it while lying in bed it’ll definitely be one I pick up on Switch 2. The complete edition includes Overture, the prequel expansion released previously on other platforms.

Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition

• 23 June 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Dante, Nero and Virgil are bringing the latest game in the Devil May Cry franchise to Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s just a few weeks away!

Muramasa Revenant Blades

• Early 2027
• Nintendo Switch 1 & Nintendo Switch 2

A new Japanese action RPG, you’ll probably just want to watch the trailer rather than listen to me on this one.

Xenoblade time

There were a couple of big announcements for Xenoblade fans. Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the following games are releasing this year:

• Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3

So, what’s improved? Well now you’ll get 60fps, with 4K for TV mode and 1080p in handheld mode as well as revamped cutscenes. New features were revealed and more were teased too.

Xenoblade Chronicles DE is out now on the eShop with a physical version coming on 30 July. The digital version of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be released on 30 July followed by a physical version on 1 October. Finally, the digital version of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is releasing on 3 December 2026 alongside the physical version.

This was followed by a trailer for Xenoblade Genesis, the newest game in the series. I don’t really know anything about the series so won’t try and describe the announcement, I recommend just watching the trailer for yourself. It’s releasing at some point in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

• 22 October 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

As someone vehemently against waggling motion controls, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort went over my head, especially when they spent what felt like an eternity focusing on thumb wrestling. For those that like to rope the family in for some motion-controlled gaming though then this will probably do the job.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds

• 15 September 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Seemingly working its way into every summer showcase, I’m quietly interested in Runescape Dragonwilds, despite my exhaustion with the survival crafting genre. Plus it’s very pretty, so the trailer is worth a watch for that alone.

Hello Kitty Party Land

• 29 October 2026
• Nintendo Switch 1 & Nintendo Switch 2

If you want to game with your family but can’t be bothered waggling a Joycon then maybe you’ll want to play one of 40 minigames available in Hello Kitty Party Land.

Star Fox

• 25 June 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

We got another look at the upcoming Star Fox remake, which according to Adam, who previewed it, is very good. There’s a demo out now so you can try for yourself too.

Final Fantasy Resonance

• 22 October 2026
• Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch 2

From Summer Game Fest we know that Final Fantasy 7 Revelations is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, but Nintendo also gave us a look at the upcoming Final Fantasy Resonance, an adaptation of Brave Exvius, the mobile game.

Pikuniku 2

• 2027
• Nintendo Switch 2

Dragon Quest Monsters The Withered World

• 3 December 2026
• Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch 2

If you like collecting monsters but want a change from pocket monsters then this is one to keep an eye on. You’ll be fighting monsters, making friends with them and smushing them together to make new ones in this new Dragon Quest Monsters game.

The Duskbloods

• No release date yet
• Nintendo Switch 2

We got another cryptic look at The Duskbloods, hopefully soon someone will just show us some bloody gameplay! A closed network test was announced for summer 2026 too, so maybe we don’t have long to wait before we can see it ourselves.

Splatoon Raiders

• 23 July 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Deltarune Chapter 5

• 24 June 2026
• Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch 2

Metaphor: ReFantazio

• 12 November 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

If you’ve got a spare 100 hours and want something that feels like a more serious (and slightly less stylish) Persona then this is the game for you.

Minecraft

• 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

It’s Minecraft. It’s coming to Switch 2. What more do you need?

Partner montage

My favourite part of any showcase, it’s the sizzle reel featuring all the indie and third party games that don’t feature elsewhere into the show. There’s some genuinely great stuff in here, and again this further cements the Switch 2 as a great place to play all games, not just Nintendo ones. Here are the games from the montage:

• Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom and the Guide of Memories
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
• Observer: System Redux
• DayZ Cool Edition
• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
• Tales of Eternia Remastered
• SnowRunner
• Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer Switch 2 Edition
• Everbloom
• Final Fantasy XIV Online

Kingdom Hearts

We also got a handful of tasty Kingdom Hearts announcements. Bear with me on this one, there’s a lot of confusing names here.

• Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5 Remix are getting a native Nintendo Switch version on 8 October 2026 (this replaces the Cloud version which has now left the eShop)
• Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5 Remix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re-Mind all come to Nintendo Switch 2 on 8 October 2026
• The Kingdom Hearts Collection [I – III] also arrives on the same day

We also got our first look at Kingdom Heats 4 in quite some time, with a brand new trailer that expands on the previous one and the announcement that it’s coming to Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. When is that launch? Your guess is as good as mine.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

• 2026
• Nintendo Switch 2

Ooh boy, now we’re talking. As someone who doesn’t do old games (yes, even monumental, historic games like Ocarina of Time), I can’t wait to see how they take this classic and modernise it for both new and old audiences. It’s just a shame we didn’t actually get to see it in the trailer despite the fact it’s coming this year. Oh well, there’s plenty of time.

And that’s it! 50 minutes of announcements condensed into one easy-to-read article. What was your favourite announcement? Sound off in the comments below.