With theNintendo Switch 2releasing this year, it’s safe to assume that Nintendo will be relying on its most popular series to ensure the console’s success. Over the course of nearly eight years,the original Switch has managed to curate one of the most comprehensive and high-quality game libraries of any Nintendo console, giving the company’s latest system some tough competition. FromThe Legend of ZeldatoAnimal Crossing, players can expect new entries in these series across the Switch 2’s lifespan, maintaining the level of quality established by its predecessor.
That being said, not all Nintendo franchises receive the same support with each new console. Several fan-favorite series have gone several years and console generations without a new entry to speak of. It’s a shame, asmany of these series still have a lot to offer, making them ideal candidates for new entries to boost theSwitch 2’s game library, allowing the console to rival its predecessor.
10Mario Baseball
Last Entry Released In 2008
When it comes toMariosports in general, the franchise received a huge amount of support during the Switch era. MultipleMariosports series received a new entry on the Switch, including the fan-favoriteMario Strikers, ending a 15-year hiatus. However,not allMariosports series were lucky enough to be granted a new game, one of those beingMario Baseball.
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While theMario Baseballseries only has two titles to speak of, both games offer a huge amount of variety. Whether players choose to go through the single-player campaign, or tackle the many different minigames on offer,theMario Baseballtitles are worthy inclusions to the largerMariosports franchise. Yet, the series hasn’t received a new entry sinceMario Super Sluggersin 2008, making it long overdue another outing that it could receive with the Switch 2.
9Nintendogs
Last Entry Released In 2011
It’s quite surprising thatNintendogsdid not receive a new entry on the Switch, sincethe console was the perfect fit for the series. The Switch’s touchscreen would have allowed players to maintain that level of interaction they were granted with their virtual puppies in the original game. Meanwhile, the Switch’s portability would have made it easy for players to maintain care of their pets by checking in on them whenever and wherever.
Considering the huge success of theNintendogsseries, its presence on the Switch would have made perfect sense. Unfortunately, the series has remained dormant sinceNintendogs + Catswas released for the 3DS in 2011. Considering the success of othercozy simulation games on Switchsuch asAnimal Crossingon Nintendo hardware, a newNintendogsgame on Switch 2 would be the perfect time for the series to make its grand return.
8Punch-Out!!
Last Entry Released In 2009
Although the series has received huge acclaim during its lifetime,Punch-Out!!has never had the best luck compared to more successful Nintendo series. With only three home console games under its belt,Punch-Out!!is no stranger to long hiatuses. In fact,the series is currently in the midst of an almost 16-year-long hiatusfollowing the release ofPunch-Out!!for the Wii in 2009.
Though its best known for its home console entries,Punch-Out!!started out with two different arcade games, while also receiving a Game & Watch port.
What makes this dormancy so disappointing is how unique a seriesPunch-Out!!is within Nintendo’s multitude of franchises.The one-on-one boxing gameplay is incredibly fast-paced, demanding the most acute timing from players and making for one of the most frenetic experiences of any Nintendo title. This was only elevated with the reboot on the Wii which incorporated motion controls. This is something that can be easily replicated on the Switch 2 with the Joy-Cons, makingPunch-Out!!a perfect fit for demonstrating the console’s many different playstyles.
7Chibi-Robo!
Last Entry Released In 2015
Chibi-Robo!stands apart from other Nintendo platformer seriesthrough its original premise and approach to gameplay. As players are tasked with completing various chores in a house or garden, the game places heavy emphasis on time management, requiring Chibi-Robo to be plugged in every so often to avoid powering down. This added level of strategy gives the series a unique edge compared to Nintendo’s other platformer offerings.
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Despite its creativity,Chibi-Robo!has consistently struggled to find huge success similar to the likes of Nintendo’s more popular franchises. Moreover, the underwhelming reception of the series' most recent entry,Zip Lash, likely contributed to the character’s years of absence. Despite this,Chibi-Robo!’s wild inventiveness and charm makes it a perfect fit for the Switch 2, adding a huge sense of variety to the console’s catalog while giving this series a shot at redemption.
6Wario Land
In general,Wario has had a fairly large presence on the Switchthrough the character’s signature microgames series,WarioWare. BothGet It Together!andMove It!serve as fantastic additions to theWarioWareseries, with the latter game being a great showcase of the Switch’s motion controls. However, Nintendo’s focus onWarioWarehas caused the plumber’s other signature series to be left behind.
Wario Landtakes the most basic elements of theSuper Mario Landgames that preceded it and makes significant changes to the controls and level design to better suit Wario’s more aggressive personality and money-hungry habits. This difference in gameplay makes for a series of highly engaging and bombastic platformers that unfortunately hasn’t received a new title sinceWario Land: Shake It!in 2008. With the Switch 2,hopefully the time has come for Wario to return to his platforming roots, ensuring both of his series are given the same treatment.
5Tomodachi
Last Entry Released In 2014
TheTomodachiseries perfectly encapsulates the weird yet lovable nature of Miis, Nintendo’s avatar creator. BothTomodachi CollectionandTomodachi Lifeprovided players witha highly enjoyable, albeit simplistic, social simulation that allowed for a greater level of accessibility than services like the Mii Plaza could provide. Beyond that, both titles embraced a weird and comedic tone that helped the series to stand out.
Tomodachi Lifewas the only game in the series to receive a worldwide release, withTomodachi Collectionbeing a Japan-exclusive game for the DS.
Unfortunately, the series has since suffered a decade-long absence, whileMiis became less prominent during the Switch era. It’s hugely disappointing, sincethe Miis were a defining part of Nintendo’s identityduring the Wii and Wii U eras. The Switch 2 provides a perfect opportunity for Miis to make the comeback they deserve, while a newTomodachigame will continue to showcase the charm and absurdity that makes Nintendo’s avatars so beloved.
4Donkey Kong
The support thatDonkey Konghas seen on Switch is incredibly deceptive. The series has had a huge presence on Nintendo’s most recent console, with a handful of remasters and ports being released, while many of the most belovedDonkey Konggames have been made available through the Nintendo Switch Online service. The wealth ofDonkey Kongcontent released on the Switch can easily distract players from the fact thatthe series hasn’t received a brand-new entry in 11 years.
The lack of newDonkey Konggames is surprising, especially considering how successful and popular the series has become.Donkey Konghas often been at the forefront of the platforming genre, with the series' most recent entry,Tropical Freeze, serving asone of Nintendo’s best platformers of the last few console generations.Donkey Kong’s long history of critically-acclaimed and commercially successful games makes this hiatus all the more baffling and proves the need for the series tomake a comeback on Switch 2.
3Kid Icarus
Last Entry Released In 2012
Kid Icarusis arguably the one Nintendo series with the most untapped potential. Starting out with two platforming titles for the NES and Game Boy, the series made a surprise comeback in 2012 withKid Icarus: Uprisingfor the 3DS.The game’s shift to the third-person shooter genre was a bold move that paid off, breathing new life into the series while presenting an ambitious path forward for future entries to follow.
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Despite the acclaimUprisingreceived, Nintendo has yet to follow up with a new entry in theKid Icarusseries. With no new game to speak of, the series has begun falling back into obscurity asNintendo refuses to take advantage ofKid Icarus’s potential. With the release of the Switch 2, the series has another chance at a revival, once again showing the mountain of potentialKid Icarushas to become one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises.
2Star Fox
Last Entry Released In 2016
There was a time whenStar Foxreached similar levels of success to Nintendo’s other major franchises.Both the SNES original andStar Fox 64were fantastic on-rail shooters that were crucial to proving the potential of 3D gaming, becoming hugely influential titles in their own right. However, following these two games,Star Foxconsistently struggled to find its footing across a multitude of entries, causing the series' popularity to decline.
WhileStar Fox Zerowas the latest game developed for the series, Nintendo revived the previously canceledStar Fox 2in 2017 for the release of the SNES: Classic Edition.
The negative reception of 2016’sStar Fox Zerofurther cemented the series' fate, resulting in the nine-year hiatus that the franchise is currently experiencing. Despite its unfortunate history,Star Foxremains a beloved series among Nintendo’s many iconic IPsthat’s deserving of a chance at a comeback. With that in mind, theSwitch 2 could provideStar Foxwith another opportunityto return to the series' former glory.
1F-Zero
Last Entry Released In 2004
F-Zerois undoubtedly one of the most influential racing series in gaming history. Unlike the light-hearted fun and accessibility ofMario Kart,F-Zerois far more competitive in its approach.Its high speed and challenging gameplay was unlike anything that was seen in racing games of the time, revolutionizing the genre and serving as major influences for other high-speed racing series.
Despite its influence,F-Zerohas never had the best luck as a Nintendo series.The franchise has endured over 20 years of dormancy despite demand for a comeback, while the Switch’s free-to-play spin-off,F-Zero 99,failed to give fans the revival that the series needed. Now that theNintendo Switch 2is approaching release,F-Zeromight finally get the chance to receive a brand-new, fully fledged mainline entry that puts the series back into the spotlight it deserves to be in.
