Big Nintendo preview: Switch 2 games and gadgets to look forward to

Domagoj Belancic

3.2.2026

Translation: Megan Cornish

Pictures: Domagoj Belancic

Own a Switch 2? Here are the game highlights and gadgets to keep an eye out for.

Bloodthirsty zombies, killer robots and chaotic Mario multiplayer action. The Switch 2 has a lot going on in the coming weeks. And that’s not all – there’s new hardware too. Nintendo’s celebrating the return of its biggest console flop and surprising everyone with a quirky flower gadget for your living room.

I tested Nintendo’s upcoming game and gadget highlights at a preview event. Here’s what you can look forward to – and what you should take off your wish list.

New hardware: Nintendo doing Nintendo things

Nintendo keeps surprising me with funny hardware releases – most recently with the game alarm clock Alarmo, which wakes you up with sounds from Nintendo games.

The game manufacturer’s announced two more strange gadgets for 2026, which I was invited to try out at the preview event.

Nintendo’s biggest flop: the Virtual Boy

Other companies would’ve hidden the biggest failure in their history, never to be seen again. But Nintendo’s not like the others. Nintendo does what Nintendo does and is celebrating its record-breaking flop with a grand retro revival.

Virtual Boy games are being re-released in the retro library of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. A replica of the red «diving goggles» is also being released. These retro games aren’t playable on the subscription without that additional device.

My first impression of the hardware? Wow, this feels exactly like the original. This isn’t a cheap copy; it’s a detailed replica of the retro console. The buttons, the weird stands, the red lenses… it’s all virtually identical.

But there’s one crucial difference: the replica’s an empty shell – no motherboard, no built-in screen.

To use the accessory, you first have to insert a Switch or Switch 2 from the top. You then view the Switch screen through the two separate, red-tinted lenses, creating a stereoscopic 3D effect that gives the pixelated worlds an incredible depth. There’s no special controller for the games – you control everything with the Joy-Cons.

The games look authentic through those replica lenses. The biggest difference is the brightness. While the original often produces dark images, the inserted Switch 2 delivers a much brighter and therefore nicer overall picture.

The authenticity’s admirable, but it also has its drawbacks. Even the new version of the Virtual Boy is extremely uncomfortable. To look through the headset, I have to contort myself unnaturally. From experience with the original, I can say that this quickly causes neck pain. The unpleasant red tint’s annoying too. After just a few minutes, I have to stop to give my eyes a bit of a break. At least Nintendo’s promising a software update with more comfortable colour options – including simple black and white.

Seven games will be available in the retro catalogue at launch – including some previously unreleased titles. I played three of them at the preview event. Officially, there were only 22 games for the Virtual Boy.

Teleroboxer’s a simple boxing game where you fight as a robot, having to dodge and counter punches. The 3D effect works well during enemy attacks. Overall, the game offers pretty shallow gameplay that only provides short-term entertainment.

Galactic Pinball: Pinball. Nothing more, nothing less. The 3D effect’s subtle, but it works well.

Virtual Boy Wario Land’s the undisputed highlight of the launch lineup. A classic Wario platformer, just like I know and love from my Game Boy days. The 3D effect’s particularly noticeable during special effects and Wario’s frequent transitions between foreground and background.

A pointless gadget: the jabbering flower

Among the Virtual Boys on display, I spot another gadget that’s just been announced: the Talking Flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

The battery-operated flower serves no purpose. I can place it somewhere at home and live with it. Occasionally, it talks to itself. The flower can also play music, complain about the temperature, tell you what time it is, and wake you up in the morning.

If you press the only button on the front, it talks to you on command. I test this on site and get the following responses:

«Is there anything to eat?»
«Great weather for a nap.»
«They say the ocean tastes like tears.»
«Oh! I’m so excited.»
«I feel wonderful.»
«We’re safe from Bowser here, right?»

Cute. And funny. But it doesn’t take long for it to start repeating itself. For a gadget primarily designed for chatting, it’s disappointing.

At least the finished version should produce different reactions depending on the time of day.

The gadget looks impressive. The Talking Flower’s a faithful replica of the original from the game, and high-quality at that. It’s also nicely compact and fits on even the most chaotic and cluttered desk.

• Hype level: Low. The Talking Flower seems to be nothing more than just a nice gimmick. After my limited time with it, I’ve seen enough. That’s okay, though, since the gadget only costs 30 Swiss francs or euros.
• Who should be looking forward to it? Nintendo fans and collectors, as well as younger fans of Super Mario Bros. Wonder (my little niece would flip out if I gave it to her).
• Release: 12 March

New games: Nintendo has something for everyone

The games Nintendo brought to its preview event were meant to signal one thing above all: Nintendo’s for everyone. Besides their own Mario titles, I also got to play two blockbusters from Capcom.

Mario Tennis Fever’s going to be a hit

First, I swing the virtual tennis racket in Mario Tennis Fever. I approach the session with a healthy dose of scepticism. You never know if Mario’s sports games will be among the multiplayer highlights of the year or soulless cash grabs with minimal content (ahem, Mario Strikers: Battle League Football).

I can give the all-clear here – Mario Tennis Fever will be a hit, I’m sure of it.

I start by playing through a tutorial. The controls are intuitive, fast and precise. No complaints there. After that, I compete against a Dutch journalist who’s playing next to me. Finally, I team up with him in a doubles match against another pair. I admit, our performance wasn’t exactly great. But I still had fun.

What strikes me about all the game modes is the huge selection of playable Mario characters – 38 in total. In addition, there are over 30 special Fever rackets that shine with special powers in the heated matches. Some electrify opponents with lightning – others freeze the tennis court or set it on fire. It’s brilliantly chaotic.

New to Mario Tennis Fever are the Wonder Flowers from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. If I hit these in certain game modes, the game goes haywire for a bit. In one match, ball-shaped hippos bounce around the court. In another, pipes rise from the ground and shoot balls. The goal’s to somehow survive and score more points than your opponents. Suddenly, the madness is over, and the match continues as normal.

A fever dream I’d have loved to keep playing for hours.

• Hype level: Very high. Very high. I can’t wait to thoroughly test the finished version of Mario Tennis Fever with all its additional game modes. Finally, a truly awesome Mario sports game again… hopefully.
• Who should be looking forward to it? Mario fans and multiplayer enthusiasts with a penchant for chaotic battles.
• Release: 12 February

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Switch 2 Edition + meetup in Bellabel Park

Who at Nintendo comes up with these incredibly long and unnecessarily precise titles? But hey, at least you know exactly what to expect.

This is a technically enhanced Switch 2 version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder – in my opinion, the best 2D Mario game of all time. This means the game runs at a higher resolution and has faster loading times.

Since the upgrade isn’t free, Nintendo’s including new multiplayer content with the re-release in the form of Bellabel Park. This virtual playground features a variety of attractions (i.e. mini-games) where I can compete against other players or team up with them.

Having played it, it reminds me of Mario Party mini-games. Only better. And in 2D.

In a mini-game, four of us have to transport a bomb to the end of a level. The game tells us who’s supposed to be carrying the bomb at any given time. If the wrong person has it, a countdown begins. At zero, it explodes. Hilarious chaos ensues, making you want to shout at your teammates (which I would have done if they hadn’t been total strangers).

In another mini-game, I have to hide in a level. I disguise myself as a cloud or a Laughing Flower and try to stay inconspicuous. An opponent’s wearing a cursed mask. If he finds me, I put on the mask. Whoever’s wearing it when time runs out loses. A nice idea, but one that loses its appeal after the first playthrough.

My favourite two games are the racing mini-games. First, I float through a level on a dandelion and try to be the first to reach the finish line. Then I bounce around in ball form – it’s not as easy to stay in control. It’s a shame the races are so short.

• Hype level: Low. The mini-games I’ve been able to test so far were fun, but overall too short and lacking in substance. They’re nothing more than nice extras. I’d much prefer some new single-player content. Especially considering the hefty price of 20 Swiss francs or euros (for the upgrade pack), or 80 Swiss francs or euros (for the full game). But who knows – maybe Bellabell Park will win me over more when I play it at home against friends.
• Who should be looking forward to it? Anyone who hasn’t played Super Mario Bros. Wonder yet. Everyone else should think about whether the new content and higher resolution are worth the price before it’s launched in March.
• Release: 26 March

Resident Evil Requiem: a must-play on the Switch 2 as well.

I recently visited Capcom and extensively tested 2026’s most highly anticipated horror game on the PS5 Pro. Find out what I thought here:

I’m playing this graphical masterpiece for the first time on the Nintendo Switch 2 – it’s the same section I already played at last year’s Gamescom. The game looks fantastic, even on the small tablet console!

The port may not quite reach the level of the PS5 Pro version, but the development team made compromises in the right places. The biggest visual difference is the lack of ray tracing. This primarily affects the lighting, which appears more dynamic and atmospheric on the PS5 Pro. I did notice a bit of blurring here and there, and the protagonist’s hair looks much more rigid than on Sony’s console. What’s more, the game runs at a lower resolution – but still at 60 fps!

Nevertheless, the game still looks incredible on the Switch 2 and successfully creates a horror atmosphere. Occasional shrieks and «Oh my God!» cries from fellow gamers on site confirm this.

This game reinforces my theory yet again that there are no more «impossible ports» on the Switch 2. Everything’s possible, even blockbusters such as Resident Evil Requiem.

• Hype level: Very high. Resident Evil Requiem will be a masterpiece – anything less would come as a surprise.
• Who should be looking forward to it? Resident Evil fans and horror lovers. The Switch 2 version will especially delight mobile gamers or people without home consoles or PCs.
• Release: 27 February

Pragmata: another GOTY contender on the Switch 2

It’s another Capcom title I’ve already played on the PS5 and am now experiencing again on the Switch 2. You can read my thoughts on the game from last year’s Gamescom here:

The gameplay mechanics are just brilliant. I fight against bloodthirsty killer robots with a futuristic arsenal of weapons. While I blast these tin cans to bits, I hack them apart in a mini-game that appears on the right side of the screen.

The multitasking gameplay demands a lot of the player, feeling super fresh and original. Believe me, Pragmata is a genuine GOTY contender.

The Switch 2 port of Pragmata is another successful one. Capcom makes similar compromises as it does in Resident Evil Requiem: lower resolution, some blurring, rigid hair and no ray tracing. However, it only runs at 30 fps (as far as I can tell).

The sci-fi shooter keeps its visual identity too, but I’d have liked a few more frames per second during some of the faster shooting sections.

Nintendo invited me to the preview event and covered my transport expenses.

Domagoj Belancic

Senior Editor

Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.ch

My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.

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