DaRmaZat The March 2025 Nintendo Direct delivered a mix of surprises, long-awaited updates, and brand-new game reveals. Fans hoping for Hollow Knight: Silksong news were left waiting once again, but Nintendo had plenty to offer across various genres.
One of the biggest highlights was Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which finally got an extended showcase, revealing Samus in a new suit with psychic abilities. However, the game still has a vague 2025 release window.
In preparation for the Switch 2, Nintendo announced “Virtual Game Cards”, which will allow players to move games between consoles and even lend them to friends for up to two weeks. Another major reveal was Nintendo Today, a new app designed to provide daily updates about the Switch 2, introduced by Shigeru Miyamoto himself and launching immediately.
Beyond hardware and services, the Direct featured a strong lineup of games. Witchbrook, a charming pixel art life sim with a wizard-school setting, was revealed for a 2025 release. Pokemon Legends Z-A is shaking things up by incorporating stealth mechanics into a nighttime battle royale format. In a more unexpected twist, Shadow Labyrinth, a gritty Pac-Man Metroidvania—previously leaked via Amazon’s Secret Level—got a new launch date —July 18— and a dark, atmospheric gameplay trailer. Fans of classic beat-’em-ups were treated to Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a new game from DotEmu, the creators of TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.
There were also some major returns of classic franchises. Shin Megami Tensei is bringing the fifth edition of its long-overlooked action spin-off this summer, while Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is escaping its DS exclusivity to land on the Switch in August. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, the first new game in the series in a decade, is set to launch in 2026. Meanwhile, Monument Valley 1, 2, and 3 are all coming to the Nintendo Switch.
In a surprise launch, SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered, Rift of the NecroDancer, and Disney Villains Cursed Cafe became available immediately after the Direct. Fans of rhythm games will also be happy to know that Rhythm Heaven Groove is making a comeback in 2026. Meanwhile, Tamagotchi Plaza, an Animal Crossing-inspired shopping sim, is coming on June 27.
Classic franchises continued to make waves with the reveal of Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake, coming later this year. Patapon 1+2 Replay, a remaster of the first two games, will launch on July 11, while Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots is also making its way to the Switch. Visual novel and mystery fans can look forward to No Sleep For Kaname Date from the AI: The Somnium Files franchise, set for July 25. Meanwhile, Gradius Origins, a collection of 17 different versions of six arcade classics plus a brand-new game, Salamander 3, will be launching on August 7.
To close out our summary, The Eternal Life of Goldman, a beautifully hand-drawn 2D platformer inspired by twisted fairy tales, was announced for a holiday 2025 release. While the Switch 2 is looming on the horizon, Nintendo made it clear that the original Switch still has plenty of life left with a packed slate of exciting games.
