Another year means it’s time to don our thinking caps and dive into our annual Nintendo predictions! Buckle up and join us as we anticipate what magic Nintendo might conjure next!
Curious about last year’s predictions? Check them out to see how we fared!
For Justin in 2024:
Metroid Prime 4 is finally expected to make a grand reappearance, potentially showcasing the visual prowess of the next-gen Switch.
0.5 point for us here—we got a new trailer, but it’s not yet the flagship game for the Switch successor. Fingers crossed for 2025!
There’s chatter that The Pokémon Company will announce Black/White remakes, particularly during a Pokémon Presents event on Pokémon Day.
Alas, no dice on this one.
A successor to the Switch will be unveiled and launched this year. Naming it ‘New Nintendo Switch’ seems unlikely—I’d guess something like Switch Nitro that implies a boost in processing power.
Sadly, another miss here.
It seems we’re due for a new 3D Mario game, possibly to debut alongside the new system.
Not this year.
Metroid Prime 2 might get a remaster announcement, and perhaps Metroid Prime 3, albeit with a later release date.
Also didn’t happen.
The F-Zero series should receive more attention in 2024.
Score! We hoped for a new game or an F-Zero GX remaster, but got loads of updates to F-Zero 99 and Nintendo Switch Online love. Maybe a new game will drop in 2025!
It’s possible Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD ports are coming to the Switch this year.
This one didn’t pan out.
Nintendo will continue selling the original Switch alongside its successor.
The jury’s still out on this one.
A key selling point for the new system will be backwards compatibility, allowing all Switch games to be playable from Day 1 and showcasing Nintendo’s first digital account system with full carryover capabilities.
Absolutely right! Nintendo confirmed this in 2024.
Nintendo has been doing fairly well with third-party support for the Switch. I anticipate that will continue, and we’ll see a major franchise that even the Switch missed, like Madden, GTA, Call of Duty, etc., announced for the successor.
Still awaiting confirmation.
Wild Cards (2 points each)
I called it last year and still believe 2024 will bring a new Donkey Kong game. With a new section at Super Nintendo World in Japan and a new system launch, it’s all lining up.
Not quite, although we did get an HD port announcement. I was hoping for a fresh DK installment!
The next entry in the Mario Kart series is due for an announcement.
Nope.
Total for Justin: 2.5 points
For Trev in 2024:
Although they’re not typically my cup of tea, I think Nintendo will introduce another mobile app or game this year. On that note…
Indeed they did! Pokémon TCG Pocket made its debut.
Long gone are the days of mobile Dr. Mario World or Switch Online ports. The Dr. Mario puzzle series deserves a fresh entry, one that’s a full release rather than a downloadable-only version.
No such luck.
Earlier rumors had hinted at this—a trademark filing pointed toward it. To mark its 10th anniversary, Tomodachi Life, a 3DS bestseller, should arrive on the Switch in some form.
Didn’t happen.
On a similar note, last year I envisioned an HD update for A Link Between Worlds to celebrate its decade milestone. Though that never came to pass, I still think the Link’s Awakening HD engine deserves another run. A remake for the Oracle games, perhaps?
Half-point here—the engine came back for a new game, Echoes of Wisdom, instead of for the Oracle remakes.
Nintendo will roll out something substantial to lure in new or lapsed Switch Online users. Think more than sporadic game releases—imagine free, brand-new content.
No joy on this front.
I’ve never hopped on the Switch successor prediction bandwagon, but I’m changing that now. While not necessarily a 2024 release, I predict an announcement for Nintendo’s next console.
And I got this one! Nintendo confirmed it, though no release yet.
If a new console isn’t coming until 2025, Nintendo must ensure ongoing Switch sales. Expect an array of budget ports, price reductions, and a Nintendo Select lineup of hit titles.
Nope, just more bundles from Nintendo.
The Switch boasts over 80 games that crossed the million-sale mark. Any chance of that list reaching triple digits? Perhaps not in 2024, yet a few new titles are bound to join.
Yes! Although not quite triple digits, we reached 97—per Wikipedia.
What’s next for amiibo? With chatter around Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door characters, perhaps some new amiibo when the game makes its way to the Switch?
Nope.
Wild Cards
Skylanders could make a comeback, and considering past collaborations with Nintendo, the new release might be a big hit with Nintendo aficionados.
Didn’t come to pass.
As Twitter continues its exodus, Pure Nintendo might discover a new audience on the Blue Sky social app.
Yes, we’re on Blue Sky—come find Pure Nintendo there!
Total for Trev: 5.5 points
Trev takes the crown this year as Nintendo opts to delay the Switch 2. Maybe 2025 will be its year! 😊
Justin’s 2025 Predictions:
- GameCube classics may join the Switch Online library.
- Anticipate a new Mario Kart game announcement in 2025, hopefully hitting stores the same year.
- Although 2024 lacked a new Pokémon game (besides Pokémon TCG Pocket, which I enjoyed), Pokémon Legends ZA might debut in 2025, maybe alongside another Pokémon title tease.
- A new Kirby game could arrive this year—though possibly a port, fingers crossed for a sequel to Forgotten Land.
- Carryover from 2024: Expect a Switch successor announcement and launch this year, possibly dubbed Nintendo Switch 2 to avoid confusion.
- Another carryover: We’re due for a new 3D Mario, potentially launching with the new system.
- Continuing with the original Switch alongside its successor.
- Maintaining backwards compatibility will be key—the entire Switch library will be ready from Day 1 on the new system, marking Nintendo’s groundbreaking digital account system with full carryover.
- With the Switch’s solid third-party support, I foresee that continuing, and one of the franchises previously missed by the Switch (think Madden, GTA, etc.) should be unveiled for its successor.
- The Switch 2 may debut with a $399 price tag.
Context:
- GameCube launch price: $199
- Wii launch price: $249
- Wii U launch price: $299 (deluxe at $349)
- Switch launch price: $299
- Switch OLED launch price: $349
Wild Cards
- Though the wait for a new Zelda hasn’t been extensive, I sense an announcement of Zelda titles for the Switch 2’s launch—perhaps even those long-rumored Twilight Princess and Wind Waker HD ports.
- Expect a new Wave Race game to be unveiled.
Trev’s 2025 Predictions:
- The Switch will become the first console to surpass 160 million sales, overtaking both the DS and PS2. Will Jim Ryan argue the PS2 actually sold 170 million?
- Look out for a movie-themed Direct for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. 2 or Zelda films, with buzz around the voice actors—Chris Pratt for Mario, and perhaps none for Link.
- The original Switch models might be discontinued, leaving the Lite and OLED on shelves. Bundles will encourage Switch Online subscriptions with enticing free offers.
- Anticipate a significant change to Nintendo Switch Online, whether it’s adding new consoles like GameCube, restructuring pricing, or merging plans—new hardware may prompt the change.
- The Switch 2, or whatever it’s called, will come with a launch game, unlike its predecessor. It could be a Mario game like SNES had, a family favorite like Wii, or something highlighting the hardware’s unique features.
- Launch window titles for the new system will likely incorporate motion controls, eliciting mixed reactions.
- 2025 will usher in new hardware, but a nod to past features will occur—think along the lines of Nintendo Badge Arcade or Wii channels.
- Amiibo re-releases will continue, and new ones will tie in with launch window games.
- Expect a shift away from Twitter, with more in the gaming realm seeking haven on Bluesky. Maybe Nintendo will reintroduce screen-sharing integration.
- Despite fresh hardware, Nintendo will keep backing the Switch, improving popular games with substantial updates and porting older hits.
Wild Cards
- Nintendo hasn’t ventured into traditional sports games in a while, but former collaborations with stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Kobe Bryant could hint at a first-party sports sim in 2025. It’s a stretch, but I’m hopeful.
- Tri Force Heroes’ 10-year anniversary and Four Swords Adventures’ 20-year mark could usher in a multiplayer Zelda revival.
What are your predictions for 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments!
