In January 2025, Nintendo released a teaser trailer for their new video game console, known as the Nintendo Switch 2. In it, they showcased the console, and teased a new Mario Kart game. On April 2, 2025, Nintendo showcased even more of the Nintendo Switch 2 and games in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct started with the new Mario Kart game that was teased in the Nintendo Switch 2 teaser trailer. This new Mario Kart game is called Mario Kart World. This was definitely interesting for me, and I would say that it is the highlight because Mario Kart World already has an insane roster so far. Obviously, Cow (from Moo Moo Meadows) will be playable, in case you did not read the title or look at the thumbnail. Not only is Cow playable, but also Fish Bones (which is like Dry Bones, but only a fish), Goomba, Sidestepper from Mario Bros., Penguin from Super Mario 64, and Dolphin from Super Mario World are all playable. Those are all insane picks for a Mario Kart game, especially because none of them have hands or arms, and also because those are random picks in general. Furthermore, many fan-favorite characters have not been revealed yet, if they will be, such as Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, R.O.B. the Robot, etc. It kind of reminds me of how Piranha Plant got added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate instead of Waluigi, except joke characters are basically half of the currently known roster for Mario Kart World. Either way, I am kind of excited because of the insane roster alone. If I get Mario Kart World, I will definitely use Cow as my main character. Even besides the character roster, it still looks interesting. Some of Mario Kart World’s characters kind of look like how they did in Mario Kart 64, only with updated graphics, which is something I think works because it manages to look new and old at the same time, but in a good way. Also, Donkey Kong looks more like how he did in the movie, which might need some getting used to.
The next twenty minutes of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct are used to discuss new features of the Nintendo Switch 2. For example, the Nintendo Switch 2 has its own version of Discord (obviously locked behind Nintendo Switch Online), Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with Nintendo Switch games, and many Nintendo Switch games will receive Special Nintendo Switch 2 Editions. Also, the Nintendo Switch 2 releases on June 5, 2025. After all of that, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showcases many third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games. The ones that stuck out to me the most out of this first batch of third-party games were the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Elden Ring and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. The former because it is popular, and the latter because in the middle of the trailer for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, it randomly becomes a Spongebob crossover, because the characters are skating in Spongebob’s setting.
Next, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was revealed. It is a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I am not a huge fan of The Legend of Zelda series, but I must admit that it looks cool. Now will it get me into the series, probably not, or at the very least until I play other Zelda games first. Next, Nintendo Gamecube games were revealed to come out with the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack for Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo Gamecube games coming out during launch are The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur II featuring Link from The Legend of Zelda series (WELL EXCUUUUUSE ME PRINCESS). Personally, I would have preferred if they did Nintendo Gamecube Virtual Console games, which Virtual Console was on the Nintendo 3DS, Wii, and Wii U, and it was where games from older consoles were re-released on the Nintendo Eshop. That being said, it is still cool that Nintendo is bringing back Nintendo Gamecube games, as Nintendo Gamecube games were never re-released for virtual console. After that, the next batch of third-party games were revealed. The only one that stuck out to me was Deltarune because like with Elden Ring, it was popular. Next, a sequel to Kirby Air Ride was announced, known as Kirby Air Riders. Kirby Air Riders is being directed by Masahiro Sakurai, who is the creator of Kirby, and is the main guy behind all of the Super Smash Bros. games, so it looks like it is in good hands. The last thing that got revealed was Donkey Kong Bananza. Donkey Kong Bananza is the first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64. In my opinion, Donkey Kong Bananza was needed because not only has Donkey Kong not had a game in over ten years, but the first 3D Donkey Kong game (Donkey Kong 64 from over twenty-five years ago) was also the last one until Donkey Kong Bananza. On top of that, it looks like it will be open world. In the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Donkey Kong was the only member of the Kong family to show up in the Donkey Kong Bananza trailer. Eventually, it was revealed that Cranky Kong will be in the game. I wonder if that means other Kongs will be in the game. Donkey Kong 64 had multiple playable characters, so I do not really see why Donkey Kong Bananza can’t do the same, especially if it will evolve off of what Donkey Kong 64 started. Or other members of the Kong family will be included, but hidden from the trailers, they might be DLC, or Donkey Kong will be the only playable character. We will just have to wait and see.
Those were all of the announcements from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. I am kind of excited for it. However, it is apparently very expensive, and Mario Kart World costs $80, which is insane. So in other words, if I do get it, I probably will not get it at launch. If I do get the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, Cow will be my main.
(Cow drawing by Andrew Allemand)
