Nintendo Switch 2 launched on June 5, 2025, alongside Mario Kart World and more than 20 games. The strongest starting point depends on what you want to play: a new racing game, updated versions of Zelda adventures you already own, or a look at the console itself. This is a retrospective guide to the games Nintendo listed for launch day—not a claim that they were objectively the best-reviewed titles.
Which games were available on Switch 2 launch day?
Nintendo’s launch announcement put the console and Mario Kart World on June 5, 2025, and said more than 20 titles were available that day. Nintendo’s dated schedule also listed both The Legend of Zelda Switch 2 Editions and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour for June 5.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The recommendations below use those release dates as the basis for calling a game a launch-day pick. The official information cited here establishes availability, not review quality or a ranking, and this shortlist is not exhaustive.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall| Game | Why consider it | Launch timing |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart World | A straightforward choice if you want racing and multiplayer with a new game associated with the hardware launch. | June 5, 2025 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | Consider it if you want to revisit Breath of the Wild in its Switch 2 Edition. | June 5, 2025 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | A launch-day option for returning players interested in the Switch 2 Edition of Tears of the Kingdom. | June 5, 2025 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour | One to investigate if you are curious about the hardware. The release listing confirms its date, but does not establish its content or purchase/access model. | June 5, 2025 |
What should you choose based on how you play?
For racing and multiplayer: Mario Kart World
Among these picks, Mario Kart World is the clearest fit for someone looking for a new racing game to play with others. Nintendo tied it directly to the console’s launch. That makes it a natural launch-day recommendation, not proof that it is the best game in the lineup.
#1 Best Overall
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
For a return to Hyrule: choose the Zelda Edition that fits your plans
Nintendo listed Switch 2 Editions of both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for launch day. Pick based on which adventure you want to play or revisit; the release schedule alone does not establish which edition is preferable or what differences matter to you.
You do not necessarily have to buy a game again to play it on Switch 2. Nintendo says compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games work on the new system, and offers paid upgrade packs for selected games. Check the game’s compatibility and upgrade eligibility before purchasing an Edition or upgrade pack.
Rank #2
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
- A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
- Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
For a hardware-focused curiosity: check Welcome Tour details first
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour was listed for June 5, 2025. The release information cited here does not explain what it contains or whether it is free, paid, bundled, or otherwise accessed. Confirm those details before deciding whether it suits you.
Recommended Free Tools
What came soon after launch?
Donkey Kong Bananza was not a launch-day game
Nintendo’s launch announcement scheduled Donkey Kong Bananza for July 17, 2025. It belongs in an early post-launch list, not among the games available on June 5. If you were choosing what to play at launch, it was a reason to look ahead rather than a day-one option.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Rank #3
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
What the launch list can—and cannot—tell you
- It can establish timing: Nintendo’s announcement and schedule identify the console’s June 5, 2025 launch and the listed games’ release dates.
- It does not establish a quality ranking: No review scores, performance comparisons, or critical consensus are established here. The play-style suggestions above are editorial guidance.
- It is not a complete catalogue: Nintendo said more than 20 titles were available on launch day, but the cited announcement excerpt does not provide a complete itemized list.
- It does not confirm present-day availability or price: Check Nintendo or a retailer for current purchasing details.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
