The Nintendo Switch 2 gets its official reveal on Wednesday. This jump from the Switch to the Switch 2 is an interesting time for the Mario maker as the company is improving on all aspects of the previous console without trying something completely "new." It's reminiscent of the jump from the NES to SNES. Since Nintendo has seemingly figured out what it wants the Switch to be, as it was the console that pioneered this current handheld gaming boom we're seeing right now (both Sony and Microsoft are looking to release portable consoles), it means Nintendo can hunker down and focus on releasing great games instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.
For that reason, Nintendo should look deep into its game catalog and bring back its forgotten classics. Games that were some of the best titles for their respective generations but haven't been heard from in decades. It's time for Nintendo to put its resources into pushing the envelope in game development further by taking these franchises and giving them a new lease on life by coming up with a formula that gamers haven't seen before (or were maybe too young to experience the first time around).
Here are 10 forgotten Nintendo games I'd like to see return on the Switch 2.
Nintendo hasn't bothered with the Punch-Out!! series since 2009, and it's time for a revival. The boxing game was, for many, their first introduction to sports in a video game, and it's always been impressive how Nintendo came up with unique boxers for the game.
What I want to see in a new Punch-Out!! would be the classic, fun arcade-style boxing but with a bit more strategy. Instead of the boxers having one or two special moves, give them some actual AI. Let them figure out the best way to counter you instead of throwing big punches that are easy to dodge.
If Nintendo revives the series, though, the company must address some of the not-so-ideal depictions of certain cultures.
While not completely forgotten by Nintendo, it's been a while since there's been a memorable Star Fox game. For many, the last one they played was Star Fox Adventures on the GameCube, but two more were released afterward: Star Fox Zero and Star Fox: Assault. Neither was particularly special. If there's a time to make a proper Star Fox game, it's with the Switch 2.
The Star Fox series has always been about graphics. When it came out on the SNES, it was promoted for using the Super FX chip to create 3D graphics that had never been seen before on the 16-bit console. Those graphics got ramped up with Star Fox 64 on the Nintendo 64.
So why can't Nintendo try again with the Switch 2? Make a space combat game that puts to shame any of the Star Wars games.
If Activision can remake the early Tony Hawk games, then Nintendo can bring back the 1080° Snowboarding franchise. The last game in the series was 1080° Avalanche on the GameCube, and it's time for a reboot.
The extreme sports genre has been dormant for quite some time, but it's itching for a comeback, with gamers excited for the return of Tony Hawk Pro Skater and the Skate franchises. There's a pent-up demand from older gamers who remember these games and new gamers who want a sports game but don't care for the typical team sports.
Now is an especially good time to bring back a snowboarding game since the sport is far more accessible today than it was two decades ago. More kids start learning how to snowboard, unlike decades ago when snowboarding was only for those "extreme" athletes.
Startropics is a truly forgotten Nintendo game. Those who remember it have probably forgotten that Nintendo developed it when it came out on the NES in 1990.
For those who have never played it, Startropic is a light-hearted adventure game where the hero, Mike Jones, uses a yo-yo to battle monsters, robots and aliens. The game was fun and was something unique from Nintendo way back when. There was a sequel, Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II, that came out in 1994, but since then, this series has been collecting dust.
This is exactly the kind of game that could do well today, especially if some Metroidvania or Soulslike elements were added to it. Hell, Mike Jones could be a new globe-trotting adventurer in the same light as Lara Croft or Nathan Drake.
The Mother series, known to many in the US as Earthbound, is one of Nintendo's best franchises. There are three games in the series, with only the second getting an actual release in the US, which had its name localized from Mother 2 to Earthbound. Still, people who loved Earthbound found ways to play the first game, which came out on the NES in Japan in 1989.
Then there's Mother 3, which came out in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance. This game didn't make the jump to the US, either, so fans had to translate it themselves. Even with the franchise being dormant for almost two decades, fans still hope there's another Mother game coming.
F-Zero may not be completely forgotten as a franchise, considering Nintendo released F-Zero 99 back in 2023. But what about developing a proper F-Zero game?
There hasn't been a console F-Zero game since F-Zero GX on the GameCube. It just doesn't make much sense. The F-Zero franchise's focus on speed also meant that it focused on visuals. With vehicles going 2,000 km/h in the game, there needs to be a lot of graphic power to give that impression of going that fast.
Understandably, Nintendo may have put off the development of another F-Zero game because the Wii, Wii U and Switch weren't pushing the most polygons compared to the competition. Still, with the Switch 2, Nintendo could step up its game and offer some amazing visuals for this franchise.
Excitebike was one of the first games for the NES, and it was something special. Not only could players race and perform these huge jumps on a motorcycle, but the game also featured a track maker option so players could design whatever fun tracks they wanted.
Since then, there have been more Excitebike games, such as Excitebike 64, Excite Truck, Excitebots: Trick Racing, and Excitebike: World Rally. A new Excitebike is perfect for the Switch 2. Online play and track-making could bring a whole community together around this game. There's also the option of having some fun with the game with more arcade racing making it more sim-like, or be more daring and give the game a whole career mode with a storyline.
It's a tragedy that Donkey Kong hasn't had a proper game in so long. The last official Donkey Kong game was Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, released in 2014 for the Wii U, and it just doesn't make sense.
Donkey Kong, Nintendo's first memorable character, had a bit of a renaissance back in 2023 with the Super Mario Bros. movie when he was voiced by Seth Rogen. People loved seeing him again, and there were probably those who wanted to play a Donkey Kong game only to realize they'd have to find a game that was a decade old.
If Nintendo does bring back Donkey Kong, the company needs to also try something different. While getting another Donkey Kong Country sequel would be nice, why not give him a whole new kind of adventure?
There are plenty of WarioWare games, but not just Wario games. He starred in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 in 1994 for the Game Boy, and that series kept going until Wario Land: Shake It! in 2008 for the Wii. Then it seems like Nintendo simply forgot how Wario had his platforming series and, instead, just made him the face for the WarioWare games.
How much fun would it be to have Wario star in his own adventure? Or even better, have him go through a previously released Mario game. Let him be the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. What about even doing a team-up with both Mario and Wario? This character is just sitting on the bench, and Nintendo refuses to put him into the game.
Another fun Nintendo franchise that's disappeared is Wave Race. The series started in 1992 on the Game Boy, but it really hit its stride with Wave Race 64 and Wave Race: Blue Storm. This is a fun racing game with what could be considered an "extreme" sport, and Nintendo hasn't touched the series since 2001.
As with 1080° and Excitebike, Wave Race could be part of a renaissance for Nintendo sports games. Bring back fun and exciting arcade games, but give them modern additions to keep people playing for a long time.
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