Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Games July 2025 — Every Game Revealed for Switch & Switch 2

Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games from July 2025 took center stage in a 25-minute broadcast – catch up on every Switch & Switch 2 third-party reveal (Monster Hunter Stories 3, Octopath Traveler 0, Apex Legends, and more) with release dates, trailers, and expert insights.

Nintendo’s July 31, 2025 Partner Showcase packed a punch — 25 minutes of third-party announcements teasing everything from cozy indie sims to blockbuster AAA arrivals on Switch 2. As The Verge noted, this short presentation was “focused exclusively on third-party games”. It was also Nintendo’s first Partner-only Direct since launching Switch 2, so fans were eager to see how partners would flesh out the new console’s library. The official Nintendo news post even teased a mix of “immersive role-playing adventures, gripping action, and game-day excitement” across Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. In other words: the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games lineup was jam‑packed with new reveals and ports, from Square Enix HD‑2D titles to surprise remakes.

Why This Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games Showcase Matters

This July showcase signaled a strategic shift for Nintendo. In the past, big multi‑platform games often arrived on Switch years late (if at all), but now Switch 2 is closing that gap. As one gaming analysis put it, “With the Switch 2, Nintendo seems to be closing the release date gap with some of its third-party games”. Indeed, we saw big-name franchises like Monster Hunter Stories and Apex Legends coming to Switch 2 quickly, plus sports series and JRPGs launching simultaneously on both Switch consoles. For example, Square Enix announced two new HD‑2D RPGs (the Octopath Traveler prequel and The Adventures of Elliot) alongside existing classics, showing that Nintendo is courting its JRPG base. Likewise, EA promised Madden NFL 26 on Switch 2 and EA Sports FC 26 on both Switch and Switch 2, giving sports fans real-time excitement (Madden returns on Aug 14). This stronger third-party support — simultaneous Switch/2 releases and faster turnaround — is a big deal. Even Nintendo’s own summary notes the highlights: “Monster Hunter Stories 3,” sports franchises, cozy sim Chillin’ by the Fire, and Yakuza Kiwami 1&2 on Switch 2. In short, the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games announcements underscore Nintendo’s push for a more robust, same-day multi-platform lineup going forward.

Top Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games — Quick Highlights

• Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (Switch 2; 2026) – Capcom’s new turn-based RPG in the Monster Hunter universe. The trailer teased war between kingdoms and a giant Rathalos egg, hinting at an open-world twist for this rider-based adventure.

• Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch & Switch 2; Dec 4, 2025) – An HD‑2D RPG prequel to Octopath Traveler, letting you play a custom protagonist among 30+ heroes. Launching on Dec. 4 for both Switch versions, it promises the classic turn-based combat and retro visuals fans love.

• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (Switch 2; 2026, demo available now) – A brand-new HD‑2D action-RPG from the makers of Octopath and Bravely Default. It features real-time action with fairy support, a zany anime-ish style (“Elliot? Really?” as one writer joked), and an open-world story spanning centuries. Notably, Square Enix dropped a playable demo on launch day so players can dive in early.

• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Switch 2; winter 2025) – A Zelda-themed Dynasty Warriors spin-off set during the fabled Imprisoning War. This musou game fills in Zelda lore (featuring Princess Zelda and King Rauru teaming up) and is slated for a winter release (exact date TBA) on Switch 2.

• Once Upon a Katamari (Switch; Oct 24, 2025) – The series’ first new entry in 14 years, rolling onto original Switch. You’ll explore prehistoric and historical levels to rebuild the universe with your katamari. Nintendo’s announcement promises all-new stages, four-player co-op modes, and a quirky new soundtrack.

• Persona 3 Reload (Switch 2; Oct 23, 2025) – The critically acclaimed Persona 3 remake finally comes to Switch 2 this fall. This is the full modern reimagining of the classic JRPG (with all the same social-sim and turn-based dungeon crawling) arriving on Oct. 23.

• EA SPORTS FC 26 (Switch & Switch 2; Sept 26, 2025) & Madden NFL 26 (Switch 2; Aug 14, 2025) – EA’s two big sports titles are back on Nintendo. FC 26 (the FIFA reboot) hits both Switch and Switch 2 on Sept 26, and Madden NFL 26 launches on Switch 2 on Aug 14. These will feature updated modes and cross-play features

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• Apex Legends (Switch 2; Aug 5, 2025) – Respawn’s battle royale drops onto Switch 2 on Aug. 5, timed with a new season. The Switch 2 version gets a performance boost, so it can finally run at higher resolutions and frame rates.

• Star Wars Outlaws (Switch 2; Sept 4, 2025) – Ubisoft’s open-world Star Wars adventure lands on Switch 2 on Sept. 4. Play as scoundrel Kay Vess in a galaxy-spanning caper — now optimized for Nintendo’s latest console.

• Cronos: The New Dawn (Switch 2; Sept 5, 2025) – From the makers of Silent Hill 2, this time-bending survival horror is coming to Switch 2 on Sept. 5. Cronos lets you shift between a gruesome future and 1980s Poland, fighting monsters that meld through time.

• Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Switch 2; Nov 13, 2025) – SEGA’s crime saga continues. Both Yakuza Kiwami 2 and the original Yakuza Kiwami (with enhanced graphics) will arrive together on Switch 2 on Nov. 13, letting you tackle Kamurocho’s underworld on Nintendo hardware.

• Chillin’ by the Fire (Switch 2; available now) – Nintendo’s quirky campfire sim is out on Switch 2 as of July 31. It’s a multiplayer hangout around the virtual campfire: build fires, share stories, and chill with up to four friends online. (Nintendo demoed it live during the Direct, and it launched immediately.)

• Other indie & niche highlights: The showcase also dropped several cozy and retro surprises: Goodnight Universe (Switch & Switch 2, Nov 11) – an emotional adventure about a baby with mysterious powers; Hela (Switch 2, 2026) – a cooperative puzzle RPG set in hand‑drawn Nordic forests; and Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (Switch 2, out now) – a remastered edition of the SNES classic.

Here’s an at-a-glance table summarizing the big announcements, platforms, and release dates:

Trends in Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games

Two clear trends emerged from the Partner Showcase. First, third-party games are coming faster to Switch than ever before. The Verge highlights that Nintendo is bridging its traditional release delays: now big RPGs and shooters arrive on Switch hardware alongside other consoles. For instance, Square Enix is launching Octopath Traveler 0 and Final Fantasy Tactics on both Switch and Switch 2 the same day. That’s a stark contrast to years past. Likewise, Apex Legends and Star Wars Outlaws are landing on Switch 2 within weeks of their PC/console seasons. This new simultaneous-release strategy suggests Nintendo and its partners want Switch 2 owners to stay current with everyone else.

Second, the lineup leaned heavily into story-driven and cozy genres. As GamesRadar put it, the showcase “hasn’t disappointed if you’re a fan of the humble JRPG”. Nearly half the announcements are RPGs or action-RPGs (Octopath 0, Elliot, Persona, Romancing SaGa, Final Fantasy Tactics) — and all in the nostalgic HD‑2D style or classic 2D format. We also saw quirky indie/casual picks: the campfire sim Chillin’ by the Fire, the heartwarming baby‑adventure Goodnight Universe, and even the return of Katamari’s offbeat physics fun. Overall, this mix of titles — from earnest JRPGs to a cozy sim — marks a broader third-party strategy. Put simply, the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games lineup shows Nintendo doubling down on niche and genre hits that appeal to long-time Switch fans, while still delivering big-name franchises.

Standout Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games Moments

Several moments stole the spotlight. Monster Hunter Stories 3 kicked things off with a bang — the surprise reveal of Capcom’s new RPG had fans buzzing. Octopath Traveler 0’s announcement was another high point: that slick HD‑2D art style and new prequel setup got fans excited for Dec. 4. Square Enix’s closing bit was memorable too: not only did The Adventures of Elliot look gorgeous, one journalist laughed at its “silly but acceptable name… (Elliot? Really?)”. More exciting for players, Nintendo immediately released an Elliot demo on eShop after the showcase, so people could try the game right away.

On the classic franchises side, fans cheered when Katamari rolled back into view — Once Upon a Katamari was announced for Oct. 24 after a long absence. And sports fans got a treat: Madden NFL is coming back to Nintendo (on Switch 2) for the first time in years, with Madden 26 due Aug 14. Finally, a few smaller surprises created buzz: for example, Goodnight Universe’s unique concept (baby with psychic powers) and the unexpected early drop of Romancing SaGa 2’s remake (available immediately) got indie fans talking. In short, between huge announcements like MHS3 and charming oddities like Chillin’, the showcase had something to cheer about in every genre.

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What’s Next: Dates & Demos

Got your calendar handy? Releases start rolling out this August and continue through 2025 (and beyond). Early highlights include Apex Legends on Aug 5 and Madden NFL 26 on Aug 14, followed by blockbuster falls (Star Wars Outlaws on Sept 4, Cronos on Sept 5, FC 26/FFTA on Sept 26, Persona 3 Reload on Oct 23, Katamari on Oct 24, Octopath 0 on Dec 4). Into next year, look for Monster Hunter Stories 3 and The Adventures of Elliot (both 2026), plus indies like Hela. If you don’t want to wait, try out the new demos already out: The Adventures of Elliot demo is available now, as is Romancing SaGa 2’s Switch 2 version, and Chillin’ by the Fire just launched. Be sure to subscribe to Nintendo’s channels (or news sites) to catch trailers and updates as these games approach.

Your turn! This Partner Showcase laid out a rich roadmap of upcoming Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase games for both Switch systems. Which announcement got you the most hyped? Was it the return of Katamari? The surprise JRPG blitz? Let us know which games you’ll be playing first — or drop your favorite moment below. Happy gaming!