Top 10 Most Anticipated Nintendo Games of 2025

Nintendo is starting off the year by giving one of the best games on the Wii a new coat of paint. Those who missed out on “Donkey Kong Country Returns,” or players who just want to revisit this excellent platformer, will be able to do so on January 16th. The HD port obviously brings a nice visual upgrade, though it will also include the bonus levels from the 3DS version. Considering the original was also pretty difficult, there will also be an option to give DK and Diddy some extra health. While we’d prefer to get a new game, and $60 for an upgraded Wii title is frankly ridiculous, there’s no denying how fun this game is.

Originally released only in Japan on PC in 2004, Western players didn’t get their hands on this RPG until 2011, when it was ported to the PSP. “Trails in the Sky” has since gained a passionate following through sequels, becoming a strong spin-off series of “The Legend of Heroes” franchise. Now, a remake is coming to Switch. And since it’s a worldwide release, we thankfully won’t have to wait years to play it. The refreshed visuals so far look very impressive, and we’re interested to see what new tweaks and changes have been made to mechanics. The story and characters are utterly charming, however, and we don’t doubt there are new legions of fans who will fall in love with them.

The first brand new game on our list is a satirical look at corporate life with a unique take on combat. “Moth Kubit” follows the titular bug protagonist as he navigates life as an office worker drone. But after accepting a big promotion, Moth will find himself at a turning point. Inspired by the writings of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus, it will blend anti-bureaucratic thinking, surrealism, and an RPG battle system reliant on dialogue. The top-down pixel art style looks great, and the imaginative take on office life has us intrigued. Although it will also release on Steam, Nintendo players can dive into the absurdity next Spring.

If you like delving into the secrets of mysterious, alien planets, “Star Overdrive” is one to keep an eye on. Another indie game also coming to Steam, it’ll task you with uncovering a planet’s secrets after receiving a distress signal. What has our interest is the heavy focus on a hoverboard, which your character will use not only to navigate biomes and uniquely designed structures, but to survive in combat as well. There look to be plenty of creatures big and small for us to conquer. And if gameplay is as smooth and quick-paced as it seems to be, both the traversal and fights should be exhilarating.

The “Fantasy Life” series from Level-5 gained a sizable following on the 3DS. Fans have been waiting quite a while for a Switch installment, which has suffered a few delays. But it seems “The Girl Who Steals Time” will finally be out in April of next year, barring any other setbacks. The role-playing life sim will place you on a strange, ruined island where you’ll travel between the past and present to uncover its mysteries. The cute art style has always delighted fans, but there’s a lot of depth in what you can do in the upcoming game. Fighting, gathering resources, and crafting all come with a variety of sub-categories so you can live your new life as you see fit.

“Rune Factory” has long been a stand-out in the farming/social simulation genre thanks to its implementation of fantasy elements. Next year, fans are getting a brand new installment in a spin-off, “Guardians of Azuma.” It will feature unique lore, chronicling the fallout of Azuma’s land being broken up by a catastrophic event and the absence of its Gods. It’ll be up to you to rebuild and revitalize entire villages, bringing peace back to citizens. It won’t all just be mystical farming and town construction, though. As the so-called Earth Dancer, players will combat fantastical creatures and choose a romantic path to follow as well. Fans of the series new and old can check it out in Spring of next year.

With the Switch, there are several franchises that have grown more popular as the system has continued to sell well. “Xenoblade Chronicles” is one of them. And on March 20th, 2025, all entries will be available on the platform. This spin-off originally released on the poor-selling Wii U, meaning there’s now a sizable fanbase waiting to experience it for the first time. It follows the last remnants of humanity, exploring a possible new home on the planet, Mira, contending with its wildlife and charting it for the first time. Those who played it adored the combat, art direction, and world design. The “Definitive Edition” will bring enhanced visuals as well as new additions to the story.

It’s been a little while since we last saw Professor Layton. And we honestly can’t wait for his return. The series gained popularity across the DS and 3DS due to excellent puzzles, wonderful art styles, and lighthearted, yet tantalizing, mysteries. The new story will be set after the original trilogy, following Professor Layton in a town in the midst of a technological boom. The locale’s steampunk aesthetic is certainly alluring; every single building we’ve glimpsed pops with personality. Plus, the plot revolving around a ghost cowboy definitely grabbed our attention. Level-5 has consistently delivered wonderful puzzlers, and we’re looking forward to having our brains teased when “The New World of Steam” releases next year.

2022’s “Legends: Arceus” was a great spin on the “Pokémon” formula, being even better than some recent entries in the main series. So, we were more than happy to hear it was getting a follow-up. Where “Arceus” reimagined the Sinnoh region long before “Diamond” and “Pearl,” “Z-A” will focus on the urban redevelopment of Lumiose City, introduced in the 3DS’ “X” & “Y.” There’s a lot we don’t know about the game yet, like what exactly the story is or what additions to gameplay GameFreak has made. However, the news of it releasing simultaneously on Nintendo systems means it's one to look forward to whenever the highly anticipated Switch successor releases.

This one has been a long time coming. Announced back in 2017 before work was restarted with original developer, Retro Studios, Nintendo grew hesitant to share many details on “Metroid Prime 4.” Thankfully, the wait is finally nearing its end, as a new trailer revealed it’s coming in 2025. Much of the game is still shrouded in mystery, though we do know that Sylux, a minor villain in previous games, will play a key role. “Metroid” has reached new sales heights on the Switch, which also saw an HD remaster of the first “Prime,” much to our delight. That just means there are more players anticipating this release than when it was initially announced. Whether it’s on Switch or the new console, we’ll be there on Day 1.

What’s the Nintendo game you’re looking forward to the most in 2025? Let us know in the comments!