The July 31st Nintendo Partner Showcase delivered 25 minutes of third-party fireworks, blending long-awaited reveals, surprise demos, and major Switch 2 ports. While Hollow Knight: Silksong remained elusive (much to meme-loving fans’ chagrin), the event cemented 2025–2026 as a golden era for JRPGs and action adventures. Here’s everything that mattered:
Headline Acts
- Octopath Traveler 0 (Dec 4, 2025)
The big surprise: a prequel to the beloved HD-2D series. Customize your protagonist, recruit 30+ party members, and rebuild a burned hometown (Wishvale) with town-building mechanics. Launching on Switch/Switch 2 just in time for the holidays . - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (2026)
Capcom kicked off the show with this stunning trailer. Ride Rathalos amid an ecological disaster (The Encroachment), with warring kingdoms and a mysterious twin-souled egg. Pure Breath of the Wild vibes meet turn-based combat . - Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Winter 2025)
Finally canon! This prequel to Tears of the Kingdom stars Princess Zelda and King Rauru in the Imprisoning War. Hack through Bokoblin hordes in Musou-style battles that bridge the gap to TotK’s events .
Square Enix’s HD-2D Dominance
- The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (2026): An action-RPG spin on HD-2D. Control Elliot and fairy companion Faie in real-time combat (solo/co-op). Demo out now! .
- Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (Sept 30, 2025): Voiced dialogue, enhanced visuals, and cross-gen Switch/Switch 2 support .
Major Switch 2 Ports & Upgrades
| Game | Release Date | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Outlaws | Sept 4, 2025 | Gyro/motion controls for Kay Vess’ scoundrel journey |
| Persona 3 Reload | Oct 23, 2025 | Atlus’ acclaimed remake hits Switch 2 |
| Apex Legends | Aug 5, 2025 | Native Switch 2 build + free Pathfinder skin |
| Borderlands 4 | Oct 3, 2025 | Confirmed via sizzle reel |
Standout Surprises
- Chillin’ by the Fire (Out Now!): A cozy campfire sim where you maintain flames across beaches/forests. Supports webcam cameos .
- Hela (2026): Play as a mouse with a frog backpack in a Scandinavian folklore world. 4-player co-op confirmed! .
- Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted (Oct 23): HD remaster + local PvP/co-op. Retro Peashooter skin for pre-orders .
Sports Resurgence
EA returned forcefully:
- Madden NFL 26 (Aug 14): “Realest Madden ever” with QB DNA tech. Deluxe edition grants 7-day early access .
- EA Sports FC 26 (Sept 26): Overhauled gameplay + Manager Live Challenges .
Quick Hits & Montage Gems
- Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 (Nov 13): PS2 remakes debut on Switch 2 .
- Once Upon a Katamari (Oct 24): Roll through time periods to rebuild stars .
- Cronos: The New Dawn (Sept 5): Bloober Team’s time-bending horror .
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (Nov 14): 180-character roster + motion controls .
💡 The Big Picture
This showcase proved the Switch 2 is a third-party magnet. With JRPGs (Octopath 0, Elliot, Monster Hunter Stories 3) leading 2025–2026’s charge and AAA ports (Outlaws, Borderlands 4) closing 2025’s gaps, Nintendo’s ecosystem feels richer than ever. Still no Metroid Prime 4 or Silksong—but with TGS and a potential September Direct ahead, hope persists 🔥.
Watch the Full Showcase: Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 7.31.2025 .
What thrilled you most? Sound off in the comments!
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