5 Nintendo Switch Games That Deserve Switch 2 Editions

The Nintendo Switch 2 has built an impressive library of upgraded Switch games over its first year and a half, with Switch 2 Editions bringing visual upgrades, bundled DLC, and new features to hits like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. That trend continues with the upcoming Pikmin 4 — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy, proving Nintendo still has appetite for these enhanced re-releases. Yet several of the original Switch's most celebrated games have not received the Edition treatment, leaving obvious gaps in the new console's library.

For players who skipped the original Switch or want definitive versions of games they already love, these missing Editions represent more than just ports — they are chances to experience landmark titles with hardware-appropriate improvements. The Switch 2's mouse controls alone could transform creative tools and strategy games, while 60 frames per second targets and bundled expansion passes would address long-standing complaints about performance and value. Here are five Nintendo Switch games that still need Switch 2 Editions.

Here's a thinking process:

Following the release of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave on Switch 2, a Three Houses upgrade feels like a natural next step. The 2019 tactics game brought the series to mainstream popularity and remains one of the Switch's finest RPGs, but it shows its age visually compared to its successor. A Switch 2 Edition could deliver the visual and performance boost needed to bring it in line with Fortune's Weave, making the monastery exploration and battlefield animations look as sharp as the new game.

The real value, however, lies in content bundling. The original game's Expansion Pass added the Cindered Shadows DLC, which introduced a side story and new characters that many players missed. Including that content by default — along with bonus touches like Fortune's Weave costumes for shared characters such as Seteth — would create the definitive way to play the game that revitalized the franchise. For newcomers drawn in by Fortune's Weave, this would be the ideal entry point to the previous chapter.

Here's a thinking process:

Super Mario Odyssey doesn't desperately need a technical upgrade — it already runs beautifully — but Nintendo has shown a willingness to spruce up its best games and resell them Greatest Hits style. The precedent set by Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury suggests a compelling path forward: bundle Odyssey with a new, compact 3D Mario experience that serves as an appetizer for the next full adventure. Bowser's Fury proved that a smaller-scale Mario game can transcend pack-in status and stand on its own merits.

Giving Nintendo EPD the chance to create another bite-sized 3D platformer would serve multiple purposes. It would add tangible value to an Odyssey re-release beyond a simple resolution bump, provide fresh content for players who have exhausted the original's moons, and keep the Mario team sharp between major releases. If a new 3D Mario is still years away, this approach keeps the franchise visible and playable on current hardware without requiring a full sequel's development cycle.

Super Mario Maker 2 Is Built for Mouse Controls

It remains surprising that Super Mario Maker 2 has not received a Switch 2 Edition, especially given how perfectly the series aligns with the new hardware's mouse functionality. Level creation with a controller has always involved friction — navigating menus, placing precise objects, and testing layouts feels slower than it should. Mouse controls would eliminate that friction entirely, letting creators place blocks, enemies, and terrain with the speed and precision of a PC editor while retaining the console experience.

Beyond the control scheme, a Switch 2 Edition could position Super Mario Maker 2 as the ultimate creative suite by including a modern variant of Mario Paint. The original SNES title's music composer, animation tools, and drawing mode would complement the level editor beautifully, appealing to players who want to make more than just courses. Adding a Super Mario Bros. Wonder theme for levels would also bring the visual palette up to date, letting creators build stages that match Nintendo's latest 2D Mario aesthetic rather than stopping at the New Super Mario Bros. U style.

Luigi's Mansion 3 Could Finally Hit 60 Frames Per Second

Luigi's Mansion 3 often gets overlooked in conversations about the Switch's best games, despite strong reviews in 2019. It rarely receives the same reverence as Fire Emblem: Three Houses or Kirby and the Forgotten Land, but a Switch 2 Edition could change that perception. The most immediate improvement would be a stable 60 frames per second target, allowing Next Level Games' character animation and environmental detail to shine without the occasional dips that held back the original version.

Performance is only the starting point. The Last Resort hotel's multiplayer modes — ScareScraper and ScreamPark — have room to grow with additional floors, minigames that use mouse controls, or a proper single-player DLC campaign. Nintendo has been willing to add substantial new content to Switch 2 Editions, and Luigi's Mansion 3's structure supports that kind of expansion naturally. A polished, content-rich re-release could finally earn the game the "unsung hero" status its advocates claim it deserves.

Here's a thinking process:

Game Builder Garage sits at the top of this list for practical reasons: it is one of the few Switch games that simply does not work on Switch 2. The 2021 visual programming tool relies on original Joy-Con features — specifically the IR motion camera and HD rumble — that the new hardware does not support in backward compatibility mode. For preservation alone, Nintendo should address this, but the opportunity exists to do much more.

Like Super Mario Maker 2, Game Builder Garage would benefit enormously from mouse controls. Building node-based logic graphs, positioning objects in 3D space, and navigating the UI would all become more tactile and efficient with a pointer. The game pitched itself as an educational tool for learning game design fundamentals, and removing the controller barrier could help it fulfill that promise in classrooms and homes alike. A Switch 2 Edition that restores compatibility and adds mouse support would transform a curious footnote into a genuinely useful creative application.

Here's a thinking process:

Nintendo's Switch 2 Edition strategy has so far focused on its biggest recent hits, but the games on this list represent different kinds of value. Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Super Mario Odyssey are system-sellers that deserve definitive versions. Super Mario Maker 2 and Game Builder Garage are creative platforms that the new hardware's unique features could genuinely elevate. Luigi's Mansion 3 is a polished gem that never got its victory lap. Each addresses a different gap in the Switch 2 library — strategy RPGs, 3D platformers, creation tools, and action-adventure — and each has a clear, player-facing reason to exist beyond simple porting.

The pattern established by Pikmin 4 — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy suggests Nintendo understands that these releases work best when they add meaningful content, not just resolution bumps. If that philosophy holds, the next wave of Editions could be the strongest yet. Players should watch for announcements around major Nintendo Direct presentations, as the company tends to reveal these upgrades alongside new first-party titles.

Whether Nintendo continues mining the Switch catalog for Edition candidates depends on sales data and development bandwidth, but the precedent is set. The games listed here have clear upgrade paths that align with Switch 2's hardware strengths. For now, players can only wait and hope their favorites make the cut — preferably with mouse support included.