You see these types of articles a lot. A writer makes a wish list of the series they wish would continue. To a degree, this is much the same. However, five dormant video game series have received some unique — albeit small — promotion over the past couple of years, which may be signaling their triumphant return. These are the five gaming series we could really see returning to Nintendo Switch 2.
1. Wario Land
Virtual Boy Wario Land; Image credit: Nintendo
While Mario had a couple of games early in the life of the Game Boy, it was Wario who shone the most on Nintendo’s handheld. The original Wario Land was released in 1994, and it was followed by sequels in 1998, 2000, and 2001. With such a rapid succession of follow-ups, the seven-year wait for Wario Land: Shake It! in 2008 felt eternal, and it has been even longer since then.
In 2026, Nintendo will begin releasing games from its commercial failure, the Virtual Boy, on its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. This will give many gamers their first-ever access to the least-known entry in the series: Virtual Boy Wario Land. Hopefully, giving that title a wider audience will increase the demand, and we might finally get a new Wario Land title before the end of the decade.
2. Star Fox
Star Fox 64; Image credit: Nintendo
Star Fox may be one of the most mishandled licenses Nintendo owns. It’s not quite as ignored as the other series on this list, but it has been quite some time since they put any real money behind it. Star Fox 2 was released in 2017 after being shelved for over 20 years. Star Fox Zero was released in 2016, but it was a rail shooter rather than a proper entry in the series.
The last true entry was Star Fox Command in 2006 — meaning that in 2026 it will have been two decades since a proper, original Star Fox game was developed. This fact, along with 2027 being the 30th anniversary of Star Fox 64, Fox McCloud and his mercenary friends may very well barrel roll onto the Switch 2 in the next couple of years.
3. F-Zero
F-Zero 99; Image credit: Nintendo
As the popularity of Mario Kart grew, F-Zero seemed to fade into obscurity. Despite both being racing titles, the two series could not be more different. F-Zero is incredibly fast-paced and known for its brutal difficulty, while Mario Kart is much more accessible. The last proper F-Zero game was F-Zero GP Legend for the Game Boy Advance.
In 2023, Nintendo released F-Zero 99 — a free-to-play battle royale version of the original F-Zero. It was a low-risk effort, but it became surprisingly popular. With this in mind, plus F-Zero GX recently being added to the Nintendo Switch Online service, there is clearly new interest in the series. We could finally see F-Zero get a new, proper entry once Mario and Link have their time to shine on the new hardware.
4. Hotel Dusk
Hotel Dusk: Room 215; Image credit: Nintendo
Hotel Dusk was a cult classic on the Nintendo DS. Its unique approach required players to hold their system sideways, like a book, as they searched for Kyle Hyde’s missing partner. Its sequel, The Last Window, was never released in the United States.
Unfortunately, this was not a surprise to mystery fans. Developer Cing didn’t release the sequel to their other series, Trace Memory, in the US either. However, that sequel did finally come stateside in 2024 as part of Another Code: Recollection, so hopefully Hotel Dusk is due for the same treatment.
A 2025 trademark renewal has us thinking it might not be too far off.
5. Xenogears
Xenogears; Image credit: Square Electronic Arts
Xenoblade Chronicles has become a flagship series for Nintendo consoles over the past decade. However, the Xeno franchise did not begin there. It was preceded by the Xenosaga series on the PlayStation 2, and originated with Xenogears before that.
Creator Tetsuya Takahashi remains a consistent element between the titles, but the gameplay and publishers have changed. Square Enix retains the Xenogears IP, but aside from its PlayStation 3 digital release, the game has been largely ignored by its publisher.
Square, however, has been giving much more attention to its legacy products lately. With remasters of games from the Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Chrono, SaGa, Mana, and Star Ocean series, as well as Live A Live, it seems like only a matter of time before Xenogears is polished for a new generation of gamers.
Which series do you believe will come back from the dead on the Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know which ones — and why — in the comments.
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