Switch 2 hits one-year mark with 0 new 3D Mario or Zelda

Nintendo Switch 2 turned one on June 5, 2026, and in that first year, fans are still waiting on the two headline franchises that usually define a Nintendo console launch cycle: new 3D Mario and new The Legend Of Zelda entries.

The console has plenty of activity. Nintendo Switch 2 launched last year with Mario Kart World, described in the coverage as the biggest and most ambitious entry in the long-running racing series. Over the past 12 months, other exclusive games such as 3D platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Pokemon Pokopia, and Yoshi And The Mysterious Book were released. The Nintendo Switch Online Classics Library also includes GameCube, N64, and other vintage Nintendo titles. Meanwhile, more than 20 million Nintendo Switch 2 consoles have been sold in its first year, making it the second fastest-selling Nintendo console in the UK after the Wii.

So how did we end up at “still waiting for new Mario and Zelda”? The answer is that success on hardware does not automatically solve the job that software does. Platform adoption builds an audience, but the audience keeps showing up for releases that signal “this is a once-a-generation moment.” In the source, multiple fans argue that first-party exclusives are “lacklustre,” specifically calling out the absence of new 3D Mario and Zelda titles and implying that Nintendo has not delivered enough of the system’s traditional flagship pull.

One Reddit commenter captured the frustration in blunt terms: “It’s been a year, and Switch 2 has like maybe 5 games. What the fuck is Nintendo even doing?” Another said they “need some stronger first party titles,” adding that a “big 3D Mario, Zelda or new Smash Bros would have been nice to have closer to launch.” Not everyone agrees with the negative framing. A different fan praised the experience, saying they have “loved absolutely every single minute of the Switch 2,” calling it “just an excellent experience top to bottom.” And an optimistic take suggested that “a good year” may be coming, with stronger first-party releases on the way.

That split matters because it sets up two different narratives for decision-makers. The positive narrative is that the install base is real and the platform is being played. The coverage backs that with the “more than 20million” sales figure and the “second fastest-selling” UK ranking. The other narrative is more dangerous for Nintendo-style platforms: even when users are happy, the lack of marquee first-party releases can flatten excitement, delay word-of-mouth, and weaken the platform’s calendar gravity just when competitors are moving.

Third-party and library support help, but they do not fully replace Nintendo’s own tentpoles. The source points to Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis coming to the Switch 2 early next year, along with other third-party titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, Borderlands 4, and Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. That’s meaningful because it keeps the system’s “reasons to buy” list active. But if first-party is underweight, the system can end up being a great place to play, without being the place people urgently need to own.

The most interesting timing questions are in the rumors and schedules mentioned in the coverage. A remake of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time is “rumoured” to be in the works. A new 3D Mario adventure is reported to “reportedly won’t launch until 2027.” Those dates create a clear risk window: the console’s first year ended on June 8, 2026 with fans openly asking where the big releases are, and the next major first-party expectations are pushed into the future. If you are an operator, investor, or founder watching platform ecosystems, this is the moment where the release roadmap becomes part of the market narrative, not just an internal plan.

There is also a broader culture signal embedded here. The coverage shifts briefly to entertainment crossover, noting that Snoop Dogg confirmed Tupac Shakur’s likeness will be used in Stranger Than Heaven, a new game from the creators of the Like A Dragon series. While not directly about Switch 2’s Mario and Zelda gap, it reinforces how modern game releases increasingly lean on recognizable IP and public figures, raising the bar for what “must-have” looks like.

In board terms, the strategic stake is simple. Switch 2 can sell through momentum, and it clearly has, with over 20 million units sold in its first year. But a Nintendo platform usually wins long-term by converting that installed base into recurring, emotionally sticky demand. If the calendar does not deliver the marquee 3D Mario and The Legend Of Zelda moments when expectations are highest, the platform risks becoming a strong device with a weaker “system identity.” Peer platforms, publishers, and content partners will watch how Nintendo uses the next stretch of time to close the gap between hardware love and flagship proof.