Despite all the hype generated by leaks and rumors in the months leading up to its release, theNintendo Switch 2has gotten off to a bit of a slow start. The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April didn’t reveal quite as many first-party launch titles as one might have hoped for, given Nintendo’s history of acclaimed console launch titles likeSuper Mario 64andThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.Mario Kart WorldforNintendo Switch 2has made its mark on the console’s launch, but it hasn’t had much first-party backup. Thankfully, Nintendo has a couple more games of its own coming down the pipeline in July.
For one, the Switch 2 will get an expanded port ofSuper Mario Party Jamboree, the youngest of the first Switch’s range ofMario Partygames.Jamboreewas a hit late in the Switch’s life, so it makes sense to prop up the game again on the Switch 2. For another,Donkey Kongwill finally get to star in a new singleplayer game again by means ofDonkey Kong Bananza.It’s a bit of a shame that neither of these games were available for the Switch 2 on day one, but they’ll still be invaluable to the console this July.
Donkey Kong Bananza and Super Mario Party Jamboree are Just What the Doctor Ordered
Third-Party Games Can’t Carry the Switch 2 Alone
An early sales report forNintendo Switch 2 third-party gamessuggests that these games are struggling to move units;Cyberpunk 2077seems to be getting by, but lots of other games just aren’t. This isn’t necessarily surprising, since many of the Switch 2’s third-party games, likeStreet Fighter 6andYakuza 0, are ports of relatively old games that are already available elsewhere. It’s not easy for Nintendo to encourage fans to pick up the Switch 2 when so many of its games are reruns.
Super Mario Party Jamboree Expands the Switch 2’s Party Game Options
That’s why July will be such a valuable month. First of all,Super Mario Party Jamboreewill offer a multiplayer alternative toMario Kart World. It may be another port, but it comes with a handful of enhancements, ranging from improved performance to new game modes and minigames that make use of theSwitch 2’s mouse controlsand other new features. Admittedly,Jamboree’s Switch 2 edition has its own hill to climb, since some of its functions rely on the Switch 2 Camera peripheral that not every console owner opted for, but it still looks like a solid upgrade.
Donkey Kong Bananza Looks to Break Through
Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, could be a huge possible draw for the Switch 2. In many ways, its 3D platforming format and emphasis on exploration feels much like a spiritual successor to the acclaimedSuper Mario Odyssey– in fact, thanks to ayoung Paulineplaying a supporting role, it may even be a canon prequel toOdyssey.Donkey Kong Bananzalooks like exactly the kind of game any console needs in its early life: a massive evolution for an established franchise that’s still full of love for what came before.
Donkey Kong Bananzafeatures an asymmetrical multiplayer mode similar to theSuper Mario Galaxygames, where a second player can support Donkey Kong by firing projectiles as Pauline using mouse controls.
The Switch 2’s July Games are Only the Beginning
These two games aren’t the only notable July releases for the Switch 2;theTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4remakelaunches early in the month, and Spike Chunsoft will add a new entry in the popular adventure game seriesAI: The Somnium Fileslater on. Still, first-party games are critical for any console, soSuper Mario Party Jamboree’s enhanced edition andDonkey Kong Bananzacould make a big difference. These kinds of games will establish Nintendo’s vision for the Switch 2 and can best prove what the console is capable of, since they’re specifically build with this platform in mind. Here’s hoping that bothSuper Mario Party JamboreeandDonkey Kong Bananzastick the landing in July.
