I’ll admit, I wasn’t thrilled when Nintendo announced a Partner Showcase instead of a full-blown Nintendo Direct. Like many of you, I was hoping for news about first-party Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives lined up for 2025 and beyond. That being said, the Partner Showcase still had some surprises.
While it didn’t focus much on exclusives, it brought several third-party reveals worth talking about, and I’ll happily break down the highlights. Let’s start with the surprise from Capcom.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Takes Flight
Yep, that was a heck of a way to start things off. It’s good to see Capcom treating its monster-hunting spinoff RPGs with as much love as the mainline titles. Sadly, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection isn’t exclusive to the Switch 2—it’s also heading to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam in 2026. Still, fans of the first two entries in the series should be excited.
Persona 3 Reload and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Hit the Switch 2
Both of these titles had been rumored to appear on the Nintendo Switch 2—and even on the original Switch—for quite some time. I personally loved Persona 3 Reload (as my review notes), and I know plenty of people who adored Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero (as Scott’s review shows). Whether or not these games will sell big on Nintendo’s new system remains to be seen, but their arrival is a welcome surprise.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Makes a Strong Return
Arguably, the most exciting trailer of the entire showcase was for a title many probably forgot was considered a third-party game: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. While we still don’t have a solid release date, the teaser footage does enough to build anticipation. Hopefully, a deeper look isn’t too far away. For now, it’s still on track for a “winter” release.
Square Enix Showcases The Adventures of Elliot and Octopath Traveler 0
Square Enix brought not one, but four titles to the showcase. Among them, the standout for many is The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. Unlike other HD-2D games from Square, Elliot is doing its own thing with action-RPG elements and a time-traveling storyline. It looks promising and refreshingly different.
We also got the reveal of Octopath Traveler 0, a new entry that blends elements from the series and its mobile spinoff. This time around, you play as a customizable protagonist seeking revenge and rebuilding your destroyed village. With over 30 characters to recruit and a continent to explore, there’s a lot packed into this next chapter.
Final Thoughts
So while the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase may not have been “the biggest thing ever,” it did show that the Nintendo Switch 2 has solid third-party support. That’s encouraging for the platform’s future—even if we still want to see more from Nintendo’s first-party studios.
If you want to catch everything for yourself, here’s the full showcase:
