The first Nintendo Direct of this year has just taken place! The March 2025 Nintendo Direct was broadcast just days before the highly anticipated Switch 2 Direct, which will reveal more about the successor to one of the best-selling consoles of all time next week. The surprise Direct was only announced 24 hours before it aired, and it marked the first major showcase since the stream in June 2024. If you didn’t get a chance to tune in live when it premiered, then here’s everything that was announced in the Nintendo Direct for March 2025.
Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD 2D Remake new trailer revealed
The Nintendo Direct for March 2025 kicked off with a new trailer for Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD Remake. The remake of the classic NES RPGs boasts the same stunning visual overhaul seen in the remake of Dragon Quest 3. It’s launching in 2025.
AI: The Somnium Files series returns
Sticking with Japanese developers, Spike Chunsoft were next up with their next game in the detective series AI: The Somnium Files. No Sleep For Kaname Date is the third game in the series, and sees the protagonist of the original game return, hunting for an J-pop idol who has gone missing. Dive into people’s dreams to search for clues as you investigate her disappearance.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files is out on the Nintendo Switch on 25th July 2025.
Atlus debuts new remaster
This Direct has opened with lots of news from Japanese developers. Next Atlus are up, with the Persona makers announcing a remaster of one of their Devil Summoner games, which is part of the Megami Tensei franchise. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is another RPG, which mixes investigation elements and battling demons in a 1900s-style version of Japan. If you’ve played any of the Persona games, you’ll see some familiar faces in battle like the cherry-looking demon Jack Frost.
It’s out on 19th June 2025, with pre-orders beginning later today.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army – Official Reveal Trailer | Nintendo Direct 2025PAC-MAN Metroidvania coming to Switch
Next up we’ve got an alternative take on one of gaming’s most iconic franchises – PAC-MAN. Shadow Labyrinth is a Metroidvania-style game that gives an alternative take on the adventures of the puck-shaped, ghost-chomping character. This time around though, PAC-MAN has been reimagined as Puck, who guides a hooded hero around a maze-like, futuristic world that has been ravaged by wars and is filled with menacing looking monsters you’ll have to battle. It’s much darker than the usual PAC-MAN fare, but it does still feature the iconic ‘waka-waka’ sound effects.
Shadow Labyrinth is out on the Nintendo Switch on 18th July 2025.
Patapon remasters announced
Now for a complete change of pace, remasters of the colourful rhythm game Patapon have been announced for the Switch. Remasters of both the original Patapon and its sequel will be bundled together in one package called Patapon 1 + Patapon 2 Replay. The games initially launched as exclusives for Sony’s first handheld, the PSP, with the now defunct Japan Studio one of the developers.
Patapon 1 + Patapon 2 Replay is out on 11th July 2025.
DS farming game gets Story of Seasons remake
Good news for fans of cosy farming games, a new entry in the Story of Seasons series has been revealed. Story of Seasons – Grand Bazaar is a remake of the DS game of the same name. Well, kind of the same name as back then it was Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar. If that sounds a bit confusing, then that’s because it is – as Story of Seasons was originally an off-shoot of the Harvest Moon series, but now both franchises are owned by the same publisher.
All you need to know though is Story of Seasons – Grand Bazaar will offer the same relaxing mix of farming and life-sim gameplay that players have enjoyed since the original Harvest Moon games in the 90s. It’s out on 27th August 2025.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gets new trailer
Next we’ve got the first huge announcement from the Direct, a new trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. We got a look at the game’s exploration mechanics and its FPS-style battles, along with its gorgeous graphics that are seriously impressive for the Switch. It looks great, and the latest trailer confirmed it’s coming in 2025.
Disney Villains Cursed Cafe gets shadow dropped
It wouldn’t be a Nintendo Direct with a shadow dropped release. This time around it’s Disney Villains Cursed Cafe, which has players running a cafe and crafting concoctions for iconic Disney villains like Cruella de Vil and Ursula. It’s out later today.
Wargroove maker’s next game
Next up we have a new trailer for the next game from the makers of indie gems Wargroove and Eastward. Witchbrook is a life-sim where you’ll learn spells at an academy for witches, make friends and find love. You’ll also be able to hang out with up to four players online as you explore the game’s pixelated, seaside world. It’s out holiday 2025.
Cel-shaded platformer The Eternal Life of Goldman
How many platform games do you get to play as an elderly man with a cane? Not many, but that’s exactly what The Eternal Life of Goldman is. It’s a lovely looking cel-shaded game set in a steam punk-style world. It’s out on the Switch during holiday 2025.
Gradius collection announced for 40th anniversary
Shmup fans rejoice, we’re getting a Gradius collection! Classic shoot ’em ups from the beloved Konami series along with games from the Salamander franchise are being bundled together in Gradius Origins, which is being released to celebrate its 40th anniversary. It’s out 7th August 2025 with pre-orders opening later today.
Guitar Hero-style spin-off for Crypt of the NecroDancer
It’s time for another shadow dropped game! This time around it’s Rift of the NecroDancer, a Guitar Hero-style spin-off to Crypt of the NecroDancer. It’s out on the Nintendo eShop later today.
Tamagotchi Plaza revealed
Next up we’ve got Tamagotchi Plaza, a colourful game where you look after Tamagotchis, those cute, electronic pets which were all the rage in the 90s. It’s out on the Nintendo Switch on 27th June 2025.
New trailer for Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Time for another big first-party announcement. Pokémon Legends: Z-A recently appeared during the Pokémon Direct for Pokémon Day 2025, but we’ve got another closer look at it and its Paris-style futuristic setting. It’s out late 2025.
Rhythm Heaven makes a comeback
Great news for fans of rhythm action games, the Rhythm Heaven series is making a return. Rhythm Heaven Groove will be the first new game in the series in almost 10 years, and the reveal trailer showed off the quirky rhythm-based mini-games the franchise is known for. It’s out in 2026.
High on Life heading to Switch
The former Xbox exclusive High on Life is heading to the Nintendo Switch. It’s a first-person shooter from the co-creator of Rick and Morty, and it’s out on 6th May 2025.
Action RPG Star Overdrive revealed
Next, we got a brief snippet of action RPG Star Overdrive. It features cel-shaded graphics, sword-based combat and hoverboarding which is always cool. It’s out 10th April 2025 with pre-orders available now.
The Wandering Village gets showcased
After that we got a little look at The Wandering Village, a colourful strategy game with cartoon-style graphics, where players manage a village that’s on top of some sort of dinosaur-like creature. It’s out 17th July 2025.
King of Meat looks like Splatoon-style fun
If you like Splatoon, King of Meat could be right up your street. It’s a co-op, hack and slash game with colourful levels and cartoon-style characters. It’s out in 2025.
Adventure game Lou’s Lagoon coming to Switch
Next up, we got a little look at Lou’s Lagoon, an adventure game heading to the Nintendo Switch this summer. Players head to a vibrant world in search of their missing uncle who has gone missing. You’ll explore the island, hunt for resources and it looks like it even has Pilotwings-style mini-games.
Fantasy Life i gets release date trailer
Level-5 showcased a new trailer for FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time and announced its release date. The next game from the Ni No Kuni and Professor Layton makers is out on 21st May 2025.
Saga Frontier Remastered 2 revealed
This Direct began with news from Japanese news developers, and they’re back once again. This time around, it’s Square Enix who revealed a remaster of Saga Frontier 2, which originally launched on the PlayStation. If you can’t wait to play it, good news – it’s out today! This could be a record for the most amount of shadow dropped games in one Direct.
Monument Valley heads to Switch
The award-winning Monument Valley games, which previously were only available on smartphones and PCs, are heading to the Nintendo Switch. The first two games are launching on 15th April 2025, while the third game in the isometric puzzle series is out summer 2025.
Sony franchise Everybody’s Golf gets new Switch game
What’s this? We’ve already had the former PlayStation exclusive Patapon announced for the Switch in this Direct. And now another Sony franchise is heading to Nintendo’s hybrid console. This time it’s a brand new entry in the Everybody’s Golf franchise, which began on the PS1 back in 1997. The new game in the cute sports series is Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, and it launches on the Switch in 2025.
Streets of Rage 4 dev making new Marvel beat ’em up
Dotemu, the makers of some of the best beat ’em ups in recent memory, are back again. After Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, their next project that will delight fans of old school arcade-action is Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Players can take control of Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America, among other comic book icons, in the side-scroller with 16-bit style graphics. It supports four player locan and online multiplayer, and it’s out holiday 2025.
Tomodachi Life is back!
We still have time for a few more big announcements. This time around the beloved, hidden gem series that is Tomodachi Life is making a return! The life-sim last appeared on the 3DS over 10 years ago, and it will be making a comeback next year with Tomodachi Life Living The Dream. The reveal trailer showcased the Mii characters that will roam around the game’s world, along with the charming, quirky adventures characters will get up to. It’s out in 2026.
Nintendo Today app announced
The final reveal of the Nintendo Direct for March 2025 wasn’t a game, it was a new app. It’s called Nintendo Today, and it will be available after the upcoming Switch 2 Direct in April. Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto revealed the app, which will let users keep up to date with Nintendo news and keep track of future events. After the Switch 2 Direct, the app will also deliver news on the highly anticipated console “daily”.
Hope you enjoyed the first Nintendo Direct of 2025! Next up, we’ve got the Switch 2 Direct to look forward to in April.
