With the Nintendo Switch 2 releasing this year, it's safe to assume that Nintendo will be relying on its most popular series to ensure the console's success. Over the course of nearly eight years, the original Switch has managed to curate one of the most comprehensive and high-quality game libraries of any Nintendo console, giving the company's latest system some tough competition. From The Legend of Zelda to Animal Crossing, players can expect new entries in these series across the Switch 2's lifespan, maintaining the level of quality established by its predecessor.

That being said, not all Nintendo franchises receive the same with each new console. Several fan-favorite series have gone several years and console generations without a new entry to speak of. It's a shame, as many of these series still have a lot to offer, making them ideal candidates for new entries to boost the Switch 2's game library, allowing the console to rival its predecessor.

10 Mario Baseball

Last Entry Released In 2008

When it comes to Mario sports in general, the franchise received a huge amount of during the Switch era. Multiple Mario sports series received a new entry on the Switch, including the fan-favorite Mario Strikers, ending a 15-year hiatus. However, not all Mario sports series were lucky enough to be granted a new game, one of those being Mario Baseball.

While the Mario Baseball series only has two titles to speak of, both games offer a huge amount of variety. Whether players choose to go through the single-player campaign, or tackle the many different minigames on offer, the Mario Baseball titles are worthy inclusions to the larger Mario sports franchise. Yet, the series hasn't received a new entry since Mario Super Sluggers in 2008, making it long overdue another outing that it could receive with the Switch 2.

9 Nintendogs

Last Entry Released In 2011

It's quite surprising that Nintendogs did not receive a new entry on the Switch, since the console was the perfect fit for the series. The Switch's touchscreen would have allowed players to maintain that level of interaction they were granted with their virtual puppies in the original game. Meanwhile, the Switch's portability would have made it easy for players to maintain care of their pets by checking in on them whenever and wherever.

Considering the huge success of the Nintendogs series, its presence on the Switch would have made perfect sense. Unfortunately, the series has remained dormant since Nintendogs + Cats was released for the 3DS in 2011. Considering the success of other cozy simulation games on Switch such as Animal Crossing on Nintendo hardware, a new Nintendogs game on Switch 2 would be the perfect time for the series to make its grand return.

8 Punch-Out!!

Last Entry Released In 2009

Although the series has received huge acclaim during its lifetime, Punch-Out!! has never had the best luck compared to more successful Nintendo series. With only three home console games under its belt, Punch-Out!! is no stranger to long hiatuses. In fact, the series is currently in the midst of an almost 16-year-long hiatus following the release of Punch-Out!! for the Wii in 2009.

Though its best known for its home console entries, Punch-Out!! started out with two different arcade games, while also receiving a Game & Watch port.

What makes this dormancy so disappointing is how unique a series Punch-Out!! is within Nintendo's multitude of franchises. The one-on-one boxing gameplay is incredibly fast-paced, demanding the most acute timing from players and making for one of the most frenetic experiences of any Nintendo title. This was only elevated with the reboot on the Wii which incorporated motion controls. This is something that can be easily replicated on the Switch 2 with the Joy-Cons, making Punch-Out!! a perfect fit for demonstrating the console's many different playstyles.

7 Chibi-Robo!

Last Entry Released In 2015

Chibi-Robo! stands apart from other Nintendo platformer series through its original premise and approach to gameplay. As players are tasked with completing various chores in a house or garden, the game places heavy emphasis on time management, requiring Chibi-Robo to be plugged in every so often to avoid powering down. This added level of strategy gives the series a unique edge compared to Nintendo's other platformer offerings.

Despite its creativity, Chibi-Robo! has consistently struggled to find huge success similar to the likes of Nintendo's more popular franchises. Moreover, the underwhelming reception of the series' most recent entry, Zip Lash, likely contributed to the character's years of absence. Despite this, Chibi-Robo!'s wild inventiveness and charm makes it a perfect fit for the Switch 2, adding a huge sense of variety to the console's catalog while giving this series a shot at redemption.

6 Wario Land

Last Entry Released In 2008

In general, Wario has had a fairly large presence on the Switch through the character's signature microgames series, WarioWare. Both Get It Together! and Move It! serve as fantastic additions to the WarioWare series, with the latter game being a great showcase of the Switch's motion controls. However, Nintendo's focus on WarioWare has caused the plumber's other signature series to be left behind.

Wario Land takes the most basic elements of the Super Mario Land games that preceded it and makes significant changes to the controls and level design to better suit Wario's more aggressive personality and money-hungry habits. This difference in gameplay makes for a series of highly engaging and bombastic platformers that unfortunately hasn't received a new title since Wario Land: Shake It! in 2008. With the Switch 2, hopefully the time has come for Wario to return to his platforming roots, ensuring both of his series are given the same treatment.

5 Tomodachi

Last Entry Released In 2014

The Tomodachi series perfectly encapsulates the weird yet lovable nature of Miis, Nintendo's avatar creator. Both Tomodachi Collection and Tomodachi Life provided players with a highly enjoyable, albeit simplistic, social simulation that allowed for a greater level of accessibility than services like the Mii Plaza could provide. Beyond that, both titles embraced a weird and comedic tone that helped the series to stand out.

Tomodachi Life was the only game in the series to receive a worldwide release, with Tomodachi Collection being a Japan-exclusive game for the DS.

Unfortunately, the series has since suffered a decade-long absence, while Miis became less prominent during the Switch era. It's hugely disappointing, since the Miis were a defining part of Nintendo's identity during the Wii and Wii U eras. The Switch 2 provides a perfect opportunity for Miis to make the comeback they deserve, while a new Tomodachi game will continue to showcase the charm and absurdity that makes Nintendo's avatars so beloved.

4 Donkey Kong

Last Entry Released In 2014

The that Donkey Kong has seen on Switch is incredibly deceptive. The series has had a huge presence on Nintendo's most recent console, with a handful of remasters and ports being released, while many of the most beloved Donkey Kong games have been made available through the Nintendo Switch Online service. The wealth of Donkey Kong content released on the Switch can easily distract players from the fact that the series hasn't received a brand-new entry in 11 years.

The lack of new Donkey Kong games is surprising, especially considering how successful and popular the series has become. Donkey Kong has often been at the forefront of the platforming genre, with the series' most recent entry, Tropical Freeze, serving as one of Nintendo's best platformers of the last few console generations. Donkey Kong's long history of critically-acclaimed and commercially successful games makes this hiatus all the more baffling and proves the need for the series to make a comeback on Switch 2.

3 Kid Icarus

Last Entry Released In 2012

Kid Icarus is arguably the one Nintendo series with the most untapped potential. Starting out with two platforming titles for the NES and Game Boy, the series made a surprise comeback in 2012 with Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS. The game's shift to the third-person shooter genre was a bold move that paid off, breathing new life into the series while presenting an ambitious path forward for future entries to follow.

Despite the acclaim Uprising received, Nintendo has yet to follow up with a new entry in the Kid Icarus series. With no new game to speak of, the series has begun falling back into obscurity as Nintendo refuses to take advantage of Kid Icarus's potential. With the release of the Switch 2, the series has another chance at a revival, once again showing the mountain of potential Kid Icarus has to become one of Nintendo's most successful franchises.

2 Star Fox

Last Entry Released In 2016

There was a time when Star Fox reached similar levels of success to Nintendo's other major franchises. Both the SNES original and Star Fox 64 were fantastic on-rail shooters that were crucial to proving the potential of 3D gaming, becoming hugely influential titles in their own right. However, following these two games, Star Fox consistently struggled to find its footing across a multitude of entries, causing the series' popularity to decline.

While Star Fox Zero was the latest game developed for the series, Nintendo revived the previously canceled Star Fox 2 in 2017 for the release of the SNES: Classic Edition.

The negative reception of 2016's Star Fox Zero further cemented the series' fate, resulting in the nine-year hiatus that the franchise is currently experiencing. Despite its unfortunate history, Star Fox remains a beloved series among Nintendo's many iconic IPs that's deserving of a chance at a comeback. With that in mind, the Switch 2 could provide Star Fox with another opportunity to return to the series' former glory.

1 F-Zero

Last Entry Released In 2004

F-Zero is undoubtedly one of the most influential racing series in gaming history. Unlike the light-hearted fun and accessibility of Mario Kart, F-Zero is far more competitive in its approach. Its high speed and challenging gameplay was unlike anything that was seen in racing games of the time, revolutionizing the genre and serving as major influences for other high-speed racing series.

Despite its influence, F-Zero has never had the best luck as a Nintendo series. The franchise has endured over 20 years of dormancy despite demand for a comeback, while the Switch's free-to-play spin-off, F-Zero 99, failed to give fans the revival that the series needed. Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is approaching release, F-Zero might finally get the chance to receive a brand-new, fully fledged mainline entry that puts the series back into the spotlight it deserves to be in.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube