After the most recentNintendo Directshowed off upcoming games for the Switch 2, I’m convinced we need a return to 2022’s infamous “farming” Direct. That isn’t to say that the Switch 2 isn’t getting good games; the new games for the system look like a lot of fun, and I was happy to see the Switch 2 can handle games likeElden RingandCyberpunk. But it still feels like the Switch 2’s games lineup is missing something very important.
I think the Switch 2 havingMario Kart Worldas a launch titleis a smart move. It’s one of Nintendo’s beloved franchises, and it is appealing to a wide range of players thanks to it being equal parts accessible and cutthroat. This, mixed with some AAA ports, makes the Switch 2 a good console for a lot of players, but one subsection of the gaming community does seem somewhat underserved by the Switch 2’s new games.Getting a new farming Direct would be the perfect way to solve this issue.
Nintendo’s Farming Direct Is A Little Infamous
A 2022 Nintendo Direct Was Criticized For Too Many Farming Games
Nintendo’s “farming” Direct was aNintendo Directfrom June 19, 2025.The video earned its moniker because it showed off five games that had farming elements, andFactorio,which was close to a farming sim in spirit. Popular gaming YouTubervideogamedunkeyalso humorously compared this Nintendo Direct to Sony’s State of Play from around the same time, in which he juxtaposed these farming games to the more exciting announcements Sony had made likeGod of War Ragnarök.
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Now, I will say that the criticism of the Nintendo Direct was probably a little overblown. The video previewed about 40 games, and discussed updates for games likeMario Kart 8andMario Strikers: Battle League. Aside fromfarming games only making up about 15% of what was previewed, this Nintendo Direct also showed off the very well-receivedFire Emblem Engage, announcedPikmin 4, and gave a release date forTheLegend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That said, I can understand the disappointment of players who didn’t see anything for them personally in the announcement.
Whether or not the “farming” Direct’s nickname or infamy was well-earned, it’s hard not to think about it now after seeing the recentSwitch 2 Nintendo Direct. Now, I’m not saying I would trade the Switch 2 Direct for what we got back in 2022, and there was a lot to love about Nintendo’s recent announcements. However,it would still be nice if we could get some more new cozy games for the Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is Low On Cozy Game Reveals
Switch 2 Only Has One New Cozy Game So Far
There were a lot of games announced for Nintendo Switch 2, but very few of them were cozy games. And, except for the upcomingTomodachi Life: Living the Dream,it doesn’t seem like there are any new cozy games for the console just yet. I had somewhat hoped to seea newAnimal Crossinggameget announced, seeing as it’s been about five years sinceAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsoriginally came out. Unfortunately, there is still no official word on whether a new game is in the works, which is a big exclusion for Switch 2’s current slate.
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Now, cozy games aren’t necessarily my go-to genre, but not having any new ones on the Switch 2 seems like a big downside for the system. As someone who plays on multiple platforms, Switch games - and now Switch 2 games - need to give me a reason to choose their versions of games over versions on PC or PS5. To me,being a platform for cozy games is one of the things the Switch does better than the competition.
Maybe it’s partially the nostalgia for my old Game Boy Color, but being able to play games on the Switch while getting comfortable in bed or on the couch makes it the perfect venue for cozy games. The longer we go between new installments of Nintendo’s major franchises, like 3D Mario games orSuper Smash Bros., the moreI find myself only reaching for my Switch when I feel like relaxing and playing a laid-back game.
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Although I’m excited aboutDonkey Kong Bananza,and I’m sureMario Kart Worldwill certainly keep me busy for a while,I’m not convinced I need a new console just for a couple of games, especially not at theSwitch 2’s launch price. I also already own a lot of the third-party games announced for the Switch 2 on other platforms. Announcing some new cozy games would be a huge motivator for me to buy a Switch 2.
A Serious Farming Direct Could Build Switch 2 Hype
A Nintendo Direct Dedicated To Cozy Games Would Capture A New Audience
While I don’t think it was Nintendo’s intention to make the September 2022 Nintendo Direct a farming-focused event, I think if they were to commit to actually doing something like that for the Switch 2, it would be very exciting. Now, I don’t mean the event should just focus on farming sims specifically; that would be somewhat underwhelming. Rather,I think the Switch 2 needs a separate Nintendo Direct dedicated to how it will serve fans of cozy gameslike the ones that were announced back in 2022.
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I doubt I’m the only person that sees their Switch as their dedicated console for relaxing games, andNintendo consoles have always been a good go-to option for players who are into a more casual gaming experience. I’d guess there is a sizable crossover between fans of cozy games, and players considering buying a Switch 2, but right now the platform doesn’t have much for the cozy game crowd to get excited about. A Nintendo Direct addressing this crowd specifically, and maybe announcing a newAnimal Crossinggame, could help sell the system to a wider audience.
I’m sure that there are plans to bring more cozy games to the Switch 2, and I would be very surprised if we didn’t get aport ofThe Sims 4. That said, I still think it would be a good move for Nintendo to announce it at a dedicatedNintendo Direct. They might just want to tip off players ahead of time that it will be focused on cozy games, so nobody is as disappointed as they were back in 2022.
