I’m convinced the Switch 2 can bring back Nintendo’s cutest abandoned franchise

There’s no shortage of Nintendo franchises that could appear on the Nintendo Switch 2but one in particular is perfectly poised for a comeback. While the successor to the Nintendo Switch has yet to be officially announced, there is good reason to believe it will arrive in 2025, leaving plenty of room for speculation about what its launch year will be like. Although I would bet more money on a new 3D Mario game as a systems seller, a lot of assumptions come into play when thinking about releases that aren’t as predictable.

Nintendo has a habit of leaving great IPs asideat least for a while, and it’s easy to fall into illusions about a new Icarus Boy or F-Zero. With many franchises selling extremely well, it is not surprising that some are not prioritized. However, one that I would like to return has been nothing more than a bestseller so far, and the 13 years it spent out of the spotlight were much longer than necessary.

Nintendogs deserves to be on Switch 2

Nobody did pet simulation like Nintendo

Like many people on the cusp of Gen Z, I grew up with Nintendogsthe original Nintendo DS takes on pet simulation. While it was far from the first game of its kind, there was something about Nintendogs that was special. As a technological showcase for DS features like the stylus and microphone Nintendogs offered interactions with its polygonal creatures that felt a little closer to reality. I couldn’t say no to Dachsund and friendswhich had many of my favorite breeds, including a golden retriever that I trained to perfection in agility trials.

The phenomenon of Nintendogs is admittedly difficult to replicate, because the appeal of the venture was directly tied to how progressive DS felt at the time. It had a second showing on the 3DS with Nintendogs + Catshowever, and it was still a success for the second time. The 4.69 million units sold, noted in the Video Game Sales WikiIt doesn’t compare to the nearly 24 million copies of the DS versions, but that still puts it comfortably above games like The Legend of Zelda: a link between worlds among the top 15 3DS sellers.

I admit I don’t have a specific pitch ready for a third party Nintendogs – adding another type of pet would be a good point of appeal, but would make for a particularly inelegant title. I don’t know if he particularly needs one, though. Almost two decades after the original NintendogsThe idea of ​​a pet simulation game that looks better than the rest still appeals greatly to me, and the variety of imitators the series has spawned doesn’t mollify me.

The Switch 2 could be the perfect Nintendogs platform

Joy-Cons are the ideal instrument

When it comes to a future Nintendogs game, the big question comes down to how well it could translate to a system that isn’t part of the DS family, but I think the Switch’s successor could still be a great home. In my opinion, the key is in the Joy-Cons, which should return with a Nintendo Switch 2. With gyroscope motion tracking and HD rumble, Joy-Cons provide a method of interacting with virtual pets that could recapture much of what the DS managed and add another sensory layer to the mix.

The same could be said about the original Nintendo Switch, obviously, but that ship has essentially sailed and the Switch 2 could have some unique advantages. More significantly, there is room for a leap in fidelity that could help a new Nintendogs do away with previous entries in the seriesS. has always aimed for something closer to realism than most Nintendo games, and hardware improvements could open the door to realistic skin simulation that the Switch would have struggled with.

You could argue that transitioning to cell phones would make more sense for Nintendogsbut personally I’d rather see it on the Switch 2. While a more comfortable pocket system would maintain the appeal of a virtual pet accessible at all times, the concept also inspires dread of increasing monetization and an endless supply of menus in me, and I’ve never been completely satisfied with any of Nintendo’s previous mobile ventures. Either way, Nintendo also appears to have lost most of its interest in the phone market, so it’s an unlikely path forward.

The success of the Switch paves the way for Nintendo’s comeback

Nintendo is on top of the world again

Nintendo’s abandonment of mobile ventures is tied to the company’s major shift over the past generation, with the success of the Switch leaving the faltering Wii U era squarely in the past. The Switch 2 should be able to build on this boostand this gives you the leverage you need to make concepts like a Nintendogs truly viable return. The best example may be in the fortunately timed release of Animal Crossing: New Horizonswhich showed how a generally popular Nintendo franchise could turn into a household name overnight.

While replicating this perfect luck is probably impossible, there are many things that a new Nintendogs could do to achieve a similar increase in success. Doubling the multiplayer possibilities would be a big step, as Nintendogs the games had pretty anemic social elements. If virtual pet owners could directly compete in competitions or socialize with their dogs on a Switch 2 Nintendogs release, could easily become a comfortable, casual way to connect with friends online.

Nintendo has likely been planning the Switch 2 library for years, and if a Nintendogs the game is not underway yet, it could be a long time before someone has a chance to show up. I think it would be the perfect fit, and I would definitely be tempted to get back into the virtual pet game if Nintendogs was back on the market. The possibilities of Nintendo Switch 2 games are essentially infinite, but Nintendogs It’s one of the options I’d most like to see.

Source: Video Game Sales Wiki