Famitsu's Most Wanted Games Hint at Nintendo's Big 2026 Lineup

Japan’s latest Famitsu Most Wanted rankings show fans eagerly waiting for major releases like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Pokémon Winds and Waves, Fire Emblem Fortune Weave, and Splatoon Raiders, hinting at a huge road ahead for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo’s future is looking incredibly busy, and if Japan’s latest most-wanted games list is anything to go by, fans have plenty of reasons to be excited. According to the sources, Famitsu’s newest rankings are packed with highly anticipated titles, led by a mix of legendary franchises and fresh entries that could shape the Nintendo Switch 2’s next few years.

From long-awaited RPGs to action adventures and blockbuster remakes, the list reflects what players are most eager to play. While third-party games like Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Ace Combat 8, Persona 4 Revival, and Grand Theft Auto 6 all earned strong interest, Nintendo’s own lineup is grabbing most of the attention.

And sitting near the center of that excitement is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Fans are still waiting for Nintendo to properly unveil the highly rumored remake, but anticipation has only grown stronger. Every small rumor seems to spark another round of discussions, whether it's about the game's graphics, possible pricing, or how closely it will follow the original Nintendo 64 classic.

Many believe Nintendo is holding back the big revelation for the franchise’s approaching 40th anniversary celebrations. Should that occur, the business may spend an entire conference talking about Zelda, as it has done with Mario in the past.
That opens the door to all kinds of possibilities.

Could Nintendo finally show the first real gameplay footage of Ocarina of Time?

Could fans finally get official confirmation of the long-rumored Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD collection? Or perhaps the company will surprise everyone with a first look at the upcoming Zelda movie alongside new game announcements. While there’s not much official to go on now, the hype surrounding Zelda just goes to demonstrate how essential the franchise continues to be. Ocarina of Time could become Nintendo's biggest holiday release this year.

That would make sense as the company continues pushing Switch 2 sales toward its ambitious goals. Nintendo reportedly wants to sell around 36 million Switch 2 consoles by the end of March 2027. That's a huge target, and blockbuster games will be just as important as the hardware itself. A game like Zelda has the potential to convince millions of players to finally make the jump to Nintendo's newest system.  Of course, Zelda won't be carrying the holiday season by itself.

Fire Emblem Fortune Weave is also shaping up to be one of the Switch 2's biggest RPGs. According to the sources, the new entry appears much larger and more polished than Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Sharper images, smoother animations, updated soundtrack and several story lines that promote revisiting the game. The stronger hardware of the Switch 2 also seems to be giving the developers room to create larger environments and more detailed battles.

Since Three Houses became one of the best-selling games in the series, expectations for Fortune Weave are naturally high.
Splatoon Raiders is another game that’s steadily generating excitement. Recent public demonstrations have had a tremendous influence, according to the sources. Instead of keeping to the competitive multiplayer formula that made Splatoon famous, Raiders develops into something far greater.

The game is a blend of action, adventure, RPG progression and co-op gameplay all into one experience.

Players can try out different battle tactics, change the difficulty, and team up with up to three buddies for larger tasks. It also takes themes from a few earlier Splatoon games, including bits and pieces inspired by Salmon Run and the series’ story-driven campaigns. That combination has many fans feeling like Splatoon Raiders could be the most complete entry the franchise has seen yet.

Then there's Pokémon, another franchise carrying enormous expectations. According to the sources, Pokémon Winds and Waves could become one of Nintendo's biggest releases in 2027. There's no official release date for the game just yet, but many are anticipating it will arrive either early or late next year, in line with the typical release schedule for big Pokémon games. More than anything else, this game is a chance for Game Freak to earn back players’ trust.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were a big economic success but also faced criticism over technological flaws and performance problems. Since then many fans had anticipated the following generation will receive more development time. According to the sources, Winds and Waves appears to be benefiting from both a longer production cycle and the improved power of the Switch 2.

The first footage has already shown noticeable improvements in graphics and overall presentation, although there's still plenty left to reveal before launch. Can this finally be the polished Pokémon adventure fans have been waiting for? That's one of the biggest questions hanging over Nintendo's upcoming lineup.

Outside of Nintendo's own games, the Famitsu rankings also highlight strong interest in several major third-party releases.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation remains one of Japan’s most anticipated games, a testament to the amazing momentum of Square Enix’s iconic RPG franchise. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is another title grabbing notice, while Capcom's Onimusha: Way of the Sword is resurrecting a renowned action brand after years away.

Ace Combat 8 has also been added to several wishlists, proving the long-running flight combat game is still wanted.
Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to build steam around the world including Japan, and Persona 4 Revival remains one of the most anticipated RPG remakes on the horizon.

Looking at the complete list, one thing is obvious.

Not only are players interested for fresh concepts, they’re just as excited to go back to traditional worlds with modern technologies. Established series are discovering new methods to keep things fresh, whether that’s Zelda in an all-new form, Pokémon trying to build a beefier technical basis, or Splatoon expanding into a broader action adventure.

The sources say Nintendo has a critical stretch coming up. The Switch 2 isn't relying on one mega-hit to shoulder the burden. Instead, it seems to be constructing a stable lineup that hits almost every genre, giving players things to look forward to all year. If these games deliver, the Switch 2 could be in store for one of the best software lineups Nintendo has put together in years.

With Zelda, Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Splatoon, and several major third-party games all waiting in the wings, the months ahead could be packed with memorable releases. The only question now is this—when Nintendo finally starts revealing everything, which game will end up stealing the show?