Another GameCube classic, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, is finally playable on the Switch 2. Nintendo has been slowly unlocking games for members of its Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription service, and it announced during the February 2026 Pokemon Presents livestream that the spiritual successor to the classic Pokemon Stadium and Colosseum games would be out in March.
Considered a fan-favorite, the 2005 game is notable for its storyline, and it was the closest thing to a 3D Pokemon adventure at the time. While the mainline series would graduate to the Nintendo DS consoles a year later with Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, N64 and GameCube spin-offs had primarily focused on one aspect of the franchise or took it in an entirely different direction. While Gale of Darkness had mixed reviews upon release, it’s still fondly remembered by the Pokemon fandom for its narrative and the hunt to catch all 83 Shadow Pokemon, including the cover star Shadow Lugia.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise, and while there are plans to celebrate this milestone, don’t expect the next mainline entry in the series to be included. Pokemon Winds and Waves was officially revealed last month, but Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are allowing the developer more time to cook, as it’s currently scheduled to be released in 2027 for Switch 2.
The good news is that the franchise does have a new game to dive into, and it’s out now. Pokemon Pokopia has emerged as a sleeper hit for the franchise, becoming one of the fastest-selling Pokemon spin-offs in less than a week and helping to raise Nintendo’s stock by 10%. As of March 12, 2026, sales for the cozy Pokemon game have surpassed 2.2 million copies. That puts it ahead of other Pokemon spin-offs like Pokken Tournament, Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, and the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX remake.
