Nintendo’s latest Indie World Showcase, held in August 2025, delivered a wave of excitement for fans of creative and unconventional games. With over 20 indie titles revealed or updated, the presentation made it clear that Nintendo’s commitment to indie developers is stronger than ever—especially as the company prepares for the full launch of its highly anticipated Switch 2 console.
The showcase spotlighted a diverse range of genres and styles, from story-rich adventures to experimental puzzlers and roguelike platformers. Some titles are headed to the current Nintendo Switch, while others are being optimized exclusively for the Switch 2, taking advantage of its improved hardware, faster load times, and expanded graphical capabilities.
Among the standout reveals was Harmonium: Threads of Sound, a narrative-driven rhythm platformer where players traverse a synesthetic world shaped by music and memory. Built with Switch 2’s haptic audio technology in mind, the game delivers real-time feedback based on tempo and pitch, providing an immersive and responsive gameplay experience. It’s set for a November 2025 release.
Another surprise hit from the showcase was Underroot, a cozy but eerie life-sim meets survival-crafting game set inside a giant sentient forest. Developed by the creators of Spiritfarer, Underroot invites players to cultivate fungal colonies, befriend insect-like villagers, and uncover ancient myths. It’s launching on both Switch and Switch 2 in early 2026, with cloud-save compatibility across platforms.
Also generating buzz was Hyper Runners, a vibrant multiplayer racing game featuring procedurally generated obstacle courses and online co-op. Designed with speedrunners in mind, the title supports up to 16 players in competitive or cooperative modes and will debut as a Switch 2 exclusive in December 2025.
Returning favorites were also given the spotlight. Fans of Hollow Knight: Silksong were treated to a new gameplay trailer confirming its presence at Gamescom 2025, with hands-on demos available for both PC and Switch 2. While no release date was confirmed, the updated footage showcased new abilities, biomes, and refined combat mechanics—enough to reignite hype among longtime followers of the game.
Nintendo emphasized its ongoing support for indie studios through several new initiatives, including accelerated publishing pipelines for small teams, revenue-sharing improvements, and an expanded “Nindie Discovery Program” that will give featured indie titles promotional visibility across the eShop and social media platforms. These moves appear to be in direct response to ongoing concerns from indie developers about discoverability in an increasingly crowded market.
What sets this year’s showcase apart is how it clearly divides support between the current Switch ecosystem and the forward-looking Switch 2. Rather than abandoning the older platform, Nintendo is encouraging cross-gen development while giving creators tools to scale their visions across both consoles.
With its latest Indie World presentation, Nintendo has once again proven that it’s not just the home for blockbuster franchises like Zelda and Mario, but also a fertile ground for small studios to innovate and thrive. For fans who enjoy bold, creative, and offbeat games, the rest of 2025—and the future with Switch 2—looks incredibly promising.
