Pokémon Champions arrives in the Nintendo Download

The latest monster-battling title in the long-running series arrives this week, with Pokémon Champions on the Switch and Switch 2.

A champion amongst Pokémon

Any week that there’s a new Pokémon game is kind of a big one, and that’s more or less true for this week’s Nintendo Download. Sure, the new game isn’t a mainline release in the ling-running series, but it’s stocked with pocket monsters nonetheless.

That game would be Pokémon Champions of course, as you saw above. It presents players with the ability to battle their beasts against one another, just like in Championship events. It’s out this week for both the Switch and the Switch 2.

Also this week, the NES’ corner of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service has gotten some additions. Those come in the form of the NES’ rendition of PAC-MAN, Mendel Palace, and The Tower of Druaga. That PAC-MAN port might not be the most arcade-accurate version of the quarter-muncher, but it’s still a good time in our opinion.

Past those, there’s a pretty massive list of indie game launches for the original Switch console. We didn’t note a a lot of big names mixed in, but you never know what might catch your attention. As for the Switch 2, once again there just isn’t much launching purely for the sequel console. We continue to find that to be an oddity, given the rampant popularity of the system.

Scroll down to check out the particulars on all of the above, and see the full list of what’s new.

• Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2:

• Pokémon Champions – Battle with Pokémon, including with Mega-Evolved Pokémon like Mega Dragonite, against other players in the Pokémon Champions game – the same game used for official Pokémon Video Game Championship events! Recruit Pokémon to join your team and train them to hone their skills. Then, use familiar mechanics from previous Pokémon series games such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves, enabling the rich and varied battle strategies you may already know and love across Single and Double Battles. Pokémon Champions is available now for the Nintendo Switch system – also playable on Nintendo Switch 2 with a free update.

• Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics:
• PAC-MAN – Control the iconic PAC-MAN! Navigate through mazes, gobbling pellets while simultaneously avoiding the devious ghosts. Warp from one edge of the maze to the other using the warp tunnels or eat a Power Pellet to turn the tables and make the ghosts vulnerable! In order to clear the stage, you’ll need to eat all the Pac-Dot pellets in the maze. See just how far you can get before losing all your lives! Fruit like cherries and strawberries will give you extra points to help you reach the highest score. PAC-MAN is available now for Nintendo Switch Online members¹.
• Mendel Palace – Flip panels to defeat enemies and rescue Candy! This action game was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990 and features the protagonist Bon-Bon, whose best friend, Candy, has been trapped inside her own dream! To save Candy, he’ll need to outsmart and overpower her evil dolls. The toys that block his path can be defeated by flipping panels in the floors, pushing them into the walls. Some panels also have special effects that can be used to clear stages even more quickly! Mendel Palace is available now for Nintendo Switch Online members.
• THE TOWER OF DRUAGA – Control Gil, the hero, as he climbs the tower! Starting from the first floor, pick up the key inside each maze and go through the door to advance to the next floor. To clear the game, you must defeat Druaga, the ruler of the tower, then advance to the top floor and save your beloved Ki. Some foes need to land several hits before you lose a life – but many will kill you instantly! Failing to block a spell with your shield, touching fire, and running out of time will also cause you to lose a life. Run out of lives, and the game is over. There are also secret tasks, one for each floor, that will reward you with hidden items, like a pickax that can destroy walls and boots that increase your movement speed. You will need some of these items to beat the game – missing key items will lead to certain death … or at least a dead end and a long return journey. Climb carefully! THE TOWER OF DRUAGA is available now for Nintendo Switch Online members. 

Pre-orders:

• PRAGMATA – Explore the all-new science fiction action-adventure from Capcom! Set in the near future, spacefarer Hugh Williams and android Diana must escape a lunar research station and find their way back to Earth. Play as both protagonists simultaneously as you leverage Diana’s unique ability to hack open enemy armor to create openings for Hugh to take them down with his varied arsenal of firearms. PRAGMATA launches on the Nintendo Switch 2 system April 17. Experience the unique action gameplay with a playable demo, available on Nintendo eShop now!

Nintendo Music:

• Squiddos in Stereo – Some more splat-tastic tracks from the Splatoon 3 game have surged their way onto the Nintendo Music app²! Ink up your playlist with over 100 added tracks, including some from the Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass – Side Order DLC, such as “Leaving with Pearl” by Off the Hook! For more info, visit: https://www.nintendo.com/us/switch/online/nintendo-switch-online/nintendo-music/.

Activities:

• Popular Rewards Featuring Mario Are Back in Stock! – The Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 / Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary Pin Set and the Nintendo Classics – Super Mario Bros. 3 Desktop Metal Display (for Nintendo Switch Online members only) are back in stock! Redeem your My Nintendo Platinum Points³ to claim these rewards while supplies last. For more information, check out this page: https://my.nintendo.com/news/92c68c7c5474c699.
• Collect Digital Cards and Earn Platinum Points – Experience the fun of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with Nintendo Today!⁴, Nintendo’s free app for smart devices. Now through June 10, you can receive one digital Collectible Card based on the movie each day by opening the app and tapping the card. Collect your first set of three cards before May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT and you’ll earn 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points! For more information, visit https://my.nintendo.com/news/92c68c7c5474c699#mission.
• Thanks for Taking Part in the Mario Kart World My Nintendo Open Series! – If you participated in the Mario Kart World My Nintendo Open Series event, 310 My Nintendo Platinum Points are ready for you to pick up. Make sure to snag them before June 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Enjoy – and thanks again for racing with us! For more information, visit https://my.nintendo.com/news/01ca6fcdede6246d.

Nintendo eShop sales on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2:

• Check out the full list of deals available this week at https://www.nintendo.com/store/sales-and-deals.

Also new this week on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch 2:

• Demon Castle Story – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Dosa Divas – Available April 14

Also new this week on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch:

• A Storied Life: Tabitha – Available April 14
• Arcadia Fallen II
• BEFORE I GO – Available April 13
• Beyond Words
• Brave Rounds
• Casual Sport Series: Racket Sports Bundle – Available April 10
• Cat Doctor: For Loyal Servants
• Cats & Friends: Purrfect Jump
• Cleaning Up! – Available April 15
• Demon Castle Story
• Dog Chaos
• EGGCONSOLE Schwarzschild II PC-9801
• Empire Hike – Available April 11
• Fast Food Van Simulator
• Football Cup 2026
• FROGGONIT
• From the Bunker
• Gentle Classical Music Course for Grown-Ups
• Geo Brain Boost! World Map Silhouette Quiz
• Guts ’n Grunts – Available April 10
• Hoodbound
• Inside The Backrooms
• Killer Toys
• Legends Aligned: Land of Order
• Mathify
• National Adult General Knowledge Selection Test
• Nature’s Question – Available April 10
• Ninjora Echoes – Available April 10
• Pengilo – Available April 15
• People of Note
• Perfect City
• Roll Mad
• Samurai Obby – Available April 10
• Science Literacy Check for Adults
• SHIKA-Q
• Skautfold: Moonless Knight
• Solid Void – Topsy Turvy World
• Sp(L/R)ite
• Spot Challenge Vol. 1
• Sumo Rumble
• SwooshCat
• Tamashika – Available April 10
• Tears Revolude
• The Confinement
• THE NEW DENPA MEN
• Timo Boll Beats
• TR-49
• Tricky Monkey Zoo
• Veins of DARKNESS Horror – Available April 10
• Viking Farm – Available April 11
• Which Era Is This? Japanese History Era Guess Quiz
• Which Era Is This? World History Era Guess Quiz
• Xtreme Drift Racing Simulator – Available April 10
• You’d Be Surprised!? Everyday English Vocabulary Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz
• Zumba – Treasures of Marble Island

For news and updates on all things Nintendo, you can also check out the free Nintendo Today! smart-device app. Whether it’s news about games, info about your favorite characters, or videos and comic strips — you’ll get personalized fun every day.

¹ Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/purchase-terms

² Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required. Not available in all countries. Internet and compatible smart-device required to use app. Data charges may apply. Terms apply. nintendo.com/purchase-terms

³ A Nintendo Account is required to receive and redeem points. Terms apply (https://accounts.nintendo.com/term_point).

⁴ Nintendo Account, compatible smart device and persistent internet required. Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) required for certain features. Not available in all countries. Data charges may apply. Terms apply: nintendo.com/purchase-terms/.

Nintendo press release