Let’s be honest: whenever October rolls around, I start craving spooky vibes in my games. And as a lifelong Nintendo fan, I’ve learned not to expect full-on horror from the Big N. Sure, Luigi’s Mansion exists, but is it actually scary? Not really—unless you’re terrified of adorable polterpups. Still, every year I hope for some Halloween treats in my Switch library. Looking back from 2026, I can’t help but wonder: what if Nintendo and its partners had sprinkled some seasonal magic onto their 2023 lineup? Even now, with the Switch’s successor on the horizon, those “what could have been” ideas still haunt me. Let’s dig into nine titles that were practically begging for a spooky update.
First up, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. This prequel charmed me with its storybook art and lighter tone, but the series is no stranger to costume changes. Samus’s Varia Suit? Princess Peach’s dress? We’ve seen them. So why not a Halloween wardrobe swap for Cereza and Cheshire? Imagine the demon-possessed plushie turned into a tiny grim reaper, or Bayonetta rocking a witch’s hat that isn’t part of her default Umbra uniform. A seasonal side-story where the Avalon Forest gets overrun by candy-stealing faeries practically writes itself.
Then there’s Disney Illusion Island, the co-op Metroidvania that let my family run around as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. The game’s already bursting with charm, but Disney’s vault overflows with spooky cartoons. “Lonesome Ghosts” is a classic—why not build a whole new biome around that short? Trick-or-treat mechanics, haunted house platforming, and costumes from the Silly Symphonies era would have made it a family Halloween staple.
Fire Emblem Engage dropped in January 2023, which feels like a century ago now. The game’s core hook—summoning past heroes via rings—could have lent itself perfectly to limited-time Halloween banners. I can still picture Alcryst in a vampire cape or Ivy dressed as a mummy. A few holiday-themed skirmishes, maybe with a boss that’s basically Evil Pumpkin King Sommie, would have kept the community buzzing well into autumn. Nintendo did release waves of DLC, but nothing spooky ever materialized. Missed opportunity? Absolutely.
Have a Nice Death puts you in the robes of the Grim Reaper himself. The roguelike’s core loop—slogging through corporate hell (literally) as Death—already nails the macabre aesthetic. But think about it: the Grim Reaper is the ultimate Halloween costume. An update adding a “pumpkin spice” weapon, a scythe skin that leaves candy-corn trails, or a mini-campaign where you battle rebellious holiday mascots would have been chef’s kiss. The game still gets updates, but as of 2026, we’ve yet to see a true seasonal event.
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code came from the Danganronpa team, so you know it’s dripping with dark atmosphere. Yuma and his shinigami partner Shinigami solve murders in a rain-soaked city—perfect setup for a Halloween-themed case. A locked-room mystery at a costume party, where the killer uses classic monster tropes to throw off the investigation? Come on, that’s a no-brainer. The game’s structure practically begs for bonus episodes, yet we’re still waiting.
Pikmin 4 introduced nighttime missions, which instantly made me think of Halloween. Those glowing eyes in the dark, the frantic defense of your base—it’s already a little spooky. Now imagine Pumpkin Pikmin that explode into candy, or a giant boss that’s basically a living jack-o’-lantern menacing your Oatchi. The game sold gangbusters, but Nintendo hasn’t added substantial post-launch content. A free Halloween patch would have pulled players back in droves.
Sea of Stars wowed me with its Chrono Trigger vibes, and the late-game twist connecting it to The Messenger opens up infinite multiverse possibilities. So why not a Halloween side-quest where the party lands in a world where every NPC is a ghost? The game’s pixel art could handle spooky aesthetics beautifully—think Cursed Woods reimagining. It would have been a love letter to retro RPG holiday events, and it still feels plausible.
Finally, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—Nintendo’s 2023 titan that I still revisit in 2026. The building mechanics alone could carry a Halloween event: craftable skull lanterns, pumpkin-shaped Zonai devices, or a side quest where Link clears out a haunted stable. Honestly, even just costume armor sets (Dark Link is already there, but what about a redead mask?) would set the Hyrule community on fire. After all, we got the spooky Depths—why not lean into it officially?
So here we are in 2026, still dreaming of haunted Pikmin and detective ghost stories. Maybe Nintendo’s next console will finally deliver some seasonal frights. Until then, I’ll keep my Joy-Con charged and my Jack-o’-Lantern lit—just in case.