A Big Upgrade Without the Must-Play Games to Match

At launch, there are two versions of the Nintendo Switch 2 available. For $449.99, consumers can get the console by itself, while $499.99 throws a download code for popular launch title Mario Kart World in the mix. With Mario Kart World retailing for $79.99 standalone, anyone interested in buying a Switch 2 should definitely spring for the latter console if they can find one. After all, if you aren’t planning on buying Mario Kart World, it’s not really worth getting a Nintendo Switch 2 right now.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a Huge Improvement Over the Switch 1

While it may go without saying, it needs to be stressed that the Nintendo Switch 2 is a massive leap forward compared to the Switch 1. It has more features, and can run more demanding games. While the Switch OLED’s fancy screen is definitely missed, the Switch 2’s larger screen is a game-changer. Games simply look better on the Switch 2, and that fact alone may be enough to convince some people that they need to buy the console.

Playing the Switch 2 docked is as easy as the OG Switch. The Switch 2 dock is slightly larger than its Switch 1 counterpart, but it functions exactly the same. Switching from handheld mode to docked mode is as simple as sliding the console in the dock, with the swap from handheld to TV near-instantaneous. My only issue so far is that I use a different, slightly larger HDMI cord than the one that came in the box, and so I have not been able to get the dock’s back panel to reattach. It’s not a big deal, but something for potential early adopters to keep in mind. I have also noticed that the Switch 2 and its dock can get a little hot during longer play sessions, but this hasn’t caused any technical concerns yet.

Setting up the Switch 2 was a breeze and transferring my Switch 1 save data to the new console was straightforward. The Switch 2 needs an update to properly function, but otherwise the set-up is done in a couple of minutes, and players are free to start playing their games.

Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Games

Hardware-wise, there really is nothing to complain about when it comes to the Switch 2. It’s a bigger, better version of the Nintendo Switch, so if that’s what you are looking for, it delivers exactly what’s expected. The problem with the Switch 2 is it currently doesn’t have enough compelling games. The vast majority of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup consists of multiplatform games that have been available elsewhere for years. Not only that, but the multiplatform games oftentimes look better, run better, and are cheaper on other platforms than they are on the Switch 2. Sadly, at launch, the Switch 2 only has five exclusives to its name.

All Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Games

• Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer
• Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
• Civilization 7: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• Deltarune
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Fast Fusion
• Fortnite
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Hitman: World of Assassination
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Mario Kart World
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Sonic X Shadow Generations
• Split Fiction
• Street Fighter 6
• Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster
• Survival Kids
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut

The five Switch 2 exclusive launch games are Survival Kids, Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Fast Fusion, and Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. I’ve beaten Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and have dabbled in the other exclusives. Mario Kart World is by far the best of the bunch and an absolute blast. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a paid tech demo and effectively an advertisement for the console’s accessories. The other games haven’t left much of an impression yet (though Survival Kids may very well become a surprise early favorite in the long-run), but even so, they aren’t anything that makes the Switch 2 a must-have on launch day. Again, Mario Kart World is great, but if you’re bummed about missing out on a Switch 2 pre-order, you don’t need to fret too much as the launch lineup is lackluster compared to past Nintendo systems.

The Switch 2 Difference

The Nintendo Switch 2 is backward compatible with the original Switch, meaning that most of the console’s massive library is playable on the new system. Some Switch 1 games have gotten free updates so that they run better on the Switch 2, while others have gotten premium “Nintendo Switch 2 Editions” with more substantial upgrades. I tested Pokemon Scarlet‘s free update and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild‘s paid Switch 2 Edition upgrade, and I have to say, I am blown away by how much better these games run and look on the new console, especially Pokemon Scarlet.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had serious performance issues on the Switch 1, resulting in them becoming the two lowest-rated main series Pokemon games ever. Playing Pokemon Scarlet on the Switch 2 is like playing a completely different game. It runs as smooth as can be, and the resolution is much better than it was on the original Switch. If Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launched in the state they’re in on the Switch 2, they would have fared far better with fans and critics alike.

Breath of the Wild‘s Switch 2 Edition also runs better than its Switch 1 counterpart, but it was always an incredible game, so the improvements don’t hit nearly as hard as in Scarlet and Violet. But what’s cool about Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is its connectivity with the Nintendo Switch app. Linking the Nintendo Switch app with a Switch 2 lets players use the Zelda Notes feature. Zelda Notes includes maps, data, and even achievements. Not all of my old Breath of the Wild data was recognized on Zelda Notes, but I was able to get some retroactive achievements, and it did have an accurate representation of my save file’s playtime.

Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers and Accessories: What Are the Must-Haves?

Besides the Nintendo Switch 2 console itself, I was also able to test the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and Pro Controller. Users can substitute any USB-C camera they want, so the $54.99 Switch 2 Camera isn’t necessarily worth the investment for those that have something compatible lying around. Those that don’t have one can buy the Switch 2 Camera for GameChat, which is a new feature on the Switch 2 where users can see and chat with their friends when playing online. The Switch 2 Camera also has some in-game functionality. For example, a mini-game in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour utilizes the camera, and an upcoming Super Mario Party Jamboree update will add mini-games that use it as well.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a small, nifty-looking device with a helpful privacy cover so anyone paranoid that it’s spying on them can easily block the lens. The quality of its picture is fine, but not great, and I struggled to get it to work properly in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Unless one really feels like they’ll get a lot of use out of it in GameChat, the Switch 2 Camera can be safely skipped.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller, on the other hand, is a must-have for the console’s early adopters. The Switch 2 Pro Controller is sleek, comfortable, and has easily mappable extra buttons on the grips that add an extra layer of customization to the proceedings. It’s a fantastic evolution of the Switch Pro Controller and will likely be my go-to controller for the Switch 2 moving forward. The only complaint I have about the Switch 2 Pro Controller is its price. $84.99 is more expensive than both the Xbox Series X/S controller and the PS5 DualSense. Still, it’s superior to the Joy-Cons and hardcore gamers will want to pick it up as soon as possible.

That’s not to say that the Switch 2 Joy-Cons are bad. On the contrary, the Switch 2 Joy-Cons are a significant step up from the Switch 1’s offerings. They are thicker, sturdier, and simply feel better to use. While I still prefer the Pro Controller, the Joy-Cons more than get the job done and anyone that doesn’t feel like spending an extra $84.99 will still have a high-quality experience out of the box.

The Switch 2 Joy-Cons feature HD Rumble 2, which is a massive upgrade from the Switch 1’s HD Rumble. I’d say it rivals, if not exceeds, the DualSense’s haptic feedback in some areas. But that’s not even the most exciting new feature of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. The devices also feature mouse controls that I am happy to report work flawlessly in all of my testing. They’re accurate and can be used on a variety of surfaces with little problem. I tested the Switch 2 mouse controls on an armchair, a desk, a coffee table, a rug, my own leg, and a table cloth, and they worked flawlessly every time. As long as developers utilize them enough, the Switch 2 mouse controls could very well become one of the console’s best features.

Nintendo Switch 2 Has Exclusive Switch Online Features

A Switch 2 selling point for nostalgic gamers will be the new content added to the Switch Online subscription service. With a Nintendo Switch 2, Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can play GameCube games and enjoy new features for the service’s Nintendo 64 titles. The Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s GameCube lineup has come out swinging with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. While there have been some emulation problems with Switch Online in the past, I haven’t noticed any issue with the GameCube games so far, and I’m excited to see how the lineup will grow in the future.

List of Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Games

• F-Zero GX – Available now
• Soulcalibur 2 – Available now
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Available now
• Chibi-Robo! – TBA
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance – TBA
• Luigi’s Mansion – TBA
• Pokemon Colosseum – TBA
• Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness – TBA
• Super Mario Strikers – TBA
• Super Mario Sunshine – TBA

On the Nintendo 64 side of things, Switch Online + Expansion Pack members on Switch 2 can now rewind games, which is a massive quality of life feature that makes reliving the classics a far more appealing prospect, as well as take advantage of a new CRT filter. The games look great on the Switch 2 and 4K TVs without the CRT filter, but it does give the games an extra dose of nostalgia. The CRT filter is also available for the Switch 2’s GameCube games.

Should You Buy a Nintendo Switch 2 Right Now?

At launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 is not a console that everyone needs to go out and buy right away. Mario Kart World is a lot of fun and there are plenty of high-quality experiences on the platform, but the fact of the matter is most of its games can be played elsewhere and the console’s 2025 outlook is a big question mark right now. We know that Donkey Kong Bananza is coming on July 17 and Kirby Air Riders is launching at some point later this year, but other than that, there aren’t any confirmed Switch 2 exclusives on the horizon. While there will be Switch 2 Editions for Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, those are games that can be played on an original Switch. The upgrades are appreciated, but don’t justify a $449.99/$499.99 purchase.

That’s not to say that the Switch 2 is a disappointing console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a much more powerful machine than the Switch 1 and is fun to play, but right now only diehard Nintendo fans and those that have to play Mario Kart World right now need to go out of their way to get it. Once more Switch 2 exclusives are announced and the console’s library grows, it will be a no-brainer, but it’s OK to stick with the Switch 1 until then.

Brand

Nintendo

Operating System

Proprietary

Storage

256GB internal / MicroSD

Resolution

1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)

App Store

Nintendo eShop

Wi-Fi

Yes