Almost 10 years ago, Nintendo aimed to reimagine the modern gaming console with the Nintendo Switch, a device that let players literally take the console on the go at anytime and was at the forefront of the recent portable gaming trend.
This week, the company officially unveiled its successor to the system, the Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike the original, the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t aim for major innovation, but instead looks to graduate the console into the ranks of a more premium gaming experience, complete with higher graphical capabilities and third-party support.
During an event celebrating the announcement of the system, Nintendo shared some of the first hands-on experiences with the system and its games, during which I was able to get some hands-on time with several of the games shown off during Nintendo’s Direct highlighting the system, including some of its highly anticipated first-party titles.
A premium system with boosted hardware
The first noteworthy things about the Nintendo Switch 2 fans will notice is the massive step up in a ton of hardware factors over the original system. The Switch 2 sports a massive, 7.9-inch screen — a big improvement over the original Switch’s 6.2-inch screen — while retaining the sleek design of its predecessor.
In probably the most beneficial change to the console, the Nintendo Switch 2’s LCD screen now displays in full HD at 1080p, while supporting up to a whopping 120 FPS (frames per second) for certain games. The console’s dock, which now sports a fan to keep the system cool, can also output at 4K, something Nintendo fans have been hoping for dating back to the original Switch, which maxed out at 1080p docked and 720p in handheld mode.
Graphically, the Switch 2 is a major step up from the original, and in more ways than just supporting 4K. During a developer’s roundtable with Nintendo Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto, director Takuhiro Dohta, and software developer Tetsuya Sasaki, the trio confirmed that the Switch 2’s use of DLSS alongside its custom NVIDIA chip allows for a massive boost in power and gameplay.
The trio also revealed that things like raytracing were possible on the system, which finally brings the Nintendo console in line with some of its more powerful brethren in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The system also sports two USB-C ports now, allowing for charging at multiple angles, or using accessories with the console, like the system’s new USB-C camera, which can be purchased to function alongside the new GameChat feature.
New features aim to bring players together
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Nintendo console without some sort of “main attraction” feature added to it, and for the Nintendo Switch 2, this comes in the form of the aforementioned GameChat. Like its name suggests, GameChat allows players to jump into a voice or video call with their friends, all while streaming their content to them at the same time.
GameChat is activated by pressing the “C” button on the Switch 2’s JoyCon (or Pro Controller, or any other supported controller), which brings up a secondary screen under the game you’re currently playing. In it, your friends screens will be displayed, as well as their actual faces if they happen to have a supported camera. The screen can be adjusted, but the general idea is to make players feel like they’re all playing together, even if they’re not even playing the same game.
With that in mind, another feature introduced during the Switch 2’s announcement was GameShare. Taking pages out of the Nintendo DS book, this feature lets you share games with people in person, allowing anyone to play as long as one person owns the game. While Nintendo was tight-lipped on exactly what games will support the feature, it’s an incredible one.
Nintendo DS owners will recognize this as a feature that existed on the handheld, and made for extremely easy multiplayer sessions while out and about, which it seems like Nintendo is aiming for here.
Hands-on with the system and some of its first-party titles
As part of Nintendo’s Switch 2 Experience event, I was able to not only check out some of the games coming to the system, but get some hands-on time with the actual system itself. The first thing that caught my eye was just how much an upgrade the larger screen is. As a heavy user of the Steam Deck and PlayStation Portal, it was great to see the Switch 2 adopt a significantly bigger screen, and it delivers.
While it is unfortunately not an OLED screen, the LCD on the Switch 2 still delivers quite a pop in color. Mario Kart World — the game I mainly got to try in handheld mode — looked great, and ran as smooth as possible. The 1080p screen (while still a bit of a downgrade compared to other premium handhelds) also did away with any of the choppy graphics and looks that the original Switch’s screen had.
One thing the Switch has over its Steam Deck and ROG counterparts, and something that carries over to the Switch 2, is just how great it feels in your hand. Anyone with a Deck, ROG Ally, PlayStation Portal, or any other handheld will tell you one of the main issues with the system is just how uncomfortable they are to hold for long periods of time. The Switch never had this issue, though, and from my brief time with it, its successor won’t either.
The system was still just as light as ever, only .17 lbs heavier than the original, and feels significantly more premium. The system’s larger analog sticks and JoyCon shoulder buttons are also a welcome change, and finally make the system feel like a proper, premium portable handheld when you’re using it.
Due to various time constraints and Nintendo not wanting to give away too much, my time with each game was limited to brief demo sessions. For ease of reading, I’ll break down each game first-party title I tried below:
Mario Kart World: Every Mario Kart is chaotic in its own way, but Mario Kart World might take the cake. The inclusion of 24 riders made every race I tried an absolute blast, and really makes you focus on not messing up in any given race. Controls feel just as great as they do in Mario Kart 8, and some of the new features (like wall riding and grinding on rails) are a little hard to accomplish, but once you get the hang of it, can really make or break a race. The game’s Knockout Tour mode — which essentially acts as a battle royale with the goal to be hitting a certain placement threshold — is a ton of fun, and might end up being the mode everyone flocks to when this one launches.
Donkey Kong Bananza: The star of the show in terms of demos we got to try. Donkey Kong Bananza is the first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64, and it may just be worth the wait. The game boils down to Donkey Kong searching for golden bananas, but gives the titular monkey the ability to destroy pretty much everything he sees in his path. Any wall, mountainside, rock, and even the ground can be pummeled through by Donkey Kong, which made exploration an incredible time. In fact, most of my time with the game was spent just having fun destroying as much as I could with Donkey Kong, which to me is the sign of any great game.
Drag x Drive: More of a tech demo of sorts for the Nintendo Switch 2’s JoyCon mouse functions than anything. The game does take some getting used to, but by the time our group of players were in a game, it was every bit as tense and competitive as any basketball game. The mouse controls for this one are extremely strenuous, though, and sometimes not the most responsive depending on how you’re moving. We got to play with the JoyCons on top of a giant mousepad, but they did also work on pants, and give a satisfying tactile feedback as you’re moving the JoyCon across the ground.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: For fans of the Metroid Prime series, they’ll feel right at home here. Gameplay is smooth, shooting down aliens feels every bit as satisying as any Metroid game, and surprisingly, this might have the most intuitive use of the Switch 2’s mouse controls of any title we tried. If you’re playing with two JoyCons separately, using the mouse controls in game is as easy as literally putting the JoyCon down on a surface. The lack of menu changes to accomplish and just how seamless it is to stop and start in the game was legitimately impressive, and the mouse controls themselves felt right at home in an FPS like Metroid Prime. The game also runs incredibly well on its “performance mode,” which locks the game in 1080p and 120FPS. Unfortunately, we were unable to see the game’s 4K60FPS mode.
Nintendo GameCube Classics: The suite of Nintendo GameCube Classics were also on display, and it’s clear that they’re going to be a fan-favorite when they finally launch. All three of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Calibur II, and F-Zero GX look really good on the Switch 2, and run incredibly compared to any previous version of them. With more games set to be added, revisiting titles like Super Mario Sunshine and Luigi’s Mansion is something I already can’t wait to do.
Hands-on with surprisingly impressive-looking third-party titles
Along with a handful of first-party titles, Nintendo also had a variety of third-party titles on hand to show off for the system. Although these games are all available, it was great to get a chance to see how they’d play on a system like the Nintendo Switch 2, especially after the relatively poor third-party support the original Switch had.
Thankfully, any concerns about third-party support for the Switch 2 seem misplaced. Not only did Nintendo reveal significant third-party support in its Direct, but the game’s on hand at Nintendo’s event showed off just how much more powerful the new system is compared to the original Switch. Like the first-party games, I’ll break down what I got to check out below:
Cyberpunk 2077: If it wasn’t for games like Mario Kart World or Donkey Kong Bananza, I think my pick for most impressive and shocking title for the Nintendo Switch 2 would be Cyberpunk 2077, in the best way possible. When the game was announced during the Direct, I was extremely skeptical due to just how historically demanding the game has been across a variety of systems. I was completely wrong, however. Not only does Cyberpunk 2077 look incredible on the Nintendo Switch 2, it plays extremely smoothly. I’m not sure exactly what the visual settings were locked in at (although I’m sure a lot of DLSS was at play), and the Switch 2 version won’t ever surpass the PS5/Xbox Series/PC versions visually, but for a title like Cyberpunk to look so good on the Switch 2 gives me a lot of confidence in how future third-party titles will fair.
Street Fighter 6: Similar to Cyberpunk 2077, this one was another shocker. Playing a fighting game on something like a portable handheld can be really tricky due to how precise every input has to be. Although my time with it was brief, I had absolutely no problem playing some matches and getting in any moves I wanted. The game looked great on the big screen, and with the inclusion of Amiibo functionality and the ability to take a fun fighting game like Street Fighter on the go, I can see this one becoming a popular way to get in some practice.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut: There’s a theme here, and it’s just how shockingly great some of these games look and run on the Nintendo Switch 2. While a game like Yakuza 0 isn’t nearly as demanding or visually intensive as Cyberpunk, it’s still a title that would give you pause before thinking of playing it on a Switch as your first choice. Honestly, though, there really wasn’t any issues with my time with it. Running around Tokyo felt great, and while it might be a slight downgrade in terms of visual fidelity, it more than makes up for it in being able to just simply jump into Sega’s action series whenever you want and wherever you are, and know that it will look and run well.
Split Fiction: Josef Fara’s latest action co-op title seems made for a system like the Nintendo Switch 2. The game looked great and played exactly like its modern console counterparts.
Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on: Final Thoughts
While the past few Nintendo consoles have seemed to aim to buck the trend of whatever other consoles exist, the Nintendo Switch 2 seems like the first time in a long time that Nintendo is willing to stamp its place in the modern gaming era. An upgraded console capable of 120FPS support, DLSS, raytracing, and 4K output might not sound too wild for most, but for a Nintendo console, these are all massive leaps from a company that traditionally likes to zig when others zag.
That doesn’t mean the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t have some fun surprises, though. The GameChat and GameShare features seem like great (if not a bit outdated) ways to connect with friends without having to use any other apps. Likewise, the JoyCon’s mouse controls feel like classic Nintendo, with the company taking a big swing and hoping it can introduce some extra fun and a unique way to play games. If titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Drag x Drive are any indication, they have some great ideas on the horizon.
The biggest hurdle Nintendo will have to clear with the Switch 2, though, lies in its pricing. The system’s $449 price tag isn’t out of place with other consoles, but is a lot when competing against the likes of a Steam Deck or ROG Ally. While the original Nintendo Switch seemed to be lagging behind in the race between both modern home consoles and portable gaming options, the Nintendo Switch 2 seems primed to join the others in a race for the must-have console, and with titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Bananza, they might just win.
Disclosure: Nintendo invited the author to a preview event so we could conduct our Nintendo Switch 2 previews.