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I have spent most of the last decade eagerly anticipating the Nintendo Switch’s successor. I was rewarded for my patience in January this year with the announcement of the Switch 2. I approached the Switch 2 with the same zeal with which you might daydream about Half-Life 3; my expectations were high.
After five long months, the console arrived, as well as a case, screen protector, and Mario Kart World, all ready to play. I fully expected the Switch 2 to be a worthy sequel to the revolutionary Switch (which I had also bought on launch day). I am happy to report that the Switch 2 met my initial expectations. However, as the months have passed, I have come to realise that the Switch 2 didn’t just meet my expectations, it surpassed them.
- After being announced in January, Nintendo released the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
- As a long time Nintendo fan, I had high expectations for the console. Happily, I was far from disappointed.
- Though some have complained about the Switch 2’s display issues, I’ve personally found these criticisms to be overblown and, in some cases, to miss the point.
- That said, the Switch 2 could use some minor tweaks to truly optimize the experience.
- At the time of writing, the Switch 2 has sold around 12 million units.
The much-anticipated sequel
The Nintendo Switch 2 is, perhaps, the perfect hardware sequel, iterating on almost everything that made its predecessor great. Not only are the internals a big improvement on its 2017 predecessor, but the design has seen some seismic changes, too. The Joy-Con 2 controllers now magnetically attach instead of being slid on, complete with improved buttons and rumble.
In addition, the display is brighter, sharper, and more vibrant. Compatible games like Metroid Prime 4 Beyond run at a lavish 120 FPS, meaning smoother gameplay on the go.
Transferring my data from the original Switch to the Switch 2 was seamless, and I found myself buying games that were previously struggling on the predecessor console, like Resident Evil 5 and Hyrule Warriors, now running at full speed on Switch 2.
It’s these little moments that I was coming away more impressed as the months went on. You see, as the years passed, it was becoming increasingly obvious that the original Switch was getting on a bit. Back in 2023, even luminary titles like Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom endured big slowdowns and some graphics issues that hindered the experience.
But once the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game was available, these experiences became nothing more than bad memories.
The higher resolutions and smoother framerate transform the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild experience. Without the impediments of outdated hardware, the title’s tight, responsive controls and breathtaking scenery could shine all the brighter.
Display issues?
However, some have complained about the Switch 2’s display performance, describing how its brightness and viewing quality at different angles are big disappointments.
Keen to evaluate these criticisms, I did my best to recreate the conditions for myself. However, after six months of use, I’ve not found a single instance of viewing quality dropping in the way that critics have described.
The screen is an improvement on the original Switch when comparing side by side. On Switch 2, characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero look more vibrant, there are more deep blacks, and I don’t see a drop in quality when I’m playing the game at an angle in Tabletop Mode.
However, those who are obsessing over technical fidelity are missing the point. Nintendo has always wanted to appeal to younger gamers, or those who may be discovering games for the first time. They won’t care about how the display looks (to a point); they just want to play fun titles.
This was no more true than when I was playing a race in Mario Kart World against my niece back in August. In tabletop mode, her main complaint wasn’t how janky the framerate may have looked; it was about when I took a shortcut in Dino Dino Jungle.
Switch 2 the future
The Switch 2 has run every game I’ve installed without fault, and that’s even before I mention how much I’m enjoying the GameCube collection of games via the Nintendo Online service.
The console is always in my backpack so I can use it during a break, or on the train when visiting friends or family.
That said, there are tweaks I’d be keen to see. Going into 2026, the console’s operating system could definitely use some love. From improving the Groups feature to better Wi-Fi management when connecting to different networks, there are plenty of small changes to the Switch 2 experience which could optimize and already strong console.
Overall, the Switch 2 is a home run for me. It plays my existing games better than my original Switch did, the design feels far better to hold, and the display is ideal for wherever I am. It’s the ultimate Nintendo console, and with Virtual Boy games coming to Switch 2 in February, it looks like its second year is already off to a storming start.
FAQs
Nintendo hasn’t confirmed a smaller Switch 2 model as yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it someday.
Nothing as yet, but the team that created 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey released Donkey Kong Bananza earlier this year, which is well worth a look if you’re a 3D Mario fan.
They are! In February 2026, Virtual Boy games will come to Switch 2. However, they will only be playable by buying one of the Virtual Boy accessories.
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