Nintendo Switch 2 games hands-on: Great variety, few surprises

As I walked into the demo area for the Nintendo Switch 2 Premiere Event in New York City, I was taken aback by just how massive it was. Two large rooms were dedicated entirely to the just-revealed Mario Kart World, with the final — and equally sizeable — room featuring a mix of at least a dozen first- and third-party Switch 2 games. As I went through the several-hours-long preview, I found myself impressed by the sheer variety of the titles on display.

That said, a lot of these games felt rather familiar, which eventually hampered the splendid novelty of the event. By the end of the day, I walked away with mixed feelings. Most, if not all, of what I played were ports from the original Switch (some of which had new Switch 2 enhancements and features), with a handful of next-gen exclusive games that better showcase the uniqueness of the hardware.

Like the Switch 2 hardware itself (my impressions of which you can read in a separate piece), I find that the new console-handheld hybrid’s software lineup is really solid, but with few genuine surprises. That’s not inherently a major issue, though, depending on what you’re looking for. Read on for my thoughts on the Switch 2 games I checked out.

Mario Kart World

The biggest Switch 2 game, by far, is Mario Kart World. How could it not be? After all, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe recently topped 67 million copies sold to become the Switch’s absolute best-seller by a huge margin.

The easy thing to do after 8 Deluxe would have been to just create more tracks and add new characters, but World approaches both of those things in a pretty fascinating way. With respect to the former, the game actually features a geographically-diverse open-world including everything from grassy plains and wide-open waters to bustling cities and perilous volcanoes. The new Knockout Tour mode takes you through a series of twisty-turny connected tracks, which, alongside the new support for up to 24 players, really creates this almost cartoonish-yet-gruelling Mad Max-esque racing spectacle.

And in a neat Forza Horizon-like setup, you can freely explore these varied terrains without having to actually take part in any races. Given how sweaty and tense some Mario Kart matches can get, I love the idea of just driving around using the franchise’s signature delightful arcade-y controls, especially as someone who isn’t as big on the more realistic vehicle handling of Forza. At certain pit stops, you can even find these little goodie bags that unlock new outfits for specific characters, which is at least one meaningful reward for driving around. I’m excited to see what else might be in the open-world. And with the glorious new rail-grinding mechanic, you can now zip around environments with Tony Hawk-level skill.

My only disappointment was the (apparent) removal of guest characters like The Legend of Zelda‘s Link, Animal Crossing‘s Isabelle and Splatoon‘s Inkling. After how much of a wonderful crossover celebration Smash Bros. Ultimate ended up being, I was hoping the next Mario Kart would, in the same spirit, include at least a few more guest characters. Of course, that’s always a possibility down the road (perhaps they are in the game and just being kept secret), but they weren’t in the demo, in any event.

Above all else, though, Nintendo’s positioning of Mario Kart World as a launch title that’s available exclusively on the Switch 2 is a smart business move. I’m not entirely sure at this point that it’s a killer app that warrants a day-one purchase, but a new Mario Kart is undeniably a major deal either way.

Donkey Kong Bananza

While we expected Mario Kart World to be massive, I was genuinely impressed by the scope of the latest 3D Donkey Kong game. In it, our favourite ape must traverse the deep Underground Worlds to retrieve stolen bananas, and as part of that premise, he can smash almost everything. That’s not an exaggeration; pretty much every bit of ground, wall and ceiling can be broken by DK’s punches, stomps and dives. At one point, I got so carried away by the liberating feeling of total in-game environmental destruction that I ended up digging a hole through the mountainous map and straight off-stage to my death. In this way, the game certainly feels like a “next-gen” Nintendo title, something that the previous hardware wouldn’t have been able to manage from a technical perspective.

If I had any gripe during my 20-minute demo, it was that this Incredible Hulk-like DK felt a little too powerful. On top of his devastating fisticuffs, he can also break apart boulders, creating rock formations and other big projectiles and lob them at enemies. He can also climb vertical surfaces like walls and steep hills, but without the slow stamina bar-induced pace of Link in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It remains to be seen how Nintendo presents sufficient in-game challenges to prevent DK from feeling overpowered.

Thankfully, we’ll find out soon — Bananza is launching on July 17, just over one month after the Switch 2 itself.

Drag x Drive and Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour

The last two Switch 2 exclusive games from the demo I actually covered in my hardware-centric piece since they’re effectively glorified tech demos. All you need to know is that Drag x Drive is a wheelchair basketball game featuring a somewhat inelegant showcase of the mouse functionality, while Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour — which features instructional videos and literal quizzes taking place on a virtual Switch 2 console — feels like an unabashed cash grab.

That latter game is especially egregious since it’s a premium title (price TBA), especially in a day and age when PlayStation offered Astro’s Playroom — which, in a similar vein, was used to promote the PS5’s unique features through literal in-game recreations of its hardware — as a free pack-in. And that was a delightfully charming four-hour-ish adventure that was the precursor to last year’s Game of the Year winner! Frankly, it’s ridiculous that Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour is a premium title. Nuff said.

Playing the hits

One of the biggest things the Switch 2 has going for it from a launch lineup perspective is the fact that it’s backwards compatible with virtually every original Switch game. Given that the original Switch is one of the best-selling gaming systems of all time, this means that a massive number of people can bring their games with them for a smooth transition to the new generation. This in itself is solid and adds value to new hardware adopters, but Nintendo and its partners are offering special perks through “Nintendo Switch 2 Editions” of certain games via yet-to-be-priced “upgrade packs.” (These are included at no additional cost with Switch Online + Expansion Pack.)

For instance, both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom on Switch 2 benefit from faster load times, improved resolution and frame rates and Switch Online app ‘Zelda Notes’ functionality like achievements and a GPS-style voice assistant. In the Switch 2 Edition of Tears of the Kingdom, my load times were just under 10 seconds when they could be nearly a minute long on the original Switch. The game also hits 60fps on Switch 2, which adds a welcome degree of fluidity to the seamless transitions between the game’s aerial, ground and subterranean areas.

Meanwhile, Kirby and the Forgotten Land‘s Switch 2 upgrades include a resolution and frame rate bump and, surprisingly, a new story expansion called Star-Crossed World featuring additional levels and Mouthful Modes (where Kirby turns into amusing things like an actual car). While I’ve beaten Forgotten Land before, I admittedly didn’t really notice much of a technical difference here, but having actual new content is certainly more meaningful.

Nintendo is even using Switch 2’s unique hardware features and peripherals to give a new lease on life to original Switch games. The biggest example of this is Super Mario Party Jamboree. In one corner, it features support in some minigames for the Switch 2’s new mouse functionality and built-in mic, and in other, you can use the new Switch 2 Camera (US$49.99/about C$70) in new modes. That latter feature is especially amusing; in the “Bowser Live” mode, I played with three other people and we got split up into two teams. Bowser then took to the stage like some hardcore rock emcee to command us to perform various tasks, like having us balance in-game Goombahs on our avatar’s head by moving in real life or even making body gestures and loud noises to impress the villain.

But my favourite Switch 2 Edition, by far, was Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (TBA 2025). While the first-person action-adventure shooter is also coming to the original Switch, it really feels like a proper next-gen Nintendo game. During my demo, I was in awe of the sharp atmospheric art direction, which mixed high-tech militia and freakish aliens to create a unique sci-fi setting that absolutely popped on the big screen, even in 1080p.

The best part, though, was the mouse controls in tandem with the 120fps mode to provide a magnificently smooth and intuitive aiming experience for Samus. In a tense boss fight against a massive creature that spews different energy hazards in between alternating weak spots, I found the mouse functionality to be remarkably precise, adding to the fantasy of being this badass bounty hunter.

Then there are various third-party games that are coming to Switch 2 with improvements, like Hogwarts Legacy (enhanced graphics and mouse support), Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut (exclusive new cutscenes and a 4-player online mode), Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (mouse controls, which are especially handy in this menu-heavy strategy title), Street Fighter 6 (featuring added support for digital amiibo cards and three new physical amiibo figures) and Hades II (60fps support). All of these games were playable at the event, and while some of them certainly aren’t my thing (no offence to Civilization and Street Fighter), it’s awesome to see many of them get unique new Switch 2 features or content alongside technical upgrades.

Other confirmed Switch 2 ports that weren’t present include Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Borderlands 4, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and Hitman World of Assassination — Signature Edition. It remains to be seen how well they’ll perform on the Switch 2, but these native versions are an undeniable step up from the original Switch, on which the likes of Kingdom Hearts 3 and Hitman wouldn’t even be playable without spotty cloud streaming.

But of course, we can’t talk about “playing the hits” without the long-awaited inclusion of GameCube support. It’s coming to Switch Online + Expansion Pack exclusively on the Switch 2 at the console’s launch and will feature the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Calibur II and F-Zero GX to start, with additional titles to come, including Super Mario Sunshine, Pokémon Colosseum and Vancouver-based Next Level’s Super Mario Strikers.

In my demo, the emulation quality was really solid, bringing a visual fidelity bump to the games while maintaining a consistent frame rate. That said, you can also toggle a retro screen filter if you want to feel more nostalgia. Doing that during a round of Soul Calibur II in which I played as fan-favourite guest character Link was especially cool, bringing back fond memories of playing the game at a distant friend’s house whenever I’d visit. (For even more of a retro throwback, a GameCube controller replica will also be released later this year with the Switch 2’s C button, and it felt real good to use during my demo.)

Closing thoughts

All in all, there’s an unquestionably vast assortment of games coming to the Switch 2, whether it’s older titles that are being brought forward with enhancements and other bonuses or exclusives like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza that feature deeper and more expansive worlds for their respective series thanks to the new hardware.

There are also a few exciting Switch 2 exclusives that were teased during the Direct, including Kirby Air Riders later this year (a sequel to the GameCube classic Kirby Air Ride) and FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods next year — directed by legendary game makers Masahiro Sakurai and Hidetaka Miyazaki, respectively.

On the merits of all of that in its own right, plus the solid Switch 2 hardware itself, makes for a good value proposition. But alas, the combination of the steep $629 price tag and potentially $100-plus games makes it a tougher pill to swallow. If you’re a hardcore gamer or someone who just really wants an upgrade, I’d recommend putting Switch 2 pre-orders on your radar. But for now, I don’t think it’s a must–buy at launch. Those feelings could change should new games and features be revealed, however, so stay tuned for updated impressions as we lead up to the Switch 2’s June 5 launch.