For the first time in a long time, Nintendo isn’t looking to revolutionize the home console landscape. Even the name of its latest device, the Nintendo Switch 2, suggests an evolution of existing tech, rather than a complete departure from what came before.
Make no mistake, there are elements of the Nintendo Switch 2 that feel unique for a console, but there are just as many design concepts that feel like refinements of the Switch’s template. Having gone hands-on with the Switch 2, there’s a clear path Nintendo wants to chart with its next console, and while that might not involve tremendous innovation, it still puts fun at the forefront.
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10 Most Surprising Switch 2 Direct Reveals
There were a lot of great new game reveals at the Switch 2 Direct – and these most surprising Switch 2 reveals caught fans off-guard.
Nintendo Switch 2’s Design is All About Refinements
The Nintendo Switch 2 design stands out instantly for being bigger than its predecessor. A 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD screen and an overall larger form factor, make the Switch 2 feel more substantial without being bulkier. Nintendo has kept the Switch 2 just as thin as the Switch, but made it wider and taller. It’s not significant enough that the handheld feels unwieldy – the Switch 2 is still a great form factor – but making the important elements bigger helps it stand out.
An underrated element of the Switch 2’s design is the magnetic mechanism that attaches the JoyCons to the chassis. Although the rail system was fine, the way the JoyCons now magnetically “snap” onto the screen has a satisfying click to it that feels snug and secure. On the Switch, removing the JoyCons felt a little like work, whereas now the process of popping them off and into your hands is practically instantaneous. It’s made even better by the improved full-width kickstand, which can tilt to a variety of viewing angles.
HD Rumble has been upgraded to give more detail to the haptics, the joysticks on the JoyCons are wider and feel more precise as a result, and the inclusion of a second USB-C port on the top of the Switch 2 will allow for easier charging in tabletop mode or for attaching Switch USB accessories while the console is docked. It truly is the smaller changes that add up to the larger picture of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Under the hood, the new NVIDIA chip allows for games on the Switch 2 to take advantage of that 120 FPS refresh rate and 4K resolution in docked mode. Obviously, there is some DLSS magic working to get the games looking and running as well as they do, but 4K60 is a big leap forward for Nintendo.
Playing Nintendo Switch 2’s Biggest Launch Titles
Even with the improved visual fidelity and feature-set of the Nintendo Switch, the focus is still on the games. As part of the preview event, we were able to go hands-on with Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and a number of third party titles getting Switch 2 ports.
Mario Kart World Brings Battle Royale to Kart Racing
Mario Kart 8 is still a juggernaut for the Switch 1, so it’s no surprise that Mario Kart World will be a Switch 2 launch title. At its core, this is still a familiar Mario Kart experience, but the free roam driving seems like a novel way to keep the flow going between races. New characters and new power-ups, like a feather to jump and avoid shells or a mega mushroom to grow massive and squash opponents, add clever wrinkles to the kart racing concept.
While Mario Kart World isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel as far as its racing concepts go, the Knockout Tour is sure to be the game’s killer mode. Essentially, Mario Kart Battle Royale, Knockout Tour brings a new tension and chaos. Players need to be under a certain placement threshold at each checkpoint and if they are, they can continue with the race. Miss that checkpoint by an inch or a mile and you’re out.
Starting first with 24 players and eventually finishing with 4 vying for the top spot, Knockout Tour is a ton of fun. It recaptures the exhilaration of jockeying for first place that hearkens back to Mario Kart’s earliest iterations. It has some of that random luck that permeates most Mario Kart races, but that also ensures every player can still reasonably get back in the race. Crucially, Knockout Tour feels like it will be extremely popular within the content creator community, which will only boost its appeal.
Donkey Kong Takes Smashing to a New Level in Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is the Nintendo Switch 2’s showpiece game. It is the 3D mascot platformer that Nintendo does so well, with destruction tech that has a surprising amount of freedom. You can’t destroy everything, but there is a lot of the environment that Donkey Kong can smash through, clearing pathways towards secrets and collectibles. Being able to rip up the ground and throw it at enemies or ride it like a spinning top adds even more variables to the equation, and will certainly make for some impressive speedruns. The world is inventive, the characters are colorful, and Donkey Kong feels great to control.
Chasing golden bananas is akin to stars in Mario, so it makes sense why Donkey Kong Bananza is positioned for a July release, so soon after the Nintendo Switch 2’s release date. If a new 3D Mario game isn’t ready for 2025, Donkey Kong Bananza seems poised to fit that role with aplomb.
Nintendo Switch 2’s Mouse Mode Adds Precision and Depth
Where the Nintendo Switch 2 does try something new is with its mouse control. Turn each JoyCon on its side and the controller can be slid across a surface (even your pant leg!) for more precise movements, not unlike a mouse. Drag x Drive, the wheelchair basketball game, is the proof of concept for this mouse control, and is quite an arm workout. It’s a showcase for that mouse control, with roots in Rocket League or similar combat-meets-sports games. How long Drag x Drive might be fun instead of novel is yet to be determined, but it was fun for our initial time with it.
For more precise movements, the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond supports the mouse control option. Being able to strafe with the joystick on the left JoyCon and aim with the right JoyCon in mouse mode feels intuitive, even if clicking the right trigger as a mouse takes some getting used to.
It’s also worth mentioning that security procedures required the JoyCons to be tethered at the hands-on event, so you couldn’t get the full sensation of sliding the JoyCons around a surface. But even with that limitation, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond felt great to play with the mouse mode. And if you don’t want to use the mouse mode for a bit, you can just pick up the JoyCon and use the joystick; it’s that seamless.
Playing Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of Existing Games
The Nintendo Switch 2 preview event also included hands-on opportunities for many of the Switch 2 Editions of first and third party games revealed during the Nintendo Direct presentation. We played titles like:
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looks better than ever in docked mode with a high resolution and frame rate. Switching weapons is snappier and the visuals are crisp and clear.
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land is getting an add-on that includes more Mouthful modes, bosses to defeat, and goodies to collect.
- Mario Party Jamboree uses the Switch 2’s new camera to add more zany fun to an already terrific party experience.
It’s hard to say how big the market is for Hogwarts Legacy 2 or Yakuza 0 on Switch 2, but you can’t fault publishers for giving console owners the option of checking out some of their popular games. While not on the level of a PC version, these Switch 2 versions are still a great way to experience these titles, and they look great running on the hardware. The one exception to that was Cyberpunk 2077, which did not run particularly well and was quite blurry when sprinting. CD Projekt Red included a disclaimer that the demo was not representative of the finished product over its demo, but what was available to play left a lot to be desired.
Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-On: Final Impressions
With Mario Kart World at launch and Donkey Kong Bananza right behind it, the Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to continue Nintendo’s hot streak in the console market. That’s ultimately what each element of the Switch 2, from its design, to its refinements, to its slate of games, feels targeted at. Rather than shaking things up like they have in the past, Nintendo wants to take the baton and run with it. Innovation was on display moreso in the gameplay experiences, rather than the marriage of mechanics and interactivity you typically see.
While that doesn’t make for a very exciting console generation transition, it doesn’t make the handheld console any less appealing. Nintendo Switch 2 is bigger, better, and more impressive, and with a slate of solid games in tow that’s all that really matters.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Storage
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256GB internal / MicroSD
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- App Store
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Nintendo eShop
- Wi-Fi
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Yes