Reviewing consoles at launch is still something I've only had the privilege of doing several times in my career so far, but even then there's been something very special about being able to cover the Nintendo Switch 2 last year on 5 June, despite the big downside of not having advance access to the console that is typical for most console launches.
This was down to Nintendo insisting there would need to be an online update that would only go live on the exact day of the console's launch before the system could even be used, meaning even consumers lucky to get hold of one from a retailer that broke street date would be stuck with a shiny new brick until the update was available.
What it did mean, however, was that at around lunchtime in the UK on June 4, as it had passed midnight into the next day for the earliest part of the world, myself and other eager-eyed members of the press had a courier - presumably already parked outside for the last half hour and just waiting for the right time - knocking on our doors with a special delivery. Whereas pre-launch access is often held under the strictest embargoes, here we could all suddenly celebrate the fact that we were all receiving our brand new Switch 2 consoles within moments apart wherever we were, a kind of masterclass of coordination that still boggles the mind now that I think back on it.
Switch 2 hits and misses
To be honest, that's still been the best story of the Switch 2 a year on, though to say it's been downhill from there wouldn't be true either. Riding high on the Switch 1 already becoming the best-selling Nintendo console of all time (still second to the PS2 as the best-selling console of all time), there was some trepidation that the Kyoto company would play it safe with an iteration rather than another revolutionary system, as it had with the Wii. But it seemed that a sleeker hybrid with beefier tech was what most people wanted, as the Switch 2 flew off the shelves, selling 3.5 million units in four days and becoming Nintendo's fastest-selling console to date.
That momentum, however, hasn't remained consistent, as reports indicated that its holiday sales weren't as strong as expected, with Nintendo reportedly cutting back on the number of Switch 2 units it was manufacturing in the last quarter. That's perhaps to be expected given that the Switch 2 games for the holidays were a little underwhelming - Pokemon Legends A-Z and Metroid Prime 4 also available on Switch 1, Kirby Air Riders more of a curio from Masahiro Sakurai than if he had decided to make another crowd-pleasing Smash Bros, while Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is still a spin-off rather than a meaty new Zelda title.
The biggest complaint from Nintendo fans, as we reach its first year, is we've yet to see the real bangers, certainly nothing close to the two all-timers of Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey that graced the Switch 1's first year. We're, however, also in a different time, as the original Switch needed to fire on all cylinders quickly following the failure of the Wii U, and if this console has legs to last as long, then you can bet those big hits will come in time.
Give me a boost
If you do just take Switch 2 as an iteration like a new iPhone, then on that metric it really has been an improvement in every sense. Not so much the gimmicks like mouse controls or GameChat (my friend group still opts for Discord despite this built-in feature being theoretically much easier to set up), but just when it comes to playing games on a daily basis.
That larger sharper and smoother display has definitely made handheld mode all the better, or should I say tabletop mode, since on my travels I've much preferred this, which is a lot easier now thanks to the improved adjustable stand and a USB-C port on the top for charging that means I really can just keep playing on a longhaul flight without shelling out on other accessories to do what it can just do out of the box.
For those who own a Switch 1, it also means bringing your entire library over, with many improvements. While it's been inconsistent and first-party offerings often require paying to upgrade to Switch 2 editions, many Switch 1 games have received performance boosts, now running at 60 FPS, while other games have received patches to take advantage of the extra power.
From Nintendo's side, one of the best updates has been Handheld Mode Boost, so that Switch 1 games run in handheld mode as if they're docked on TV, in other words giving a much higher resolution, albeit at the cost of more battery. That's absolutely glorious for a game like Bayonetta 3, which almost doubles from its original dynamic 480p handheld resolution to dynamic 810p, while on the 8-inch display that's also much better than playing on a 4K TV.
But just playing older games that run better isn't the only reason that the Switch 2 has been getting more playtime than the other platforms I own. Sure, I have to consider that I'm also playing these games for work, but it's also a testament to the improved performance of this new hardware that I've been routinely opting to cover Switch 2 versions of new releases such as Yakuza Kiwami 3, Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata. These might not be the shiniest versions, but they remain impressive, a long way from the often unacceptable Switch 1 ports, and even outshine Xbox Series S performance.
Multiplatform releases may not be perfect, with a couple of high-profile delays like Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight and 007 First Light, but if the Switch 2's popularity continues as with its predecessor, hopefully more developers will make the smart choice to target and optimise their games for it. That will more than likely ensure Switch 2 remains my console of choice.
Best Switch 2 games
Donkey Kong Bananza
As a 3D platformer, it's a little rougher than Mario, but Nintendo EPD's reinvention of Donkey Kong, making use of his brawn to smash through wildly imaginative terrain, is nothing short of a delight, along with some unhinged transformations powered by his singing sidekick Pauline. More importantly, it also respects the Donkey Kong Country universe created by Rare, even though tacking on DK Island to a pricey expansion two months later is a cynical move.
Pokemon Pokopia
Pokemon meets Animal Crossing meets Dragon Quest Builders meets Viva Pinata. This cosy social sim has you playing as a humanoid Ditto, rebuilding a post-apocalyptic Kanto and repopulating it with Pokemon, expertly tapping into nostalgia for the series while trading battles for cultivation. It's the highest rated Pokemon game on Metacritic, putting more pressure on Game Freak to do something special for the next mainline game.
Mario Kart World
It was always going to be impossible to follow up to its predecessor, both the Switch 1's best-selling game of all time and the ultimate version of Mario Kart, though Mario Kart World's structure of racing routes over individual tracks has also been divisive. It nonetheless makes perfect sense in its terrific battle royale-inspired Knockout Tour, while its cast of Mushroom Kingdom characters (with up to 24 on the track at once) have never looked so detailed and expressive.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
It may not be a new mainline Zelda, but in keeping consistent with its art direction and also being a canonical story depicting the Imprisoning War a thousand years before the events of Tears of the Kingdom, it's the best and most consistent hack-and-slash spin-off for the Zelda series to date, and thanks to the Switch 2 hardware, runs far smoother than its Switch 1 predecessor.
Best upcoming Switch 2 games
Starfox
A remake of the classic N64 Starfox (previously remade for the 3DS) with souped-up, if divisive, photorealistic graphics for Fox McCloud and his creature crew. It will largely be faithful to the original, including the ability to play the whole thing with the N64 controller, but also introduces other controls like mouse targeting, co-op play, and difficulty options.
Release date: 25 June
Splatoon Raiders
The ink-based multiplayer shooter is getting a single-player-focused spin-off where you'll be exploring an archipelago for rare loot, and it sounds like just the summer escape I can go for. In Splatoon Raiders you won't be totally alone when facing the waves of hostile Salmonids, as you'll also be joined by Splatoon 3's musical trio Deep Cut.
Release date: 23 July
Orbitals
Taking its cue from Hazelight's story-driven split-screen co-op adventures, what makes this space adventure immediately riveting is that it's set in a retro anime world with visuals that look straight out of the 70s, which might make this the best-looking Unreal Engine 5 game on the Switch 2 yet.
Release date: Q3 2026
The Duskbloods
There's been virtually no information on this exclusive vampiric FromSoftware title since it was announced last year, and, frankly, perhaps we should wait for the Elden Ring port to reach the Switch 2 first. But given the success of Elden Ring: Nightreign, another multiplayer-focused FromSoft game is perhaps no bad thing, especially when this one's being helmed by Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Release date: 2026
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