The Nintendo Switch 2 review – “Switch Pro” by another name

The Nintendo Switch 2’s biggest problem is that it doesn’t feel new. It is a shiny new hybrid console, but other than Mario Kart World being on the home screen, there’s not much difference between the two systems when you look at the home menu while docked on a TV. This is a significantly more powerful and capable console than the original Nintendo Switch in a variety of ways, but until we get more games than Mario Kart World to showcase its new features and capabilities, it won’t feel as new and impressive as it actually is.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Tech

The Nintendo Switch 2 handheld console boasts reasonably impressive specs considering its price and form factor. It’s ray tracing capable, can output at 4K60 or 1440p120, has a built-in 1080p screen boasting 120hz refresh rate and VRR, and is the only console capable of Nvidia’s Deep-Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which is regarded as the industry-leading upscaling solution. We might be seeing a “low-level” version of DLSS tech, but it’s still a considerable advantage over the competition.

There are some downsides. Outputting at 4K and 120hz to a TV at the same time is off the table, which is disappointing but admittedly unnecessary. A bigger disappointment is the lack of any VRR support when docked, which is a considerable loss and I truly hope that the feature can be patched in at a later date. The HDR calibration also seems to need more depth for TVs that have a high brightness level. 

In terms of raw “horsepower” the Switch 2 sits somewhere above the PS4 and around the PS4 Pro, with the added benefits of new tech that provide faster storage and better compatibility with new game engines. All told, the Switch 2 is “underpowered” compared to the PS5 in similar ways the original Switch was underpowered when going up against the PS4 at launch. 

Games like Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2 can actually look sharper and more defined than the same title on Xbox Series S. Meanwhile Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 has the benefit of several years of updates over the base game at launch and therefore looks and runs better than the PS4 Pro version while keeping the Phantom Liberty expansion, which is only available on current gen consoles and PC. Cyberpunk does seem to fare better on Series S than Switch 2 though, and SF6’s World Tour is capped at 30 fps on Switch 2 while it does at least attempt 60 fps on Series S.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrades

It’s tough to make a clear-cut comparison against other consoles, unless we’re comparing directly against the original Nintendo Switch. Booting up an older Switch game on the new system can provide automatic boosts to any games that struggled to run previously. Batman: Arkham Knight was a mess on Switch, but has its frame rate issues solved by playing on Switch 2. Dragon Quest Builders 2 could see serious slowdown in busy, built-up worlds, and Switch 2 generally doubles the lackluster frame rate. Even games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could drop frames in the busiest of sections, but those are no longer problems on Switch 2.

That’s what the Switch 2 can do for games that haven’t seen a dedicated patch. Patched games like the infamous Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are transformatively better on Switch 2, almost entirely fixing frame rate and visual quibbles from the original release, while titles like Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe all see higher resolutions at a rock-steady frame rate.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Games

New Nintendo Switch 2 native games and ports are a step above even those, with The Legend of Zelda’s open-world duology, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, seeing both frame rates and pixel counts double, though they are paid upgrades (unless you’re a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriber). The premium “tech demo” Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is fine, but barely worth mentioning.

Mario Kart World is the obvious showcase, being the only brand new first-party launch title to push the system’s capabilities. The world is seamless, load times are negligible, and the game is filled with small details that couldn’t have been possible on the original Nintendo Switch when all the bells and whistles are humming along at a high resolution and 60 fps. Playing Mario Kart World in handheld mode has more visual flourish than playing the already impressive Mario Kart 8 Deluxe docked on your TV. Fans will likely be split on which game is better overall, but it’s clear that World simply couldn’t have run on Nintendo Switch while retaining its lavish level of detail.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Device

That’s the experience of playing the Switch 2 primarily in docked mode, but this isn’t just a console that sits underneath your TV: it’s made to be held in your hands for long periods of time. It’s roughly the same height as the Steam Deck, while being much thinner and less wide. The Switch 2’s screen is larger than even the Steam Deck’s OLED model, while of course still boasting higher resolution and refresh rate. People with broader hands complained that the original Nintendo Switch resulted in cramps after long periods of play, but the Switch 2’s larger body and JoyCon mean that the bottom corners of the unit sit in your palms while you play, instead of having to hold the entire console in your fingertips. It’s bigger, but not at all unwieldy, and still feels sleek in the modern gaming handheld environment. Battery life is competitive with the original console and Steam Deck, but that’s nothing to brag about.

The tech is obviously improved, but the design is often understated. JoyCon 2 connecting magnetically to the system is a simple feature on paper, but in practice it’s a robust and tactile connection with a satisfying snap as they slot into place. Attempting to pull them away from the unit without using the release button sees my grip give way before the magnets do, and I have no fear when dangling the unit from a single JoyCon. As long as you don’t attempt to literally bend and snap the JoyCon off of the system, the connection seems very durable. 

The stand is similar in that it’s easy to ignore, but functionally quite brilliant. It now allows you to prop your Switch 2 up in a portrait orientation when playing in tabletop mode, which is perfect for scrolling shmups or bowling in Clubhouse Games. Other minor additions like a second USB-C port are appreciated, and mouse functionality in the JoyCon is a wonderful addition with a lot of potential that can’t really be seen in the initial launch line up — let’s hope Drag X Drive manages to sell us on that feature this summer.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Services

Nintendo’s new GameChat service is one of Switch 2’s big new features, and while I don’t feel like I’ve seen everything it has to offer yet, I like it. Being able to party up and chat with friends in a game of Mario Kart without any extra apps or devices is great, and when using a USB camera (the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera is not required) the game will overlay feeds of your faces over characters and icons in Mario Kart World. This is a genuinely hilarious feature that does a lot to make you feel like you’re in the room playing with your friends, and I’m excited to see how it’ll be used in games like Mario Party.

A more minor service update, the Switch 2 launch saw Nintendo overhaul the rebranded Nintendo Switch App. You can now set your Switch 2 captures to automatically upload, and you can quickly download and post them from your mobile device. It’s similar to what you get with the PS App on PS5, but speedier, which is appreciated.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Conclusion

It’s all genuinely good stuff and it cements the Nintendo Switch 2 as a solid upgrade over the original Nintendo Switch that came at just the right time — but that’s the problem. Reviewing a console at launch is awkward, especially when most of the titles that allow you to see the benefits are older. Much like when the PS5 launched, the Nintendo Switch 2’s library is currently made up mostly of ports and updates to games that we’re familiar with. For a long time the PS5 felt like a PS4 Pro-Pro (Pro 2?), and that didn’t change until it had a decent library of games that aren’t playable on the PS4. Right now the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a Switch Pro, right down to the home menu and UI. It’s too familiar, and I’m not sure it’ll be able to shake that feeling until 2025’s suite of first-party games hit the market.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a great upgrade over the original console and remains a compelling gaming device even in a world where portable PCs have become increasingly popular, and not even an Xbox handheld is going to make me regret my purchase. While I’m incredibly eager to see more first-party games launch on the console to bolster the native library, I still haven’t stopped playing it since launch, and the other devices in my house have barely been powered on. 

I’m not sure if the Nintendo Switch 2 will still feel competitive in three to four years, when the PS6 and Steam Deck 2 will likely be on the market, but right now it feels like the best handheld device just for playing games. If that’s what you want, Nintendo has you covered.