Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review – Should’ve been free

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a nice piece of kit. It feels weighty in the hand without being too heavy, premium without breaking the bank, and high-tech despite probably not being the most powerful device in your home. It is the product of hundreds of design revisions, both major and minor, and those tiny tweaks have all added up to a lovely handheld piece of hardware. I have a newfound appreciation for Nintendo Switch 2, and that’s partially because of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a neat piece of software that complements the Nintendo Switch 2 perfectly. Just a shame that it isn’t free.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a digital museum where you explore the outside and inside of the Nintendo Switch 2. You’re a tiny person just a few millimetres high, and as you explore each part of the Nintendo Switch 2 you’ll be given in-depth explanations, tech demos, and minigames that showcase the capabilities of the console. Why does the plastic around the bottom USB-C port protrude slightly instead of being flush against the console? Why is there a tiny gap between the magnetic JoyCon and the console’s body? Why is the stand a “U” shape now? We’re given the full lowdown on why these seemingly innocuous details are actually carefully considered choices.

It successfully gives you a greater appreciation for the console and the design details, both minor and major. It also comprehensively demos the various technical features of the Switch 2. There are minor minigames where you guess what frame rate a rolling ball is moving at or feel out where on a board the strongest vibration is using the JoyCon mouse. Tech demos are similar but less gamey, simply showcasing features like VRR or how the JoyCon’s HD Rumble 2 can actually reproduce sound by vibrating quickly. Even the noise cancellation feature of the console’s microphone is showcased. Doesn't show you that Switch 1 controllers can be used on Switch 2, though.

It feels like the perfect companion piece to a new console, and that makes it all the more baffling that it’s not free. It’s $10 USD, or £7.99 GBP. It’s not expensive by any means, and it is a multi-hour experience if you want to see and do everything, but it should be free. It’s not a world away from a gamified tech demo like the Steam Deck’s Aperture Desk Job, and that’s exactly why it should be free, just like that title. It’s undoubtedly nice to have, but does it have any essential features? No.

The minigames here are thin, closer to a WarioWare “microgame” than a fan-favorite Mario Party stage, with less depth than you might expect from a Nintendo experience. The tech demos are cool, but unless you’re showcasing the console’s features to someone else, there’s no reason to ever return to them after the first instance. But things feel a bit more devious when you start analyzing the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, the official accessory. While looking at the Nintendo Switch 2 console – that you own – in-depth feels satisfying, looking at the camera accessory feels like going through a forced advertisement — and make no mistake, you have to look over every detail of the camera before moving on. 

I plugged in a third-party USB camera for the purpose of completing the camera-based minigames (which aren’t necessary to continue, thankfully), but didn’t appreciate what felt like an advert I paid for. You might end up feeling similarly about the Switch 2 Pro Controller and Switch 2 Wheel areas, if you didn’t buy those. I didn’t even know the wheel accessory existed.

The game’s presentation is fantastic and feels a bit clinical, while remaining sleek with a distinct personality. It really feels like something every Switch 2 owner should have, and I don’t regret purchasing it myself — but it should be free. It’s impossible to shake the feeling that this should be free to every Nintendo Switch 2 owner, but at any price point other than $0.00, it becomes incredibly hard to recommend.

If you’re looking to get the most out of the Nintendo Switch 2 and want the kind of in-depth technical demonstrations that simply don’t exist on other consoles, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is absolutely something you should play. But pay for? Probably not. I do recommend playing the game, but you’ll enjoy your time with it much more if you manage to have a friend share their Virtual Game Card with you instead of paying money for it yourself.