Introduction
2025 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years in Nintendo’s history. We’re getting a brand new console, a new 3D Donkey Kong game (a part of me is still in disbelief) and gimmicks that would make the Nintendo 3DS blush. But this all comes at a price, and a hefty one at that. So today, we’re going to take a look at whether or not the console is worth the asking price, or if you’re better off picking up one of the many Nintendo Switch 2 alternatives.
The Games
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusives
Nintendo arguably put out some of the best console-exclusive games in any generation, and with exclusives seemingly becoming a thing of the past with PlayStation and Xbox putting their games elsewhere, it’s nice to see some things are too sacred to Nintendo. Where else would you play Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda or Kirby?
Thankfully, Nintendo has already announced a wide range of Switch 2 exclusives that are sure to whet any Nintendo fan’s appetite. Here’s a list of what you can expect so far for the Nintendo Switch 2:
The first open-world Mario Kart game, promising to bring more content than any other Mario Kart game before. A world where everything is a race course, you’ll have a hard time running out of new things to see and explore.
An introduction to the Switch 2, showcasing all of the technology through various minigames. Experience the power, tech and features that have gone into making the Nintendo Switch 2.
A 3v3 basketball game that is innovating the genre by implementing the new mouse-sensors on the Joy-Cons to control the characters and play the game. You’ve never played a game like this before.
A new entry in the Hyrule Warriors franchise following the success of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. A prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you will experience the massive battles featured in the Imprisoning War.
From the renowned creators of Elden Ring and Dark Souls comes an all-new experience exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. The Duskbloods promises to be something new and fresh for players, with a focus on multiplayer rather than what FromSoftware are known for: singleplayer games.
More of a reimagining rather than a sequel to the classic GameCube game, Kirby Air Riders returns with Super Smash Bros Ultimate game director, Masahiro Sakurai, at the helm.
A ground-breaking new entry in the beloved Donkey Kong franchise, Donkey Kong returns in a 3D action platformer - the first since the classic Nintendo 64 game! Smash your way through an unforgettable adventure with new gameplay mechanics that let you dig your way through the area to find new locations, treasures and secrets.
A fast-paced, co-op survival game that’s fun for all ages, Survival Kids promises to be an adventure you won’t want to miss. Survive and make your way through unique locations to make your way back home to tell your very own tale of adventure.
Digital or Physical Exclusives?
Previously, we’ve looked into ways you can save on your Nintendo Switch 2 purchase and found that buying games digitally more often than not is going to be much cheaper than buying new physical games. The same goes for this current list of Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games; buying them digitally will save you a pretty penny if you’re excited by any of them. But of course, this won’t be all that Nintendo has up their sleeves when it comes to exclusives. You can expect somewhere down the road a new 3D and 2D Super Mario game, and the same can be said for The Legend of Zelda.
I mentioned earlier that Xbox and PlayStation have started porting their exclusives to other systems, whereas Nintendo don’t. Which is part of the reason why their exclusives seem so appealing, you cannot play them anywhere else. So whilst you can look at the massive library of video games available on Steam via the Steam Deck and games available on GOG via the ROG Ally, you’ll never be able to play the new Donkey Kong, the new Mario Kart or the inevitable new 3D Super Mario game. Not to mention, the upgraded Nintendo Switch 2 editions of Switch 1 games.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games
If you missed out on the first Nintendo Switch, I have good news for you. All of those classics (I said what I said) that were released for the console are coming back in a big, bad way onto the Nintendo Switch 2. These Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games promise to come with a slew of improvements, including higher framerates, better resolution and more surprisingly, new content. Here are a few of the games you can expect to see back on the Nintendo Switch 2, bigger and better than ever:
Super Mario Party Jamboree returns with a brand new game mode exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2: Jamboree TV. There will also be new modes that take advantage of the mouse controls, microphone and USB-C camera, and you can enjoy a higher resolution than found on the original Switch.
If you missed out on this game of the year winner when it originally came out in 2017, fear not! You’ll get to experience one of the best Zelda games (in my opinion) with a higher resolution, HDR support and access to Zelda Notes on the Nintendo Switch app.
Tears of the Kingdom is the latest release in the 3D Zelda series, and it’s one of its best entries. The Switch 2 edition of the game comes packed with new content, with the Zelda Notes feature (new voice notes and daily bonuses), a smoother gameplay experience with a higher resolution and HDR support.
Kirby’s latest 3D platforming adventure comes to Nintendo Switch 2, packed with a brand new story with ‘Star-Crossed World and improved graphics and framerate.
Samus Aran returns in an all-new thrilling adventure in the Metroid Prime series. The Switch 2 Edition comes with mouse controls, 4K resolution (in TV mode), up to 120fps and HDR support.
These are just a few of the many Nintendo Switch 2 Edition video games set to be released on the console. If you already own these games for the original Nintendo Switch, you’ll save a lot of money just by purchasing the upgrade packs via the Nintendo eShop. If you’re playing these games for the first time, I would recommend picking them up for the original Switch (whether second-hand or new) and then purchasing the upgrade pack, as these games are generally cheaper to buy for the Switch 1.
It’s not just amazing exclusives that the Nintendo Switch 2 has on offer. We’re also getting some pretty heavy hitters when it comes to third-party support.
Third-Party Games
Nintendo consoles have never really been the “go-to” for third-party games, and it seems like Nintendo has noticed. The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a long list of tech-heavy third-party games. Games that would’ve made the original Switch catch on fire. You can look at picking up the following on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Experience Night City, the city obsessed with power, glamour and more importantly, body modifications. Play as V as you battle your way through the hard edges of Night City and experience Dogtown (comes bundled with the DLC, Phantom Liberty). The Nintendo Switch 2 edition comes with a new and exciting way to play as it implements motion controls, enabling you to hack and slash enemies using the new Joy-Cons.
Play the multiple game of the year winner, Elden Ring, on your Switch 2 in 2025. This edition of the game comes bundled with the equally excellent DLC, ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’.
Play through an unforgettable adventure during a forgotten period in the wizarding world. Freely explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest and more with this Switch 2 edition of Hogwarts Legacy. This edition comes with Joy-Con mouse support, improved graphics, audio, load times and controls.
Experience Yakuza 0 like never before with the Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. It comes packed with brand-new cutscenes that give players more backstory and a deeper insight into key events. This edition also features a new multiplayer mode called ‘Red Light Raid’, where you and your friends fend off hordes of enemies.
Play the new entry into the legendary Borderlands series on the Nintendo Switch 2. Blast through a brand new planet called ‘Kairos’ with new playable characters and become a true force of nature. Good luck, Vault Hunter.
The Tech
The Console
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Resolution | Screen | Processor | Storage | HDR | Built-In Tech | Battery Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 1920x1080 - Handheld | 7.9" LCD Touchscreen | Custom made by NVIDIA | 256GB internal storage | HDR10 support | Built-in microphone (noise cancelling, echo cancelling, auto gain control) | 2 - 6.5 hours |
| Row 1 - Cell 0 | 4K (3840x2160) - TV Output | Row 1 - Cell 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 | Compatible with microSD express cards (up to 2TB) | Row 1 - Cell 5 | 2 USB C connectors | Row 1 - Cell 7 |
We’ve previously compared this tech with Nintendo Switch 2 competitors, and it does stack up fairly well. The battery life promises to be better than other devices like the Steam Deck and the ROG Ally. 256GB of internal storage is also nothing to sneeze at when considering the original Switch only had 32GB, and with the ability to hold an extra 2TB of storage, it makes the package seem a lot better.
Joy-Con 2
The new version of the Switch Joy-Cons is seeing several updates over the original version. The biggest edition that Nintendo seem to be pushing is the mouse sensors. Much like how Nintendo innovated with motion controls (Nintendo Wii) and controllers with screens (Nintendo Wii U), Nintendo seem to be putting the same pressure on mouse sensors to be the new big thing with games already announcing how they’ll support the tech.
Games such as Metroid Prime 4 offer gamers the ability to play the game almost like a PC game, where you can use a mouse to shoot and Drag x Drive is a game completely centred around using the mouse sensors to play (think of how Wii Sports heavily relied on motion controls).
With the original Joy-Cons, Nintendo saw success with their HD Rumble feature, bolstering that the vibrations inside the controllers were so realistic that it almost felt like something was inside your controller. Nintendo has since doubled down on this feature and is introducing the HD Rumble 2, promising even more advancements in the technology, which will be tough considering the PS5 DualSense controller’s haptic feedback is one of Sony’s shining achievements in this generation.
Nintendo are also introducing the C-Button, which will be used for all chat options on the Nintendo Switch 2. Think of it as a dedicated Xbox Live party chat button. It’s believed that gamers won’t be able to access the chat features without this button, but it is hard to know until we really get our hands on it.
Conclusion
Whether or not the Nintendo Switch 2 is worth your hard-earned money can only really be answered by yourself. If you’re a dedicated Nintendo fan, chances are you’ve already made your mind up, but if you’re on the outside looking in, then you may still be on the fence. When looking at all the facts shown in this article, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a definite massive upgrade over the original. Promising more power, more features and more impressive games than we ever saw on the original Switch. But with that comes the price tag of not just the console but the games as well. Plus, Nintendo aren’t bringing something new to the table anymore. When the original Switch was released, it was the first of its kind. Now we live in a world where the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally, and the Lenovo Legion Go exist.
For me personally, if PC gaming isn’t your thing and you love the exclusives that Nintendo has to offer (I mean, who doesn’t), then the Nintendo Switch 2 is a definite pick up, but I would add maybe to wait for a while. At launch, you won’t be getting anything new or exciting outside of Mario Kart World. So I would wait a few months, maybe look back into picking one up at the end of the year when the selection of games is hopefully much more enticing.
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