Have you heard? The Switch 2 is finally out – and everybody’s buying one. Since its launch last week, it’s shifted a staggering 3.5m units, making it the best selling console of all time. And with its release, we’re also seeing some of the best games on the market get a preparatory revamp.
In addition to Mario Kart World, which released on the same day as the Switch 2 itself, we’ve also seen several day-one upgrades from the massive games that the Switch can now run.
But good games don’t come cheap – and in the interests of helping you decide, here are some of the best to invest in.
Split Fiction
Hazelight’s newest co-op game has only been out for a few months, so it’s no surprise that it’s been tweaked for the Switch 2 just in time for its release. And it’s worth it, too: the Switch’s two Joy-Con set up means it’s basically the perfect co-op vehicle, whether it’s played on the small screen or linked up to the TV.
The game itself is well worth the money spent on it. You and a friend play as Zoe and Mio, two aspiring writers who get trapped in simulations of their own stories (fantasy and sci-fi, to be precise). Puzzling your way through the various levels is a joy – as is the sheer inventiveness on display.
Survival Kids
This new Konami co-op title has been designed for the Switch 2 from the ground up. And it’s also very cute: a survival game where communication and teamwork are key, the perfect excuse for using the Switch 2’s GameShare and GameChat features. The puzzles – which are located on sweet islands perched on top of roaming Whurtles – are pleasingly intuitive and easy to solve, while the game’s crafting system is straightforward enough to be fun. Plus, the visuals (bright, cartoonish and bursting with colour) match up nicely with the rinky-dink soundtrack. A great option for kids.
Mario Kart World
The Switch’s day-one game brings back the iconic Italian plumber for more racing-related fun. This time around, the formula has been changed up slightly: no more racing in endless loops, for instance. Now, races take place across a series of changing tracks that travel from one side of the large world map to the other. It’s possible to jump, ride along walls and indulge in a whole selection of new power ups, including a golden shell that trails coins and a jump-inducing feather.
The Legend of Zelda
You can’t say Nintendo without Zelda. Both of its mega-successful flagship games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have been given shiny new updates for the Switch 2, and they look fantastic: the colours are richer, the graphics are more detailed and Link moves through Hyrule with more ease than ever before. Load times have also been decreased, while HDR support has been increased. Link’s adventures through Hyrule in search of the missing Princess Zelda have never looked better; you won’t be able to go back.
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red aren’t messing about. In addition to The Witcher III’s updates, they’ve also managed to wrangle a way to get their monumentally ambitious dystopian sci-fi game Cyberpunk 2077 onto the Switch 2 as well. The game is mammoth: this is no mean feat. And it’s fun – you play as a mercenary in Night City, a lawless, Las Vegas-type place where cops, gangs and all sorts of nasties in between roam. It’s also had a new spinoff card game announced, so now is the perfect time to dive in.
Civilisation 7
Though Civilisation 7 was downloadable on the original Switch, it’s well worth making the upgrade to the Switch 2. The game has been revamped, with new mouse controls (thanks to the improved Joy-Con 2s, GameChat support and vastly better graphics and performance. Just look at that 4k resolution and 1080p visuals: the details are sharp and crisp, and the mouse controls add a whole new level of enjoyment. Go forth and conquer.
