The latest Nintendo console is here. That's normally massive news. Do you want it? Do you need it? Is it worth it? That all depends on a lot of factors.
I've been using the Switch 2 for a couple of days now, trying out new games, testing out old ones, and using the new features of the console like Game Chat, the JoyCon mouse, and more. And I can confidently say that it's an awesome console, but not a must-buy just yet.
A super evolution
The Switch 2 hardware is a big improvement on the Switch 1, which was already feeling kind of dated when it launched back in 2017. But it really does feel like an upgraded Switch 2 as opposed to a whole new console, and I feel like a new and improved UI would have gone a long way into making this feel different. I still feel like this should've been called the Super Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Super Switch or something.
Thinking about the changes from a PS2 to a PS3 to a PS4, a UI upgrade and change always came with those consoles, making them feel distinct from each other. The Switch 2 has the same UI as the Switch 1, which is nice in some ways, but also makes the console feel like less of an evolutionary jump than it might actually be.
The biggest differences on how much different and new the console feels is definitely felt in handheld mode, with a bigger and better screen, and new JoyCons that are improved in almost every way. The ZL and ZR triggers especially are a massive improvement.
Games look and run better than ever whether in handheld or docked mode, which now supports 4K for the first time in Nintendo's history. This is a big deal for the newest games, such as Mario Kart World which is beautiful to look at no matter how you play it, but also for some older titles that are now suped up.
An investment for the future
As usual, with consoles, it's all about the games. Switch 2 has multiple updated and upgraded versions of existing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, or Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but it's also able to brute force other older games to run smoother or load faster, such as allowing games like Bayonetta 3 to run at 60 FPS, or lessening massive framerate lag in games like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity or Batman: Arkham City.
Mario Kart World, I think, is the one must-have "killer app" for the Switch 2 right now, but others are coming, and they're coming quick. Donkey Kong Bananza comes in July, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is in October, and games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment are all due to come sometime in 2025. And then, of course, we have From Software's The Duskbloods in 2026, which will be a must-play. And more and more games are on the way.
These big exclusives are coming on top of other large third-party games that now will play and run better on the new hardware, the Switch 2 will easily become a must-own in the near future, so I can't blame anyone (like myself) who are currently taking the plunge to pick one up at launch.
Chat, chat, they chattin', they chat
Game Chat is a feature that surprised me when Nintendo showed it off at a special event last week. There's a lot of potential for fun and silliness while playing games or just hanging out with friends and family across the world.
Using a USB-C camera, Game Chat truly creates a "virtual living room," as Nintendo called it. And the camera capabilities don't end there, as I've had a blast playing Mario Kart World with my family while the camera is set up. Playing co-op will allow you to put your faces in the game, hovering above your racers, creating hilarity with each Red Shell.
A party chat with friends is just a quick press of the C button away, and it's more innovative and useful than I ever thought it'd be, especially for those of us who no longer live close by to friends and family.
I think it's especially underrated when it comes to playing co-op games with pals and helping along a friend who may be lost elsewhere in the level, by simply looking at their screen and being able to direct them.
Gamers are in control
When it comes to controlling how you play, the Switch 2 has even more variety than the Switch 1. Along with the JoyCons in handheld mode, attached to a charging controller, or holding them sideways (and the Switch 2 Pro Controller, which may be one of the cleanest and best controllers I've ever used), you can also use the JoyCons like computer mice.
It's tough to judge how this functionality works without playing an FPS like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but the ability to seamlessly and instantly swap from normal JoyCon mode to mouse mode is really awesome. I'm excited to try out FPS games in the future with this functionality.
In summary, do you need a Switch 2 right now? Unless you're financially stable enough to afford the hefty pricetag, you're a hardcore Nintendo enthusiast, or you simply must have Mario Kart World, I'd say not really.
But that is changing very quickly once the console's game lineup expands, and it's going to happen rapidly, so if you're on the fence and plan on playing the console for years to come and are trying to justify the purchase, then go for it. Join us. See you in Game Chat.
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