The Switch 2 is the sequel it needs to be
And that's totally okay
I’ve spent a lot of time with the Switch 2 over the past few weeks. It’s a solid upgrade over the original Switch thanks to its larger 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz display, notably improved Joy-Con 2 that feel great individually, and 4K upscaled output when docked.
I’m really liking the handheld-console hybrid so far, and I’ve had a lot of fun finishing off the upgraded version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
But it’s also kind of boring.
If you were hoping for another OG Switch-like leap forward, you’ll be disappointed in the Switch 2. It’s a notable upgrade over its predecessor in nearly every way, but it doesn’t aim to reinvent the way we game like the original Switch. Does this matter to me, though? Not one bit.
Note: All of the images in this story feature dbrand’s Switch 2 Killswitch case. The Switch 2 feels great on its own, but I’ve grown to really appreciate the Killswitch over the past few weeks, particularly its Joy-Con 2 covers.
The first Switch fundamentally changed the way I game, allowing me to take the traditional console experience on the go. It also reignited my overall interest in portable consoles like the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally X.
In nearly every way, this is the upgrade I wanted. I don’t even mind that the Switch 2 is substantially larger because it makes it easier to hold for extended periods. I found it challenging to use the original Switch in handheld mode for more than roughly an hour because its tiny Joy-Cons caused my hands to cramp. With the Switch 2, that’s not an issue. This is also thanks to dbrand’s excellent Killswitch Switch 2 case, which is featured in the photos included in this story (some Killswitch cases seem to have manufacturing issues, so beware).
I even like the display, despite the controversy surrounding “ghosting” and the fact that it’s LCD. It doesn’t look quite as vibrant as the ROG Ally X’s 120Hz panel and can’t match the Steam Deck OLED or Switch OLED model, but it’s pretty good for an LCD, and Mario Kart World’s HDR looks plenty bright.
I have a few issues with the Switch 2, though. First off is the battery life. Look, I get it — a more powerful chip means additional power draw and, in turn, less battery life. I get about two hours (sometimes a bit more when the display brightness is turned down) when I’m playing Tears of the Kingdom or Mario Kart World. This is fine, but I hoped Nintendo had some secret sauce to give the Switch 2 a leg up over the several handhelds that have been released over the last few years. Weirdly, my ROG Ally X can easily outlast the Switch 2 when playing less resource-intensive games.
Donkey Kong Bananza drops soon, but I bounce between thinking the game looks great and like a not-very-good mix of Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario Odyssey
The launch library also isn’t impressive. Mario Kart World is a blast, but its open world feels empty with not very many things to do, and P Switch missions quickly become repetitive (content updates are definitely on the way). And why is there no local multiplayer free-roam mode? This feels like a massive misstep on Nintendo’s part. Looking beyond Mario Kart World, there’s the excellent The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom upgrades. I’d argue the latter is the true system-seller and that the Switch 2 is the platform the game was meant to be played on.
But beyond these titles, what else is there right now? Donkey Kong Bananza drops soon, but I bounce between thinking the game looks great and like a not-very-good mix of Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario Odyssey. Third-party releases of older titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0, Split Fiction, Hogwarts Legacy, and more are games I’ve either already played or would rather play on another console (mostly because they’re priced significantly lower compared to their Switch 2 release).
Of course, this will change in the coming months as the stellar games Nintendo is known for release — including Metroid Prime 4, of course — but it means that most people can probably wait at least a few months before buying the Switch 2 (as long as you’re willing to run the risk of potential tariff-powered price increases).
Still, I don’t regret buying the Switch 2 at launch. I wanted an upgraded Switch to play Tears of the Kingdom on, and that’s precisely what it is. I’m okay with waiting a few more months for more worthwhile games to arrive, and I’ve already gotten a lot of use out of the console.