The Legend of Zelda is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, and Nintendo isn’t letting the occasion quietly pass. Zelda fans are being treated to a stunning remake of one of Link’s most beloved adventures, Ocarina of Time, alongside a limited-edition Switch 2 console and a Zelda-themed Pro Controller. These in-demand items are available to pre-order now.

• Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: $519 @ Walmart (IN STOCK NOW)
• Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Amazon

Rather than holding a specific pre-order drop, Nintendo made the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console and Pro controller available shortly after the Zelda Direct concluded. I’m expecting these items to be popular, and retailers like Best Buy and Target are already sold out.

The console (and Pro controller) launch on October 29, exactly one week before Ocarina of Time Remake releases exclusively on Switch 2. But don’t expect stock to hold until then; use our handy retailer links below to lock in your pre-order now. This limited-edition Switch 2 will be popular; after all, anything Zelda-themed tends to be snapped up by fans very quickly.

Quick links

• Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Amazon
• Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Best Buy
• Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Target
• Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Nintendo
• Switch 2 Pro Controller – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Best Buy
• Switch 2 Pro Controller + display stand – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Nintendo
• The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time (Switch 2): $69 @ Amazon

Switch 2 console pre-orders

Pro controller pre-orders

Zelda: Ocarina of Time pre-orders

U.K. pre-orders

U.K. retailers were a little slow off the mark, but as of September 9, pre-orders for the Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition are going live

• Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition:  check stock @ Amazon
• Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: £429 @ Nintendo
• Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: £429 @ Smyths Toys
• Switch 2 Pro Controller — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Nintendo
• Switch 2 Pro Controller — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition: check stock @ Smyths Toys

FAQ

What is Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition?

The Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s the same great “Editor’s Choice” Nintendo Switch 2 console, but with a delightful Zelda-themed makeover.

The design highlights the iconic Triforce, with the golden triangle emblazoned on the Switch 2’s dock. Meanwhile, the console’s Joy-Con controllers have also been given a Zelda look. They come in contrasting shades of green, with golden highlights underneath the joy-sticks.

This is the first limited-edition Switch 2 console, and Nintendo definitely hasn’t skimped on the design. It’s a stunning-looking limited-edition console that celebrates the beloved franchise’s storied history.

Does the Zelda Switch 2 include Ocarina of Time?

Curiously, no, it doesn’t. To confirm, the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console does not include a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You’ll need to pick up the game separately, either physically (launch pre-orders come with textured foil packaging) or you can purchase the game digitally via the Nintendo eShop. The choice is yours.

It might seem strange that the Zelda console doesn’t come bundled with the new Zelda game, but Nintendo has done similar in the past. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 1 console didn’t include a copy of the game either. It’s a move that feels very Nintendo!

More from Tom's Guide

• Zelda Nintendo Direct recap — everything announced
• Best Nintendo Switch 2 games in 2026
• PS5 Pro restocks — latest updates as retailers sell out ahead of GTA 6

The Nintendo Switch 2 now costs $499. That's right, the $50 price hike that was announced earlier this year has hit. If you already bought one, congrats! If not, there's still plenty of fun to be had with your original Nintendo Switch.

To help you get the most for your money, I'm sharing the best Labor Day Nintendo Switch deals. Essential games are discounted, and you can also find Switch accessories on sale from $13 at Amazon.

Keep scrolling for all my favorite deals!

Quick Links

• shop Nintendo Switch game deals at Amazon
• Turtle Beach Airlite Fit Gaming Headset: was $27 now $17
• PDP Afterglow Wave Wired Controller: was $29 now $24
• Sonic X Shadow Generations: was $49 now $24
• RDS Game Traveler Deluxe Case: was $29 now $26
• Nintendo Switch Sports: was $49 now $37
• Pokémon Legends Z-A: was $59 now $49
• Kirby Air Riders: was $69 now $51
• Nintendo Switch 2: now $499

Nintendo Switch 2 consoles

Nintendo Switch accessory deals

Nintendo Switch game deals

I'm buying a Nintendo Switch 2 today and you should too. I haven't purchased a gaming console since the Xbox 360, but I'm snagging a Switch 2 today because starting September 1st Nintendo is increasing the console's price to $499.

As much as I'd like to hate on Nintendo for jacking up the price, they're not the only company that's stuck it to consumers this past summer. Amazon, Google, Apple, and even the price of toilet paper has increased in the past few months.

So consider this your final warning: right now you can get the Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 at Amazon. Unfortunately, the Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle — which includes the console and a game download — has been out of stock for days and will likely remain that way. So your best bet is the standard console for $449.

You might be wondering — with Labor Day sales around the corner, is there a chance we'll see the Switch 2 selling for $449 later this week. Unfortunately, I doubt it. There's just no incentive for retailers to discount the Switch 2. At least not until Black Friday. (And even then I doubt we'll see lots of Switch 2 discounts over the holiday season).

Bottom line: get your Switch 2 today. My colleague Millie Davis-Williams is a huge Switch 2 fan, so I'm also sharing some of her favorite games and accessories below. Otherwise, my first game purchase will likely be Donkey Kong Bananza ($69 at Amazon). If you have any other gaming or accessory recommendations, feel free to let me know in the comments below.

Quick Links

• shop Switch game deals at Amazon
• Nintendo Switch 2: now $449 @ Amazon
• Turtle Beach Rematch Controller: was $59 now $29 @ Amazon
• Mario Kart World: for $79 @ Amazon

Consoles

Games

Accessories

Shop more deals

If you need another excuse to (re)play the GOTY-conquering Elden Ring, here comes the Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, which brings FromSoftware’s open-world masterpiece to the Nintendo platform for the first time. And after getting early access to this new version of the game, I’ve completely fallen down the Elden Ring rabbit hole all over again.

If you’ll indulge my nostalgia for a moment, it remains surreal to me that we live in an age where games of Elden Ring’s scale and scope are playable on handheld devices. I recall when portable gaming meant stripped-back multi-platform releases or smaller titles designed to suit the hardware limitations. Not anymore. Now you can play a massive action-RPG like Elden Ring on a plane, at the beach, or literally anywhere else.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Elden Ring has been made available on a portable device. The game was already “verified” for the Steam Deck and playable on multiple handheld gaming consoles. But having now experienced Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, I think this might be the best portable version of the modern classic.

Elden Ring on Switch 2 looks excellent, and runs well too

When I got my Steam Deck OLED in late 2024, Elden Ring was one of the very first games I installed. After all, it was my personal GOTY in 2022, and the game that truly sold me on the Soulslike genre (which I’m now obsessed with). I couldn’t wait to play it on a portable device.

While Elden Ring is certainly very playable on the Steam Deck OLED with default settings, I did find the low image resolution a little jarring. Not deal-breaking by any means, but not quite sharp enough for my tastes. Which is why when I stepped into the Lands Between for the first time in the Tarnished Edition on Switch 2, I had a true “wow” moment.

I wouldn’t go as far as declaring it matches the image quality you’ll find on PS5, Xbox Series X or one of the best gaming PCs, but it’s a noticeable step up from what I experienced on the Steam Deck OLED. Looking out over the intro zone of Limgrave, textures weren't as fuzzy in the distance, and the imposing figure of the Tree Sentinel had significantly increased definition.

When Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was first showcased to the public at Gamescom 2025, reports weren't very encouraging, and the game was delayed into 2026, presumably for additional polish. It seems that extra development time was worthwhile, because Elden Ring on Switch 2 looks great in handheld mode — which is where it needed to shine the most.

The framerate on Switch 2 appears to be targeting 30 fps, and while I’m a staunch believer in 60 fps supremacy, I can accept 30 fps if it’s solid. And fortunately, so far, that has been the case in the Tarnished Edition. I’m still making my way through the early portion, so perhaps deeper into the game, when the bosses get bigger and have more elaborate move sets, the Switch 2’s framerate will buckle, but from what I’ve played, it’s keeping up.

In comparison, Elden Ring on the Steam Deck OLED (again, in default settings) targets a slightly higher 40 fps, but the drawback here is that it’s very unstable. Regular enemy mobs can cause the framerate tumble down towards the 30 fps mark, or even lower. It’s a matter of personal preference, but I’d take a locked 30 fps over a temperamental 40 fps.

Tarnished Edition is the full Elden Ring package at a fair price

It’s also worth noting that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is the full experience. It offers the complete base game and the equally essential Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, plus a small smattering of new content, including two new classes (Heavy Knight and Idus Knight), four additional armor sets, and three skins for Torrent, your trusty steed.

This new content isn’t exclusive to Switch 2; you can pick it up on other platforms as part of the Tarnished Pack DLC, which drops on the same day the game comes to Switch 2 (August 28), for the modest price of $5. But it’s a nice little perk that it’s included as standard on Nintendo Switch 2.

I’ve seen some online grumbling about the Tarnished Edition’s $79 price tag, but this is comparable to the Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree bundle on other storefronts like Steam. Plus, when you factor in that the Tarnished Pack is included at no extra cost, you actually save $5!

For your money, you’re getting one of the defining games of this current generation, playable at home on your TV or on the go via the Switch 2’s handheld mode. That’s a great value proposition, in my eyes. Elden Ring is a truly special game, and I’m delighted that it looks and runs so well on Switch 2. I didn’t need an excuse to embark on yet another Elden Ring playthrough, but I’m delighted the Tarnished Edition has given me one.

More from Tom's Guide

• The game I’ve been obsessed with for 3 years is now on Switch 2
• Best Nintendo Switch 2 games in 2026
• 5 essential Nintendo Switch 2 tips you need to know

It's your very last chance to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 — unless you want to spend $50 more than you have to. That's right, the Nintendo Switch 2 price hike is confirmed for September 1, after which you'll have to spend $499 to get a console.

For now, you can still get the Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 at Amazon. If you want one, don't wait any longer to pick one up.

To score yourself a saving, you can also buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game bundle for $499 at Amazon. This bundle gets you a console and a game — either Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza or Pokémon Pokopia — and will save you between $20 and $30 compared to buying the items separately. You really can't go wrong with this choice because all three games are excellent.

To get your system kitted out, I'm also sharing discounts on essential games and accessories for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

Quick Links

• shop Nintendo Switch game deals at Amazon
• Nintendo Switch 2: now $449
• Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle: now $499 up to $30 off!

Nintendo Switch 2 consoles

Nintendo Switch accessory deals

Nintendo Switch game deals

Don't wait any longer to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2 — the console is going to get a price increase next month. It's your very last chance to grab one at the launch price!

Even better, you can actually save money on the Switch 2 via the Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game bundle for $499 at Amazon. This bundle comes with a Nintendo Switch 2 console and your choice of one of the system's best games — either Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza or Pokémon Pokopia. Depending on your choice, you'll save between $20 and $30.

There are also tons of discounts on games and accessories for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and I'm sharing the best of the best below.

Quick Links

• shop Nintendo Switch game deals at Amazon
• Super Mario RPG: was $59 now $33
• Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle: now $499 up to $30 off!

Nintendo Switch 2 console bundles

Nintendo Switch accessory deals

Nintendo Switch game deals

Nintendo Switch 2 price increases are coming to Japan, the U.S., and Europe in September. But for now, there's a great opportunity to score a saving on the console in the U.K. that you don't want to miss.

Right now you can get the Nintendo Switch 2 for £370 at Amazon. That's £25 off the console's RRP. Or, get one of the console's very best games in the Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle for £394. Compared to buying the items separately, you're saving a massive £62 here (enough to get yourself another game or two!)

I've listed all the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories I recommend buying below. For more ways to save, see our Amazon promo codes coverage.

Quick links

• shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon
• Jsaux Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 (3-Pack): was £9 now £5
• Orzly Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2: was £14 now £10
• Minecraft: was £24 now £19
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: was £49 now £37
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: was £66 now £54
• Nintendo Switch 2 Console: was £395 now £370
• Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle: was £429 now £394

Nintendo Switch 2 Consoles

Nintendo Switch accessories

Nintendo Switch games

It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been obsessed with Lies of P since I first played it at launch back in September 2023. This action-Soulslike was my personal favorite game of that year (despite extraordinarily strong competition). So, when the Nintendo Switch 2 arrived last summer, I was desperately hoping Lies of P would head over to the hybrid console ASAP.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait very long. Just over 12 months after the Switch 2’s launch, and nearly three years after its initial release, Lies of P: Complete Edition comes to Nintendo’s platform this week (on Thursday, August 6). I’ve had the chance to check it out early, and it’s pretty much exactly what I hoped: The same great Lies of P game, now on Switch 2.

Its release timing feels particularly appropriate, as Lies of P launches on Switch 2 just a few weeks ahead of the hotly anticipated Elden Ring: Tarnish Edition. So, if you need a game to hold you over until revisiting FromSoftware’s behemoth, this excellent Soulslike is the perfect title for the occasion. It remains a must-play for fans of challenging action-RPGs.

Lies of P is still one of my favorite Soulslike games

In short, Lies of P takes clear clues from the Dark Souls series, created by FromSoftware, the developer of Elden Ring. It’s a demanding action-RPG that emphasizes challenging combat encounters, build-crafting, and memorable boss battles that might take you dozens of attempts.

Loosely based on Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” you play a living puppet, referred to as P, who must venture through the gothic city of Krat in the aftermath of an event known as the “Puppet Frenzy,” in which the once servient puppets turned on their human masters.

It’s an intriguing setup, and Lies of P does a great job offering players small snippets of story, rewarding curiosity and a willingness to piece together the overarching narrative via optional collectibles. But as much as I enjoy the rich lore of Lies of P, it’s the punishing combat that shines brightest.

Lies of P might be part of the “Soulslike” genre (named for the aforementioned Dark Souls), but its closest comparison is actually FromSoftware’s 2015 PS4 exclusive Bloodborne. Combat encounters are fast and fluid, with the best strategy revolving around relentless pressure and, if you can nail the timing, making use of parries to stun enemies.

The game also packs some of the most well-designed boss encounters of any Soulslike. You’ll square off against all manner of towering foes, from an electrified police robot to a mutated Archbishop spewing blue goo. I don’t want to veer into spoilers, but several of Lies of P’s best bosses rival even the works of genre originator FromSoftware. And the final boss is a doozy.

Even if wholly new ideas are thin on the ground — though the game's weapon combining system is unique — Lies of P mixes the best elements of its Souls inspirations to deliver a consistently satisfying action experience. Each victory is hard-earned, and levels beg to be explored.

The game also has several built-in guardrails to help you pick your level of challenge. There are multiple difficulty settings (originally added post-launch, but available on Switch 2 from day one), and the majority of bosses allow you to summon a helpful NPC companion, which makes things considerably easier. Lies of P doesn't have to be brutally tough, if you wish.

Even if a high degree of difficulty sounds off-putting to you, Lies of P is one of the more approachable games in the Soulslike genre for newcomers.

Lies of P feels at home on Switch 2

Almost three years post-release, and after a bunch of GOTY nominations, Lies of P is mostly a known quantity at this point. So, turning attention specifically to how this new version plays on the Switch 2. I’ve been largely impressed with the experience on Nintendo’s excellent hybrid console.

As you would expect, Lies of P on Switch 2 isn’t the premier version. It looks and runs better on PS5, Xbox Series X, or a powerful gaming PC, but the Switch 2 edition is no slouch. Its biggest drawback is that objects in the distance can appear low quality. This is particularly noticeable with blurry background character models, and the framerate takes a hit in handheld mode — though a day-one patch will add a 60 fps mode.

Perhaps the biggest downgrade I’ve found comes in loading times, which are a little longer than I’d like. 15 or so seconds doesn’t sound like much, but in a Soulslike, when death can come fast and frequent, this could be a minor pain point for new players when learning the ropes. But veterans, armed with previous knowledge, will likely endure few loading screens.

As noted up top, this is the “Complete Edition” and comes packaged with the high-quality Overture expansion, alongside all previously released DLC, including the overpowered Azure Dragon Crescent Glaive weapon, released as part of a collaboration with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. It’s unlocked from the start and makes the early game a breeze. In fact, it’s so powerful, I’d suggest new players avoid it, as it breaks the difficulty curve.

Overall, this is a strong port of an excellent game; whether you’ve experienced Lies of P before or are stepping into Krat for the first time, the game feels at home on Switch 2. And because of its largely linear level design and manageable scope, it’s a great game to pick up to fill the time until Elden Ring arrives later this month and eats up your gaming time.

The Soulslike genre has exploded in popularity in recent years, with numerous developers attempting to recapture the very particular alchemy that saw FromSoftware rapidly rise to one of the industry’s most respected (and beloved) studios. Many have tried, but few imitators have got as remarkably close to matching the quality of a true Souls game as Lies of P.

All of this is to say, Lies of P: Complete Edition is a must-play on Nintendo Switch 2. This was the Switch 2 port I was desperately awaiting since launch, and now that it’s here, it’s no disappointment. Playing Lies of P once again on Nintendo Switch 2 has only deepened my obsession.

More from Tom's Guide

• Lies of P: Overture is a massive expansion — and it’s absolutely brutal
• Best Nintendo Switch 2 games in 2026
• I solved the biggest issue with my Switch 2 in under a minute

I love my Nintendo Switch 2. I mostly play in handheld mode, but when I do dock my console for gaming sessions on the TV, I enjoy having the luxury of a Pro controller. And I do mean luxury, as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller costs a hefty $89.

However, you don’t need to pay anywhere near that much to get a great game pad for your console. In fact, I’m here to argue that my favorite controller is better than the Pro Controller. And it costs less. It’s the GameSir Super Nova, on sale for $35 at Amazon.

What are the most important aspects of a gaming controller? Comfort comes pretty high up the list. Luckily, the GameSir Super Nova is extremely comfortable to use. The rubber thumb grips feel perfect and the plastic finish is soft and smooth. You also get a proper cross-shaped d-pad, which is great if you don’t like the arrangement of the directional buttons on the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons.

But the GameSir Super Nova beats Nintendo’s controllers in a way that’s even more fundamental. Nintendo’s original Joy-Con controllers were plagued with drift — this also applied to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, too. With constant use, they would start to read inputs incorrectly, leading to issues like in-game characters or pointers moving when you didn’t want them to. While I haven’t experienced this with my Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 controllers (yet,) it’s not guaranteed that it won’t happen again.

To avoid the dreaded stick drift problem, the GameSir Super Nova is equipped with hall effect sensors. Rather than physical components that wear down with use, hall effect thumbsticks use magnets. Not only does this eliminate the potential for drift, it also means your inputs are more accurately read.

The GameSir Super Nova is one of the cheapest controllers to use hall effect sensors, and as such, it’s one of the best accessories you can buy to future-proof your console. I can’t use my old Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers any more, because they drift so badly. But the GameSir Super Nova is going to go strong for several more years at least (I hope.)

The downsides (and why they don't matter)

In her GameSir Super Nova review, my colleague Nikita Achanta had a ton of praise for this controller, but also knocked it for its battery life and back button placement. I’m here to defend the controller’s corner.

The GameSir Super Nova’s battery life is rated at 15 hours, but only lasted about 6 hours in Nikita’s tests. Obviously, more battery life would be great. But it works absolutely fine for my needs — I don’t have time for non-stop gaming sessions that last over six hours. Some people do, but I’m willing to bet those people are in the minority. And the controller’s battery doesn’t drain quickly when it’s not being used; I can reliably come back to it time and time again without needing to recharge it between uses… even when my play sessions are weeks apart or longer.

Additionally, the vast majority of Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games have no need to use the back buttons. I focus more on the face buttons and triggers, and they feel great. But if you do love to customize your own button layouts, a different controller like the GameSir Cyclone 2 might be a better choice.

Still, if you just want a controller that’s affordable, comfortable to use, and don’t want to worry about drift — pick up the GameSir Super Nova.

I’ve played my Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles for well over 1,000 hours in total. (By my latest count, I have over 855 hours in Animal Crossing: New Horizons alone). It’s definitely the console I’ve spent the most amount of time playing in my life, and there are a ton of games that have made their mark on me one way or another.

• shop Nintendo Switch game deals at Amazon
• Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle: now $499 [save up to $30]

But what are the most special games on the list? I’ve gone back through my library and I’m going to share the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games I simply couldn’t go without. Get ready to add some new games to your wishlist!

Quick links

• Samba de Amigo Party Central: was $39 now $14
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure: was $29 now $24
• Fitness Boxing 3: was $49 now $25
• Stardew Valley: now $34
• Rhythm Heaven Groove: now $39
• Dragon Quest XI S: now $39
• Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma: now $39
• Hatsune Miku Project Diva Mega Mix: now $39
• Fashion Dreamer: now $49
• Super Mario Party Jamboree: was $59 now $52
• Pokémon Sword: was $59 now $52
• Animal Crossing New Horizons: was $59 now $53
• Tomodachi Life Living the Dream: was $59 now $57
• Pokémon Pokopia: now $69
• Mario Kart World: now $79

My top 15 games

Rhythm Heaven Groove (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

Rhythm Heaven Groove only just came out, but I already know I never want to be without it. It’s from one of my favorite game series of all time, after all, and it may just be the best game in the series yet. I absolutely love rhythm games, and this one is so much fun that I physically can’t keep a smile off my face while I play.

You need to keep to the beat in dozens of different rhythm-based minigames. Every new minigame brings something unique, with a ton of visual and musical variety. One minute you’ll be chopping vegetables to a laid-back beat, and the next you’ll be hopping hurdles to the sounds of heavy metal.

It’s a great one to pick up and play — and get your non-gaming friends and family involved with couch co-op multiplayer. There are 30 minigames dedicated just to multiplayer sessions.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

I’ve already mentioned that I’ve played Animal Crossing: New Horizons for over 850 hours. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’d struggle to go without it in my game collection. It’s pretty much the ultimate cozy game, setting you free on an island inhabited by cute critters, and giving you the tools to customize and decorate it exactly how you please.

The recent free 2.0 content update finally brought a lot of features I’d been hoping for, like bulk crafting and more decorating space with dream islands. That as well as the other new features sucked me right back into Animal Crossing New Horizons, even though the game is over six years old. Now, if only you could place rugs outdoors… I’d probably be looking at 1,600 hours of gameplay or more if they made that change.

Mario Kart World (Nintendo Switch 2)

Mario Kart World is an easy choice to add to any gamer’s Nintendo Switch 2 library. I’ll admit it, I don’t play this one all the time — I’m not the biggest fan of racing games. But it’s a game that just about anyone can enjoy and it’s one of the first titles I reach for when I have friends or family around to play with me.

It’s also one of the best showcases of the Nintendo Switch 2’s improved graphical and technical performance — everything in Mario Kart World looks incredible, and the fact you can drive around anywhere you want in the open world is very impressive.

Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

Super Mario Party Jamboree is a virtual board game that’s an absolute must when I’m gathering around the TV with my family and friends. Whenever Mario Kart World is off the table, that is.

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, you need to roll the dice, fight the other players to take the top spot in minigames, and earn the most stars! The random element with dice rolls means the pecking order can turn upside-down at any time, which makes every moment of the gameplay exciting. There’s no bigger feeling of betrayal in gaming than someone taking one of your stars away in Mario Party, but that’s all just part of the fun.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

Another recent release that instantly captured my heart! Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is possibly the funniest game on either the Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch 2. You’re placed in charge of an island and are free to populate it with Mii characters — avatars you can customize to look like just about anyone. Then, you just need to sit back and watch the all the weirdness that the Miis get up to.

The Mii characters can make friends, fight with each other, or even get married and have kids. I love this game because it’s basically like my own personal soap opera that I can tune into whenever I want. Who knew that Viper from Gladiators and my real-life best friend would make a perfect couple?

Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

If you haven’t played Stardew Valley yet, I don’t know what you’re doing reading this article. It’s one of the most popular indie games ever, selling a massive 50 million copies. And its popularity is well deserved, since it’s just about the best a game in its genre can possibly be.

Stardew Valley is a farming sim where you’ll need to tend crops and sell them for a profit. You’ll also get to know the inhabitants of the titular valley — which is extremely rewarding to do, since each character has a truly rich backstory and inner (digital) life. The simulation gameplay is some of the best and most addictive I’ve ever played (and I’ve played a lot of farming sims,) and the characters are some of the most memorable I’ve ever experienced. Best of all, the game is still being updated with new free content and features, even ten years after its original release date.

Pokémon Pokopia (Nintendo Switch 2)

Another titan of the cozy gaming genre. Pokémon Pokopia is pretty much the reason to upgrade to a Nintendo Switch 2, in my opinion — it’s a game I just couldn’t put down, and it offers dozens of hours of content.

In this game, the world is dry and barren, with almost no life to be found anywhere. You play as a Ditto, a shape-shifting Pokémon who can transform to use different abilities — and you need to rebuild the world and bring the Pokémon back. It’s one of my favorite games, since seeing Pokémon thriving in nature that you’ve worked so hard to restore yourself just gives a warm and fuzzy feeling that is so hard to replicate.

Fitness Boxing (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

If you play video games as much as I do, it’s a good idea to mix things up and get some exercise while you play. Luckily, I found Fitness Boxing, and it got me to do just that. You need to hold the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and punch panels to the left and right while staying in time with the music. And it’s not just for your arms — squats and step-ins are mixed in, so your whole body gets a workout.

I love this game because it mixes fitness and rhythm gameplay, and the on-screen trainer’s instructions and encouragement actually keep me motivated to work out. You get a stamp on the calendar every time you come back, and seeing it filled out for a whole month is a great feeling.

Out of the series, I’ve only played Fitness Boxing 2. But from my research, all three games in the series offer solid gameplay and features.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

I’ve already mentioned that I love rhythm games — and the one I’ve spent the most time with on Switch is Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix. Project Diva is a long-running game series that features some of the most popular Hatsune Miku music. And Mega Mix brings the best of that series onto Nintendo Switch.

(In case you haven’t heard of her before, Hatsune Miku is a virtual singer — composers can download and use her voice as a digital instrument.)

The gameplay starts off easy, but gets brutally tough if you crank up the difficulty levels. I’ve played for hundreds of hours trying to complete all the songs at the highest difficulties, and still haven’t managed it. But I’ve had a whole lot of fun in the process, and experienced almost countless amazing tunes. For Miku fans like me, the soundtrack is just banger after banger.

Pokémon Sword and Shield (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

I’ll admit, I’m behind on Pokémon games. But Pokémon Shield (and its twin, Pokémon Sword) is my favorite of the Pokémon games I’ve played on the Switch so far. It delivers the series’ standard monster-catching and battling gameplay, which is always a ton of fun. And I have a soft spot for Sword and Shield since its creatures and region are inspired by the U.K. — my homeland.

It has its ups and downs — the graphics look beautiful in some areas, but terrible in others (yeah, those trees in the Wild Area still look like cardboard.) The storyline is just about serviceable, but the characters are great. I especially loved battling alongside Hop, who gets an excellent character arc.

I’ve also replayed it more times than any other Pokémon game. Since the Wild Area gets you access to so many different Pokémon early on, you can completely change up your team every time. I like to do themed runs, like keeping all my team reduced to just three members instead of the usual six, or sticking to using only one type.

Dragon Quest XI S (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

While I was researching for this article, I found out that Dragon Quest XI is getting a Nintendo Switch 2 edition. I’m super excited to see one of my favorite RPGs come to the Switch 2! The original version already looked great on Nintendo Switch, so I’m hyped to see any improvements that come with the Switch 2 version.

This game has a long title — Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition — but its name befits its epic gameplay. It’s a classic JRPG, with engaging turn-based battles and some of the best characters I’ve ever met in a Nintendo Switch game. The in-game world is huge and packed with monsters to fight, side quests to complete and secrets to find. I picked it up on a whim one day while shopping, and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made. It really got me back into gaming after a long slump, and reminded me why I love video games so much in the first place.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

Stardew Valley is definitely the highest quality farming sim game on Nintendo Switch. But if you can’t get enough, there are plenty more options out there. One of my favorites is Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma — it delivers extremely addicting farming gameplay with the bonus of action RPG combat and boss battles. You also get to build and design the layouts of your town, too.

I also love Rune Factory 4 Special on Switch. Comparatively, Guardians of Azuma feels slightly more shallow. It took me less time to finish, and from what I’ve heard, the post-game content isn’t as meaty as Rune Factory 4 Special’s. But it also has modernised gameplay with improved quality of life features, better graphics, and its story and characters are just as good.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

I see Hello Kitty Island Adventure a bit like an unofficial sequel to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While I haven’t played it for as long, it’s an excellent game that’s perfect for cozy gaming fans — and Hello Kitty lovers. Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the game is set on an island populated by cute critters, and you can decorate houses, catch fish and bugs, and customize your own character.

It has plenty of its own strengths that set it apart, too. The gameplay revolves around completing requests for Hello Kitty and friends, which gives you more to do than just decorating and redecorating. Plus, the game is well-written and very funny. Most events have custom dialogue, which is wonderful — I hate it when my Animal Crossing islanders spout the same lines every time I talk to them.

Fashion Dreamer (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

Fashion Dreamer has its critics — perhaps fairly so. It’s a dress-up simulator priced at $49.99, which is a lot more expensive than the free flash-based dress up games I played online as a young’un. These days, its main competition is mobile games like Shining Nikki or Dress to Impress, that make money by selling premium clothing items through micro transactions.

I find Fashion Dreamer extremely relaxing to play — it’s a dress-up game through and through, with no frills (other than the ones on the clothes.) You start by creating your own avatar, then wander through a handful of well-decorated locations to find other characters that want you to choose outfits for them too. The clothing options are pretty much endless, since you can customize the in-game pieces by choosing your own color palettes.

I especially enjoyed creating outfits for other real-life players and seeing the outfits other people made for my avatar. That feature has sadly been lost with the closure of the game’s online servers. But I’ll still boot up Fashion Dreamer every now and then to flex my creative muscles by putting together an outfit or two. If the high price tag is scary, I still recommend grabbing a used copy or waiting for it to go on sale.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)

Yes, I love rhythm games! Samba De Amigo: Party Central’s gameplay involves shaking your Joy-Con controllers like maracas to the beat. (You can also use button controls if you prefer.)

I think Samba De Amigo: Party Central is one of the best because I just love its licensed soundtrack. It includes some of the absolute best cheesy party hits you could ever ask for, from Macarena by Los Del Rio to Junior Senior’s Move Your Feet. I also got majorly addicted to the online multiplayer mode, World Party — it’s a knockout mode that gives you great motivation to keep coming back to try and take first place.

I always see great sales on Samba de Amigo Party Central, too. It’s so cheap that you have pretty much no reason not to grab a copy.

Splatoon Raiders is a new direction for Nintendo’s ink-based, third-person shooter, which shifts the focus to single-player gameplay with a co-op twist. As the series’ first spin-off and its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2, you won’t be battling other players — but taking on hordes of Salmonids feels just as fun and chaotic.

Instead of fighting through city-style courses in Splatsville, you’re scouring the Spirhalite Islands for treasure to fix up your hideout ship and return home. Along the way, you’re tasked with completing increasingly difficult, multi-stage raids.

I found the core loop — completing a raid and heading back to your ship to upgrade your gear — to be as rewarding as it was fun. There’s nothing quite like defeating a massive Salmonid, getting a new weapon, and heading back out to test it in combat. Some later islands and raids get a bit repetitive, but everything moves so fast that by the time you notice, you’re onto the next one.

Though it's a single-player experience, you can team up in 4-player co-op locally or online. Likewise, you’ll always have a member of Deep Cut by your side.

Is Splatoon Raiders the perfect way to get your fix before the next main entry? Read on for our full review.

Splatoon Raiders: The Basics

• What is it? A spin-off of the Splatoon series where you go on raids to collect treasure as well as unlock new weapons and abilities, playable solo or with up to 4 players.
• Who is it for? Fans of the series and those who enjoy third-person shooters as well as looter shooters.
• What’s the price? Splatoon Raiders costs $49 if you buy it digitally or $59 for a physical copy.
• What other games has the developer made? Splatoon Raiders is developed by the same internal Nintendo team responsible for the rest of the Splatoon series as well as Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
• What games is it similar to? With its ink-based shooting, Splatoon Raiders plays a lot like Splatoon 3’s Salmon Run mode. However, its expedition-based mission loop resembles Borderlands while its online co-op feels similar to Deep Rock Galactic.

Not quite an island getaway

Splatoon Raiders throws you right into the action with an opening scene depicting the three members of Deep Cut — Shiver, Frye, and Big Man — aboard a helicopter above the Spirhalite Islands. As they approach the center of the island chain, their chopper gets knocked out of the sky, forcing a crash landing.

After a month stranded at sea, Deep Cut and your playable character, The Mechanic, have built a makeshift hideout ship and are ready to start doing what they came for: hunting for treasure.

From tropical beaches lined with palm trees to snow-covered peaks, your trek toward the center of the archipelago takes you through all sorts of eye-catching locales. However, much like the waters surrounding the Splatlands, these islands are teeming with Salmonids.

While raiding is the game’s main focus, taking a breather between runs lets you learn more about Deep Cut and how their world is deeply tied to the Spirhalite Islands. Although some lingering questions remained by the time I hit the credits on my 15-plus hour playthrough, the big ones were answered in a satisfying fashion.

Ink, raid, repeat

As this is a Splatoon game, ink remains your primary tool for taking down the local Salmonid population. The enemy roster keeps you on your toes: airborne pests hover overhead, burrowing threats ambush you from below, and giant monstrosities rain heavy fire from across the arena.

Instead of a traditional single-player campaign, Splatoon Raiders pivots entirely to bite-sized raids. Objectives range from direct, single-stage boss fights to free-form salvage runs where you gather Power Eggs to drill into massive treasure hoards. This variety keeps the loop from getting stale as you bounce between islands.

Alongside standard shooters, brushes, and sloshers, The Mechanic can craft and deploy gadgets mid-combat. Every successful raid feeds directly into your gear progression, dropping higher-tier weapons, gadget components, and crafting materials.

Getting booted back to the ship after a failed raid threw off my rhythm initially, but I grew to love the forced pause. It forces you to rethink your strategy, tweak your loadout, or swap gadgets before diving back in. (And while I played solo for this review, you can also call in online backup when you're stuck.)

Most importantly, movement remains top-tier. Diving into your ink and popping out behind a Salmonid to hit its weak spot feels as slick as ever, especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller in hand. If you love Splatoon's core gameplay, you’ll be right at home here.

Crafting for splatting

Unlike the members of Deep Cut, The Mechanic can fix just about anything — a handy skill considering you're responsible for upgrading the hideout ship as the story progresses. Beyond ship maintenance, your character can also craft new combat gadgets and the parts needed to improve them further.

When faced with a particularly brutal wave of Salmonids, your two equippable gadgets easily make or break a run. Since they operate on a cooldown, timing is everything. Fortunately, you can craft specific parts to shorten those wait times and keep your abilities cycling faster.

Your loadout options depend on which Ink Tank you currently have equipped: Speed, Power, or Tactical. Each tank caters to a different playstyle, comes with its own set of unique gadgets, and can be upgraded to boost core stats like maximum health and overall damage output.

As I made my way through the Spirhalite Islands, I often found myself hunting specific Salmonids just to farm the parts needed for a gear upgrade. You also gather Spirhalite Crystals along the way, which are used for both high-tier crafting and boosting weapon levels. Balancing whether to dump those crystals into upgrading my main shooter or building a shiny new gadget created a really satisfying gameplay loop.

The treasure you haul back isn't just for show, either. Certain artifacts grant unique Relic Powers, offering passive combat buffs that can completely turn the tide during a tough raid or boss fight.

Whether I was tinkering back on the hideout ship or blasting my way through a chaotic raid, the pacing never slowed down. Splatoon Raiders kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

Dripping with fidelity

Besides being the series’ first entry on the Switch 2, this is hands-down the best-looking Splatoon game yet. Everything runs at a buttery-smooth 60 fps in 4K, and during my playthrough, I didn’t experience a single performance hiccup. This held true even when the battlefield was so packed with Salmonids that I could barely make out my own character.

Nintendo’s decision to feature a range of distinct biomes as you venture toward the center of the Spirhalite Islands really pays off. From ink-soaked sand to snow-capped mountains changing color right before your eyes, there were plenty of moments where I had to stop just to take in the view.

In previous entries, the color of your ink depended on your team match-ups. In Splatoon Raiders, however, the color shifts every time you return to the hideout ship. Whenever I set out on a new raid, my ink tank sprayed a completely fresh hue. It’s a small detail, but it constantly mixed up the visual flair while showing off just how vibrant and impressive the game’s graphics truly are.

Splatoon Raiders review: Verdict

Splatoon Raiders takes the iconic combat and charm the series is known for and successfully adapts it into a single-player and co-op loop. The bite-sized raids are as addictive as ever, while the new crafting mechanics and loadout upgrades add welcome depth to the formula.

Although certain islands can feel slightly repetitive over longer sessions, the game's fast-paced momentum keeps your hands glued to the controller. And while competitive PvP takes a backseat this time around, robust co-op options easily soften the blow. Whether you’re a squid-kid veteran or a complete newcomer, Splatoon Raiders is an absolute joy and a fantastic addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is just over 12 months old. Typically with a Nintendo console, it’s the Big N's own first-party games that keep me coming back (I play on PS5 primarily), and while there’s been a steady stream of those on the Switch 2, I’ve found it’s actually Capcom carrying the torch right now.

Capcom is enjoying something of a golden era at present, delivering consistently impressive games at a steady clip. These include several new releases and remakes in popular series like Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, and excellent original ideas like Pragmata (which, seriously, if you haven’t played yet, stop reading this article and play it now. It’s wonderful).

While these games are all available on PlayStation, Xbox and the best gaming PCs, it’s the publisher's Switch 2 support that is really impressive. The Switch 2 isn’t an afterthought for Capcom. Not only are the Switch 2 editions of new games like Resident Evil: Requiem and the aforementioned Pragmata technically sound, they also dropped day one on Switch 2. Other publishers/developer have delayed their games on Switch — I’m still waiting for a date on the Switch 2 edition of 007: First Light.

Capcom is even diving back into its recent past to bring several fan-favorite games from the previous generation to Nintendo players. Case in point, the recent launch of Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition on Switch 2. I’ve been playing DMC5 on Switch 2 recently, and it's another winner from Capcom.

DMC5 is as good as ever on Nintendo Switch 2

Devil May Cry 5 originally launched on PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2019, bringing the franchise back to its roots after the divisive (in my opinion, underrated) 2013 reboot. Fans and critics loved it, and I was among them. It offers the series' signature blend of cinematic, intense action, slightly cheesy humor, and a trio of playable protagonists. That number expanded to four with the Vergil DLC — included with the PS5 and Xbox Series X ports in 2020.

So, how does it look and play on Switch 2? Extremely well. It targets and largely maintains 60 fps in both docked and handheld mode. While I haven’t played the PS5/Series X Special Edition to compare, I can confirm this is a notable improvement over the PS4 version I experienced back at launch. The game was liable to drop frames when the action got really hectic, which in a Devil May Cry game is a problem because things get hectic fast.

As you would hope, this version of DMC5 comes content complete, packing all the post-launch DLC, including Vergil as a playable character. Oh, and load times are blissfully brief, which is useful for somebody like myself, who’s far from an expert DMC player — I need those quick loads to get back into the fray while taking on a tough boss and getting my butt whooped.

Because of its 8th generation console roots, it’s not the most technically impressive Switch 2 port Capcom has released to date. Several major PS4 games made their way over to Nintendo Switch 1. The second generation of Nintendo’s hybrid console can handle the likes of DMC5 with relative ease, but it’s yet another excellent Capcom game, now playable on the Switch 2.

Capcom’s Switch 2 support is impressive (and there’s much more to come)

Nintendo aside, there are few (if any) publishers supporting the Switch 2 to the same degree right now as Capcom. And considering the Japanese video game company is currently in its aforementioned “golden era,” with no signs of slowing down, that’s a significant boon for the console.

This year alone, I’ve tested the Switch 2 release of a trio of Resident Evil games (Biohazard, Village and Requiem) alongside Pragmata (I am not going to shut up about this game till you play it), and been largely impressed with them all. My Switch 2 is rapidly becoming a device dedicated to playing Capcom games on the go, and I don’t mind at all.

This support isn’t slowing down either. Capcom has already announced plans to bring its sprawling RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 to the console as part of its Dark Arisen re-release this October. I love the idea of having such a vast RPG for long flights. And before that, the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword will arrive on Switch 2 on September 4, the same date it launches on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC. Switch players won’t have to wait longer!

Plus, looking a little further into the future, Monster Hunter Wilds is Switch 2-bound (coming in the wake of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection landing on Nintendo's platform in March), alongside the recently announced Resident Evil: Veronica remake and Mega Man: Dual Override.

So, kudos to Capcom. Firstly, for its remarkable streak of quality releases. But secondly, for ensuring that its acclaimed recent back catalog is available on the Switch 2 and that its highly anticipated new releases arrive on the system on day one. Its biggest gaming rivals should take note.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best Nintendo Switch 2 games in 2026
• I played all 3 new Resident Evil games on Switch 2 
• Splatoon Raiders hands-on preview: I'm already hooked

While consoles used to get cheaper a year or two into their life cycle, this generation’s gone the other way. RAM and component shortages have pushed manufacturers to raise prices instead of drop them, which makes any genuine saving on new hardware feel a lot sweeter than it used to.

This Nintendo Switch 2 deal for Prime Day is a good example — the console’s down to AU$624, beating the EOFY price of AU$629 and sitting well below its usual AU$699.95. It’s a modest discount on paper, but the timing matters: Nintendo plans to lift the Switch 2 to AU$769.95 on September 1.

That means grabbing it now saves you AU$145.95 compared to its upcoming price, and right now AU$624 is the lowest Switch 2 price we’ve seen.

Whether another sale pops up before September is anyone’s guess, but this is a straightforward chance to lock in the cheapest price before the hike.

As someone who bought his Switch 2 at launch, I can say that the handheld/console hybrid is really coming into its own now that we're over a year into its life cycle.

Its growing library of games has some genuine first-party bangers in it, like Star Fox, Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and we have Splatoon Raiders arriving later this month. Additionally, developers are squeezing some terrific performance out of the Switch 2 on third-party titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Pragmata.

Seriously, you don’t want to sit this one out — it’s the best Switch 2 deal we’ve seen so far, and once the price hike lands, waiting will feel like a mistake.

More from Tom's Guide

• Nintendo Switch 2 review — no gimmicks here, just a fantastic hybrid console
• A PlayStation 6 without a disc drive? I’m done with Sony
• Here’s how to secure your copy of Grand Theft Auto VI today

I’ve loved the Nintendo Switch 2 since launch. I said as much in my review last summer, where I labeled it the “hybrid console of my dreams.” 12 months later, and that stance hasn’t changed. However, I’ve had one persistent issue from day one: the relatively paltry internal storage.

The Switch 2 comes packing 256GB of internal storage (of that, only 249GB is usable), and there’s no escaping the fact this isn’t enough in a gaming landscape where blockbuster games boast install sizes best measured in dozens of GBs. Want to install Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition? That’s 60GB gone? Final Fantasy VII Rebirth? You need 90.5GB of space.

Even physical games won’t save you much room, with the emergence of the controversial “Game-Key Cards,” the entire game is installed on your Switch 2, similar to how discs work on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Yes, Switch 2 game files come in all shapes and sizes (The excellent puzzler Blue Prince takes up just 3.8GB), but if you want to play blockbuster games on the go, or have a large library installed at once, prepare for storage headaches.

For me, having a large cross-section of my Nintendo library installed at once is a necessity because I primarily use my Switch 2 for traveling. The last thing I want to do while on the road is be trying to find a Wi-Fi spot strong enough to download a Switch 2 game that’s taken my fancy.

Fortunately, upgrading your storage is a breeze; the process takes 30 seconds. The downside? Compatible microSD Express Cards are pricey.

So much room for more Switch 2 games

I recently got my hands on a 512GB Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card, and it’s been a revelation. The install process is almost laughably simple.

Get your chosen microSD card (remember, it must be an Express model), lift up the Switch 2’s rear kickstand, and insert the card into the console’s SD card slot. Give your Switch 2 a few moments to format, and you’re all done. Nintendo really couldn’t have made the process any smoother.

As is typical with additional storage solutions, you don’t get the full memory listed on the packaging. With the 512GB Lexar Play Pro installed in my Switch 2, I was given an extra 465GB of storage capacity. When factoring in the internal storage (which remains useable), this is a pretty healthy amount of wiggle room, even as Switch 2 game install sizes balloon.

I’ve tested out several of the best Switch 2 games running off the Lexar Play Pro, including Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and recently, the new Switch 2 port of Devil May Cry 5 (it's epic!). I’ve noticed no increase in loading times compared to playing these titles from the Switch 2’s internal storage, and no reduction in performance.

So, all of this is to say, if you also feel your Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in storage just isn’t big enough, then a microSD such as the Lexar Play Pro becomes a practically essential accessory. With the card snugly installed in my console, my only major remaining gripe with the hybrid console is the pretty lackluster battery life. Maybe I need to pick up a battery pack next?

More Switch 2 storage, but at a price

The asterisk on my glowing recommendation of the Lexar Play Pro microSD is the price. As of writing, on Amazon, a 256GB card costs $84 (currently 15% off, was $99); the model I’ve been testing, the 512GB, is priced at $149, and the largest size, a whopping 1TB, is a wallet-stinging $349. These prices aren’t dealbreakers, but they’re not impulse buys.

The big question is which size is suitable for most Switch 2 owners. I actually did buy a 256GB card last summer, but found the increased storage still wasn’t enough to keep pace with my growing Switch 2 library.

Meanwhile, much as I think the 1TB option will futureproof your console for years to come, ensuring an abundance of storage, $349 is an excessive price and likely pushes the card beyond the budget of most Switch 2 owners.

It’s the 512GB Lexar Play Pro microSD Card that finds the healthiest middle ground. You’re more than doubling your Switch 2 storage capacity, and while $149 isn’t cheap, it’s more budget-friendly than the 1TB option. If you’re looking to upgrade your own Switch 2 storage, I would recommend the 512GB card. It offers the best balance of storage and price, at present.

Of course, whether you need extra storage is a matter of personal preference. If you’re happy to be diligent with deleting/redownloading games, or only plan to play a small selection of titles at any one time, then you can absolutely enjoy the console with just the internal storage. While 256GB isn’t exactly roomy, it’s enough to install a handful of bigger titles.

However, if you’ve been a day-one Switch 2 owner since last June, or even if you just recently joined the ownership club (welcome!), and have found your storage space dwindling, then picking up a microSD card is a smart investment and resolves one of the console’s more noticeable flaws.

More from Tom's Guide

• Splatoon Raiders hands-on preview: I'm already hooked
• Best Nintendo Switch 2 games in 2026
• I gave my Switch 2 an upgrade, and saved $55 in the process

September is creeping ever closer. In case you didn't know, the Nintendo Switch 2 console is going to get a price increase in just two months. But there's still time to get the console at its original price — and even score a saving.

Right now you can get the Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game bundle for $499 at Amazon. Now is the time to buy the new console, since it's about to go up in price. This bundle lets you choose one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games (Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza or Pokémon Pokopia) and will save you between $20 and $30.

I'm also seeing plenty of discounts on games and accessories for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, so keep scrolling to check them out! For more, see our gaming promo codes and 4th of July sales coverage.

Quick Links

• shop Nintendo Switch game deals at Amazon
• Super Mario RPG: was $59 now $33
• Samsung P9 microSD Express Card 256GB: was $79 now $65
• Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition: was $69 now $57
• Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle: now $499 up to $30 off!

Nintendo Switch 2 console bundles

Nintendo Switch game deals

Nintendo Switch accessory deals

Owning a Wii U ended up being the ultimate test of patience. Being forced to wait months for a first-party release that justified me purchasing Nintendo’s tablet/gaming hybrid console proved torturous during much of the system’s lifecycle.

I remember getting the first Splatoon, not out of a pure need for it but because I was so desperate to play anything on my Wii U besides Bayonetta 2. The shock and awe that took over my spirit when I realized just how fun Splatoon’s PvP ink-blasting matches were still stands tall as one of the biggest pleasant surprises I’ve had as a gamer. From that point forward, I sunk embarrassingly long playtimes into the series’ next two mainline entries and accompanying DLC expansions.

Now that I’m on the cusp of finally picking up Switch 2, I’m super excited to put just as much time into Nintendo’s latest offering of ink-splatting. But what makes this new series installment stand out from its predecessors is how it eschews competitive multiplayer in favor of treasure hunting escapades across single–player and four-player co-op expeditions.

And after finally getting some hands-on time with Splatoon Raiders, I can safely say that its fun factor and charm match that of the excellent Splatoon games that came before it.

Customizing loadouts, blasting baddies and raiding treasure

The name of the game here is using your custom character’s mechanical skills to create new tools, improve your gear, customize your loadouts and head out to new destinations across the Spirhalite Islands to find even more goodies for the taking.

Like previous games in the series, Splatoon Raiders gives you a ton of options to tinker to your liking. Creating your own “Inkling” took me longer than expected since I always get a kick out of making them to my exact liking. This game also offers a wide range of other options to tailor, such as your main weapon, two gadgets, Relic Powers, your tank type, Bot Buddy, and clothing style.

Speaking of weapons and gadgets, I got a lot of use out of the “Flamingo Splattershot Jr.”, the “Booyarang” and the “Splatellites.” The mixture of rapid-fire shooting, a weapon that can cut through the opposition in a single circular arc and another one that creates orbiting discs around you that harm incoming foes worked like a charm. When the time arrived for me to eliminate all the “Salmonids” that sought to take me out, my chosen loadout and the assistance of one of the members of the “Deep Cut” trio (whose outfitted in a bot), I was treated to the same entertaining gunplay that made me a fan of Splatoon in the first place.

After seeing the first pieces of footage for Splatoon Raiders, I was a bit worried that the game’s environments would boil down to nothing but sandy beaches and rocky terrain. But those fears have now been assuaged — there’s plenty more biomes to venture to and the color patterns do enough to make them stand apart from each other, thankfully. The Salmonid hordes that try to overpower you are relentless and actually presented a challenge during some missions, especially the timed ones.

Even with the difficulty getting kicked up a notch during my demo, I had the time of my life blasting them out of existence, jumping on top of my big bot assistant to get some extra air time and picking up all the currency and items I need to create more offensive and defensive tools. Trust me when I tell you that you'll need all the help you can get, as this game presents a worthy challenge with its unique boss fights and time trials that throw even more enemy hordes your way.

Co-op raids will keep me occupied for months (or years?) to come

Linking up with three other players to go on some treasure hunts proved to be just as fun (if not MORE fun!) than my solo treks. Seeing my three other Inkling squadmates equip entirely different loadouts resulted in playthroughs where our combined weapons and gadgets cut through our fishy foes with ease. I knew it was time to switch up my loadout when I watched one of my co-op partners slash through an army of swarming Salmonids with their “Splatchet” gadget (it felt so satisfying to do some slashing for myself once I finally used it).

Here’s hoping plenty of substantial endgame content and a nice DLC rollout will accompany Splatoon Raiders to expand its co-op suite.

Bottom line

Call me crazy if you want, but the likes of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Pokopia weren’t enough to compel me to get Switch 2.

As the odd man out with that opinion, Splatoon Raiders stands out as the killer app that will make me finally pick up a Switch 2. Am I slightly disappointed that the PvP competitive ink-splatting isn’t featured? Yeah. But am I still excited to go treasure hunting with the Deep Cut idols, eliminate Salmonids that dare to approach me, jump into the colorful ink fray with three other Inklings and unlock new pieces of gear?

Absolutely!

More from Tom’s Guide

• I just finished Star Fox on Switch 2 — and it’s better than the game I imagined I was playing as a kid
• I played Star Fox on Switch 2 in Mouse Mode and with an N64 controller — here's the one I'd recommend
• Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Switch 2 is seriously charming, but also kind of boring

Despite GTA 6 pre-orders stealing the headlines this week, another game you can play right now actually just hit store shelves. Of course, I’m talking about Nintendo’s Star Fox remake, which I recently gave a glowing review.

I still remember inserting the Rumble Pak into the back of my N64 controller and booting up Star Fox 64 for the first time almost 30 years ago. Now, though, I get to experience one of my favorite childhood games with modern graphics, crisp 4K visuals, and new cutscenes that help fill out the story even further.

Playing Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2 has been an absolute blast so far, and I even managed to take the hard path that eluded me as a child. Still, after several playthroughs ahead of my review, I wasn’t done yet.

Besides being able to play with a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, you can also detach your Joy-Cons and play Star Fox in Mouse Mode. I definitely had to take this new, more precise, fully first-person way to take the game out for a spin. However, I also have one of Nintendo’s modern N64 controllers on hand, so I decided to give that a try too out of sheer nostalgia.

Whether you’re playing Star Fox for the first time or revisiting one of your favorite childhood games like I am, both of these control schemes completely change the experience — but one definitely stands above the other.

Precision meets sheer terror

If you haven’t upgraded to a Switch 2 yet, Mouse Mode is one of the new console’s more interesting features. With your Joy-Cons detached, you can use a desk mat — or any surface for that matter — to engage this new mode and control one of your Joy-Cons like a mouse. This gives you a much greater level of precision and is especially useful in first-person shooters.

Speaking of which, the first game I tried Mouse Mode out on was Metroid Prime 4. What I like about that game’s implementation of this new mode is that you can instantly switch back and forth between it and using your Joy-Cons the standard way. Thankfully, Star Fox does the exact same thing.

The second you flip one of your Joy-Cons on its side, Mouse Mode is enabled. However, in Star Fox, this also switches the game from using its normal third-person perspective to a first-person one. It felt like I was Fox McCloud myself, sitting inside my Arwing with all of its various screens and dials visible in the ship’s central console. This adds a new level of immersion you just don’t get in third-person.

I’ll admit, getting the hang of using Mouse Mode in Star Fox did take me a bit. I think that’s because of how high-stakes and fast the game’s flying and shooting feels. After I finished the game’s first level, though, I had the hang of it. Well, for the most part.

With a Joy-Con held normally in my left hand, I was able to control the yawing of my Arwing while most of the work was done with the Joy-Con in my right hand, which handled shooting, boosting, braking, and aiming my laser’s reticle. It definitely takes some getting used to, but there are on-screen prompts to help you with the more difficult controls.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was how different playing the game in first-person would make some of the levels feel. For instance, the asteroid field in Meteo and the enemies that pop out behind them had me on the edge of my seat. While not necessarily scary, when playing in first-person, everything felt a lot more spooky. The same was true on the planet Solar, as it really felt like the waves of lava were coming right at me.

In retrospect, it makes perfect sense, but I was elated when I realized I could play through the Macbeth stage in first-person. Controlling the Landmaster tank has never come naturally to me, and during my first playthroughs, I got stuck on this level longer than I care to admit. In Mouse Mode with a first-person perspective, though, I was able to not only clear it but also shoot down the eight switches to divert the train fairly easily.

I bypassed Aquas completely during my Mouse Mode playthrough, but seeing the ocean and all the various creatures underwater from the cockpit of the Blue Marine has me excited about starting another run already.

Single-stick nostalgia

Given it was my first introduction to using an analog stick instead of a D-pad, I bought one of Nintendo’s modern N64 controllers when they first went on sale. I mainly did so to re-experience playing Super Mario 64 this way, but I also played through a bit of Star Fox 64 too. Controlling my Arwing the old-fashioned way was just as awkward as I remembered it, though.

With Star Fox on the Switch 2, you can use an N64 controller if you want to relive that exact same experience, just with modern visuals. In the game’s on-the-rails levels, I felt like I was right back in 1997, sitting on the floor in front of the TV.

Even the game’s boss fights — like when I took on the Gorgon in Area 6 — felt great and were easy enough to handle. The old control scheme came right back to me, even if I did miss using my Switch 2 Pro Controller’s extra GR button (which I had mapped to A) to shoot. Once I switched to All-Range Mode, however, that’s when things got tricky.

Just like in Star Fox 64, you point the analog stick down and press either the down or left C-button at the same time to do a somersault or U-turn, respectively. During the second fight with Star Wolf and his crew, these old controls made things quite difficult.

If I held down and pressed one of the C-buttons after, nothing happened. Instead, I had to press down on the analog stick while hitting the C-button at the exact same time to pull off the maneuver. With Star Wolf hot on my heels, my Arwing took a lot more damage than it did when using modern controls with my Switch 2 Pro controller.

Even if All-Range Mode was just as difficult as I remember with an N64 controller, it was still a fun experiment testing it out in Star Fox on the Switch 2.

Now it truly feels like summer

If you’re a seasoned player who knows all the hidden paths, you can finish Star Fox in around an hour. With other Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom taking 60+ hours to finish, Star Fox’s campaign may feel short, but that’s only at face value. The beauty of Star Fox 64 and this reimagined outing is that you’re supposed to replay it, as that’s the only way to find hidden paths and earn medals.

Star Fox on the Switch 2 is fun enough on its own to warrant multiple playthroughs. However, if you want to mix things up a bit, I highly recommend giving Mouse Mode a try. Even if you don't, you can still experience the entire campaign in first-person mode just by hitting the Minus button on your Joy-Cons or Pro Controller.

Personally, I had a ton of fun during my first-person, Mouse Mode playthrough, and I can’t wait to go back to Corneria for another run. In fact, the timing of this release brings me right back to the summer of 1997, and Nintendo made an excellent choice by releasing Star Fox when it did.

Whether you grew up playing Star Fox on the Nintendo 64 or this is your first time saving the Lylat system from Andross, Star Fox on Switch 2 is this summer’s must-play game — just like it was all those years ago.

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Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 is the rare remake that managed to exceed my expectations while feeling instantly familiar. While the original formula remains intact, Nintendo, alongside developer Velan Studios have modernized every aspect of this classic game from the visuals down to the controls.

Fox McCloud and the rest of the Star Fox crew look better than ever, as do all of the 15 different stages. Of course, due to the game’s branching paths, you will have to complete multiple playthroughs if you want to see them all. You definitely will, though, thanks to the new, more cinematic cutscenes between each stage.

Controlling your Arwing felt great in the original, but on the Switch 2, it’s even more satisfying. The controls are snappy and responsive when playing in handheld mode or with a Switch 2 Pro Controller. However, you can also detach your Joy-Cons to play in Mouse Mode, which shifts your perspective from third to first-person, making gameplay feel even more immersive.

If this is your first time saving the Lylat system, you’re in for a treat. For seasoned Star Fox players, though, the game and its stages play out almost exactly as you remember them, for better or worse. While there is a new multiplayer mode, it doesn’t feel extensive enough to justify picking up this remake for it alone.

Star Fox for the Switch 2 is still the best way to experience this classic starfighter. Read on for my full Star Fox review.

Star Fox: The Basics

• What is it? Star Fox is a sci-fi rail-shooter and space combat game with high-speed aerial dogfights and branching paths where you fight to protect the Lylat system.
• Who is it for? Star Fox fans who want to re-experience Star Fox 64 on the Switch 2’s more powerful hardware with improved controls and visuals.
• What's the price? Star Fox costs $49 if you buy it digitally or $59 if you buy a physical copy.
• What other games has the developer made? Star Fox for the Switch 2 was developed by Velan Studios alongside Nintendo. They previously worked together on the mixed-reality racer Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, but the studio also created the dodgeball brawler Knockout City.
• What games is it similar to? Given it’s a modern remake, Star Fox feels a lot like Star Fox 64 as well as other space combat and flying games such as Star Wars: Squadrons and Ace Combat.

Seeing the Lylat system with new eyes

I still remember popping the rumble pack into the back of my N64 controller and booting up Star Fox 64 for the first time. While the original set the bar quite high, this reimagining of Nintendo’s classic space opera immediately hooked me once I saw how stunning it looked on the Switch 2.

From the menus to the cutscenes to the levels themselves, Star Fox shines in a crisp and buttery smooth 4K resolution at 60fps on Switch 2. Gone are the blocky and low-polygon structures of the original as they’ve been replaced with top-tier graphics you’d expect to see on the PS5 or Xbox Series X.

By upgrading and optimizing its proprietary Viper Engine, Velan Studios has managed to deliver impressive visuals and a locked framerate of 60 fps. The HDR implementation is another big highlight here as laser fire and bombs shot from your Arwing stand out brilliantly against the deep blacks of outer space.

Whether I was flying alongside the water outside Corneria, navigating through space debris in Sector X or submerged in the Blue-Marine in Aquas, all of the various environments in Star Fox had my eyes glued to the screen. In fact, I took different paths throughout several playthroughs just to see them all.

Fantastic Mr. Star Fox

From the opening scene after the updated tutorial, when the crew takes off their VR headsets, it’s clear we’re dealing with a familiar yet entirely different Star Fox. Instead of the dated character models of the original, we’re now met with ones that feel more like the cast of Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox film. I like them personally, but they have divided the series’ loyal fanbase somewhat.

You’ll be seeing a lot more of Fox, Slippy, Peppy and Falco, too, as there are now beautifully rendered cinematics in between missions. They help fill out the story and show the inner workings of the Star Fox crew in ways I could only imagine when playing the original.

There are changes during the missions themselves, too, when it comes to the story and especially dialogue. While some fan favorite sayings like “Do a barrel roll” remain, the lines delivered by the crew mid-combat feel more intentional and add an extra layer of depth to the overall story.

For instance, during the first level, you’re tasked with saving Falco as he’s having trouble with his ship’s G-Diffuser. In the original, after you helped him out, that was that. Now, though, in the Switch 2 version of Star Fox, Slippy chimes in saying that’s why you don’t want to rush a systems check.

There are little extra bits of dialogue here and there throughout the story, and alongside the new cinematics, I felt more immersed in the world of Star Fox than ever before.

By air, land and sea

Even though the levels themselves are on-rails, your journey to take on Andross is more flexible thanks to Star Fox’s branching paths. Depending on which teammates you save, how many hits you deal out to enemies and a few other conditions, new paths and different levels become available.

This adds some much-needed variety to the core game while also giving you a reason to replay its campaign. While you pilot Star Fox’s iconic Arwing craft for a majority of the game, it’s not the only vehicle.

For instance, if you take the easy path to Venom, there’s a level where you take command of the Landmaster tank. The tank features the same controls as your Arwing, but since you’re on the ground instead of in the air, it’s a welcome change from flying.

Alternatively, if you take the hard path to Venom, there’s an underwater level where you pilot the Blue-Marine submarine. Built by Slippy from spare parts, the submarine works just like your Arwing, too. Having missed this section as a kid, it was a nice surprise, and the enemies and environment of Aquas were absolutely worth another run of the campaign.

Although Star Fox’s campaign only takes about an hour and a half to finish, revisiting levels to look for secret paths does add a bit more to the game. Still, I wish there were more new levels besides the prologue to really round out this upgraded package.

From tactical to all-range

If you’ve booted up Nintendo Switch Online and tried to play through Star Fox 64 recently, you’re in for a welcome surprise on Switch 2 as Velan Studios has modernized the game’s controls. Instead of using a single analog stick and the C-button, Star Fox now features dual-stick flight.

The left stick handles your Arwing’s positioning while the right stick controls your reticle. This separation gives you far greater precision when aiming your lasers.

Alternatively, you can take things a step further by detaching your Joy-Cons and playing in Mouse Mode. Though I found the first-person perspective does take some getting used to.

In addition to this new control scheme, there’s an overall snapiness when it comes to pressing buttons to boost, brake and deploy bombs, as well as when you’re using the triggers to shoot or the bumpers to barrel roll. Suffice it to say, piloting an Arwing has never felt this good.

Star Fox: Verdict

Star Fox on the Switch 2 marks the triumphant return of Fox McCloud, though it’s also an excellent showcase of what Nintendo’s latest console is capable of. The upgraded graphics and improved visual fidelity make this the best way to experience this classic adventure, while the snappier and more modern controls make piloting your Arwing just as satisfying.

Although I wish we could play the full campaign together with a friend in co-op mode with our own ships, at least Nintendo does give you a way to do so as pilot and gunner. Likewise, there are a lot of great ideas in the new multiplayer modes, but let’s face it, we’re here for the single-player campaign. Whether you’re just saving the Lylat system for the first time or you’re a seasoned mercenary who knows all the hidden paths, this is the best Star Fox has ever looked and played.

The Nintendo Switch 2 turned one earlier this month, which means we're far enough away from launch to finally have great deals to talk about. Last year's Prime Day came just a bit too soon in the Switch 2's life for any truly noteworthy deals, but in 2026, there are definitely good deals available.

If you're looking to upgrade from Switch 1, the Switch 2 Choose Your Game bundle is a great way to get a console alongside one of three exclusive games. If you already have a Switch 2, there are plenty of big savings on essential software, alongside useful accessories to upgrade your console.

These are the best Switch 2 deals I've spotted this Prime Day, and be sure to check back. Amazon has made its annual sales extravaganza a multi-day event, so I'll be adding new deals as they appear.

Quick links

• Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle: $499 @ Amazon
• Nintendo Switch 2: $449 @ Amazon
• Sonic X Shadow Generation: was $49 now $24
• Star Wars Outlaws: was $59 now $24
• Mario Tennis Fever: was $69 now $49
• Kirby Air Riders: was $69 now $49
• Resident Evil Requiem: was $69 now $52
• Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition: was $69 now $57
• PDP Afterglow Wave Wired Controller: was $29 now $19
• RDS Game Traveler Deluxe Carry Case: was $29 now $26
• Samsung P9 microSD Express Card 256GB: was $79 now $39

Nintendo Switch 2 console deals

Nintendo Switch 2 game deals

Nintendo Switch 2 accessory deals

We're approaching the halfway point of 2026, and it's already shaping up to be another truly fantastic 12 months for new video games. And we haven't even got to the ludicrously crowded September/October period yet, and the small matter of the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, either.

But before all of the exciting games to come, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the games already released in 2026 that have seriously impressed us. Across all major platforms, there's been plenty of must-play experiences ranging from new installments in beloved franchises to original IPs, and one of the best licensed games ever made!

If you skipped any of these games when they launched, the summer months (which are a little quieter for new releases) are the time to circle back. These are the best video games we've played in 2026 so far.

Resident Evil Requiem

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

I expected Resident Evil Requiem to be a good time, but what I didn’t expect was for it to be one of my favorite Resident Evil titles of all time. It masterfully blends the gameplay of its two protagonists to offer an experience for fans of both action and horror, and makes both characters interesting to play as (although, admittedly, I always looked forward to Leon).

Being able to catch on to things or open new paths with Leon after progressing through an area with Claire made exploring areas a second time feel interesting instead of cumbersome, and the post-game content made me replay the game not once but twice, and that is saying a lot for someone who has never replayed a game or gone for platinums before.

Whether you’re playing on PS5 Pro or Switch 2, the game runs really well, and Capcom deserves credit for this when some studios (I’m looking at you, Bethesda!) haven’t done the best job at optimizing their games.

Requiem reminded me of what makes Resident Evil one of the best horror franchises ever made, and my personal favorite series in the genre. I am really excited for future RE titles and any DLC Requiem has to offer. Just give me more Leon Kennedy, Capcom. Just give me more Leon Kennedy. — Phil Rodrigues

Read our full Resident Evil Requiem review

Pokémon Pokopia

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2

As someone who’s never been a fan of Animal Crossing, Pokémon Pokopia was my biggest gaming surprise of 2026 — and it’s a game I can’t get enough of. It’s a cozy yet surprisingly deep life-simulation adventure where I’ve built and rebuilt habitats, restored ecosystems and created thriving communities for my favorite Pocket Monsters.

Playing as a Ditto who can craft and gain abilities to help with terraforming has been extremely fun. Each Pokémon’s personality and funny dialogue have made me fall in love with the franchise all over again. The gameplay loop is addictive, as is the creative freedom you’re given. Pokopia effortlessly blends elements of building sims, sandbox games, and classic Pokémon exploration into a seamless experience.

What perhaps surprised me the most, though, was the strong storytelling and writing revolving around a post-apocalyptic world. It’s surprisingly deep — and I certainly wasn’t expecting the scattered notes you find (or the ending) to hit that hard. Pokopia feels refreshingly new but unmistakably Pokémon at the same time. I can’t wait for the DLC! — Nikita Achanta

Read our full Pokémon Pokopia review

Pragmata

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

It’s amazing how much a strong demo can do in making someone like me see the vision. Before I took Hugh and Diana into rooms full of rampaging robots, I followed Capcom’s brand-new IP closely. The painfully long wait for a final release date took my hype levels down a peg, but I still maintained a sliver of hope that Pragmata would pull through and deliver a quality experience.

After replaying the demo way more times than I can count, I was fully convinced that Capcom had a new smash hit on their hands. Thankfully, that sentiment of mine stayed true once I reached the end of Hugh and Diana’s emotional journey. The genius way the developers at Capcom mashed up traditional third-person gunplay with a grid-based hacking system that’s controlled by the face buttons roped me in immediately. And I was always excited to see all the new weapons and mods I could tap into to take down waves of disgruntled bots.

I was shocked to see how much post-game content Pragmata had in store for me, which gave me plenty more reasons to bring my best loadouts to ever more challenging combat scenarios. While Pragmata’s story could have been a lot stronger, I still got a ton of enjoyment out of Hugh and Diana’s warm relationship. Here’s hoping we get a sequel that expands on this game’s clever approach to shooting and hacking. — Elton Jones

Read our full Pragmata review

Forza Horizon 6

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S (PS5 TBD)

I mean, this one’s an obvious pick, right? Easily one of the best racing games over the past decade and the greatest in the Horizon series. Forza Horizon 6 puts you in a drop-dead gorgeous recreation of Japan, gives you a ton of incredible cars to drive in, and an almost-infinite wealth of things to do from fun short storylines and stunt events (like racing a Gundam) to full-blown high-octane racing action.

And while I could go into the upgrades here to visual flair, the huge improvement in audio with a banger soundtrack and cars that sound so much more alive, the versatile driving physics giving you either arcade accessibility or sim-level immersion, or the variety of events keeping the game feeling alive for a long time to come.

But the real thing that keeps it head and shoulders above the competition is how it's the first racing title I’ve played to truly capture the essence of car culture. Every single tiny detail comes together to form a love letter to the automobile unlike anything you’ve played before. Just do yourself a favor, buy it now, and thank me later. — Jason England

Read our full Forza Horizon 6 review

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (Switch 2, September 18)

I’m a Batman fan, and I’m a Lego fan, so I already knew I’d dig Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. However, I didn’t expect it to be such a thoroughly captivating and enjoyable experience. It’s a title I’ll absolutely have in my top 10 games of the year. Yes, it’s that good!

So what’s so special about Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? Aside from the usual Lego charm, this game is a true love letter to various Batman media— particularly the big Hollywood movies. You play through all of the Caped Crusader’s biggest moments, from falling into a batcave as a child all the way through his rise as Gotham City’s dark avenger. Naturally, the tone is silly, but it retains enough earnestness not to be a complete joke.

Gameplay-wise, it feels like a stripped-down version of the Batman Arkham games, with similar combat and traversal mechanics in a relatively large open world. You even get those games’ versions of puzzles. The Lego parts involving building items and the slew of collectibles, including costumes, vehicles, and more, also make this game highly addictive.

If you’re looking for a game that’s pure fun, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a must-own title. — Tony Polanco

Read our full Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review

007 First Light

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (Switch 2 TBD)

007 First Light is the best James Bond video game ever made. That’s really saying something considering the pedigree of N64’s GoldenEye, and my own childhood nostalgia for 007: Nightfire on the PlayStation 2. However, First Light trumps them both by delivering a remarkable, ridiculously cinematic main campaign that had me hooked from start to end.

Rather than cast you as a Bond in his prime, you experience his origin story, playing as a fresh-faced spy (voiced/mod-capped expertly by Patrick Gibson). As any good Bond game should, your 15-hour adventure takes you all over the world, from Malta to Mauritania, and has you unraveling a villainous plot that feels highly relevant for our times.

The authentic presentation is spot on, complete with a fitting Bond tune written/performed by Lana del Rey, but none of this would matter if First Light weren’t also a joy to play. Fortunately, with Hitman developer IO at the wheel, that was never in doubt. The game’s blend of espionage exploration, and thrilling combat encounters (the melee animations are phenomenal); you really do feel like the world’s most suave secret agent.

It also packs set-piece moments that rival the best of Uncharted and the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy. And it culminates in a finale that feels fitting for such an epic Bond tale. The bar for licensed games has been raised in recent years, but 007 First Light sets a new standard. — Rory Mellon

Read our full 007 First Light review

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Yoshi and the Mysterious Book isn’t the kind of game I would typically pick up. I like Yoshi enough as a character, but I’m not a huge fan of 2D platformers — I haven’t even played Super Mario Bros. Wonder yet.

When I do play 2D platformers, I really enjoy fast-paced and/or collection-focused levels. So, when I got the chance to try out Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, I was wondering whether it would hold my attention. Spoiler alert: I enjoyed the game more than I expected to, but it took a while for the ball to get rolling for me.

My verdict on Yoshi and the Mysterious Book

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a solid way for young or casual gamers to dip their toe into platforming games. Rather than testing your fine motor skills with difficult jumps and obstacles, the levels are built on a sense of mystery and discovery. They are all bite-sized, and you can enter and exit them as you please. The graphics are gorgeous and emulate a hand-drawn style. And there are no time limits or health bars to worry about.

Low-stakes gameplay has its place (I've put 700 hours into Animal Crossing: New Horizons). So, if you want to try a platforming game but find them to be too challenging or stressful, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a good choice.

But I’ve played several platformers before, and during Yoshi’s opening stages, I found the stakes to be so low that it made the game feel inconsequential. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is all about making discoveries, but it took me a while to discover anything that excited me.

Yes, the ducks play music when you bounce on them and the frogs blow bubbles. I discovered these facts as the game intended, but they didn’t ignite a feeling of joy within me — they felt like things I’d seen before in other video games.

I felt like I was looking for more depth that the game just didn’t have. I lingered in levels for ages looking for more to do. On several occasions, I thought for a moment that I’d found a secret, but I was actually just completing the level in the intended way because there was nothing else going on in the stages.

But the longer I played, the more my opinion started to change. When my Yoshi jumped on a creature’s back, causing it to freak out and run across the map at light speed with me still in tow, I cracked a smile. And I was disappointed at not finding anything extra in any of the levels — until I had Shy Guys telling me they needed me to find their hidden musical instruments so they could throw a dance party.

There is a lot of creativity to be found in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. The further you get in the game, the more the experience builds — since your actions in and knowledge of previous levels influence how you play going forward. Those rocks that always looked oh-so-breakable are even more fun to smash once you finally get the right tools. And I had a lot of fun using a bug-munching net to eat all the bees that were rude enough to sting me at the very beginning of the game.

I wish Yoshi could have grabbed me from the get-go rather than being a slow burner. But it was worth sticking around to see the surprises the game had to offer. Just be prepared for a more mellow experience.

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So, as the smart glasses guy on the Tom’s Guide team, my main beef has always been with the Nintendo Switch just making things awkward with its video out on the USB-C connector.

With literally any other gaming handheld, it’s a seamless dream — plug your AR glasses in, and see the picture in front of your eyes. The Switch (and Switch 2) requires jumping through hoops of tricking your console into thinking it's in docked mode to bypass the complicated encryption.

Well, when I tested Xreal Aura some more here at AWE 2026, the team literally mentioned in a passing conversation that they’d cracked Switch compatibility in Android XR. Before they could say another word about local AI, I stopped the talk in its tracks and asked for a demo.

And hot dang, they did the thing! Not only is there full Switch support over USB-C, but with no real noticeable latency, and you can use Gemini to ask questions about the games you’re playing!

Fixing the problem with brute force

So the problem is one of compatibility and protocols (boring, I know). 99% of the market uses DisplayPort Alt Mode through that USB-C socket, which natively supports just plugging the glasses straight in. Meanwhile, Nintendo is using Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) — a standard that was typically used with micro-USB ports back in the day. Why? God knows.

For years now, the fix has been something like the Viture Switch Dock: trick the Switch into thinking it’s in docked mode via a big battery pack to keep it alive at higher wattages and simulate an HDMI connection.

And now, a simple USB-C connection into the Aura’s compute puck does the trick… “HOW!?” I excitedly asked Qualcomm’s team, to which they couldn’t help but chuckle and give me cheeky grins.

Truth is, they can’t tell me exactly how they did it, so all I can do is theorize. You’ve got a strong, open, and versatile development platform like Android XR, paired with a monster spatial computing chip in Snapdragon Reality Elite. I think it’s not too much of a stretch to assume that this high-performance chip is able to transcode that signal in real-time in a well-written Android XR app.

What does it feel like to play?

One common issue with this workaround for the current Switch docks for AR glasses is latency. It’s not terrible, but it can be noticeable in faster titles. None of that exists here, and in my time playing Zelda, it all felt nicely responsive.

On top of that, given it’s a floating window within Android XR, there’s the Gemini Live edge too! Fire it up, look at your screen, and ask away — Gemini was quick to let me know where to go next in the forest.

That is a real value-unlocker vs going to GameFAQs for the answer I need to get ahead in my gameplay whenever I’m stuck.

Take that, Nintendo!

Yes, I know the Switch 2 is great and everything, but this whole USB-C compatibility issue is a pet peeve I’ve been super vocal about for a long time now! Whether it’s so that Nintendo can make its own AR glasses, I don’t know. But the fact that I can’t save myself from neck pain playing the damn thing on long-haul flights seems crazy to me when it’s literally the easier (and better) standard to support.

However, with some brute force of Snapdragon Reality Elite and some coding know-how in Android XR, that’s no longer a problem, and not only that, it’s latency-free compared to the other workarounds we’ve seen.

Low key, this is the biggest winning feature I’ve seen for Xreal Aura. I know there’s so much more to talk about here in what Android XR can do in an optical see-through (OST) environment vs a VR headset, and Gemini’s capabilities in spatial computing. But to 1-UP Nintendo’s limitations? You just love to see it.

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If you've been looking for the right moment to buy the Nintendo Switch 2, now's the time to strike — the in-demand handheld/console hybrid is currently discounted by 10% on Amazon, bringing its price down from AU$699.95 to AU$629.

I get it — 10% doesn’t sound like a huge discount, even if it is Amazon's lowest price on the Switch 2 yet. But with Nintendo planning to bump the Switch 2 up to AU$769.95 from September 1, that “small” saving suddenly means you’re paying AU$140.95 less if you buy now. In other words, it’s a pretty great moment to jump in.

While we can't know for sure if the Switch 2 will get an even bigger discount between now and September — maybe during next month’s Prime Day sale — there's no question that this current deal is a great opportunity.

In our Nintendo Switch 2 review, we described the hybrid console as "ultimate version of the Switch concept", noting that it offers "impactful upgrades across the board," such as a larger 7.9-inch 1080p display and redesigned, magnetic Joy-Cons.

Admittedly, battery life could be better, and a more ergonomic design would've made it more comfortable to play during longer gaming sessions. Still, the Switch 2 holds its own against the likes of Valve's Steam Deck, even managing to outperform it in some areas, boasting a higher resolution display and support for DLSS upscaling.

Honestly, you'll be kicking yourself later if you sit on this opportunity — it's the best EOFY Switch 2 deal we've seen to date, and we don't expect it will get any cheaper before the financial year comes to a close.

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If you're one of the lucky ones who managed to get your hands on a Switch 2 (or have plans to snag one before the impending price hikes in September), congrats. Nearly every Nintendo Switch 2 review sings the console's praises, highlighting its beautifully large 7.9-inch display, smoother performance than its predecessor, and the upgraded Joy-Con 2 design.

To truly appreciate what a gorgeous, powerful, and versatile console the Switch 2 is, though, you need some accessories. I've tried to cover all the bases here, to give you a good variety of necessary add-ons and ones you might not have considered yet.

Here you'll find accessories to extend the life of your Switch 2, like a carrying case and a screen protector. I threw in a few functional accessories, like an 'Express' microSD card (because the plain old version that worked with the original Switch won't work with the Switch 2) and a power bank to battle its abysmal battery life when you're away from an outlet. Then, some accessories are just for fun. Scroll on to see all 12 of the items I'm adding to my wish list.

Prime Day is coming — Amazon's summer savings event will start June 23. But in the meantime, prices are already dropping on Nintendo Switch games and accessories.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and unfortunately, I think the U.K. will follow the trend. We're still waiting to see what the new price in the U.K. will be — but in short, if you want to get a console, now is the time to do it.

You can get a Nintendo Switch 2 for £380 at Amazon and save £15 off the RRP. And to get your console kitted out, Amazon has Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories on sale from £10.

I've listed all the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories I recommend buying below. For more, see our Amazon promo codes coverage.

Quick links

• shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon
• Jsaux Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 (3-Pack): was £9 now £8
• Turtle Beach Airlite Fit Gaming Headset: was £19 now £13
• Minecraft: was £24 now £19
• Yakuza Zero Director's Cut: was £44 now £25
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: was £49 now £37
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: was £66 now £54
• Nintendo Switch 2 Console: was £395 now £380

Nintendo Switch 2 Consoles

Nintendo Switch accessories

Nintendo Switch games

During this week's June Nintendo Direct, you may have missed when the company quickly revealed two new Joy-Con 2 colorways: blue and light yellow. The new colors are inspired by Deep Cut from the Splatoon series.

For the unfamiliar, Deep Cut is a band that pops up in Splatoon 3 composed of two octolings and a manta ray. The octolings wear the blue and yellow colors.

Really, it feels to me like it's just one new color since the blue is just a slightly darker shade compared to the light blue that comes bundled with the Switch 2.

It's honestly a reminder to me that Nintendo has dulled the vibrancy of the Switch 2 hardware, especially compared to the original Switch.

Yes, there are light purple and light green variants of the Joy-Con 2 controllers... but the only pop of color is the strip that connects to the Switch display and a single ring under the joysticks. A strip that disappears when you click the controllers into the Switch 2 console. The rest is just plain black.

Conversely, the original Switch featured controllers where the whole body was one color. And the Switch Lite came along in a choice of multiple delightful hues.

Compared to the black box that is the current Xbox (retro special edition aside), and the spaceship that is the PS5, Nintendo has always represented fun and playfulness with its console(s).

The Switch 2 feels like it's slipped into a professional suit and is beckoning you into its office to discuss a spreadsheet. Am I the only one who's a little disappointed by this?

The original Switch could be a loud contrast of colors, depending on how much you want to mix and match your Joy-Con controllers. Some of the best were inspired by Splatoon, itself a splashy series.

Just look at these practically neon controllers below, especially compared to the boring grey handles on the Switch itself:

Nintendo like many companies is facing economic uncertainity between the varying tariffs — which seem to have settled after multiple lawsuits — and the ongoing memory crisis affecting every bit of tech globally.

Nintendo markets itself as the playful system for everyone, which the design of the Switch 2 seems to elide. Here's hoping that the gaming legend finds its way into the future of the Switch 2 with some whimsy in more than just pops of color that hide.

How to get the new colors

If you're interested in picking up a set of the blue and light yellow Joy-Con 2 controllers, you can pre-order them now for $99 from Nintendo.

The Nintendo site and the images shown during the Nintendo Direct list July 23 as the release date.

Meanwhile, if you want more, there are Switch 2 third-party options that actually highlight a rainbow of colorways.

More from Tom's Guide

• Finally got a Switch 2? These are my 12 must-play Nintendo-exclusive games
• I played an hour of Rayman Legends Retold — and I need to play more
• I played Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and haven’t had this much fun playing a Yoshi game since the Super Nintendo