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

Nintendo has wrapped up its Nintendo Direct event today (June 9) with 50 minutes of Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games.

The biggest announcement was a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 as well as new games in the Switch Sports and Kingdom Hearts franchises. There's also some new Joy-Con colors, too.

Following the main Nintendo Direct, a Nintendo Treehouse stream revealed a more in-depth look at some of the upcoming games, such as a Star Fox.

You can look back through our coverage of the event below and make sure you leave us comments at the bottom of this article about what impressed you the most!

Nintendo Direct June 2026 — How to watch

Watching today's Nintendo Direct couldn't be much easier. All you need to do is head over to Nintendo’s YouTube or Twitch channel.

In fact, you don’t even need to go anywhere to watch live, as I’ve embedded the direct feed above.

Today's event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT / 3 p.m. BST.

Live — Latest updates

Welcome!

Hello! Welcome to Tom's Guide's coverage of today's Nintendo Direct. I'm here to cover all the pre-show build up and discuss what we expect (and what we'd like) to see once the event gets underway.

As a reminder, we're expecting Nintendo to kick things off at at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT / 3 p.m. BST.

Got something you're particularly hyped to see land on the Switch 2? Let me know in the comments below.

Another Legend of Zelda remake?

One of the biggest rumors about today's event comes from known leaker Nate the Hate, who claims Nintendo is working on another The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

This makes sense given how it’s the franchise’s 40th anniversary this year. Nate was correct about Star Fox remake and generally has a good track record — so this claim could very likely be accurate.

What's on the Switch 2 slate for 2026?

Hopefully today will give us a clearer picture of what's coming to Nintendo Switch 2 over the remainder of the year. Details aren't clear on a lot of things yet, but we know Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Duskbloods are both confirmed for a 2026 release.

Meanwhile, Star Fox is out on June 25, and Splatoon Raiders drops on July 23.

Nintendo has to overcome the sting of the price hike

Nintendo is going to have to regain a little bit of customer support with this Direct after revealing it will be increasing the prices of the Switch 2.

From September 1, you'll be paying $499 for a Switch 2 instead of the original launch price of $449. So if you haven't pulled the trigger on buying Nintendo's latest console, now is the best time to do so.

The games we know about in June

Of course Nintendo hasn’t let anything slip in terms of the specific titles we'll see in today’s Direct, so we’re flying blind until the show gets underway.

I'll get round to some of the titles I'm hoping to see later on today but for now, a look at the official Nintendo UK page (where I'm based) confirms these are the games coming our way in June.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - releasing 6/3/26
eFootball: Kick-Off! - releasing 6/3/26
Unrailed 2: Back on Track - releasing 6/11/26
to a T - releasing 6/11/26
and Roger - releasing 6/17/26
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales - releasing 6/18/26
R-Type Tactics I/II Cosmos - releasing 6/18/26
Star Fox - releasing 6/25/26

Will we get an update on The Duskbloods?

A lot of Nintendo fans will be hoping to see their next look at From Software's upcoming Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods at today's Direct.

We haven't seen anything from this game since the big Switch 2 reveal event last spring, and it was announced with a vague 2026 release window. If it's not slipped into 2027, surely Nintendo needs to give us an update today.

Expedition 33 could be announced for Switch 2 today

We've got a little bit of time before the event gets going, so I think it's time for a prediction. I would be very surprised if today's Direct didn't include the news that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is coming to the Switch 2.

The cinematic RPG was easily one of 2025's defining games, and a Switch 2 version would make all the sense in the world. A lot of people who have already played through the game on another platform may be tempted to double-dip and get it again, so they can experience it all over again on Nintendo's portable console.

More rumored games — including the next 3D Mario

It's been nearly nine years since Super Mario Odyssey gave us the plumber's last fully 3D outing and it's high time for a new game. According to reliable Nintendo leaker Nate the Hate, we may get a first look at one today. Last year's Donkey Kong Bananza set the stage for a first-party Switch 2 3D platformer and I can't wait to see what Mario's next outing looks like.

Other hints from Nate the Hate include potentially a new WarioLand game and a new Switch Sports game.

Don't expect GTA VI

Look, it's not going to happen, ok? While it feels like the entire gaming world is desperate for any scrap of information about Grand Theft Auto VI, it feels like the safest of safe bets to say it's not going to show up in today's Nintendo Direct.

Genshin Impact could *finally* arrive on Switch 2

Genshin Impact was first announced for Nintendo Switch during a 2020 Direct. And six years later, we're still waiting for it to arrive. Well, the wait might be over, according to recent posts on X claiming there's been an update ahead of today's Direct.

In the post, X user genshinmains posted: “Nintendo Switch account login manager has been added to the game. New Nintendo Switch account user, need to bind HoYoverse account. Nintendo Direct live stream in 8 hours.”

Allowing users to log into the massively successful gacha game from a Switch 2 would be a strong indication it may finally be ready for primetime.

A ton of ports are coming

Capcom keeps cooking. Now, it's bringing Devil May Cry 5 to Switch. Pre-orders start later today. Muramasa: The Demon's Blade, and Xenoblade Chronicles games are also coming

Xenoblade Genesis revealed

Xenoblade Genesis revealed. The graphics certainly look incredible, and the performance appears buttery smooth.

Switch Sports Resort announced

We now get a trailer for a Switch 2 sports game. There will be 12 games in total. If you're a fan of Wii Sports, this one will be for you. Naturally, you can use the Joy-Cons in various ways to play the game.

Thumb wrestling demo

We now see how thumb wrestling works in Switch Sports Resort. The in-game actions seem to correspond accurately to your movements. You have to shake the Joy-Con, which isn't exactly accurate but seems fun.

Runescape: Dragonwilds

Fans of survival magic games should be happy that Runescape: Dragonwilds is coming to Switch on September 15. Watch out, Wolverine!

Another look at Star Fox

Star Fox launches on June 25. There will be a demo on the Nintendo eShop later today, so definitely keep an eye out for it.

Final Fantasy Resonance

Final Fantasy Resonance launches on October 22 for Switch 2 and Switch 1. Final Fantasy fans on Switch are certainly getting the royal treatment this year.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World

A new Dragon Quest Monsters game is coming to Switch 2. It has the same art style that the series is known for. You can see the clear influence of Pokémon.

Duskbloods closed network test

The Duskbloods get a new trailer. A closed-network test will take place sometime this summer.

Splatoon Raiders trailer

We get another look at Splatoon Raiders. It has some of the same mechanics as the Splatoon games, but it's an action-adventure game with some exploration. Expect more info during the Splatoon Raiders direct on June 30th.

Metaphor: ReFantazio coming to Switch 2

Metaphor: ReFantazio is coming to Switch 2. This was a surprise hit when it released on other platforms a couple of years ago, and it will likely go over well with Nintendo fans when it releases on October 12.

Sizzle reel time

We now get a sizzle reel of upcoming games, including Warhammer, DayZ, and even Metal Gear Solid Master Collection 2.

Kingdom Hearts collection coming to Switch 2

Kingdom Hearts is coming to Switch 2 with a new collection. Those who own the Switch game can transfer their save data now.

Kingdom Hearts IV announced

Now, this is a surprise! Kingdom Hearts IV was just announced. This will likely be a multi-platform game, but it's awesome to see it here during this Nintendo Direct.

Ocarina of Time remake is official

Looks like the rumors were true, as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is indeed coming to Switch 2. Like the 3DS remake from years ago, this is a complete remake from the ground up. This will be a huge one for the Switch 2. Best of all, it arrives this year.

Nintendo of America head takes the stage

Devon Pritchard takes the (digital) stage to give fans a message. It seems she is prepping folks for the upcoming Nintendo Treehouse.

Nintendo Treehouse starts with a Star Fox gameplay demo

We've moved into the Nintendo Treehouse portion of today's event, and it's kicking off with a full gameplay demo of Star Fox, due to land on Switch 2 on June 25th.

I remember the original Lylat Wars back in the Nintendo 64 era so this is hitting me right in the nostalgia zone.

Star Fox looks pretty slick

If this gameplay walkthrough is getting you interested in trying Star Fox for yourself, then the good news is you can try it for free. Starting today, Switch 2 owners can download the demo that includes the tutorial and a full level from the full game.

The bad news is Star Fox is only available for the Switch 2. So if you're still sitting on an OG Switch you'll need to upgrade to join the crew.

Splatoon Raiders is getting a playthrough now

The team have moved on to Splatoon Raiders, the franchise's first single-player game. We're being shown how to customise characters with different gadgets and battle against Salmonids.

There are a bunch of new gadgets coming in this game that will let players gain bonus powers and attacks. Nintendo wants to get people excited for this title, it's planning to hold a dedicated Splatoon Raiders Direct on June 30.

Wrapping up

Ok, the Treehouse has moved on to a four-player game of Rhythm Heaven Groove and while they do that, let's revisit the biggest announcements from today's Direct:

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting a full Nintendo Switch 2 remake coming this year.

Switch Sports Resort is the newest successor to Wii Sports and will come with 12 games in total, letting you use the motion-sensitive Joy-Cons to play.

Final Fantasy Resonance will launch on both the Switch 1 and Switch 2 on October 22.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is a new Dragon Quest Monsters game.

We got a new trailer for The Duskbloods, but no further details.

Xenoblade Genesis was revealed as the next entry in the major franchise that marks "a new beginning" for the series.

Kingdom Hearts is coming to Switch 2 with a new collection. Meanwhile, a brand new game in the franchise — Kingdom Hearts IV — was also announced.

Hot on the heels of Summer Game Fest, Nintendo has announced it will hold a Nintendo Direct tomorrow (June 9) at 10 am ET. A Nintendo Treehouse presentation will follow immediately after.

According to a press email, the Nintendo Direct will run for around 50 minutes and spotlight upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games. The Nintendo Treehouse event will last around 95 minutes and feature gameplay of select games featured in the Nintendo Direct.

This is the first big Nintendo Direct of the year, so it should hopefully shed light on what Nintendo plans to release during the latter half of 2026. I say that because, right now, we don’t have a firm grasp of what’s on the horizon. Some of the confirmed 2026 titles are Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Duskbloods. Star Fox is out on June 25, and Splatoon Raiders drops on July 23.

One of the biggest rumors from known leaker Nate the Hate is that Nintendo is working on another The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. This makes sense given how it’s the franchise’s 40th anniversary this year. Nate was correct about Star Fox and generally has a good track record, so this rumor is likely accurate.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 has generally been successful, it isn’t anywhere near as popular as its predecessor. However, with enough games to get folks excited for the fall season, perhaps Nintendo can turn things around—even if the Switch 2 is getting a price hike in September.

You can watch the June Nintendo Direct and Nintendo Treehouse showcases on Nintendo Today!, YouTube, and Twitch.

More from Tom's Guide

• Nintendo Switch 2 getting replaceable battery in EU — but it should be for everyone
• Nintendo Music is now available in Apple CarPlay — letting you soundtrack your commute with Mario Kart
• I just played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Switch 2 — here's how it compares to PS5 Pro

Nintendo has just announced that it plans to modify the Nintendo Switch 2 console and make it significantly easier to replace the battery. This is being done to comply with EU regulations about user-replaceable batteries, which will come into force in February 2027. Sadly, this doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will automatically be able to buy one of these modified Switch 2 consoles.

Nintendo's announcement isn't particularly forthcoming with details about how these new Switch 2 consoles will be distributed. Instead, it has only specified that future EU Switch 2 consoles will be sold with unique model numbers and an additional "OSM" code on the packaging, which marks them as distinct from existing models on sale. Those units have model numbers starting with "BEE."

What does this mean for future Switch 2s?

Nintendo specifically says that this is being done to differentiate "separate products for regulatory purposes." This suggests that the old design won't vanish overnight. I've emailed Nintendo to clarify this point, and will update when I hear back.

So the big question is whether Nintendo will restrict the sale of these new units to the EU, or if they will eventually start selling them in other regions as well. The company is certainly under no obligation to sell these modified units elsewhere, but it also doesn't make a whole lot of sense to manufacture entirely different hardware for a single region.

Typically, regional variations are limited to specific components, rather than whole new designs. Samsung Galaxy S26 phones utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset in North America, while units sold elsewhere have the Exynos 2600.

Similarly, all iPhones made the switch from Lightning to USB-C, rather than just the models within a specific part of Europe. It doesn't make sense to regionalize the manufacturing process to such an extent and go to the trouble and expense of producing such wildly different versions of the same product.

These rules weren't kept secret

The other big question is why Nintendo didn't plan for this eventuality. The subject of user-replaceable batteries in electronics has been going on for at least six years, well ahead of the Switch 2's release, and one would think that they would have seen this coming and adjusted designs accordingly. The whole point of this legislation is to allow users to replace batteries without any specialist skills or tools. This is not the case with the current Switch 2 design.

Instead, the task of replacing the Switch 2's battery is a long and fairly convoluted process. According to iFixit's repair guide, the Switch 2 battery isn't easily accessible, even after you remove the console's back plate. A bunch of disassembly is required to even access the battery, and you then have to repeat the process in reverse to put the unit back together again.

Replacing the battery in a Joy-Con 2 isn't nearly as complicated, but it's still not the simplest process in the world. Joy-Cons are going to be affected by the incoming rules, too, though Nintendo hasn't confirmed any plans at the time of writing.

So what's going to happen?

It's not entirely clear what Nintendo's plans are right now, only that it will have those modified replacement-friendly Switch 2 consoles on store shelves ahead of the EU's February 18, 2027 deadline. I expect that Nintendo will start distributing the new consoles ahead of that date and minimize the chances of any BEE consoles being sold when they're not supposed to be.

The intricacies of global trade, especially within the EMEA, also likely mean that the new OSM consoles will end up being sold elsewhere, too. Whether that will be restricted to EU neighbors like Norway or the U.K., or whether they will end up being shipped to the likes of North America and Asia, isn't something we can predict.

I hope that Nintendo will eventually wind down production of the original Switch 2 console in favor of making the OSM models more widely available. Having one console in production makes a lot more sense than two, after all. But since there's no hard deadline like there is in the EU, it would make sense for Nintendo to make this a more gradual process.

But no matter what ends up happening, it's worth noting that the new consoles probably won't be arriving before the Switch 2's price goes up in September. There's a $50 price hike in the U.S., bringing the console to $599, and a €30 price increase to €500 in the EU.

More from Tom's Guide

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• The Steam Deck price hike and MSI's new Claw 8 EX AI+ Best Buy leak are just more evidence that handheld PC prices are out of control
• I just found the Sony Xperia Play tribute I've been dreaming of — this retro gaming handheld takes me back to 2012

Did you know that Nintendo has its own music streaming service? It first landed back in October 2024, and I completely forgot that it was ever a thing. But for those of you with an active Nintendo Online subscription, this service lets you listen to Nintendo soundtracks from throughout history. It saves you the trouble of looking for a YouTube playlist that hasn't been hit by a copyright strike yet.

I bring this up because Nintendo has just rolled out a bunch of updates to Nintendo Music. The first big change is that Nintendo has added web browser support to the service, which will let you listen through your desktop machine. A new tablet-optimized app should also offer a better quality big-screen experience, rather than contending with the stretched-out version of the phone app.

Perhaps most exciting is the fact that Nintendo has added support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This means you have better control over the app while you're driving, through your car's touchscreen display and via voice controls.

This means you can drive to work while bopping along to the Mario Kart soundtrack, or matching the weather with the appropriate tunes from Animal Crossing. You just have to remember that real life isn't like a video game, and it's not acceptable to start tossing banana peels at passing drivers simply because you don't want them to overtake you.

It's also probably not a good idea to get behind the wheel after eating a large portion of mushrooms. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Sadly, the service is not free, and you will need an active subscription to Nintendo Switch Online if you want to take advantage of all the tracks Nintendo Music has to offer. You only need the basic subscription, which is $20 a year or $4 a month. That also comes with the ability to play games online, chat with friends, store saves in the cloud, and the ability to play classic games from the NES, SNES and Game Boy.

The $50 annual Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription also comes with all those perks, plus access to games on new systems and free expansion packs for certain games like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart 8.

This is also a good time to mention that the Nintendo Switch 2 price will be increasing later this year. From September 1, the cost of a Switch 2 console will be rising by $50 in the U.S., meaning you'll have to pay $499, and you won't even get any games bundled in with the system.

Thankfully, you still have plenty of time to pick up a Switch 2 before that happens. You can also take advantage of the new $499 "Choose Your Game" bundle, which lets you pick up a console with one of three games: Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, or Pokémon Pokopia. That saves you $20 to $30 on the cost of buying one of those games separately.

More from Tom's Guide

• I love the Nintendo Switch 2 but I’m not a big fan of the Joy-Cons — here are the controllers I recommend instead
• Finally got a Switch 2? These are my 12 must-play Nintendo-exclusive games
• I've been buying Nintendo Switch games for 8 years and have never paid full price: 7 secret tips I use to save on video games

The analysts predicted it, and investors were calling for it, but now it's official. The price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is rising across the world, but the good news is that you have some time before those price hikes actually take effect.

This news has been confirmed following Nintendo's latest earnings briefing, and speculation that Nintendo would follow in the footsteps of rivals Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo revealed the new prices for various regions, including a $50 price hike for Switch 2 consoles sold in the U.S.

So, from September 1, you'll be paying $499 for a Switch 2 instead of the original launch price of $449.

Nintendo Switch 2 price hikes around the world

The U.S. isn't the only region affected by these price hikes, so you can be safe in the knowledge that Nintendo isn't explicitly targeting U.S. consumers. Prices in Canada are rising by $50 (CAD) to $680, while European buyers are getting a €30 to €500. Meanwhile, Australians will be paying AU$769.95 — a AU$70 increase on its price at launch. Like the U.S., those changes come into effect on September 1.

U.K. price hikes haven't been confirmed, but I would be surprised if a price hike wasn't also coming. The current cost of a Switch 2 is £396 for the console by itself, but I can realistically see the price rising to somewhere between £430 and £450. However, we'll have to wait and see what happens in the coming days.

Japanese buyers don't have so long to enjoy the original Switch 2 price, since the price hike will take effect on May 25, and will affect multiple consoles. The Japanese-language Switch 2 price is rising by ¥10,000 to ¥59,980 (~$382), but the multi-language system price is confirmed to be staying at ¥69,980 (~$446).

Japanese buyers will also have to pay more for the first-generation Switch models The OLED model is rising by ¥10,000 to ¥47,980, while the standard Switch is going to be ¥43,980 — an increase of ¥11,002. The Switch Lite will be ¥29,980, an increase of ¥8,002.

Nintendo has also confirmed price hikes for Switch Online memberships in Japan, and that there are plans for a "price revision" in South Korea. Nothing has been mentioned about other regions, but that's something people should be mindful of if they're thinking of letting their Switch Online subscriptions lapse.

Nintendo Switch 2 price hikes: What this means for you

While none of us ever want the price of our gadgets and consoles to rise, especially so soon after release day, most of us saw this coming. There have been rumors surrounding a Switch 2 price hike for several months, and while Nintendo has stayed silent on the topic, global events mean that some sort of increase was inevitable.

Production costs have been rising across the board, exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing RAMageddon memory shortages. It's reportedly got to the point where Nintendo is selling Switch 2 consoles at a loss, something it always avoided with the original Switch, and investors are apparently unhappy about that.

The fact that Nintendo is giving almost four months' notice about the price hike means there is still plenty of time to pick up the Switch 2 at its original price. In fact, it almost feels like an intentional decision to help push sales over the next few months.

So if you've been on the fence about picking up the hybrid console, now is the time to buy. Because odds are that other people will be having the same thoughts you are, and you don't want to be left out because a spike in demand caused shortages of the lower-priced stock.

More from Tom's Guide

• These 11 Switch 2 games drop in May and 2 are unmissable
• I love the Nintendo Switch 2 but I’m not a big fan of the Joy-Cons — here are the controllers I recommend instead
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream gave me the island life Animal Crossing couldn’t — and a reason to play my Switch 2 every day

If you thought the Nintendo Switch 2 was already quite expensive, then you're probably not alone. Sadly, it seems that Nintendo's investors don't agree with customers. In fact, according to a report from Bloomberg, investors aren't happy that Nintendo isn't charging more for its latest console.

According to the report, Nintendo's stock price is still on the decline, sinking below its rival Sony. This is despite the fact that Nintendo is seemingly doing better than Sony, thanks to a slew of successful game releases, and data showing that the Switch 2 is apparently selling faster than any other games console in history.

It may be because Sony has been very willing to raise the price of the PS5, while the Switch has stuck with the same $450 price tag it debuted with last year. Apparently, investors are concerned that this price tag is unprofitable, especially in the wake of supply chain shortages and the continually rising cost of production.

Some analysts believe that Nintendo's stock price will continue to struggle without a price increase. Others believe that increasing the cost of the Switch 2 hardware will only alienate consumers, which is a risky move with the rising cost of living. If people are struggling to pay for basics, they're not going to pay out for pricey consoles and video games

So what happens now?

I'm firmly in the camp of keeping prices low because of the cost-of-living crisis. When existence gets too expensive to keep up with, there's very little room left for buying new video games regularly. That's doubly important when you remember that the best Nintendo Switch 2 games are quite expensive and rarely go on sale.

Bloomberg notes that game consoles are typically sold at a loss, with the games helping to subsidize the hardware gamers need to play them. That's why console games were always, historically, more expensive than PC games. The original Switch bucked that trend, and it sounds like investors would prefer it if the Switch 2 followed that same example.

Naturally, Nintendo needs to make the same calculations as all electronics companies right now. Either it keeps prices the same, to try and encourage people to buy consoles, or it raises them to boost its own margins at the risk of future sales.

With Nintendo's next earnings briefing happening on Friday, this is something that the company may have to discuss. The question of whether the price will actually change or not isn't something we can predict, so we'll be paying very close attention to what Nintendo has to say during the briefing.

In the end, it'll all come down to what Nintendo sees as more important right now: stock price, or ensuring continued consumer confidence?

More from Tom's Guide

• These 11 Switch 2 games drop in May and 2 are unmissable
• I love the Nintendo Switch 2 but I’m not a big fan of the Joy-Cons — here are the controllers I recommend instead
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream gave me the island life Animal Crossing couldn’t — and a reason to play my Switch 2 every day

Upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 finally let me play all of the best Nintendo Switch games in crisp 4K along with a ton of great new releases like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders. However, there was just one problem: I now only had one dock.

Don’t get me wrong, playing the Switch 2 in handheld mode or even with a pair of AR glasses is fantastic. However, when possible, I like to play on a larger display, whether that be the TV in my game room or on my 32-inch monitor at my desk.

Over the original Switch’s lifespan, I ended up with several official docks from Nintendo and quite a few unofficial ones from Genki. Besides its absolutely tiny size, what I love about the Genki Covert Dock Mini is how I can play my Switch on a TV or monitor with just a single USB-C cable. Likewise, as it wasn’t one of the first unofficial Switch docks, I wasn’t worried about bricking my console when using it.

I’ve been waiting for almost a year now, but Genki finally released the latest version of its Covert Dock for the Switch 2. After using it for a month now, it’s certainly lived up to the hype as just like with the original, I can dock my Switch using a single cable. However, while testing it out, I realized it actually beats the official Nintendo Switch 2 Dock in one big way that makes it perfect for households with multiple Switch consoles and even PC handhelds like the Steam Deck.

Now with more power (and personality)

Right off the bat, Genki’s new Covert Dock 3 immediately stands out thanks to its atomic orange accents. It features a similar design to the company’s previous Covert Dock and unlike the Mini, you also get a USB-A port for connecting wired controllers, USB adapters and other accessories.

In the box, you get the dock itself along with a braided USB-C to USB-C cable. However, this new cable is rated for up to 65W of power output (as is the dock itself) whereas the previous one topped off at 45W. This is one of my favorite USB-C cables overall and I also like to use it when connecting a portable monitor to my laptop or PC too.

On the front of the Covert Dock 3, you have easy access to all of its ports. The USB-C one at the top is used for connecting your Switch 2, Asus ROG Xbox Ally X or any of the best handheld gaming consoles for that matter. At the same time, you can also connect your smartphone or your laptop which comes in handy when traveling, especially if you want to watch YouTube or Netflix on the TV in your hotel room from your own devices.

The HDMI 2.1 port underneath the USB-C one connects to your TV or monitor and like I mentioned, the USB-A port on the bottom is for connecting extra wired accessories or for 2.4 GHz USB dongles when you don’t want to use Bluetooth.

Then around back, the Covert Dock 3’s plug folds out to make the 2.4 x 1.7 x 1.3-inch dock even more compact. Another nice touch for international travelers is that Genki also sells a set of Covert Dock Global adapters that slide on in the back so you don’t have to worry about plugging the device into a separate universal travel adapter. With the Covert Dock 2, Genki included these adapters in the box but now they’re only available as an optional add-on for $10 which isn’t that expensive if you plan on using this dock abroad.

Finally, a one-cable Switch 2 dock that works

To get the Covert Dock 3 set up, I plugged it into the outlet under my TV, connected it to an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and ran the included USB-C to USB-C cable up to my entertainment center. One other nice thing about that braided cable is that the end you plug into the dock is straight while the one you plug into your Switch 2 or other devices is angled to prevent any unnecessary strain on your device’s USB-C port.

With that done, I turned on my TV, booted up my Switch 2 and much to my surprise, everything worked on the first try. To test it out, I played a bit of the recently released Super Mario Galaxy as well as the new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. When I checked my TV’s settings, my Switch 2 games were running in 4K at a smooth 60Hz with HDR enabled.

Now I’ve been meaning to upgrade to one of the best TVs with a higher refresh rate for a while now. Once I do though, on more powerful devices like a high-specced gaming laptop, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 or the ROG Xbox Ally X, you can actually push the Genki Covert Dock 3 all the way up to 4K at 120Hz. It also officially supports VRR or Variable Refresh Rate so you can enable AMD’s FreeSync or Nvidia’s G-Sync for incredibly smooth, tear-free gameplay.

As I’m the early adopter at home, I upgraded to the Switch 2 on launch day but my wife is still playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on her original Switch. Previously, I had the official Switch 2 dock set up for myself and a Genki Covert Dock Mini set up alongside it for when she wanted to play her Switch on the big screen. Now though, I only need one dock for both Switch consoles because when I plugged my wife’s Switch into the Covert Dock 3, it worked perfectly.

A truly covert Switch 2 dock

Since I first set up my Switch 2 after picking one up at a midnight launch, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Genki’s next third-party dock. I did have to wait nine months to get my hands on it but it’s delivered and even exceeded my expectations thanks to the fact that it still works with the original Switch.

Unlike Nintendo’s official Switch 2 Dock which launched at $90 and recently went up in price to $124, the Genki Covert Dock 3 now looks like a steal at $69 without those optional global adapters. If you want to play on an iPad or even your laptop’s screen and be able to stream your game sessions, Genki also recently released its new ShadowCast 3 Pro capture card too.

One of my favorite things about the Switch and now the Switch 2 is being able to bring the console from room to room or even house to house and still be able to play on a larger display. I considered picking up a second official dock at launch just to do this but since I knew Genki definitely had a new dock in the works, I decided to wait and I’m glad I did.

While I haven’t travelled with it yet, I’m definitely packing my new Covert Dock 3 when we head out on our family trip this summer. From Computex in Taiwan to CES in Las Vegas, Genki’s previous docks have been a mainstay in my tech travel bag for years now. Here’s hoping Genki follows up this release with a new smaller and hopefully, slightly cheaper Covert Dock Mini 2 with Switch 2 support later on.

For now though, I plan to use the official Switch 2 Dock at my desk where I’m the only one playing and keep the Covert Dock 3 plugged in underneath my TV so both myself and my wife or anyone that stops by with a Steam Deck can play on the big screen with it too.

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What a year for Pokémon, eh? I never thought I'd say that in the big 2026. As someone who loved the anime growing up and watched every episode religiously at 5PM when it aired, and had many figurines as a child, my love from Pokémon can't be overstated. So imagine my surprise when Nintendo announced Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch family of consoles.

Of course, that wasn't the only important Pocket Monsters game to arrive on the Switch in 2026. Who would have thought that Pokémon Pokopia would be so popular that most retailers ran out of physical stock during launch week? Not me, but then again, I've never been a fan of cozy games. And no, I don't care for Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley.

But I'm not afraid to be proven wrong, and I finally get the hype behind cozy games, because after 150 hours spent trying to create the perfect island in Pokopia, I'm a believer. Pokopia is packed with over 300 Pokémon with individual personalities, quirky and funny dialogues that make you love them even more. I see it when I close my eyes, I think about it when I wake up. Call the 90s because I'm officially back in my Pokémon phase.

Giving my Pokémon the best lives they deserve

Similar to Animal Crossing and The Sims, Pokémon Pokopia is a social simulation game where you build houses and do whatever you want to the different landscapes. You play as a Ditto disguised as their trainer, and there are four different areas to explore which you unlock as part of the story. Along the way, you make habitats to attract different Pokémon, and unlock abilities that make it easier to make your islands better than how you find them (there's trash everywhere, plants are dead because they haven't been watered, etc.).

All the abilities you gain help you transform the landscape and make it look pretty — or brutalist, depending on the style you like. Your goal is simple: make habitats for your Pokémon, raise their comfort levels by asking them what they want, and increase each area's environment level to unlock new items, including furniture and decorations. Because all the Pokémon you encounter have their own personalities (more on this shortly), you want to give them the best life possible, and that's been my aim since I started playing the game.

While people online have been going crazy with builds (and I am envious), I've gone for a "Pokémon living in the wild, in the grass and amongst nature, but comfortably" kinda look for my islands. I've created tree-shaded habitats, installed campfires, built leafy statues, and... built a hot spring spa! My Pokémon seem to enjoy it too as, more often than not, that's where they're hanging out.

But I'm not done yet. I want to do so much more with my islands and the possibilities are truly endless. I'm currently planning on building a gazebo at the top of a hill with toys, decorations, lovely lighting, and comfy seats where my Pokémon can relax and unwind (after a day of making me 99 bricks and 99 gold ingots). Pokopia has a strange hold on me where it feels like an addiction. It's all I think about when I wake up or even as I fall asleep — I'm mapping out my islands and builds as I drift off.

Some of the best dialogue I've ever seen

Pokémon Pokopia wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't for the impeccable writing — and I'm not just talking about the main story. I won't be discussing the main story here to avoid spoilers, so instead, I'd like to talk about the dialogue. The developers were clearly looking to appeal to Gen Z and millennials who grew up watching Pokémon with the dialogue, as most of the Pocket Monsters love saying, "Yo!" I wasn't expecting that, if I'm honest, and it caught me off-guard when I first started playing. I also couldn't stop laughing when a certain legendary shows up and has... a Southern accent?

Even if you haven't played Pokopia (you really need to), you've probably seen many memes making the rounds online, and one of the most famous ones is of Charmander saying, "I... I frew up." Now, Charmander is one of my favorite Pokémon (he's always my starter) so I really wanted to get this dialogue. I hate to break it to you, but he never frew up. Instead, he says, "I... I tripped." While not as funny as the meme-ified version, it still cracks me up as he pulls a face like he's been kicked.

The dialogue is equal parts funny and heartbreaking, and remains true to the lore. From Lapras hinting at traveling the seas with Ash on its back to Cubone saying, "Mom prob'ly woulda liked a place like this too," there's plenty of nostalgia to be enjoyed by those, such as myself, who grew up with the Pokémon anime. Also, as someone who's favorite evolution is Pidgeot, I was brought to tears when mine told me that it loved me to pieces.

But I have one issue with Pokopia

By now, it should be clear that I absolutely adore Pokémon Pokopia, and there are very few things I'd change about it. But there's one aspect of the game that I find myself complaining about a fair bit, nearly every time I boot up the game, and that's the inventory management system. When you start, your backpack has limited space for items you pick up and craft. But as you progress through the game, rebuild Poké Centres and increase your trainer rank, you can buy "Packing Tips" from the PC at different points in your adventure.

"Packing Tips" essentially increase the number of items you can carry in your backpack, and I highly recommend buying these items if you find yourself complaining about space in your bag. But even so, it's easy to run out of space in your bag, and I find myself either dropping items in the overworld or stashing them away in storage boxes. But I have storage boxes all over the place, in all the regions. Do I remember where I put the seaweed? Nope. Do I remember which storage box has my 20 iron ingots that I now need to build this house? Nope!

There's no central storage management system. It's not like you can check the PC to see which storage box includes what item, and I so desperately wish there was as it would make the game much easier to play (and more enjoyable than it already is). I know people online have been getting creative with their own storage solutions, but I just want a central, easily accessible storage system, and I don't think that's a lot to ask for. I hope, fingers and toes crossed, that Nintendo puts out a patch to introduce it.

Regardless, Pokopia is still heaps of fun, and while the storage system isn't perfect, it hasn't stopped me from enjoying the game to its fullest. The writing is sublime; terraforming and building is effortless once you unlock all the abilities; and the peaceful soundtrack adds to the game's overall cozy appeal. I love how the areas bustle with life once Pokémon start spawning, and the way the Pokémon interact with one another either via dialogue or by playing together.

Though I don't like all cozy games, I understand the hype now. I'm a skeptic no more, and I've got my love for Pokémon to thank for that. After nearly 200 hours in, it has quickly become not only one of my favorite Pokémon games, but one of my favorite games full stop.

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One of my favorite things about upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 so far is being able to go back and experience original Switch games in a whole new way. From smoother framerates and upgraded 4K graphics to entirely new ways to play, there’s never been a better time to revisit the best Nintendo Switch games — and that’s certainly the case with Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

I have fond memories of playing the game when it first came out thanks to the more colorful direction Nintendo took with 2D Mario. The Talking Flowers made me chuckle every time I ran by one, the badges added new abilities to Mario’s arsenal, and best of all, the Wonder Flowers completely transformed a level each time you found one.

In my Super Mario Bros. Wonder review, I praised the game’s fresh take on the 2D Mario formula. However, it felt a bit on the short side, and the original Switch didn't always do the game’s impressive visuals justice. Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and the new "Meetup in Bellabel Park" expansion address those minor gripes.

Whether you played the original and enjoyed it as much as I did or this is your first time stepping into the Flower Kingdom, it’s a must-play for 2D Mario fans. On the Switch 2, it feels more like a Director’s Cut than just another upgrade.

Now with more Wonder

With a total of 152 different levels across seven worlds (and a bonus one), there’s already quite a lot to do in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, especially when you factor in Wonder Flowers and how they change each level or even Mario himself. It took me about 12 hours to see the credits roll, though I did miss a few Wonder Seeds here and there.

Now with the Switch 2 Edition of the game and the new Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion, you get a chance to revisit those seven worlds and explore an entirely new one. While the game and its unique art style certainly stood out on the original Switch, it absolutely shines on the Switch 2.

Right off the bat, the jump from 1080p to 4K makes a massive difference. At that higher resolution, all of the details baked into each level really pop and gameplay just feels faster with a rock-solid 60fps. Likewise, levels load even faster and it takes even less time to jump back into the action.

The badges were one of my favorite parts of Super Mario Bros. Wonder when I first played it as they grant unique abilities and perks or can even instantly increase the game’s difficulty.

Now with the Switch 2 Edition, you can still equip any of the 24 badges from the original but there are also new, dual badges that grant the effect of two badges at once. For instance, one of them pairs my all time favorite badge, the Parachute Cap, with a Floating High Jump one. When equipped, it lets you glide through the air using Mario’s cap or hang in the air after a jump in a similar way to Yoshi’s signature flutter jump.

You aren’t just getting new dual badges though, as there’s also a brand new Flower Pot power-up. As the name suggests, just like with the Cat power-up in Bowser’s Fury, this one lets Mario don a flower costume while gaining some useful new moves. In flower mode, Mario can throw flowers that rise upward to either break items or take out enemies. Using this new power-up is a lot of fun and I’d even argue that it feels a bit better than transforming into Elephant Mario in the original.

Catching Koopalings

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t just add visual and mechanical upgrades to an already excellent 2D Mario game. In fact, there’s a whole new area to explore and a story that sees you transform the abandoned Bellabel Park into a flower-filled getaway for up to four players locally or 12 online.

After learning of the Bellabel Park ruins discovered by Captain Toad, Mario and the gang set out to see the site for themselves. Before you can reach Attraction Central — the hub for the game's competitive modes — you have to pass through Camp Central. At its heart stands a grand arch where seven magical Bellabel Flowers once hung. Unfortunately, Bowser’s elite minions, the Koopalings, arrive and make off with every single one of them.

To get them back, you team up with Captain Toad and the Toad Brigade. What I really liked about this quest is that it scatters the Koopalings across the game’s seven main worlds. Finding and defeating them one by one gave me serious Super Mario Bros. 3 vibes, albeit with a modern, more stylized twist that looks stunning in 4K.

Joining the Brigade

Your time in Bellabel Park isn’t just spent hunting for clues to the next Koopaling's whereabouts. To sharpen your skills and earn some coveted Bellabel Water, Mario officially joins the Toad Brigade right at the start of the expansion.

Much like the search for the Koopalings, the Toad Brigade’s training exercises take you back to various levels throughout the game. While the early tasks are simple, some of the higher-difficulty training courses can be quite challenging, serving as a clever way to push you into mastering badges from the main game that you might have overlooked in 2023.

During my playthrough, I found that tackling a few training courses between each Koopaling boss fight was the perfect way to mix things up. Not only are they a blast to play, but they’re also the key to restoring Bellabel Park to its former glory. As you earn badges for your Toad Brigade backpack and collect Bellabel Water along the way, you can literally see the park blooming back to life around you.

Getting the band back together

The Talking Flowers were one of my favorite additions to Super Mario Bros. Wonder as they provide humorous commentary and make the game a bit more fun. However, these flowers can also encourage you to keep going when things get tough, while their red variants will actively discourage you — which can be pretty funny.

Flowers play a big role in Meetup in Bellabel Park, too. Throughout the Camp Central area and Attraction Central, there are plots of land that need to be watered. Pouring Bellabel Water on these spots causes new flowers to bloom. There are loads of different flowers to collect which you can use to customize both areas to your liking, but sometimes when you water several at once, you’ll unlock social greetings or even musical instruments.

As you collect more instruments, new members are added to the Poplin Band in Bellabel Park. In my experience, I mainly got new flowers or greetings when watering plots of land, but every now and then, I’d get an instrument instead. There’s a bit of a "gacha" mechanic here, but the gameplay loop of completing challenges, watering the ground, and having a chance to get a new musical instrument is pretty addictive.

I’ve played the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for an additional eight or so hours so far, and while I have managed to defeat all the Koopalings, I’m still a few members short of a full Poplin Band. Granted, I mainly played the expansion on my own, but by playing local co-op with friends or heading online, it’ll be a lot easier to earn the Bellabel Water needed to fill out the band and finally see the credits roll.

Flowers, flowers everywhere

The original Super Mario Bros. Wonder was easily one of the best Nintendo Switch games when it first came out. However, as that was well into the original hybrid console’s lifespan, I bet a lot of people skipped out on the game at the time which is a real shame given the breath of fresh air Nintendo added to the classic 2D Mario formula.

Now though with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and the new Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion, Super Mario Bros. Wonder truly feels complete. Like with a Director’s Cut of your favorite film, you get to revisit the Flower Kingdom in crisp 4K with shorter load times to boot. And without giving too much away, the Koopaling boss fights are reason enough to pick up the expansion given how well designed and fun those extra levels are.

Just like how the Bowser’s Fury expansion takes Super Mario 3D World in a completely new direction, so too does Super Mario Bros. Wonder for 2D Mario. Whether you grew up playing the original Mario games or are just looking for your next local multiplayer fix, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has never looked nor played better than it does on the Switch 2.

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Nintendo Switch 2’s latest system update introduces a surprising but very welcome new feature: Handheld Mode Boost. And trust me, you’ll want to make use of it.

Admittedly, the name is a little clunky, but when enabled, it allows your Switch 2 to run compatible Nintendo Switch 1 games as if they were in “TV Mode.” Still confused? Essentially, the Switch 2’s extra power is used to boost the visual resolution of Switch 1 titles when played in Handheld Mode. This means you can play these games at 1080p, a noticeable upgrade from the original Switch’s 720p handheld standard.

This is a pretty significant upgrade, and it’s available for free to all Switch 2 owners via a system update. If you want to make use of this new feature, here’s how to enable it in just a matter of seconds.

How to use Handheld Mode Boost on Switch 2

Are there downsides to enabling Handheld Mode Boost on Switch 2?

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and there’s also no such thing as a Switch 2 performance upgrade without at least a few sacrifices. While Handheld Mode Boost will make Switch 1 games look better than ever when playing in portable mode, there are a few downsides.

Firstly, Nintendo states that the feature “may also increase the console’s power consumption during gameplay.” In short, your Switch 2’s battery could drain faster, and considering the hybrid console's battery life is already a sore spot for many users (including yours truly), this is a caveat to consider.

Other drawbacks include some on-screen instructions being incorrect (as the software is tricked into thinking you’re playing in TV Mode rather than in handheld), and the Switch 2's touch screen functionality is also disabled. Also, any attached Joy-Con 2 controllers will read as a Switch Pro Controller.

Finally, it should be noted that this feature has no impact on the performance of Nintendo Switch 2 software. The best Switch 2 games won’t get an upgrade if this option is turned on. It's solely to boost the visuals of Switch 1 games.

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Pokémon Day is finally here, and it's got me feeling nostalgic. I got my first Pokémon game when I was eight and since then, I've spent a lifetime keeping up with the games, collecting merchandise, and generally just living a Pokémon-filled life. But what if I had to do it all over again?

There are plenty of Pokémon items I could probably live without (I have a Pikachu-shaped ice cube tray I've never actually used stashed somewhere in a drawer) but there are also lots of items that I would never want to go without. These are the items I'd build my collection with today if I was starting from scratch.

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You know that one friend growing up who had every — and I mean every — console? Well, I was lucky enough to have one and unlike me, he had almost too many options when it came to what game to play or what console to play it on.

From the Sega CD attachment for the Genesis to a TurboGrafx and everything in between, my childhood friend had it all. While I got a turn here and there, I was more spectator than player but growing up, but that didn’t phase me at all. Of the consoles in his family’s collection though, there was one in particular that continued to elude me even now: the Nintendo Virtual Boy.

As the odd console out between the Super Nintendo and the Nintendo 64, the Virtual Boy was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Not only was it the only home console you could play without a TV but you got to play in full 3D for the first time, even if it was only in red.

Although I eventually convinced my friend to let me try out his Virtual Boy to play a few rounds of Mario’s Tennis, that was all I got. To this day, I still think about that short play session but now, thanks to Nintendo’s new Virtual Boy accessory for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch, I finally got a chance to play it again.

Here’s everything you need to know about this modern recreation of 1995’s Virtual Boy and why it just might scratch that same retro gaming itch for you.

Nostalgic looks with a modern Switch

Just like it did with the Labo VR Kit, Nintendo decided to use the Switch’s modularity to its advantage again with its new Virtual Boy accessory. Also available as a foldable cardboard cut out, I got to try the more expensive replica version that’s as close to the original as I remember, minus the “M” shaped Virtual Boy Game Pad of course.

In the box, you get a red and black plastic headset and a stand that fixes everyone’s gripes with the “Medusa” stand that came with the original. Instead of a brittle sliding C-clamp, this new stand holds the replica console much better than the one that shipped with the Virtual Boy. You also get a plastic adapter in the box to use with the Nintendo Switch as Nintendo designed its latest accessory around the Switch 2.

In a similar way to the NES Classic and the SNES Classic, Nintendo stayed true to the details of the original Virtual Boy throughout the design of this new headset. For instance, on the underside, you have all of the original ports and controls etched into the plastic. In the center, there’s a place to connect the stand and a spring-loaded quick release mechanism, which almost made me feel like I was ejecting cartridges from my SNES when removing my Switch 2.

Getting this new accessory working with your Switch 2 or Switch starts with downloading the new Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics app from the eShop. However, to do so, you will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription along with the Expansion Pack add-on. While I miss Nintendo’s Virtual Console as much as anyone else, Nintendo Switch Online is the closest thing you can get to a Blockbuster for retro games and well worth the annual price in my opinion.

Once you have the app installed on your console, it’s just a matter of flipping up the red top part of the Virtual Boy accessory and dropping your Switch 2 in.

If you’ve ever docked your Switch or Switch 2, you’ll have no trouble at all turning either console into a modern Virtual Boy. Just note that if you’re still playing on the original Switch, you will have to attach the plastic adapter first to make up for the size difference between it and the Switch 2.

Seeing red again

With my Switch 2 loaded in Nintendo’s Virtual Boy accessory, it was time to finally step back into the world of red-tinted, stereoscopic 3D gaming. While nowhere near close to one of the best VR headsets, donning a Virtual Boy again for the first time in 30 years took me back to when virtual reality was still science fiction.

After loading the app, I was met with that same Nintendo Classics UI but this time, with a black and red Virtual Boy-style twist. At the time of writing, there are currently a total of seven Virtual Boy games you can play right now in the app with an additional seven coming later this year including two unreleased games. This might not seem like a lot compared to the now massive NES and Super Nintendo catalogs on Nintendo Switch Online but with this console in particular, you’re getting access to every game ever released for it with half of them available from the get go.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pick up where I left off in Mario’s Tennis all those years ago, as that particular title isn’t among Virtual Boy’s launch lineup on the Nintendo Switch. So I did the next best thing and booted up 3D Tetris as I have fond memories of playing the original on the Game Boy. It didn’t quite click for me though, so I moved onto Galactic Pinball.

Pinball is much more straightforward on the Virtual Boy and I really enjoyed how I had the option to use either the triggers or the joysticks on my Joy-Cons to control the paddles. It felt like there was a slight input delay between hitting a button and seeing the paddles move but I quickly got used to it. After a few rounds though, it was time to try what many (myself included) consider the Virtual Boy’s flagship game: Virtual Boy Wario Land.

Since I didn’t get a chance to play it as a kid, I was instantly impressed with Wario Land and how it took full advantage of the console’s stereoscopic 3D. In fact, it reminded me of playing the original AstroBot on PSVR. I loved Wario’s more familiar moveset, the mini games at the end of each level and how you could jump between the foreground and background at certain points. Likewise, the way that Wario walked right towards my face when leaving the room after finishing a mini game was a very nice touch.

From there, I played through the rest of the current Virtual Boy games available. Teleroboxer felt like a cross between a more high-tech version of Mike Tyson’s Punchout and Arms on the Switch. Red Alarm reminded me immediately of Star Fox but with a lot less handholding as I flew a ship through an enemy base in the opening sequence. The Mansion of Innsmouth is a classic first-person dungeon crawler but after turning only a few corners, a game over screen flashed before my eyes after I didn’t quite know what to do when I encountered a monster in one of the corridors.

Finally, Golf played just like a classic golf game but with the added depth and realism you get from playing in stereoscopic 3D.

As you may have guessed, Wario Land was my favorite of the bunch and I made sure to create a suspend point so I can pick up where I left off. In fact, I had such a good time playing it that I might just have to finish it.

One thing that remains true with this new Virtual Boy accessory is that it’s hard to find the perfect position to play in. At my coffee table, I was leaning forward with my back bent, which felt less than ideal. That’s why after my initial test to make sure everything was working, I took the Virtual Boy and my Switch 2 out to the living room where I spent a big chunk of time playing at my standing desk.

With one of the best standing desks, I was able to raise the console up fairly close to eye level but even then, I still found myself leaning forward to get my head close enough to the screen.

My turn at last

Among Nintendo’s other highly successful game consoles, the Virtual Boy is and will always be an outlier. Sure, it was quite advanced back in the 90s when it was definitely ahead of its time but with the Nintendo 64 and true 3D gaming just a year away from its launch, the Virtual Boy never really got a chance to shine. Fortunately, thanks to the modular nature of the Switch and Switch 2, it’s back in all its red and black glory.

If you’re curious about checking out this piece of Nintendo and gaming history, then the cardboard version of the Virtual Boy accessory will be more than enough to help you scratch that itch. However, if like me, you actually had a chance to play the original, then the more expensive replica version could certainly be worth it, even for nostalgia alone.

Maybe if my childhood friend had given me a bit more time to play the original, I wouldn’t have spent the last three decades thinking about the Virtual Boy. Even then though, he only had a few games besides Mario’s Tennis which came included with the console. Thanks to this new accessory and Nintendo Switch Online, not only can I play every Virtual Boy game I want to but I can do so without being tethered to a power outlet.

I can’t wait to check out the rest of this console’s game collection though but in the meantime, I plan on making my way through Wario Land as it’s the must-play Virtual Boy game. Even with what I’ve played through so far, it seems like the kind of game you don’t want to miss. Now though, I get to play it with modern conveniences like suspension points and being able to rewind when I accidentally jump into lava. If Nintendo just made a new version of its original controller, I’d be able to finally fulfill my childhood wish almost as if I was back in the 90s.

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With the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s never been a better time to be a fan of The Legend of Zelda series. It’s been forty years since Link first stepped into the caves of Hyrule and what better way to celebrate the series’ 40th anniversary than by replaying your favorite classic Zelda games or trying out the latest ones.

From Link’s 8-bit origins on the Nintendo Entertainment System to enhanced editions with updated and gorgeous 4K visuals, The Legend of Zelda library on both the Switch and the Switch 2 is absolutely massive. Whether you want to hack and slash your way through Hyrule Warriors, fight your way through dungeons while staying on the beat in Cadence of Hyrule or play as Zelda for a change in Echoes of Wisdom, there’s a game for everyone and every play style.

Here are all the mainline Zelda games, the spinoffs and even a few where Link just makes a cameo to help you celebrate The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary.

Every Zelda game you can play on Nintendo Switch Online

If you’re looking for even more Zelda games to play on the series’ 40th anniversary, you’re in luck as quite a few of them are available on Nintendo Switch Online ($20, Amazon). With Nintendo’s standard paid subscription service, you get access to Zelda games on the NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Color.

To return to the series’ roots on the NES, you can play both the original The Legend of Zelda as well as its sequel Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. While the first game in the series features the top-down gameplay other 2D Zelda games are known for, its sequel mixes things up with side-scrolling areas and a larger world map.

Then on NSO’s Super Nintendo app, you can play what many fans consider to be one of the best games in the series, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Set many years before the events of the first two Zelda games, it brings back the top-down perspective and introduces Link’s iconic Master Sword for the first time.

Finally, with the standard NSO subscription, you can play a handful of Zelda games from the Game Boy and Game Boy color including Link’s Awakening DX, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. The former is a colored version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy while the latter two are meant to be played back to back. Oracle of Ages is more focused on puzzles while Oracle of Seasons is a bit less linear and more action-oriented.

Now if you pay extra for an NSO subscription with the Expansion Pack ($50, Amazon), you get access to even more past Nintendo systems including Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance.

On Nintendo 64 you can play the first 3D Zelda game Ocarina of Time as well as its darker, more experimental sequel Majora’s Mask which features a 3-day time-loop mechanic.

Then on Game Boy Advance, you can play The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap in which Link literally shrinks down to a much smaller size and this completely changes how you interact with the world around him. You can also play Four Swords which is a multiplayer Zelda game that takes place before Minish Cap.

If you’ve upgraded to a Nintendo Switch 2, then you can play one of the most beautiful and unique Zelda games ever: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Known for its cell-shaded graphics which have stood the test of the time, the game also lets you traverse the seas on a talking boat.

Zelda games you still can’t play on Switch

Although you can play the majority of titles from The Legend of Zelda series on the Switch and Switch 2, there are still a few games you can’t. These include Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks from the Nintendo DS, A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes from the Nintendo 3DS and Twilight Princess which released first on the Nintendo Wii and then shortly after on the Nintendo GameCube.

Beyond Hyrule: Other Switch games that feature Link

Now if you’re looking for something a bit different but still want to play as Link or even just be reminded of Hyrule, there are a few other Switch games worth playing. From racing to fighting, these “outlier” titles are certainly worth checking out for anyone that wants to own and experience every piece of Zelda history on modern hardware.

We're only a few days away from Valentine's Day, and it's when we want to shower our loved one with flowers and chocolates, and take them out to a fancy restaurant. But sometimes, you need to book weeks in advance to get a table at yours or your partner's favorite restaurant. That's why staying in is a great idea as you can avoid the dinnertime rush. Want to make it romantic? Light some candles, order your favorite takeaway, and play some video games.

I love gaming and it's one of my favorite things to do whenever I have time to spare. My partner, on the other hand, isn't big into gaming, and a couple of years ago, I finally convinced her to try a few couch co-op games on the Nintendo Switch — and we love playing them together. Regardless of whether your partner is a gamer or not, there are plenty of two-player games to enjoy (you don't need to be a pro gamer for that).

My personal top picks are Untitled Goose Game, where two players must work in tandem to unleash chaos upon a small town, and Overcooked, where you must prepare dishes on time to avoid burning down the kitchen. There are plenty more couch co-op and two-player games on the Switch, so read on to find out (and some are currently discounted too!).

Quick links

• Untitled Goose Game: was $27 now $24 @ Amazon
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat: was $39 now $33 @ Amazon
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder: was $59 now $49 @ Walmart
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: was $59 now $48 @ Walmart
• Luigi's Mansion 3: was $59 now $51 @ Amazon
• Super Mario Odyssey: was $59 now $49 @ Amazon
• Unravel Two: $19 @ Walmart
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics: $48 @ Amazon
• It Takes Two: $39 @ Amazon

Best couch co-op games for Valentine's Day

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• So you just got a Nintendo Switch 2 — here’s 5 essential tips you need to know before you start playing

If you’ve just entered the fold of Nintendo Switch 2 owners, welcome to the club. You’ve got yourself a fantastic hybrid console with a small but growing library of excellent games (see my best Nintendo Switch 2 games guide for some recommendations). But before you go unboxing your Switch 2 and enjoying that new console smell, there are a few things you should know.

I’ve been fortunate enough to own a Nintendo Switch 2 since launch day, and over the past six or so months, I’ve learned quite a bit about Nintendo’s newish flagship gaming system. That’s why I’m running through my five essential tips that every new Nintendo Switch 2 should know before getting down to the main event, playing a whole load of excellent video games.

Essential Switch 2 tips for new owners

Transfer your Switch 1 data to Switch 2 first

Look, I know nobody wants to spend their first few moments with their shiny new Nintendo Switch 2 looking at a slowly crawling progress bar, but trust me, if you own an original Nintendo Switch and wish to transfer all your data, including Nintendo accounts, to your brand new Switch 2, do it first thing.

Upon initially booting up the Switch 2, the console's startup suite will ask you if you wish to transfer data from a first-gen Switch, and it won’t offer this option later down the road after a few sessions of Mario Kart World. Yes, there are still technically ways to transfer data/accounts later, but the process becomes more finicky, so save yourself the hassle and do it out of the box.

Nintendo offers an easy-to-follow walkthrough of the transfer process, but you likely won’t even need it. Switch 2 offers all the instructions on screen. But I would advise that you have both your Switch 1 and Switch 2 connected to power during the transfer process. This will ensure there are no issues with either console running out of juice in the middle of your data being moved.

Enable this Switch 2 setting for better battery life

I’ve been a huge fan of the Switch 2 since launch (don’t believe, check out my uber-positive Nintendo Switch 2 review from last year), but the system does have one pretty big flaw: Its battery life. Even playing demanding games, you shouldn’t expect to get much more than two hours from a full 100% charge, and if you opt for a blockbuster game, that drops considerably.

As anybody with experience with portable electronics will know, battery life only gets worse the more you use a device due to the battery's health eroding. So, to preserve your Switch 2’s already underwhelming ability to hold a charge, I suggest enabling the feature that limits your console to charging up to around 90% capacity. It’ll help your Switch 2's battery in the long run.

It’s simple to enable (here are the steps: System Settings > System > “Stop Charging Around 90%). Yes, you are sacrificing a little bit of battery life in the short term, but over time, it will keep your battery health strong, ensuring it’s not consistently overcharged — something lithium batteries do not like.

Your Switch 1 accessories may be compatible

Just because you’ve upgraded to a new Switch 2 doesn’t mean you need to bin all the accessories you already own for your Nintendo Switch. In fact, many official Switch 1 accessories are backwards compatible with the Switch 2, so hold onto your Pro controller and extra Joy-Cons, as they will save you money having to repurchase the Switch 2 models.

Nintendo has a useful list of Switch 1 accessories that are compatible with Switch 2, and it includes plenty of essential extras. Even some of the more niche add-ons, like the re-released SNES and N64 controllers, function with Switch 2. However, the more novel peripherals, such as the Ring-Con (bundled with the popular Ring-Fit games) or the Nintendo Switch Sports Leg Strap, won’t work with the Switch 2's default Joy-Con 2 controllers.

As for third-party accessories, you will need to test them yourself for compatibility, but don’t immediately assume you need to purchase a new headset or controller designed specifically for Switch 2; you might be pleasantly surprised to learn your current gear is actually compatible.

Loads of Switch 1 games are better on Switch 2

Speaking of Switch 1 stuff that works on Switch 2, almost the entirety of the console’s library functions with Nintendo’s new handheld. Switch 2 is a nearly fully backwards compatible system, which means you can enjoy must-play games like Super Mario Odyssey and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on your Switch 2. If you didn’t own a Switch 1 already, you have so much choice!

Nintendo’s list of backward-compatible Switch 1 games offers a full rundown, but I should also note that several popular Switch titles actually look and play better on the Switch 2. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Hogwarts Legacy have received bespoke Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, which are available to owners willing to cough up a small upgrade fee. However, several other titles offer a completely free graphical boost.

These include best-selling first-party Nintendo titles such as Splatoon 3, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 collection. Check out the full list of free Switch 2 updates to see if one of your favorite Nintendo Switch games has been given a no-cost boost.

Extra storage is a must (but get the right SD card)

The Switch 2 offers a seemingly sizeable 256GB of storage out of the box. This might seem relatively hefty, especially when compared to the smaller 32GB of space that came as standard with the Switch 1. Unfortunately, the average Switch 2 game install size has also increased compared to its predecessor.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition demands north of 60GB, and the upcoming Switch 2 port of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade eats up a huge 90GB (that’s 35% of the console’s storage). In short, if you’re planning to have more than a small handful of blockbuster Switch 2 titles installed at once, you’re going to need to pick up an SD card to add some extra room.

I’ve had a 256GB Samsung microSD Express Card installed in my Switch 2 since launch, which has (mostly) kept my storage headaches at bay. It’s one extra that I definitely rank as essential. Just make sure you get the correct SD card. You will need an Express model. The standard microSDXC card that works with Switch 1 will, unfortunately, not work with your Switch 2.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 arrived in the middle of a geopolitical storm last year when President Trump unveiled plans for universal reciprocal tariffs the same day the console was announced.

What followed was a delay and huge stock shortages as the Japanese gaming giant attempted to navigate the supply chain costs when the console finally launched in June.

Nintendo's follow-up to the phenomenally popular original Switch arrived with a price hike that immediately drew concern from gamers.

Seven months on, and the storm around consumer electronics has only worsened as AI-driven demand has caused the price RAM to skyrocket. Now, Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has shared that the company is monitoring the situation closely and a further price rise isn't out of the question.

In an interview with Kyoto Shimbun, reproduced by VideoGamesChronicle, Furukawa explained that the U.S.'s current 15% tariff on Japan caused Nintendo to project losses of tens of billions of yen for the fiscal year.

Although Furukawa didn't rule out raising prices, he also noted the company is trying to launch a new console lifecycle and needs to drive adoption. After all, you can't gain a foothold with your new product if nobody is prepared to buy it right away.

“While it’s difficult to accurately gauge the future impact, our basic policy is to recognize tariffs as a cost and pass them on to prices as much as possible, not just in the US,” he said.

“On the other hand, this is a crucial period for our game business as we promote the adoption of new hardware and maintain the momentum of our platforms. We are working on this while carefully considering the situation.”

Nintendo price hikes — what you need to know

If the current one-two punch of tariffs and memory shortages continue, it would seem all but certain that the Switch 2 price will increase from $449 / £395 / AU$699 in the future. And not just for U.S. customers, but likely for global markets as well.

Nintendo's rivals Sony and Microsoft have both already increased prices on their gaming hardware and the price of every other Nintendo console apart from the Switch 2 went up in August. That hike also included Nintendo Switch 2 accessories like the Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller as Nintendo responded to "market conditions."

The standard Switch 1 increased to $340 from $300, the Switch Lite increased to $230 from $200 and the Switch OLED increased to $400 from $350.

Nintendo, like many other companies, will have built up a stockpile of components and inventory to try and protect itself, but there's only so long that can last.

“We procure from suppliers based on our medium- to long-term business plans, but the current memory market is very volatile,” Furukawa said.

“There is no immediate impact on earnings, but it is something we must monitor closely.”

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Are you one of the lucky ones who found a Nintendo Switch 2 under the Christmas tree? Or perhaps you already owned one and you got a few Switch 2 games instead. Or maybe you treated yourself to the console and its games. Which games did you get? There are quite a few to choose from, and the Switch 2 is a fantastic console for racing games. We're spoiled for choice, really, with Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, and Kirby Air Riders.

So which game should you play first? You've come to the right place, because I've played Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds and Kirby Air Riders, so I can help make that decision easier for you.

Each game has its own perks, and each has its own flaws, too. They might all be racing games, but the art style varies from title to title as does the gameplay. All three games are worth playing, but this is the game you should play first — and it might not be what you think.

Mario Kart World vs Sonic Racing CrossWorlds vs Kirby Air Riders: Gameplay

Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds and Kirby Air Riders are racing games, so you'll be spending a fair amount of time battling it out with NPCs (or online players) in races and grands prix.

Mario Kart World borrows the traditional four-race format from its predecessor, and it introduces a new Knockout Tour mode. It's a 24-player battle royale where each track is interconnected. Four players get knocked out over the course of six laps, and the last one standing wins. I prefer it much more than the four-race format, as the stakes are higher. I've played it countless times with friends and it's very hard to put down.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds employs a different mechanic, inspired by the game's title. The CrossWorlds mechanic teleports you from one world to another in the middle of a race, drastically changing where you're racing. You go from racing on land to gliding through the sky. But one area where CrossWorlds one-ups Mario Kart World is with its extensive Gadget Plate customization and aerial tricks, all of which give you different boosts, helping you strategize better, giving you a competitive edge.

You'll need it too, because NPCs in CrossWorlds are much more brutal than in both Mario Kart World and Kirby Air Riders. They'll bombard you with items that will knock you right back into last place, and it's difficult to make up the positions you've lost — like a Formula One race. Honestly, it makes Mario Kart World look like child's play!

Then you've got Kirby Air Riders. I'll be honest, I wasn't a big fan in the first couple of times I played... and I only really got into it three hours in. There are two race modes: Air Ride which are Mario Kart-style races, and Top Ride where you view the map from a bird's eye view. These are fun, and a good way to pass the time, but they bear too much resemblance to Mario Kart World, which leaves a lot to be desired. Kirby Air Riders also presents a steep learning curve, and unlike Sonic and Mario, it's not something you can pick up instantly.

There aren't many courses in Kirby Air Riders either — just 18 courses and around 20 playable characters. Sonic Racing CrossWorlds features 24 characters and 39 courses, while Mario Kart World features 24 main characters and 32 tracks.

My top winner in terms of overall gameplay and satisfaction is Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. I just adore the Gadget Plate customization, as well as the voice acting which is missing from the other titles. I'm still yet to be bored of the game's chaos, even though I've sunk multiple hours into it on my PS5 and the Switch 2!

Winner: Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

Mario Kart World vs Sonic Racing CrossWorlds vs Kirby Air Riders: Graphics

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a very capable and competent hybrid console featuring a 7.9-inch LCD screen with a 1080p resolution as well as a 120Hz refresh rate. Games designed specifically for the Switch 2 run beautifully on it, and this goes for all three games.

Though Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is a multi-platform title, it runs smoothly when handheld, and even hits 1440p at 60fps when docked. The game features detailed, complex environments which change quickly thanks to the CrossWorlds mechanic. The Switch 2 doesn't struggle to keep up with this, and it runs nearly as well as it does on the PS5.

Similarly, Mario Kart World runs at a native 1440p (docked) and 1080p (handheld) at a rock-solid 60fps. Because this was a launch title for the Switch 2, I'd say it's the current benchmark for graphical performance on the console — as far as racing games are concerned, at least. Colors appear vibrant and vivid with reflections in the water adding a touch of realism to the game.

Kirby Air Riders uses Bandai Namco's new SOL-AVES engine, which delivers soft-glow lighting, high-quality character models and clean lines. Even though it is a fast-paced game, I've never noticed any ghosting or jagged edges around the Switch 2's screen.

Characters far off in the distance appear detailed too, and I love the galactic look of some of the levels. I also love the Star Slide mechanic. Tailing other players allows you to Star Slide and gain speed boosts, which is great, but it looks gorgeous too. It's not just a simple wind-like visual: it's colorful and bright. Pops of rainbows everywhere make Kirby Air Riders a treat for the eyes too.

Winner: Kirby Air Riders

Mario Kart World vs Sonic Racing CrossWorlds vs Kirby Air Riders: Soundtrack

Music and backing tracks are a big part of Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds and Kirby Air Riders. Races and challenges in each game are soundtracked by head-bobbing electropop tracks, and they're inspired by previous entries in their respective franchises. I love Sonic Racing CrossWorlds' high-energy soundtrack but the one thing missing from it is Crush 40's heavy rock touch, which would have worked really well.

Kirby Air Riders' music feels inspired by Super Mario Smash Bros. and it's jazzy, catchy and there's plenty of variety. From dramatic orchestral arrangements to funky, quirky music, there's something for everyone.

The music I like best is in Mario Kart World, and the game's soundtrack feels like a homage to all things Mario. It's fast paced and it combines many genres to deliver the Switch 2's best-sounding game yet. It borrows the upbeat jazz fusion from Mario Kart 8 and blends it with blues rock, bluegrass and, sometimes, even Celtic music. The only reason I enjoy free roaming the very little that I do is because of the music.

Winner: Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World vs Sonic Racing CrossWorlds vs Kirby Air Riders: Variation

Of course, it isn't all about racing around a track or in a grand prix in Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, and Kirby Air Riders. Each game has its own unique challenges and optional trials, so there's plenty of variation to be enjoyed.

In Mario Kart World, you get access to a new Free Roam mode. You pick your kart and character, and drop into the vast open world where you can, well, roam freely. Free Roam mode is not only great for exploration and taking in the sights, but there are plenty of challenges to participate in too. P-Switches around the world activate mini challenges that usually take seconds to under a minute to complete. Many hidden question mark panels are ready to be discovered too, and these award you with coins.

Time Trials make a return in a Mario Kart World too, but you know which game takes it up a notch? Kirby Air Riders, with its City Trial mode. Similar to a classic Time Trial but arguably much more chaotic, players spend 3-7 minutes riding around on their machine, gathering various power-ups (Patches) and swapping their lackluster default machine for a better one scattered around the map. When time's up, a Stadium Match begins where you compete against other players. It's extremely fun.

So, what about Sonic Racing CrossWorlds? It's got Time Trials and Race Park which features six unique race formats. It's not the best, especially compared to Kirby Air Riders, but CrossWorlds' variation comes in the form of a Rival System (which neither of the other two have). You're randomly assigned a rival racer for the duration of four grands prix, and this rival will taunt and target you, which adds a fun element and makes it feel like there's a lot at stake.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Free Roam mode in Mario Kart World because it feels like an afterthought. There isn't much variation in the open world, and it can get boring quickly. I like the Rival System in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds but I wish there were more, better challenge modes. The winner, then, is Kirby Air Riders with its chaotic City Trial mode, and one I'm yet to get bored of.

Winner: Kirby Air Riders

Mario Kart World vs Sonic Racing CrossWorlds vs Kirby Air Riders: Verdict

So, which game should you play first? Kirby Air Riders wins two out of four categories (graphics and variation) while both Sonic Racing CrossWorlds (gameplay) and Mario Kart World (soundtrack) win in one each. The winner, then, is Kirby Air Riders, and it's the racing game you should play first on the Switch 2!

However, I will say that Kirby Air Riders requires some learning, and you can't necessarily get a hang of it right off the bat. If that's a concern, and you're itching to race as soon as possible, I'd recommend Mario Kart World instead. The soundtrack is great and it runs smoothly on the Switch 2, and of course, it's a classic.

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At the time of writing, I’m several hours into my Metroid Prime 4: Beyond journey on my Nintendo Switch 2, and mostly loving it. While I haven’t been waiting nearly as long as some fans for an all-new 3D adventure — I first set foot in Samus’ shoes in Metroid Dread and Metroid Prime Remastered — but since playing through both Switch titles (and racing through several of the older games via Nintendo Classics), I definitely boarded the Prime 4 hype train in the run up to the game's release.

Fact is, the main loop — exploring, scanning, and shooting your way across another alien world— is every bit as entertaining as in the previous Metroid Prime games. Viewros is, for the most part, a very good-looking, atmospheric space to inhabit, and I’ve enjoyed expanding Samus Aran’s arsenal, unlocking new Psychic powers, solving puzzles, and doing battle with Metroid Prime 4’s enemy-filled dungeons and fearsome bosses. It's not really a revolution of the Prime set-up, more a solid continuation.

If you’ve already read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review or dove in yourself, you’ll no doubt know why I’m only mostly loving the Prime 4 experience, though. That’s because Samus’ newest mission is regularly interrupted by a disappointing, drab hub environment that really hampers what for me has otherwise been a thoroughly entertaining journey so far.

Metroid Prime 4's Sol Valley is an unforced error

To be as up front as possible, I know that, as a player, open-world environments rarely appeal to me all that much in most games, but I really don’t think Sol Valley has enough to offer to justify its addition to the Prime formula. It's good, in a sense, that the developers wanted to experiment with the format, but this hub's just not up to scratch.

Yes, there are collectables to find and some hidden challenge rooms to tackle, and yes, Samus’ Vi-O-La motorcycle handles pretty well out on the dunes, but by and large, I think this sparse hub’s a pretty disappointing addition to the formula. It also doesn’t help that, save for some ambient music and the thrum of Samus’ bike, it's mostly just sand and rocks and severely lacks the atmosphere and detail of Prime 4's dungeons, either.

While I have spent some of my playtime roaming around the valley, hoovering up green crystals, it's hardly what I want to be doing; if anything, it just feels like the game's getting in its own way. I know backtracking isn’t new to the franchise, but having the additional stretch of desert to cover in between makes retracing your steps that little bit more annoying. It's far from the biggest open world I’ve set foot in, but every time I've had to head out there, all I've wanted to do is cross the valley as fast as possible.

This next part of my argument will probably sound a little contrarian, but I’m also not suggesting that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would have necessarily benefited from being Breath of the Wild-ified, either. I just can’t see Metroid being the kind of franchise that I really want to be spending dozens upon dozens of hours in.

I've had similar thoughts about other games in the past, too; bigger doesn't always mean better. Take Mario Kart World as another example of how Nintendo's current open-world fascination isn't always a hit (certainly not in the way it completely revolutionised the Zelda format).

Granted, I did enjoy MKW's map more than Sol Valley — it was at least far livelier and soundtracked with a laundry list of jazzy Nintendo jams — but the handful of hours I spent hunting down P-Switches and Peach Medallions weren't exactly the most engaging hours of gaming I've ever had, either.

From my playtime so far (and having taken a look at opinions from critics and players alike who’ve already rolled credits), I can’t help but wonder whether the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond experience wouldn’t have been even better if I didn’t have to spend my time speeding across a drab desert whatsoever...

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Verizon is giving away free Nintendo Switch consoles to new Fios home internet customers this holiday season. If you've been considering upgrading your internet or switching providers, this deal sweetens the offer considerably — you get a popular gaming console worth $300 just for signing up.

The promotion applies to select Verizon Fios internet plans and includes a 5-year price lock on your monthly rate. If you already own a Switch, Verizon offers alternative freebies like a Samsung tablet or TV. There are some requirements to qualify and keep the gift free, including how long you need to maintain service. Here's what you need to know.

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond takes the tried and true gameplay of the classic Prime formula and successfully brings it to modern consoles after an 18-year hiatus. The core 3D Metroid experience remains and shines on the Nintendo Switch 2, but some of the new additions, like the overworld, don’t quite live up to the intricate and detailed design of its dungeons.

As a fairly new Metroid Prime player, I was quickly sucked into the world of Viewros just as bounty hunter Samus Aran is at the beginning of the game. Playing on the Nintendo Switch 2 in both handheld and docked mode feels incredibly smooth, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s detailed environments had me stopping to take in the scenery at every new locale I visited. Traveling to them also felt great on the new motorcycle, but I couldn’t help but wish there was more to see and do scattered across Sol Valley, which serves as an overworld hub.

Combat feels incredibly smooth and responsive, and I was thoroughly impressed by just how well the game’s developer, Retro Studios, managed to pull this off. The same goes for the visuals, which are jaw-dropping on Switch 2, and the music and sound design, which really made me feel like I was experiencing this new world through Samus’ eyes. You can play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the original Nintendo Switch, but I’d recommend playing on Switch 2 for the visuals alone.

My Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review will help you decide if this is one of the best Nintendo Switch games and whether it was worth waiting for the launch of the Switch 2 to release it.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: The Basics

• What is it? An action-adventure game with plenty of first-person shooting and puzzle solving, as well as exploration.
• Who is it for? Fans of the Metroid Prime series and those who want to experience some of the best visuals on the Switch 2 yet.
• What is the price? Metroid Prime 4: Beyond costs $69 on the Switch 2 or $59 on the original Switch, and there is a $10 Upgrade Pack to move up to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game.
• What other games has the developer made? Retro Studios is best known for its work on the Metroid Prime series, but it also developed Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Wii U and Nintendo Switch.
• What games is this similar to? Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is similar to first-person shooters with a heavy focus on exploration, like Prey and Bioshock, as well as Hollow Knight and Metroid Dread when it comes to its level design.

A new yet familiar world

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond begins with Samus Aran at full power, protecting a mysterious artifact at a research facility. Things quickly go south as a firefight breaks out, which leads the artifact to become activated, transporting her and a handful of Galactic Federation soldiers to an unknown planet called Viewros.

Of course, Samus’s suit is stripped of its powers as a result, and it’s up to you, the player, to help her get them back. The first area you explore is called Fury Green, and it bears a striking similarity to the original Metroid Prime’s Tallon Overworld. Here, I got a feel for the game’s controls and various systems as I searched for Samus’s first major combat ability. For seasoned players, they’ll feel like they’re right back in the world of Metroid Prime, while newbies like myself get a nice introduction to the 3D Metroid formula.

As I journeyed through the forest, I came across the now infamous Myles MacKenzie, who acts as your guide through the game’s opening section and then later serves as your engineer, helping you install upgrade chips while giving you hints as to where to go next. He’s one of several Galactic Federation soldiers you encounter throughout Viewros. While his dialogue is a bit wordy compared to the series’ strong, silent protagonist, breaking the traditional isolation, I didn’t mind his banter and found some of his suggestions to be quite helpful during Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s opening hours.

Once you encounter Viewros’s original inhabitants, the Lamorn alien race, you’re tasked with ensuring their civilization won’t be lost to time and obtaining five teleporter keys to help you return home. It’s a pretty standard setup, but I did like learning more about the Lamorn and the tragedy that befell their planet.

If you’re expecting a story-heavy game thanks to the inclusion of Myles and the other Galactic Federation soldiers who briefly join you along the way, you’ll likely be disappointed. Instead, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (like previous Metroid Prime games) tells its story through research notes you find throughout the world and info from your scan visor on Viewros’s creatures, fauna and structures. I found the story to be interesting enough that I wanted to learn more, but it was the puzzles, combat and Samus’s new motorcycle that really hooked me.

Explore, scan and solve

Although shooting plays a big role in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, exploration is just as, if not more, important. Whether I was looking for which dungeon to head to next or just trying to find my way to the next corridor when I was inside one, I found myself constantly exploring and, more importantly, scanning each environment I came across.

From metal grates that can be blown up to ice walls that can be melted, your scan visor is a trusted companion in your journey across Viewros. You bring it up with a tap of the "X" button, and then from there, you can scan outlined objects, enemies and more with the left trigger, revealing some of the game’s lore and often providing incredibly helpful hints during boss fights.

In Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Samus also gets psychic abilities for the first time. Not only do they tie into the lore of Viewros and the Lamorn, but they also lead to some new puzzles and challenges. For instance, you may have to move objects with telekinesis, or, my favorite use of these new psychic powers, the Control Beam. After charging up a psychic shot, this ability lets you steer its trajectory so that you can activate switches, and it even plays a part in some boss fights.

Samus's ability to morph into a ball is also used in a number of puzzles and to open various doors throughout Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Like with her other abilities, you can upgrade this one over time as you progress through the game.

One thing I wasn’t really prepared for when I dived into Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was the backtracking. You see, you’ll come across certain doors and areas that you won’t be able to access until you have the required ability. Keeping track of all of them as you make your way through each dungeon and then remembering their location later on led to an awful lot of backtracking during my playthrough.

This would have been simple enough if there had been a fast travel mechanic, but sadly, you're forced to make your way back on your own, though it is a bit more fun on Samus’s new motorcycle, making the tedious travel more bearable.

From the factory to the desert

The biggest addition to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, besides the game’s overworld hub Sol Valley, is Samus’s new motorcycle: Vi-O-La. It makes traveling across the Sol Valley’s vast desert a lot faster, but you can also use it in combat to mow down enemies while performing a slide after a boost.

While Vi-O-La initially looked like a gimmick in the game’s promotional materials, I was very impressed by how the motorcycle was introduced. During the opening dungeon set in the Volt Forge factory, you come across one that you can sit on but can’t actually ride at first. Instead, you need to power up two towers and get the factory running again in order to get the special Vi-O-La Suit required to operate it.

Making my way through the dungeon and fighting off the various enemies within it really made me appreciate the first time I was let loose in Sol Valley with Vi-O-La. From there, I was able to freely explore all of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s overworld on my new motorcycle. Sure, I couldn’t necessarily enter each dungeon until I had the prerequisite ability, but I could travel to them and unlock their locations on my map for later.

Besides dungeons, there are also a handful of challenge zones and unlockables for you to find. Enemies will also try to fight you while you’re riding Vi-O-La, but they can be taken down with a rocket blast while driving or with a well-timed slide.

I really enjoyed how Vi-O-La handles and liked being able to explore Sol Valley more freely after making my way through what seemed like endless corridors within the game’s dungeons. However, I just wish there was a bit more to do and to see in the overworld. At the same time, having to get on Vi-O-La and trek all the way across Sol Valley to return to the game’s Base Camp to get equipment installed for an upgrade or to turn in my green energy crystals took me out of the exploration and fast-paced action of its dungeons.

An old school shootout

While there are certainly new gameplay elements in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, like Samus’s psychic abilities, I’m happy to report that the combat feels just as tight as it did in previous entries in the series.

Unlike other first-person shooters on both PC and console, this one was designed specifically for consoles. As such, you don’t have to rely on free aiming, and you can use the left trigger to lock onto enemies in combat. Doing so also allows you to dodge in all four directions, maintaining the series’ signature strategic rhythm.

Whether I was taking on the game’s main enemies, called Grievers, or fighting off local wildlife using Samus’s Arm Cannon, shooting felt really good. While you can lock onto enemies, you don’t have to.

Free aim feels quite good on a controller, but if you’re playing on Switch 2, you also have the option to use Motion Control Aiming with the detached Joy-Cons. If you prefer the original Prime feel, you can seamlessly switch between standard dual-stick aiming and using the right Joy-Con to directly aim, which grants mouse-like precision.

If you enjoyed the combat of the previous Metroid Prime games, you’re in for a treat here, but the graphics and overall presentation are my favorite part of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Dripping with details

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s overworld area may feel sparse at times, but it’s still a sight to behold. From the wispy clouds in the sky to the ripples in the sand, it really reminded me of the Great Plateau in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, albeit at a smaller scale. However, it’s when you actually step into a dungeon that the attention to detail Retro Studios put into the game’s graphics really shines.

Even though the Lamorn are long gone by the time Samus steps foot on Viewros, all of the dungeon environments have a lived-in feel to them. Even in the Volt Forge area, which was heavily automated back when it was fully operational, it really felt like a real factory when I was exploring it. The same is true of the abandoned Ice Belt Lab, which I headed to shortly after.

I spent an even amount of time playing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in both handheld and docked mode. However, while the game looked good and performed well in handheld mode, I’d recommend playing this one docked with a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller to really take everything in. The corridors of both of those areas are gushing with details throughout, and the slower pace when exploring and scanning really helped me appreciate the game’s art direction and scenery. I also liked how, when you switch to Samus’s Morph Ball mode, the game shifts from a first to third-person perspective, and you get to see each environment in a new light.

The soundtrack hooked me just as much as the game’s visuals did, and I loved how haunting instrumental tracks would start playing as I was in the midst of exploring a new area. Likewise, the sound effects that played when I got an upgrade perfectly captured the feeling of being able to survive longer in a fight, thanks to having more ammo or being able to reach a new area after unlocking a new ability.

When combined, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s graphics and audio are the kind of thing that works so well that they’ll have you thinking about the game long after you put down your controller, and I know I did.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: Verdict

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond manages to capture the essence and core gameplay of past games in the series incredibly well, while also adding in new elements like Samus’s psychic abilities and an overworld hub. In the same way that Half-Life 3 will have big shoes to fill if it ever releases, so too did this game after so much time has passed since the last Metroid Prime installment.

While I would have liked for the overworld to be a bit more fleshed out with more to do and see, its barrenness does tie back to the story well, since the Lamorn have been gone for hundreds or even thousands of years. Exploring it on Vi-O-La is also a fun way to break up the almost claustrophobic feeling that some of the dungeons’ corridors give you, too. I also appreciated how the game’s first dungeon revolves around you getting the Volt Forge factory back up and running before you actually get to ride it. Still, being forced to backtrack across an entire desert instead of just a level to equip new upgrades felt unnecessarily tedious at times and took me out of the exploration and fast-paced action inside Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s dungeons.

If you’ve played and enjoyed past entries in the Metroid Prime series, you’ll be right at home here. However, if you haven’t, there’s plenty to explore and enough lore to sink your teeth into while getting acquainted with the 3D Metroid experience.

The Nintendo Switch 2 may have initially been difficult to get hold of, but now, not only is it in stock, it's also getting a price cut. I'll say up front it's not the biggest discount you'll ever see — but it's better than nothing.

Right now, you can pick up the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle with a 5% discount over at Amazon, saving you £20 on the console. Considering the Switch 2 was only released in the summer, I wasn't expecting to see a price cut on the hardware so early on.

What's more, if you want to pick up the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller to go along with it, that's also down from £74 to £69 at Amazon right now.

The Nintendo Switch 2 landed with a bang back in the summer and gave us all exactly what we wanted: A bigger, better version of the original console with improvements in all the right places. The only downside was, of course, the starting price which evoked a fierce reaction across the web.

Black Friday is an excellent time to pick up gaming hardware and software for less and I'm sure there will be some big savings this Black Friday on the best Nintendo Switch 2 games and essential accessories. However, I didn't expect a Switch 2 hardware discount to arrive so early. This is the first price cut I've seen on the system and, therefore, the lowest price it's ever been.

Will prices go down even further as we get closer to Black Friday? It's hard to say. It's a possibility and as soon as I hear of any further reductions I'll pass that along to you. But I do think that now we're past the restock madness (and there are a few more games available), it's a great time to pick up a Switch 2 console. I have fond memories of playing the original Switch with family members over the holidays, and Nintendo's next generation makes everything better.

The larger 7.9-inch LCD display looks great, and the Joy-Con 2s now snap on and off magnetically. There's a beefier plastic shell and a much-improved kickstand for tabletop gaming.

The only real drawback of the Switch 2 (alongside that price) is the battery life. During our testing, we got just shy of two-and-a-half hours of play from a 100% charge while running Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with Wi-Fi switched on and display brightness set to the default “Automatic Brightness” setting.

Should this put you off? Absolutely not. The Nintendo Switch 2 is an excellent hybrid console and you can read our full review here to find out exactly why. Even better, with this early Black Friday discount, you can save a bit off the price and put it towards an extra game or even a carry case for the console.

Amazon Prime Day is always a good time to save a few bucks on gaming, and if you're in the market for a new Switch 2 gamepad, we've got good news: one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers we've tested is on sale.

If you've spent the first few months of the Nintendo Switch 2's lifespan thinking, "I'd like a more traditional Switch 2 gamepad, but don't want to spend $89 on the official Switch 2 Pro Controller," you can grab the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless for less this Prime Day.

In our full Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless review, reviewer Nikita Achanta gave the controller a 4-star rating and said: "The Rematch Wireless features extremely responsive analog thumbsticks and triggers, and comes with two back buttons that can be quickly remapped on the fly, and they make games more immersive. They also contribute to the controller’s ergonomics, and boy, is this a comfy gamepad."

Even though it's missing some of the Switch 2 Pro Controller's features (no C button for GameChat, no rumble), the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless delivers where it counts. If you just want a comfortable controller to continue punching your way through Donkey Kong Bananza or any of the best Switch 2 games, this is a fantastic budget wireless option that's comfortable to use for long gaming sessions.

It's also a worthwhile investment for Nintendo Switch owners who haven't yet invested in the new console, as the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless controller is compatible across the entire Switch ecosystem.

If you think you might buy a Switch 2 in the near future to play, say, The Duskbloods, and you know you're going to want a traditional gamepad to play it, October Prime Day could be the perfect time to buy a controller ahead of time without splashing too much cash.

Hunting for even more Amazon Prime Day bargains? Check out our round-ups of the best Nintendo Switch 2 Prime Day deals or the best Prime Day gaming headset deals for even more great savings throughout the event.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the best game consoles out there. It's a fantastic hybrid as it lets you play your favorite games in handheld mode or on a screen. I, much like many others, love playing Mario Kart World on it. But I'll be honest: I still don't like the new Joy-Cons. Don't get me wrong, they're very versatile and cool, but I hate the fact that they are still prone to stick drift (as they don't utilize Hall Effect sensors).

But it's okay if they aren't perfect, as you can always grab a third-party controller and a lot of the times, these gamepads cost much less than a new pair of Joy-Cons or the first-party Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. I've tested many Switch 2 controllers and if you're on the hunt for one, you're in luck as my three favorites are currently discounted at Amazon.

I awarded the GameSir Super Nova 4.5 stars for its responsive Hall Effect thumbsticks (which even the Pro Controller doesn't feature), and it's currently down to $49 at Amazon. If you want TMR sensors instead — they allow for every minute adjustments in gameplay — I recommend the GameSir Cyclone 2 which is currently available for $50 at Amazon U.S. and £47 at Amazon U.K.

These deals won't last forever though, so grab these controllers while you can!

Quick links

• GameSir Super Nova: was $59 now $49
• GameSir Cyclone 2: was $55 now $50 / was £55 now £47
• Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless: was $59 now $54

Nintendo Switch 2 controller deals — USA

Nintendo Switch 2 controller deals — UK

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve finally found the perfect gamepad for the Switch 2 — and it isn’t the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
• I never thought a $49 gamepad would top the Switch 2 Pro Controller — and now that I’ve tried this GameSir pad, I won’t be going back
• These are the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers we've tested so far

For years, I’ve been trying to get my gaming-agnostic partner engaged in one of my favorite pastimes. But aside from dabbling in Overcooked and a playthrough of Until Dawn (me holding the controller, her making the decisions), I’ve never found a game that stuck. That was until we tried Lego Voyagers, the new co-op game from developer Light Brick Studios.

This new puzzle-platformer takes clear cues from the acclaimed work of Hazelight, developer of It Takes Two and Split Fiction, and is a simple but charming adventure where you play as two 1x1 Lego bricks on a quest through a gorgeous plastic world. It’s certainly not going to challenge experienced players, but for newcomers to the hobby, it’s an excellent entry point to a world of entertainment that millions of people, including myself, truly love.

Taking things brick by brick

Lego Voyagers has a simple, no-frills setup. It’s a mandatory co-op experience that has you and a partner, family member or friend, each play as a small Lego brick. One blue, the other red. After starting your journey on the beach, you venture through a Lego world to find the launch site of a rocket ship, and that’s pretty much all there is to the rudimentary setup.

Each of the two 1x1 bricks is given some personality via a googly eye and the ability to press a dedicated “sing” button, which makes your selected plastic avatar hum a whimsical note. But otherwise, the actual story is minimalistic and merely a vehicle for various gentle puzzles and platforming sections, which never even come close to thumb-testingly tricky.

In fact, there are only two buttons for players to wrap their fingers around: jump and attach. The former is self-explanatory, and the latter isn’t particularly tricky to understand for anybody who’s played with the Danish building blocks either. At the press of a button, you can attach your Lego brick to various objects, or even stick yourself to your co-op partner.

These moves are used to solve simple puzzles, which range from activating switches that create platforms across a precarious canyon to slightly more involved puzzles like jointly piloting a boat or moving a satellite dish into place. There’s no combat or any form of punishment for “death.” Fall off a ledge or mistime a jump, and you’ll instantly respawn.

Many puzzles require you to build structures, usually bridges, which is as simple as sticking your Lego bricks to a couple of plastic planks and cobbling together a way across to your destination. Yes, it’s all very simple, but that’s clearly intentional, as Lego Voyagers is designed with younger (or inexperienced) gamers in mind, and it succeeds in this regard.

On PS5 Pro, the game also looks absolutely gorgeous. The whole world is made up of Lego bricks, and it really does feel like stepping inside a plastic diorama. Voyagers uses the same visual style as 2019’s Lego Builder's Journey, and it’s remarkably lifelike and wonderfully quaint.

Lego Voyagers is built for inexperienced players

I imagine a pair of experienced gamers could find Lego Voyagers rather dull. There’s little mechanical depth to speak of, and the puzzles aren’t going to have you deep in thought for longer than a few seconds. Coupled with the shorter playtime of around four hours, I could easily see veteran gamers blasting through Lego Voyagers in a couple of sessions.

However, Lego Voyagers doesn’t seem crafted for that demographic. Instead, it feels ideally suited for first-time players. Unlike It Takes Two and Split Fiction, which I’m sure it’ll be compared to by many, there’s little demand on the player, and with no punishment for death or sections requiring quick reaction times, Voyagers can be enjoyed at a very leisurely pace.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers we've tested so far
• I just tried the upgraded GeForce Now cloud gaming
• PS6 could be up to 8x faster than PS5, according to new leak

Three months into the Nintendo Switch 2’s lifespan, are the Joy-Con 2 the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers you can get? Speaking as someone who has already put dozens of hours into Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza with them since launch day, I'm pretty happy with what we've been given, and I'm particularly looking forward to seeing what developers can do with mouse mode across the system's lifespan.

If you’re planning to tackle all the best Nintendo Switch 2 games (especially in Docked mode), you can always just slot your Joy-Con 2 into the Grip that came with the Switch 2. The improved Grip is decent, but if you value a more traditional experience or want a larger gamepad for maximum comfort during longer gaming sessions, there are other options on the market.

Plus, as one of the many players whose Joy-Con succumbed to stick drift during the original Switch's lifespan, I know all too well that having another controller option on hand is useful as an insurance choice.

Whether you’re looking for a replacement pad, a more budget-friendly option, or just a more traditional gaming experience, we’ve put various Switch 2 controllers to the test to determine the best options (and will continue to test more as they arrive).

So, if you’re looking to level up your Switch experience with a new gamepad, here’s a round-up of the very best Switch 2 controllers that you can buy right now.

Best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers you can buy today

The best Nintendo Switch 2 controller overall

It should come as no real surprise to see the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller at the top of our list. Nintendo's previous official pad topped our list of the best Switch controllers, and along with the upgraded console, the Big N levelled up its Pro pad, too.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller feels great in your hands, thanks to its slimmer profile, lighter weight, and matte finish. The new two-tone controller also offers great gaming performance. Thanks to the larger face buttons, smooth analog sticks, and a chunky D-Pad, it's comfortable to use. And with Nintendo claiming it has a 40-hour battery life, it shouldn't die on you during a Mario Kart World marathon.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller also comes with several new features that might tempt you into upgrading from the original Pro controller. Most notably, it boasts programmable GL/GR buttons on the back of the pad, and includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack between the hand grips, plus the new C Button for easy access to GameChat.

Even if we'd have preferred Hall Effect sticks, and it's certainly not the cheapest upgrade — it now has an MSRP of $89/£74, after an August price hike in the U.S. — if you'd like to put down your Joy-Con 2, the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is worth the investment.

• Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review

The best Nintendo Switch 2 controller on a budget

The GameSir Super Nova is compatible with PC, smartphones and the entire Nintendo Switch family, and if you're looking for a cheaper Switch 2 controller, the Super Nova is our favorite budget option right now, because it's a feature-packed, competitively-priced controller that should be on your radar.

This customizable, ergonomic controller currently comes in two colorways and features back buttons, great rumble and the user-friendly companion app that lets you easily customize your experience. The GameSir Super Nova even offers a major upgrade that the Switch 2 Pro Controller doesn't have: Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks.

Battery life is the major sticking point here: GameSir says it has a battery life of 15 hours, but during testing, we found this not to be the case. On a single charge, with RGB lighting set to default settings, we got just six hours of gametime out of the GameSir Super Nova.

However, if your gaming sessions are typically on the shorter side, or you remember to sit the pad in the included charging dock at the end of your play session, the GameSir Super Nova otherwise provides you with peak gaming performance, without breaking the bank.

• Read our full GameSir Super Nova review

The best Switch 2 controllers for versatility

If it's sheer variety you're after, then the best Switch 2 controllers are still the Joy-Con 2 that came in the box alongside your new system.

These new magnetic, detachable controllers are part of what makes the Switch 2 such a versatile system, and they've had a glow-up alongside the rest of the Switch 2 hardware.

The Joy-Con 2 come in a larger form factor and feel more premium in the hand compared to their Joy-Con predecessors. They're comfortable to use during play, boast improved motion controls, and I particularly appreciate that the triggers are larger, and the L/R buttons are now far easier to reach, having been stretched around the top curve of the controllers.

The big new gimmick this time is Mouse mode, which allows you to turn your Joy-Con 2 on their sides to either navigate menus or introduce whole new ways to play, such as hurtling around the basketball courts in Drag x Drive to precise pointer aiming in the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4.

It's also worth noting that, even if you prefer a traditional gamepad experience, you'll need your Joy-Con 2 to hand to play certain titles anyway. Along with Drag x Drive, Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour's minigames require the Joy-Con 2's functionality, and upcoming titles will surely find new ways to make use of the Joy-Con 2's unique features.

You can even get a serviceable gamepad experience by connecting the Joy-Con 2 to the standard Joy-Con 2 Grip that comes with your console (though this is no replacement for a Pro Controller).

If you want to level up your experience slightly, or want the cheapest way to get back buttons, you could replace the standard accessory with the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip accessory (sold separately).

With that on hand, you've got a classic-style controller with all the Joy-Con 2 face buttons within reach, plus remappable GL/GR buttons found on our other top picks, and an accessory that doubles as a charging station.

My major worry is whether stick drift plagues the Joy-Con 2s in the future. As a fresh set will set you back a hefty $99. I really don't want to have to go through multiple Joy-Con 2s like I did across the original Switch's lifespan.

The best Switch 2 controller for battery life

If your number one concern when it comes to a new controller purchase is how long the battery will last, you could be tempted by the Switch 2 Pro Controller's advertised 40-hour lifespan. However, if you want to squeeze as much juice out of your controller at the lowest price possible, I'd recommend looking at the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless gamepad, instead.

Until we put the GameSir Super Nova through its paces, we had the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless gamepad logged as our best budget pick. Although it's missing things like rumble or NFC for amiibo collectors, the Rematch Wireless offers most of the Switch 2 Pro Controller's features for far less money than the official controller.

There's one particular area where the Turtle Beach controller (which we still loved) clearly outmatches the GameSir, too: the battery life department. Turtle Beach advertises a 40-hour lifespan for the Rematch Wireless. This is both several times that of the Super Nova (which advertises 15 hours of gaming between charges) and the same battery life that Nintendo says you'll get out of the official Switch 2 Pro Controller.

So, if you just want a controller that'll last as long as possible between charges, and want to spend as little as possible on that new controller, the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless could be the perfect fit for you.

• Read our full Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless review

Which Switch 2 controller is right for you?

As we're still so early in the Switch 2's lifecycle (and the console was pretty tough to get hold of for a while there), early adopters will want to make sure they invest in a console that's worth the money.

When it comes to deciding which Nintendo Switch 2 controller is right for you, I'd chiefly consider whether you'd prefer to play all the best Switch 2 games in handheld or on one of the best TVs via docked mode. You should also consider what kind of gaming experience (i.e., whether you want a more ubiquitous gamepad feel or not).

If you value the flexibility and getting the maximum functionality out of your new system, you'll probably want to stick with your Joy-Con 2s. But if you're after the more traditional experience, the Switch 2 Pro Controller (or a more budget-friendly pick) is the obvious choice.

As some controllers are compatible across the entire Nintendo Switch family, you could also consider purchasing something that'll work across those systems (like the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless) if you're planning on holding onto your old system.

And if budget is a concern, but you definitely can't or don't want to stick with the Joy-Con 2 controllers in the box, you could also see whether one of the best Switch controllers would be compatible with the Switch 2. If you don't need extra buttons, features, or don't see yourself making use of the C button, this could be a decent way to save some cash while still leveling up your setup.

Switch 2 controller FAQ

Last Friday, just before we headed into the weekend, Nintendo quietly announced that it would be raising prices on the original Switch and a number of accessories, largely in response to President Trump's latest tariffs. However, the company avoided providing actual numbers.

We now have the prices that went into effect starting on August 3. While the Nintendo Switch 2 was spared a price increase (for now), every model of the original Switch and a number of accessories including controllers did see bumps.

Consoles

• Switch Standard: $340 (was $300)
• Switch Lite: $230 (was $200)
• Switch OLED: $400 (was $350)

Controllers

• Switch 1 Joy-Con: $90 (was $80)
• Switch 1 Pro Controller: $80 (was $70)
• Switch 2 Joy-Con: $100 (was $95)
• Switch 2 Pro Controller: $90 (was $85)
• Joy-Con Charging Stand: $35 (was $30)

Accessories

• Alarmo: $110 (was $100)
• Amiibo: $20 (was $16)
• Switch 2 Dock: $125 (was $120)

For now, the Switch 2 retains its $450 price tag, only $50 more than the OLED Switch. Nintendo did suggest that "market conditions" could change the price of its newest console, meaning tariffs are likely to cause the console to go up in cost.

Where the price really stings is for the accessories. Nintendo's controllers are already finicky and the Joy-Con 2s being priced at $100 is more expensive than even Mario Kart World and its $80 price tag.

If you were on the fence about picking up a Switch 2, now might be the time before tariffs and "market conditions" cause it to become even more expensive. Fortunately, we've been tracking stock and the console seems much more readily available than before.

More from Tom's Guide

• Nintendo Switch 2 heat warning issued — don’t play above this temperature
• 4 things I love about my Nintendo Switch 2 — and the 3 things that bother me
• I took my Nintendo Switch 2 on a trip for the first time — here’s 3 things I loved and 2 I didn’t

Today, August 1, Nintendo announced price increases for the "original Nintendo Switch family of systems...and select accessories" effective August 3. The gaming giant blamed the changes on "market conditions."

Though not specified, it is highly likely that the increases are in response to the tariffs enacted by the Trump administration on August 1. Those new taxes included 20% tariffs on Vietnam and on 30% on China, two countries that produce a lot of Nintendo's hardware.

In 2019, during the first Trump administration, Nintendo moved most of its hardware production out of China to Vietnam to avoid tariffs introduced then, as reported by the New York Times. However, between tariff introductions earlier this year and the current ones, Nintendo has not been able to escape the impact.

Nintendo's announcement did not confirm what the new pricing would be but Nintendo stock tracker Wario64 pointed out that Target's website briefly showed higher prices.

The original Switch bumped up by $40 to $339.99. The Switch OLED version went up by $50 to $399.99, while the Switch Lite was priced at $229.99, a $30 hike. Currently, Target shows the original pricing.

The announcement says the Nintendo Switch 2, and Switch and Switch 2 games would "remain unchanged." However, the announcement does not that "price adjustments may be necessary in the future."

Additionally, it also indicates that some Switch 2 accessories — including Amiibos and the random Alarmo clock — will see "adjustments."

We've also seen that the Joy Con 2 controllers are getting a $5 increase making them $99.99.

If you were considering picking up either an original Nintendo Switch or the new Nintendo Switch 2, not might be the time before the tariffs raise prices even higher.

More from Tom's Guide

• Nintendo Direct live — latest news and every reveal from the first showcase since Switch 2 launch
• 3 of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games are already on sale — save on Mario Kart and Zelda
• I took my Nintendo Switch 2 on a trip for the first time — here’s 3 things I loved and 2 I didn’t

We’re in the thick of summer now, and Nintendo’s summer sale has launched! Right now you can save on a bunch of Nintendo’s most popular titles, which doesn’t happen every day.

Right now Nintendo has Switch game deals from £4. For example, if basketball is your favorite sport, you can currently get NBA 2K25 on sale for £4 at Nintendo, a massive 90% discount. Or, if you’re in the mood for some platforming action, Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is on sale for £37 at Nintendo.

If you’re a physical collector, you can get Nintendo Switch game deals from £21 at Amazon right now. There are even some Nintendo Switch 2 games on sale here, like Sonic X Shadow Generations on sale for £36 at Amazon.

Keep scrolling to see all my favorite Nintendo Switch game deals. Plus, check out our Amazon promo codes coverage for more savings.

Digital game deals — Quick links

• shop all Nintendo eShop deals
• NBA 2K25: was £49 now £4
• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: was £49 now £8
• Balatro: was £12 now £11
• Red Dead Redemption: was £39 now £23
• Metroid Prime Remastered: was £34 now £26
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe: was £49 now £37

Physical game deals — Quick links

• shop all Switch game deals at Amazon
• MySims Cozy Bundle: was £34 now £21
• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: was £29 now £24
• EA Sports FC 25: was £34 now £26
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: was £34 now £26
• Lego Horizon Adventures: was £46 now £27
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: was £49 now £34
• Sonic X Shadow Generations: was £44 now £36 [Switch 2]
• Street Fighter 6: was £48 now £38 [Switch 2]

Best sales now

Unlike the PS5 or the Xbox Series X, the original Switch and now the Nintendo Switch 2 is a console that’s even better when played with friends and family, especially when you’re all in the same room together.

Whether you're racing through the latest tracks in Mario Kart World or working your way to the planet’s core in co-op mode in Donkey Kong Bananza, there’s something special about games with local multiplayer or couch co-op support. That’s why Nintendo fans have been playing Mario Party together for over 25 years now.

With the Switch 2 though, Nintendo has taken things up a notch by adding camera support to Mario Party. While Super Mario Party Jamboree was a lot of fun on the Switch, the new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game and its Jamboree TV expansion add some unique additions to the core Mario Party gameplay. Not only can you literally put yourself in the game with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and even play some minigames using full-body motion controls, but you can also play other ones using Mouse Mode with the Switch 2 Joy-Cons.

I got to try out Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV back in April when I first went hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. This week though, I got to play the full game from the comfort of my own home — mostly at my desk since my toddler was sick all week — and it’s definitely worth picking up a Switch 2 Camera for or seeing if one of the best webcams you already own will work with it.

Whether you’re new to Mario Party or are a seasoned player that still remembers getting Mario Party Palm back on the N64, here’s why I strongly recommend plugging in a camera while playing Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV on the Switch 2.

Camera at the ready

After adding my Switch 2 to the black and white desk setup I recently put together, I plugged in the Switch 2 Camera Nintendo sent over alongside Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV for me to check out.

One thing that I immediately liked about this camera is that it doesn’t have a hardwired cable which let me use a much shorter one for simpler cable management. I also found the included stand to be really helpful when finding the perfect angle for playing with it at my desk.

With the Switch 2 Camera set up, it was time to dive into Nintendo’s new Jamboree TV expansion for Super Mario Party Jamboree. Right from the start, you need to position yourself within a red circle so that your live video feed can be displayed next to your character as you play through the game. If you’re worried about being too far from the camera, don’t be, as you can zoom in closer using the triggers on your Joy-Cons or on the Switch 2 Pro Controller.

Once you and everyone else you’re playing with has their faces in the game, you’re ready to start playing Mario Party. One thing that really fascinated me back when I first saw Nintendo’s new Jamboree TV expansion in action is that even though you only have one camera, the game and your Switch 2 is able to zero in on each person’s face.

Just like in Mario Kart World when playing with the Switch 2 camera, this is a live video feed instead of a static image. In Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV, you get to see the faces of everyone you’re playing with (either online or on the same couch) as you make your way across the game’s various boards.

I really think this is a game changer in Mario Party as when something big happens like another player getting a star or making it to the end of a board, you don’t have to look over to see everyone else’s reactions. Instead, you can see them right on your TV, so you’re not taken out of the action.

Alongside seeing your friends and family as you play, there are also several minigames that are played using full-body motion controls.

From balancing Goombas on top of your head to punching question blocks to get rings, I had a lot of fun playing all of these different minigames, even when I was paired up with three strangers at the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in New York earlier this year. Now I can’t wait to play them with my friends and family once I can finally have people over again.

Motion controls meet Mouse Mode

Given that I was playing on my own instead of with a full house, I decided to work my way through Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV’s various minigames. While I’ve played some of them before on the original Switch, this was my first time playing them on the Switch 2 with its larger Joy-Con controllers. I also tried out some of the new minigames that are only available in the Jamboree TV expansion.

First off, the game runs even better on the Switch 2 and its visuals look absolutely gorgeous on the MSI QD-OLED monitor I have set up in my office. I’m sure it would look just as good on one of the best OLED TVs out in your living room though. While jumping into minigames took a bit longer in the original Super Mario Party Jamboree, they opened almost instantly on the Switch 2.

I started out playing some of the minigames with motion control support as I’m a sucker for flailing my Joy-Cons around. With a Joy-Con turned sideways, I played through a few rounds of Tilt-a-Golf before moving on to the Roll with It minigame. As expected, this was a lot of fun but it was also more comfortable with the Switch 2’s larger Joy-Cons in hand.

From there, I wanted to test out some of the new Jamboree TV exclusive minigames, specifically the ones that use the Switch 2’s Mouse Mode. Of the ones I tried, What’s the Scoop? was my favorite as who doesn’t like quickly putting together ice cream cones? Even on my own with a CPU-controlled Monty Mole, we still managed to make quite a few ice cream cones and even some multi-flavored, triple-decker ones.

Growing up I always enjoyed playing air hockey, so the next Mouse Mode minigame I tried was Shell Hockey. It starts off slow with you and another player trying to send a turtle shell over to the other team’s net. However, after a bit, multiple turtles and their subsequent shells show up on screen and things get more chaotic which was a lot of fun.

I have to admit, I’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to all that Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV has to offer.

The original game was packed with loads of boards and minigames, so if you enjoyed it, the new Jamboree TV expansion is a no-brainer. However, if you haven’t played a Mario Party game on the Nintendo Switch yet, this new version of Super Mario Party Jamboree is easy to recommend, especially if your board game nights have turned into mini LAN parties.

Joining the party face to face

If you aren’t fully sold on the Switch 2 yet or you haven’t managed to get one yet even after following our Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live blog, a game like this is the perfect example of what Nintendo’s follow-up to its first hybrid console offers.

Sure, there are definitely similar experiences to what was possible on the original Switch. However, there are also plenty of new ones like Mouse Mode, Game Chat and games like Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV with Switch 2 Camera integrations. This is just the start though and I can almost guarantee that Nintendo is likely cooking up new ways to use the Switch 2 Camera.

What impressed me the most back when I first played this game was that even though we were just using a standard webcam, myself and those strangers I played Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV with were getting a Kinect-like experience.

When I jumped up and punched question blocks for coins, I really had that feeling as if I was actually in the game and not just playing it. The same was true when we were on a TV show hosted by Bowser and what I was doing in real life — like moving my head, laughing or even talking to the other players — showed up in the game even though I was just another person in the crowd since it wasn’t my turn.

I’m definitely going to try out Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV with some supported webcams besides the official Switch 2 Camera but at $54, it’s a reasonably priced accessory that can add a lot to your Switch 2 experience right now and I’m betting even more as the new console matures.

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• I tried playing Mario Kart World with a racing wheel on Switch 2 and it's perfect for cruising in Free Roam mode
• I doubled my Nintendo Switch 2 storage for half the price of Mario Kart World but it still wasn’t enough
• I played the Switch 2 with AR glasses — here's what it's like to race Mario Kart World on a 135-inch screen in front of your face

Donkey Kong Bananza shines on the Nintendo Switch 2 with impressive visuals, incredibly fun gameplay and a story filled with both new and familiar characters. The game sets you free to punch and smash to your heart’s content as only Donkey Kong can as you work your way through increasingly challenging levels in your search for the elusive Banandium Core.

Unlike Donkey Kong’s past adventures, this one is entirely in 3D and much like in Super Mario Odyssey, the developers at Nintendo EPD give you all the tools you need to explore (and destroy) the world around you. Along the way, you’re joined by Pauline and a cast of interesting characters as you try to make your way through the game’s various subterranean environments.

Donkey Kong can smash his way through all sorts of different terrain both vertically and horizontally, transforming levels along the way. However, thanks to the power of various animal-themed Bananza transformations, he also gains new powers to aid him and Pauline in their quest.

All of these parts work together almost seamlessly and the sheer level of discovery and exploration feels a lot like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Switch-but with a Donkey Kong-themed twist.

Unfortunately, with a game of this size and scope, there are some hiccups along the way, mainly with the game’s camera and especially when you’re digging deep underground trying to find the surface. Still, this is the 3D Donkey Kong game that fans of the character (myself included) have always wanted.

My Donkey Kong Bananza review will explain why this is truly the first must-have Switch 2 title and why it should have been a launch game for Nintendo’s latest hybrid console.

Donkey Kong Bananza: The Basics

• What is it? A 3D action-adventure platformer where you take control of Donkey Kong as he journeys to the planet’s core in search of the Banandium Core.
• Who is it for? Anyone with a Switch 2 that loves a 3D platformer like Super Mario Odyssey or is just a big Donkey Kong fan.
• What is the price? Donkey Kong Bananza costs $69 which is cheaper than Mario Kart World at $79 but still higher than what original Switch games were priced at.
• What other games has the developer made? Donkey Kong Bananza was created internally by Nintendo EPD which is known for its work on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom along with Super Mario Odyssey, though it also was the driving force behind Mario Kart World on Switch 2.
• What games is this similar to? Donkey Kong Bananza is most comparable to Super Mario Odyssey which is also a 3D action-adventure platformer where you collect Power Moons instead of Banandium Gems.

Diving (and smashing) to the core

Instead of at home on Kong Island, Donkey Kong Bananza starts out with our titular hero working in a mine where his smashing abilities make him quite adept at collecting gold, fossils and other hidden treasure. However, the mine’s operations quickly come to a halt when the game’s villains, a group known as VoidCo, bury it underground. This starts off Donkey Kong’s subterranean journey.

While not open-world, Donkey Kong Bananza does give you quite a lot of freedom in how you approach its objectives. Each of the game’s areas are divided up into sublayers and once you reach a checkpoint in a particular area, you’re free to teleport between them or return back to a layer to look for things you might have missed.

One of my favorite things about Donkey Kong Bananza is how each layer is quite different, both when it comes to gameplay and its design. There are layers filled with water, snow forests and more and each has its own distinct feel to it. You also learn new abilities and Bananza powers (more on that later) as you make your way through each one.

There’s quite a lot to see and do but like with Super Mario Odyssey, a lot of this is optional. In fact, you can skip through whole sections if you want to. As the story progresses, you learn more about the world itself and about Pauline and her musical abilities. You also fight off the various members of VoidCo and learn why the group’s leader Void Kong is so keen on reaching the planet’s core.

Donkey Kong Bananza strikes a fine balance between being too story-heavy or too gameplay-driven, though the latter is definitely what sets this game apart from other Donkey Kong games.

Bananas abound

As you make your way to the planet’s core, it’s up to you to undo the havoc caused by VoidCo during the group’s descent. Whether it’s areas of a level blocked off by the company’s iconic purple metal or the entrance to the next sublayer, Donkey Kong relies on Pauline’s special musical power to clear these obstructions. It’s a fun mechanic and the power of music resonates throughout the entire game.

Along the way, you also encounter Banandium Gems which, when you collect five, grant Donkey Kong a skill point to upgrade his abilities. Sometimes you’ll encounter a lone banana, or after a particularly challenging section (like when you reach a new layer) these bananas will come in a hand of 3-5.

Though you certainly don’t have to collect every banana you come across, during my playthrough, I found myself going out of the way to find more. Sometimes this was to collect enough to earn a new skill point but at other times, I just wanted to find them, much like a real monkey after bananas.

While I don’t know how many there are in total yet, I collected around 350 bananas before beating the game. They aren’t the only thing to collect either as fossils can be spent at shops to upgrade Donkey Kong and Pauline’s wardrobes and gold is used to buy useful items like balloons.

One thing that I really like about the fossils in Donkey Kong Bananza is that they’re specific to each layer and can only be used there. This had me hunting for them as soon as I reached the next layer as I wanted to upgrade my outfit to protect me from whatever peril I would encounter in this new area.

Brawling through Bananza

During your journey, you encounter all kinds of different foes and some require a specific mechanic or material to defeat them. There are some you can give a quick smackdown with Donkey Kong’s fists or others that you need to break off a chunk of the environment and hurl it into the air at them to take down.

As you progress from one layer to the next, Donkey Kong Bananza’s enemies get increasingly difficult but the game is always there to give you a useful tip if you struggle with a particular enemy or boss. Speaking of the bosses, there are quite a few to deal with and each boss encounter feels unique, even if you end up fighting a slightly different version of a previous one.

Alongside the gem-shaped Fractones you meet along the way, there are also elders in certain layers that bestow unique powers called Bananzas onto Donkey Kong. From transforming into a zebra, an ostrich or other jungle animals, these Bananza transformations add new mechanics and abilities that help shake things up. While powerful, your time in this transformed state is limited, so you need to be focused on the task at hand or you’ll return to Donkey Kong’s normal state before you finish an objective.

Just like with Donkey Kong himself, these different Bananzas have their own skill trees and abilities you can level up with skill points. Doing so allows you to remain in your transformed state for longer, but you can also increase the effectiveness of each Bananzas’ bespoke skills.

Once you’ve unlocked several, you can freely switch between them while transformed and I found doing so to be both really fun and very effective at defeating enemies or reaching hidden Banandium gems.

Voxelized visuals

There’s no limit to what Donkey Kong can smash, dig through or outright destroy in this game and that’s due to its voxel-based terrain. While many Mario games use pixel art, Donkey Kong Bananza uses voxels which, put simply, are the three-dimensional equivalent of a pixel. Imagine a tiny cube or box in a 3D space—that’s what all of the layers of the game are made of.

Not only does this give Donkey Kong Bananza a unique and timeless look, it’s also what makes all of the game’s destructive environments possible. The best part though is even though everything is made from voxels, Nintendo EDP made it so you wouldn’t notice them while playing.

From concrete to sand to stone, each of the materials in the game has its own unique look, feel and properties to it. Some are softer while others are harder and require you to use another hard material to break through them. This adds to the gameplay loop and makes it so that you need to be more conscious about the terrain around you.

The environments in Donkey Kong Bananza really stand out too and show the impressive visuals the Switch 2 is capable of. There were times when I just had to stop and take it all in and the game’s photo mode really helped me capture those moments. In fact, I often found myself stopping to take pictures, not just for this review but to show off to friends. The best part? Photo mode is just a tap of the D-pad away and like in Mario Kart World, there are filters and other tweaks you can make to ensure your captures stand out.

Donkey Kong Bananza: Verdict

Donkey Kong Bananza is a fresh take on previous Donkey Kong games that successfully brings Nintendo’s iconic character into a 3D world in a way that doesn’t feel forced or out of place. The core gameplay remains true to the franchise, but Donkey Kong feels a whole lot more powerful thanks to the game’s (almost) fully destructible environments. This would be good enough on its own, but the new Bananza powers take things to the next level (or layer) and help mix up its gameplay.

While this move to 3D does come with some camera issues at times, they aren’t gamebreaking nor do they detract from the overall experience. Likewise, while there are a lot of Banandium Gems to collect throughout the journey, Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t a collect-a-thon and certainly doesn’t feel like one either.

Mario Kart World might have been the Nintendo Switch 2’s main launch title but Donkey Kong Bananza really feels like the first must-have game for the new console, both when it comes to visuals, its wonderfully catchy soundtrack, and the experience overall. If you already have a Switch 2, this is the game to play next and a must for any collection.

Last month, I reviewed the Nintendo Switch 2 for Tom's Guide. Overall, I love the hybrid console, as my enthusiastic write-up proves. And while I did everything I could to replicate various conditions in my testing, there are some real-world scenarios you can’t mimic from your home base, such as taking the Switch 2 on an aeroplane, or whipping it out in a bustling hotel lobby.

I’ve just returned from my first trip with the Switch 2 in tow, and have come away once again seriously impressed with Nintendo’s next-gen handheld/home console. However, the experience of going abroad with the Switch 2 has also further highlighted some of its frustrating flaws.

So, here’s my first experience taking Nintendo Switch 2 on a trip, the good and the bad.

Taking Nintendo Switch 2 on a trip - pros

My hands love the larger size

The Switch 2 is bigger in every way than its predecessor. The larger 7.9-inch display takes all the attention, but the LCD screen is wrapped in an equally beefier plastic shell, and frankly, I love the larger size. As a Steam Deck OLED convert since last winter, I’m now used to larger handhelds, and by the end of the generation, the Switch 1 was feeling uncomfortably small in my palms.

So, when playing the Nintendo Switch 2 for longer periods, such as on a four-hour flight, my fingers were thanking the designer for the larger Joy-Con 2 controllers and overall size. I still prefer playing with a Nintendo Pro controller, but at least now the Joy-Con 2s don’t feel entirely designed with small, child-sized hands in mind. Oh, and the magnetic connectors are still fantastic. It’s a huge upgrade over the old railing system, and a breeze to snap on and off.

Tabletop Mode is a novel option

Speaking of detaching the Joy-Con 2s, the Switch family of systems continues to offer a feature that few handhelds can replicate: Tabletop Mode.

Even if the Nintendo Switch 2 is significantly more comfortable to hold in handheld mode compared to its predecessor, you can take your play experience up a level via Tabletop Mode, letting you prop up the main console unit via the built-in kickstand and give your arms a proper rest.

As somebody who never upgraded to a Nintendo Switch OLED (I stuck with my launch unit till the end), which had an improved flexible kickstand already, I’ve found the Switch 2’s adjustable stand a real revelation. And tabletop mode also proved very useful for playing two-player Mario Kart World on a flight.

The launch library is solid, if not spectacular

I’ve seen more than a few grumbles about the library of available software on Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. You don’t have to search social media far to find people arguing, “Switch 2 has no games,” but I just don’t believe this mocking statement matches up with reality.

Yes, I will concede the Switch 2 is lacking in exclusive software, with only Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour offering experiences you can't get anywhere else, but the roster of third-party ports and excellent upgrades to must-play Switch 1 games is nevertheless very healthy at this early stage.

I had a great time on my trip chipping away at my latest playthrough of Cyberpunk 2077, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has completely hooked me all over again after leaving it mostly untouched after wrapping up my original run back in the spring of 2017.

Plus, Mario Kart World, for all my issues with its focus on rally races over traditional three-lap courses, is still the perfect pick-up-and-play title, and I enjoyed a quick race or two while waiting for my gate number to be called.

Taking Nintendo Switch 2 on a trip - cons

Battery life is just straight up bad

There’s just no sugarcoating this one, the Nintendo Switch 2 battery life sucks.

I had a four and a half hour flight as part of this trip, and was reaching for a power pack before we were even halfway to our landing destination.

The battery life is so underwhelming that traveling with a portable charger or having access to in-flight charging is practically a necessity if you want to take the Switch 2 to 30,000 feet. Anything beyond a quick domestic journey, and the Switch 2 isn’t going to touch down with any juice left.

I noted the poor battery life as an issue in my Switch 2 review, but the problem really comes into focus when you’re traveling and can’t always easily connect to a reliable power supply.

Having also taken my Steam Deck OLED on various trips in recent months, I felt the Switch 2 did not stack up well in the battery life department. And if the Switch 2 gets a mid-gen refresh, the battery life needs to be boosted.

What is up with Switch 2 download speeds?

Okay, so technically this is an issue I encountered prior to my trip, specifically the night before, as I was installing games to play on my vacation, but I just do not quite understand what the deal is with Switch 2 download speeds.

Naturally, I have my Nintendo Switch 2 hooked up to the same Wi-Fi connection as the rest of the gaming consoles (and tech devices) in my house. While on PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X, I’m able to download 50GB in about 30 minutes, my Switch 2 needs several hours to download a quarter of that.

Heck, the evening before my trip, I went to download a new update for Hitman: World of Assassination, and while it was a ludicrously huge 112GB update, my Switch 2 informed me that it would take more than 130 hours to complete. That’s less than a gigabyte downloaded per hour!

A quick search tells me I’m far from the only one experiencing this issue, and while various user fixes are currently floating around, none have entirely resolved the seriously slow download speeds for me. I’m just hoping this is a patchable problem and not something faulty within the hardware itself.

More from Tom's Guide

• Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live updates
• Nintendo Switch 2 review — no gimmicks, just a fantastic console
• I’ve played 8 Switch 2 launch games — here’s the 3 I’d buy first

While docking the Nintendo Switch 2 does unlock better picture quality, including 4K resolution and up to 120fps refresh rates, there is one feature still locked off. Even if your TV supports variable refresh rate (VRR), it seems Nintendo won't let you take advantage of it with the new console.

Weirdly, it turns out that this isn't an issue with the Switch 2 dock itself. They tested this over at The Verge, plugging various other handheld gaming systems in using the Switch 2's dock.

Evidently the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go S and Asus ROG Ally X all supported VRR through the Nintendo dock. And that was tested with actual VRR testing tools, rather than just taking the handheld's promise that it was at face value. Plus, this confirmed VRR worked at up to 120fps.

The Verge did note that connecting a handheld to the Switch 2 dock did require an extra USB-C cable, naturally. Unfortunately the Switch 2 dock is spring-loaded, and kept pushing the cable out — which means it's a less than ideal way to connect your handheld to the TV.

What's going on with VRR on Switch 2?

The Switch 2 supports VRR in handheld mode, so if you're playing on the built-in screen you should see dynamic refresh rates as you play.

But since the console and the Dock both support VRR, why the heck can't you get VRR working on a compatible TV or monitor? Well, we just don't know.

We do know Nintendo originally advertised that the Switch 2 did support VRR in TV mode, but then removed those references from its website and support pages. Nintendo did apologize for the error and confirmed the feature was only available in handheld mode. But the company hasn't actually explained why things are the way they are.

Digital Foundry did find that VRR suffered "clear problems" on the Switch 2 in handheld mode — including "juddering" in various games like Cyberpunk 2077.

Though it was noted that Welcome Tour, the $10 Switch 2 demo, did have proper VRR support. So it's not like Nintendo is secretly saving us from crappy performance because VRR doesn't actually work properly.

Sadly Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter told The Verge he has no idea why VRR support hasn't been included in TV mode. Only that he doubts Nintendo removed the feature last minute, and that the company's previous promises were likely a mistake.

So this is down for Nintendo to explain, and so far the company has been staying quiet. It's a pretty weird situation all round, though.

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• Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live — retailers to check now

A few years ago, with the release of Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo Switch, I made the decision to finally stop using Joy-Cons. Because if I wasn't in handheld mode, Nintendo's half-palm-sized controllers just weren't performing well enough to get stuff done.

Rather than buying an official Pro controller, or some other licensed gamepad, I opted for something a little different. 8BitDo's USB Wireless Adapter 2 lets Switch owners use just about any Bluetooth controller they like —including ones built for Xbox or PlayStation consoles.

I'm happy to confirm that the adapter also works with the Nintendo Switch 2 — but you will need to do a little bit of tinkering to get it working. Thankfully, it takes less than 5 minutes to sort out.

How 8BitDo's Wireless Adapter works

I've made no secret that I struggle with Joy-Cons. They hurt my hands over extended periods of time, and even the Switch 2's larger controllers haven't really fixed that problem. In fact, they seem to have made the whole thing worse.

The 8BitDo adapter meant that I was able to avoid this problem on the first Switch, at least when it was in TV mode. All you needed to do was plug it into the dock, pair it with a new console, and make sure one particular toggle was switched on in the settings.

In my case, I had an Xbox controller paired to the adapter and was able to use it to play all my favorite Switch games. All with the comfort of a controller that was designed for actual human hands, and didn't feel like it was built with complete disregard for ergonomics.

The only downside was that Nintendo and Microsoft reversed their lettered buttons. So hitting A on the Xbox button is actually telling the Switch you hit B — which can cause issues. I've been primarily playing with Xbox controllers for the better part of 24 years, and believe me that muscle memory is rather hard to override.

Oh, and there's no home or capture buttons, because those are unique to Switch controllers. Unless you're using something like the Xbox Elite Controller or Dualsense Edge, there just aren't enough buttons to account for them.

Still, I'll take the occasional mis-pressed button over cramping hands any day. So imagine my disappointment when I plugged the adapter into my Switch 2, and found that it didn't work.

I wasn't keen on having to buy a new Switch 2-friendly adapter, or a different controller. But thankfully, the solution was much easier on my wallet.

How to get your old 8BitDo USB Wireless Adapter running on Switch 2

While there are plenty of Switch 1 accessories that work with Switch 2, it should be no surprise that not everything does. Fortunately, 8BitDo seems to have anticipated this, and released a new firmware update for the USB Wireless Adapter that upgraded the dongle with Switch 2 support.

All it requires is 8BitDo's own upgrade tool (available on Windows and macOS). Download the tool, plug in the adapter and the software should automatically recognize it and check for updates.

In my case the Windows tool picked up that my adapter was on version 1.04, and that v1.09 was available. Installing that update took about a minute, at which point the adapter was ready to go.

The only thing you need to do on your Switch is head into the Controllers menu in Settings and activate Pro Controller Wired Communication. This means the Switch 2 recognizes the 8BitDo adapter as a wired controller, regardless of the fact it's connecting to a wireless controller.

Plug the adapter into one of the Switch 2 dock's USB ports, and if your system is like mine it should recognize the new controller right away. Though checking the Change Grip/Order menu is worth doing to make sure it's set as the primary controller.

What's it compatible with?

8BitDo has a huge list of controllers that are compatible with the 8BitDo USB Wireless Adapter 2. That includes all of 8BitDo's Bluetooth controllers, PlayStations 3 through 5, the Switch Pro Controllers, Wiimotes, the Wii U Pro, Xbox Series X|S and Bluetooth Xbox One controllers.

The latter distinction is particularly important, because Xbox didn't add Bluetooth to any controller until the launch of the Xbox One S. So your launch-era Xbox One controller won't work here.

The adapter also isn't exclusive to Switch consoles, and you can plug it into other devices as well, including Windows, Mac, the Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi devices. That way you can use whatever controller you like, not just the ones that are officially supported by the platform you're gaming on.

So long Joy-Cons! We'll only be back if we need mouse controls or want to play in handheld mode.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is cute and functional, but you might not need it yet
• I doubled my Nintendo Switch 2 storage for half the price of Mario Kart World — but it still wasn’t enough
• Nintendo Switch 2 — 3 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here and while it comes with a big boost in graphics and performance, the long-awaited hybrid console’s built-in storage also features a massive 700% increase over the original.

If you can believe it, the Nintendo Switch shipped with just 32GB of built-in storage when it launched eight years ago. At the time and thanks to Nintendo’s unmatched ability to deliver big games at a fraction of the size of other developers, this was more than enough to get you started building a library of the best Nintendo Switch games. For instance, Breath of the Wild took up 13.4GB of storage while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe only required 6.75GB at launch.

Now though, games have gotten bigger — even first-party ones from Nintendo — and the Switch 2 ships with 256GB of storage. Of course, you can always expand the console’s storage with a memory card.

After getting my own Switch 2 at a midnight launch last week, I thought I’d at least be able to wait until Amazon Prime Day or even Black Friday before picking one up at a discounted price, but boy was I wrong. Here’s how I doubled my Switch 2’s storage for half the price of Mario Kart World.

More built-in storage, but still not enough

If you haven’t picked up a Nintendo Switch 2 yet, let me break down the setup process for you. After powering on your new console, selecting your language and connecting to the internet, you’re asked if you want to transfer your saved data and games from your original Switch.

I highly recommend doing this because if you decline, you won’t be able to do so after the fact without factory resetting your new Switch 2.

The whole process seemed simple enough until I realized that there was no way my entire Switch game library was going to fit on the Switch 2’s built-in storage. You see, I’ve had a Switch since 2017 and during all that time with it, I’ve amassed a huge library of games, some big and some small.

Unfortunately, Nintendo doesn’t give you the option to choose which of your installed games you actually want to transfer over to your new console.

With a home screen full of pending downloads, I was left particularly frustrated as while I did want to copy over my games and save data, I really just wanted to quickly download Mario Kart World and go off to the races.

Even with the new Switch 2 Pro Controller in hand, it got really tedious cancelling pending downloads when there were so many. It was then that I realized using a Joy-Con 2 in Mouse Mode provided a much easier (and faster) way to manage my game library and downloads.

I ended up installing a few of my favorite original Switch titles and a few Switch 2 games to test out. With Mario Kart World, the Switch 2 version of Tears of the Kingdom and Cyberpunk 2077 installed, my Switch 2’s built-in storage was just about full. However, it was when I tried to add Street Fighter 6 to the mix that I ran out of storage.

I started looking at microSD Express Cards online, hoping to find one that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Most of them went for at least $60 for 256GB and many of the ones from SanDisk, PNY and other popular brands were sold out at the time, likely due to people buying them ahead of the Switch 2’s launch. It was then that I stumbled upon a more budget-friendly option from Onn.

If you haven’t heard of Onn, chances are you’ve definitely seen the brand’s products at your local Walmart as it is the retailer’s house brand. Just like with Best Buy’s Insignia or Amazon’s Amazon Basics, Onn’s products typically cost a fraction of what those from bigger brands do.

A few years back, I tried out a budget tablet from Onn, so I knew what I was getting into right away. While it certainly delivered on price, it had a major issue and I ended up returning it. Unlike one of the best Android tablets though, I figured a microSD Express card wasn’t nearly as complex as it was just extra storage for my Switch 2 after all. After dropping just $37 on a 256GB microSD Express card, I was on my way home from Walmart and ready to double my Switch 2’s storage.

An express upgrade

When placed side-by-side with the microSD card from my original Switch, this new microSD Express one looks almost identical at first glance down to the cutouts at the bottom of the card. They both work with the same microSD to SD card adapter I use with my other devices too. However, the big difference between the two and why you too will need to upgrade to microSD Express if you want to add storage to your Switch 2 is their read speeds.

While the SanDisk microSD card on the right has a max read speed of up to 120 megabytes per second (MB/s), the Onn microSD Express card has a max read speed of 800 MB/s. The reason Nintendo ditched microSD cards for microSD Express ones with the Switch 2 is to achieve faster load times. It’s also worth noting that while you’re likely hearing about microSD Express for the first time, these faster memory cards actually came out back in 2019.

Compared to other popular microSD Express cards for the Switch 2, you do get slightly slower read speeds with this budget card from Onn. For instance, SandDisk’s 256GB microSD Express card ($72, Amazon) has a max read speed of up to 880 MB/s while Samsung’s 256GB microSD Express card ($60, Best Buy) complete with red Super Mario branding also has read speeds of up to 800 MB/s just like Onn’s.

After unboxing my new microSD Express card, I powered down my Switch 2 and got ready to install it. Surprisingly, I discovered that the new console’s kickstand goes far back enough that I could actually stand my Switch 2 upside down to insert it instead of flipping it over and lying it flat. I gently pushed the new microSD Express card into the slot on the Switch 2’s underside until I heard it click into place and that was that.

I powered my Switch 2 back on, opened the settings menu and headed to the Data Management option. There I saw that I now had an extra 256GB of storage and I didn’t even have to format my new microSD Express Card, it was just ready to go.

Given that you’ll likely want to move all of your games to your new microSD Express card, Nintendo makes this very easy to do. In that same Data Management menu, there’s an option to Move System / microSD Express Card Data. Selecting it brings up another menu where you can move your games to your microSD Express card or move them back to System Memory.

I decided to leave the original Switch games I downloaded on my Switch 2’s system memory and move my Switch 2 games to the microSD Express card.

So far, I have Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Split Fiction and combined, these four games take up 169GB of storage space with Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077 being the largest at 69.2GB and 59.4GB respectively.

Moving everything over from Switch 2’s system memory to the Onn microSD Express card took around 30 minutes. Well, it should have. You see, I let my Switch 2 go into sleep mode during this process and as a result, the file transfer stalled.

I haven’t tested any other microSD Express cards yet so I don’t know if this happened due to the one I used or if it’s just a Switch 2 issue. Either way, I’d say leave your console on and make sure you change its Auto-Sleep setting to Never before getting started.

Once I woke up my Switch and did this, all of the games were moved over to the microSD Express card and the time it took to do so aligned with the 15 minutes remaining message I saw before the file transfer stalled.

Sooner rather than later

If you’ve already picked up a Switch 2 or are planning to do so soon, I highly recommend you add a bit more to your budget for a microSD Express card. The console having more built-in storage is a great thing and 256GB is more than enough to get you started, especially if you’re looking to play original Switch games on the Switch 2’s larger screen with a bit of a performance boost to boot.

However, if you’re looking to play all the new Switch 2 games from Nintendo and those from 3rd-party publishers, I’d say picking up a microSD Express card makes a lot of sense so you don’t have to constantly delete games when downloading new ones.

I’ll admit I just picked up this microSD Express card from Onn and I haven’t had a chance to benchmark it or any others yet. However, in my real-world testing so far, all of my games load just as fast as they do off the console’s internal storage and run just as well too. I also still don’t know how well this particular microSD Express card will hold up over time.

One good thing about the Switch 2 though is that if your microSD Express card fails, you won’t lose your save data, even if you don’t have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. This is because all of your Switch 2 save data is stored on the console’s internal memory as opposed to on your microSD Express card.

Although I bought the 256GB version of Onn’s microSD Express card first, I did end up going back to Walmart and picking up the 512GB version. The reason being is that with those four games I mentioned earlier and Street Fighter 6 installed, I’ve already surpassed that card’s storage at 257GB.

With the Switch 2, it’s not a question of if you’re going to fill up the console’s larger internal storage, it’s more a question of when. Now that we’re seeing a lot of great 3rd party games come to Nintendo’s latest console, you’re going to need all the storage you can get if Switch 2 is your preferred place to play them.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just found the perfect Switch 2 screen protector and it’s the first time I’ve ever installed one without issues
• 7 Nintendo Switch 2 display settings to change right now for the best picture performance
• I tried playing Mario Kart World with a racing wheel on Switch 2 and it's perfect for cruising in Free Roam mode

Mario Kart World is the first major exclusive for the new Nintendo Switch 2. Launching alongside the console, and following up the original Switch’s best-selling game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (which shifted some 70m copies), it’s pretty much as close to a guaranteed sales success as a video game can be.

With that in mind, it would have been easy for Nintendo to rest on its laurels and deliver a game that was merely more Mario Kart. Heck, I reckon most players would have greeted such an experience with gusto. So, kudos to the development team for instead creating the most experimental Mario Kart experience since 2003’s Double Dash on Nintendo GameCube.

The ninth mainline game in the Mario Kart series adds new features, including a sizeable open world, a new Battle Royale-style mode and a reworked Grand Prix. Plus, it makes some fundamental changes to the on-track experience by adding complex new moves. It’s Mario Kart, but not quite as you know it.

Unfortunately, while some of these new ideas are novel, they don’t all pan out, and the open world in particular is a huge disappointment. Let me explain in my Mario Kart World review why this Nintendo Switch 2 launch title doesn’t quite earn the top podium position (though you're going to buy it anyway).

Mario Kart World: The Basics

• What is it? Mario Kart World is the latest entry in the long-running Nintendo racing series that sees the iconic plumber and pals take to the track to battle it out. MK: World also adds a new Free Roam mode.
• Who is it for? Nintendo Switch 2 early adopters are pretty much guaranteed to pick up Mario Kart World, and it's also perfect if you're looking for a party game you can play with friends and family.
• What's the price? Mario Kart World costs $79, setting a new industry base price that, unfortunately, other publishers are already replicating.
• What other games has the developer made? Mario Kart World was developed internally by one of Nintendo's own in-house studios. The Japanese company is bizarrely tight-lipped about which one.
• What games is this similar to? Mario Kart is a pretty iconic and globally loved franchise, but if you really need a comparison point, it's most similar to the recent Sonic Racing series, which is itself a Mario Kart clone.

The Dark Souls of Mario Kart

You know that seriously worn-out meme where anything even vaguely challenging was compared to uber-tough RPG Dark Souls? Well, I’m bringing it back cause Mario Kart World adds a new difficult edge to the traditionally family-friendly series. And frankly, I love it.

This welcome extra element of complexity comes in the form of two new abilities: Rail Grinds and Wall Rides. These moves are fairly self-explanatory, and each gives you new ways of burning some rubber across the game’s modest but largely solid selection of 30 tracks (quite the step down from Deluxe's 96).

The former isn’t too hard to pull off successfully, provided you get enough airtime to make contact with a rail or terrain edge, but the latter is devilishly tricky.

Frankly, I’ve lost more races than I can count just by going for a wallride in the home stretch and completely whiffing my attempt. Often, I’ve been left lamenting the fact that I would have been better off sticking to flat tarmac.

Chaining these moves together can lead to some spectacular racing lines, and the dedicated Mario Kart speedrunning community is already creating some routes that are impossible for us regular players. This extra element of skill is very welcome to the series.

The other major change you’ll notice in the moment-to-moment racing is that the player count has been expanded from 12 to 24, which makes an already chaotic kart-racer sometimes devolve into sheer bedlam.

I’ve had races where I’ve been halted by half a dozen items in a row, and the final pacing has seemed based purely on luck rather than any individual ability.

It’s never exactly fun dropping from 1st down to 24th in a matter of seconds, but these race-altering moments are a staple of the franchise, so you have to laugh along.

Let loose in the Mushroom Kingdom

Mario Kart World’s flagship new edition, and the reason for its moniker, is the Free Roam mode. This allows you to zoom around a large, loading screen-free Mushroom Kingdom that contains all the game’s courses in a seamless driving experience you can hop into instantly from the main menu.

I had hoped it would be Mario Kart crossed with Forza Horizon 5, but the mode is disappointingly half-baked. The open zone is sparsely populated with very few unique points of interest, and criminally little to do beyond merely driving around aimlessly.

There are challenges to complete and collectibles to hunt down, but the mission goals are simplistic (most take mere seconds to complete), and without any form of a checklist to properly track your progress, scouring the open world feels remarkably pointless.

It doesn't help that your reward for completing a mission is often just a sticker, only good for staring at in a dedicated sub-menu. It's hardly an enticing prize.

At best, this mode seems like a fun inclusion for younger players, as it gives them an open space to drive around without inhibition or being bombarded by items. But goal-oriented players will soon feel a sense of boredom, and post-review, it’s certainly not a mode I see myself returning to very often.

It's a knockout

The other big newcomer to Mario Kart World comes in the form of Knockout Tour, a new type of race that takes clear inspiration from the ever-popular Battle Royale genre.

In Knockout Tour, 24 racers compete to be crowned the victor as they race to checkpoint gates along a lengthy stretch of road (comprised of areas from the Free Roam mode). At each gate, a handful of racers are eliminated until it’s just four players left dashing to the finish line.

Playable online and offline, Knockout Tour is sheer Mario Kart madness. A middle pack usually forms where items rain down with such abundance that avoiding hits is literally impossible. However, the mode has also provided some of the most high-stakes Mario Kart racing I’ve ever experienced.

Unlike a traditional race, where you have multiple laps to make up for mistakes, in Knockout Tour, you have to be switched on from the start. Slip up in a major way early on, and that can be your race run as the pack in front of you speed towards the next checkpoint, leaving you in their dust. The times I ranked highly (and even won) were exhilarating enough to have my palms sweating.

Racers looking to test their skills will find the undeniable randomness factor that comes into winning pretty off-putting, but if you can thrive in the chaos, it’s an unmissable new mode.

Switching up the old standards

Unfortunately, in an apparent effort to squeeze the most out of the large map created for the Free Roam mode, the classic Grand Prix offering has been reworked, and not for the better.

Rather than three-lap races across a set of four courses, in Mario Kart World, Grand Prix cups ask you to partake in a single traditional race, before dashing to your next course and completing only a single lap once you arrive at your destination. It’s a bizarre change.

For starters, it means that Grand Prix is no longer a great place to get familiar with courses before taking on your loved ones (or hopping online), and also it means that the majority of your time is spent racing on vast, very straight, open roads rather than winding courses full of shortcuts and divergent paths.

The transition between finishing one Grand Prix race and then beginning your drive to the next course isn’t seamless. It’s separated by a loading screen, which makes the whole endeavor feel worthless. The standard Grand Prix format is sorely missed, but at least you can approximate it with the “Vs Race” mode.

Battle Mode has also been downgraded. There are only two types of battle, Ballon Battle and Coin Runner, compared to five in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and rounds play out on standard courses rather than specially designed arenas.

This decision is particularly baffling as it was a common point of criticism in the original Mario Kart 8, released on Nintendo Wii U in 2014. The fan outcry was so extreme that Nintendo reworked Battle Mode for the Deluxe release on Switch in 2017, but has now opted to make the same mistake a second time.

I hope we don’t have to wait for Mario Kart World Deluxe on Nintendo Switch 3 this time for the mode to be restored to its former glory (again).

Looking good, Mario

Whatever issues I have with Mario Kart World’s new open-world focus and the reworking of classic offerings, there’s one thing that always shines through: How darn gorgeous it looks on Nintendo Switch 2.

I recall playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch at launch and thinking Nintendo would never be able to make a prettier Mario Kart game. I was very wrong. The franchise’s trademark cartoonish art style has never been more vibrant and easy on the eyes.

The developers clearly put a lot of work into the animations as well, with some lovely visual flourishes and each character's personality shining through (Shout out to my boy, Bowser Jr.).

I also love the more realistic (well, realistic for Mario Kart) reactions to being blasted by a blue shell or careening your kart into a slippery banana skin.

The Switch 2 already has technically more impressive titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy and Hitman World of Assassination, but Mario Kart World is a reminder that nobody does a whimsical art style like Nintendo.

Mario Kart World: Verdict

Mario Kart World is pretty much the Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, so in some ways, reviewing it is a bit of a pointless endeavor. There’s no doubt it’s a game that most early adopters will pick up, and I expect it’ll remain a best-seller for the console’s entire lifespan.

Overall, it's another solid effort in Nintendo’s enduring kart-racing series, with the fantastic Knockout Tour mode a highlight. However, this Rainbow Road isn’t without some bumps. The new Free Roam mode is undercooked, and it’s frustrating that it bleeds into franchise staple offerings, making them worse.

Ultimately, in those memorable moments of victory when you pip a friend to the finish line thanks to a perfectly timed red shell, you won’t be thinking about all the stuff that Mario Kart World doesn’t quite nail because you’ll be laughing with delight too loudly to care.

In many ways, Nintendo Switch 2 is quite an un-Nintendo-like follow-up. The Japanese gaming titan is known for its left-field turns and big swings. Which other console maker goes from the record-selling motion-controlled Nintendo Wii to the tablet-based Nintendo Wii U?

However, Nintendo’s successor to the juggernaut Switch, a hybrid handheld and home console system, avoids the “gimmicks” and instead opts for an iterative approach. Giving gamers more of the same, but with across-the-board upgrades. It’s a very wise move.

Nintendo Switch 2 feels like the ultimate version of the Switch concept, taking everything great about its predecessor and buffing it to a fine sheen. From the larger 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz display, to the dramatically improved specs, which rival those found within the best handheld gaming consoles, such as Valve’s Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X.

And with its still innovative docking system, you can again switch between playing on your TV and gaming on the go in a matter of seconds with zero interruptions. Nintendo Switch 2 makes the original look like merely a proof of concept. It’s the culmination of the Switch idea.

The numerous upgrades don’t come entirely without caveats. The impressively boosted performance levels come at the cost of battery life. Even if you’re heading out with a full 100% charge, you’ll want to keep a power supply to hand. Plus, Switch 2’s larger size only further highlights issues with the console’s flat design that lacks built-in ergonomic grips.

Priced at $449, which places Switch 2 at parity with Sony’s PS5 Slim, Nintendo’s hardware is no longer the “cheap option.” The hybrid is a more substantial investment and less attractive as a second console for those looking to play exclusive games like Mario, Zelda and Kirby.

At the same time, Nintendo has managed to take (almost) everything that worked about the original Switch and improve upon it. Justifying the purchase price even at this early stage, and setting up Switch 2 for an exciting lifecycle ahead, even if the launch library is lacking.

Nintendo Switch 2: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? Nintendo Switch 2 is an upgraded version of the best-selling Nintendo Switch hybrid console, packing a bigger display, tweaked design and better specs.
• Who is it for? Gamers craving a system that can function both as a home console and a handheld, and Nintendo fans looking to enjoy the company’s iconic franchises.
• What does it cost? Nintendo Switch 2 retails for $449 / £395 / AU$699, or you can get it bundled with flagship launch title Mario Kart World for $499 / £429 / AU$769.
• What do we like? There’s a lot to love about the Switch 2. The larger display may not be OLED, but it’s flippin' gorgeous. The visual and performance improvements are substantial, and the newly magnetized Joy-Con 2 controllers are fantastic.
• What don’t we like? The poor battery life is the biggest sore spot. Roughly two hours is barely enough to last even a domestic flight. The lack of built-in grips also makes Switch 2 a lot more uncomfortable to hold than rivals like the Steam Deck OLED.

Nintendo Switch 2: Specs

Nintendo Switch 2: The ups

If you've used the original Nintendo Switch at any point since its launch in spring 2017, then you'll have a good idea what to expect when it comes to Switch 2. But Nintendo hasn't skimped on the upgrades, it's better across the board.

Who needs OLED?

Before Switch 2’s launch, there was much consternation within the Tom’s Guide team about Nintendo's decision to revert to LCD following 2021’s well-received Nintendo Switch OLED.

However you slice it, it is a downgrade over its predecessors' mid-gen refresh (the base Switch stuck with LCD, as did the Nintendo Switch Lite). But Nintendo has done a pretty remarkable job not making it feel like a significant step back because the Switch 2’s display is seriously pretty. Even just scrolling the UI on initial boot up had me oohing and ahhing.

Measuring in at 7.9 inches, compared to 6.2 inches on Switch 1, it’s not only larger but also offers a max 1080p resolution (select games can be played in 4K via the dock), which is a large leap from 720p on the original Switch. It also packs HDR and a 120 Hz refresh rate, allowing for up to 120 fps gaming in select software. Although I expect these will be rare.

Now, I still wouldn’t say no to a Nintendo Switch 2 OLED in the future, but the fact I’ve switched from a Steam Deck OLED to an LCD Switch 2 and haven’t felt particularly shortchanged is a testament to just how excellent the console’s bigger display looks.

Plenty of power to play with

Nintendo consoles have historically been known for being less powerful than rivals like Xbox and PlayStation (even if Nintendo GameCube was more than a match for the PlayStation 2), but unlike its predecessor, Switch 2 doesn’t feel like it’s lagging behind right out of the box.

Naturally, it can’t outmuscle the PS5 Pro or even the base PS5, but it’s quite a boon for Nintendo that the best on-the-go versions of blockbuster titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy are currently found on Switch 2. Oh, and I can’t speak highly enough of finally getting Zelda: Breath of the Wild without fuzzy textures and an inconsistent framerate.

Switch 1 felt like a console that was already somewhat dated from day one, whereas Switch 2 feels primed to compete in the graphics space right now. That is probably until Steam Deck 2 launches and blows it out of the water. But for now, Switch 2 is a portable powerhouse.

Magnets, baby

Not to go all Jesse Pinkman from “Breaking Bad,” but Nintendo Switch 2 has made me love magnets.

On the surface, the Joy-Con 2 controllers don’t look all that different from their predecessors, aside from being larger and slightly more curved, but the real upgrade comes in the way they effortlessly connect to the Switch 2 console.

Gone is the finicky railing system of the Switch 1 in favor of powerful magnets that allow the Joy-Con 2 controllers to snap to the main unit with ease. The days of cumbersome attempts to align the plastic rails, or even worse, accidentally sliding the Joy-Con straps on the wrong way and finding them glued stuck, are mercifully gone. And I couldn’t be more grateful.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers also attach to the Switch 2 console with a delightful degree of sturdiness. The connection points feel solid, with only marginal give, another appreciated upgrade over its predecessor.

I do have some slight concerns that the magnetism may degrade over time, but I’m informed that modern magnets take hundreds of years to lose their strength, so this might be a moot point.

Mouse Mode surprised me

I know I opened this review by saying that Nintendo has eschewed its habit of strange gimmicks, but this is still the Big-N, so there had to be at least one novel new feature.

With Switch 2, this comes in the form of the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Mode, which allows each controller to be used like a PC gaming mouse just by laying the Joy-Con 2 on a flat surface. Heck, you don’t even need the “flat” part; the feature works even when placed on your lap.

The mouse tracking is surprisingly accurate, surface-dependent, of course. You can even use both controllers at once for a dual mouse setup. Plus, there's no setup required; just place your Joy-Con 2s down and the mode will activate.

I’m not sure I would ever want to play an entire game using the control method over traditional joysticks, but it’s still a pretty nifty inclusion, and I look forward to seeing how game developers utilize the option in the future.

GameChat is nice, if not next-gen

Anybody picking up a Switch 2 who owned a Switch 1 may notice a new button on the right Joy-Con 2 marked with a “C”. This is the dedicated GameChat button, and serves as your instant portal to the Switch 2’s new online communication functionality.

GameChat is one of those “does what it says on the tin” features. It allows you to chat with your friends and family while gaming on Switch 2. You can communicate via the console’s built-in microphone (which offers background noise reduction tech), or, if you have the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, you can even video broadcast yourself just like you’re on Zoom.

While PlayStation and Xbox have offered Party chat for multiple console generations at this point, for Nintendo, it’s a huge step up from the antiquated app-based solution found on Switch 1. So, while it’s hardly revolutionary, it’s great to see Nintendo get with the times.

You also have the option to share your screen, letting participants watch your live gameplay, but persistent lag makes this feature close to unusable. Plus, I have to wrinkle my nose at the fact that GameChat is locked behind a Nintendo Switch Online paywall. It’ll be free for the console’s first year, but after 12 months, you’ll need to fork over for a $19 subscription.

Nintendo Switch 2: The downs

While there's much to love about Switch 2, all that extra performance power does come with a fairly significant drawback to battery life. Plus, dedicated handheld players might want to consider investing in a third-party grip case.

Battery life isn’t the best

When discussing gaming handhelds, the conversation will always broach the thorny issue of battery life before long. And this is one area where the Switch 2 sadly doesn’t shine bright.

During my testing for this review, I was able to get just shy of two-and-a-half hours of play from a 100% charge while running Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with Wi-Fi switched on and display brightness set to the default “Automatic Brightness” setting.

This isn’t a disastrous total, and would last you the length of a short-haul flight or a decently long train journey, but if you’re away from a power outlet for a prolonged period of time, you’re going to want to invest in a good power bank to make significant gaming progress.

It also compared unfavourably to the Nintendo Switch OLED (which we benchmarked at around five hours) and the 2019 model of the Nintendo Switch, which lasted four hours and 40 minutes in our testing. Though it’s roughly in line with competitors like the Steam Deck.

Gimme something to grip

If you plan to play Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode for a significant amount of time, you might want to invest in a third-party case with built-in grips because, without one, it’s just not that comfortable to hold for hours at a time.

If you prefer your Switch 2 to be naked, it’s far from a fatal flaw, but my hands quickly found themselves missing the ergonomic design of my trusty Steam Deck OLED. Placing the Switch 2 in dbrand’s Killswitch 2 case intently elevated my portable gaming experience.

The original Switch has this problem too, but the increased size of the Switch 2, which naturally comes with increased weight, only exacerbates the issue. While my hands are far from shovel-sized, I really cannot imagine how a young child could hold one for very long.

The overall slick aesthetics of the Switch 2 certainly trump the Steam Deck OLED or Asus ROG Ally X, with their protruding plastic shells being rather unsightly, not to mention giving them a larger overall profile. But sometimes you’ve got to prioritize function above all else.

Nintendo Switch 2: Verdict

For years, I’ve been pining for a Nintendo Switch console which is the same but with more powerful components. And Nintendo has given me exactly that. Couple the increased under-the-hood improvements with smart upgrades like the magnetized Joy-Cons and the impressive larger display, and you’ve got the best version of an already excellent system.

For the most part, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a thoroughly well-designed hybrid console that offers a fantastic play experience, whether tethered to your television or roaming just about anywhere. Though, don’t expect to play on the go for too long due to the poor battery life.

At present, the Switch 2’s biggest weakness is its limited software library. There’s only a pair of new first-party experiences, Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, flanked by a lot of third-party ports of games you’ve (probably) already played elsewhere. But this is to be expected at launch, and over time, this “issue” will naturally resolve itself.

Even if the selection of games needs bulking out, Nintendo Switch 2 is a phenomenal console out of the box. It makes all the improvements I wanted, and even some upgrades I didn’t know I needed. Nintendo struck gold with the initial Switch concept, and its numbered successor takes just about everything I loved about the original and makes it even better.

After waiting in line at midnight without a pre-order and successfully picking up a Nintendo Switch 2, I’ve been testing out my new console and finally putting it through its paces.

Back in April, I had a chance to try out the Switch 2 early at a Nintendo event in New York. While it was great going hands-on with the console right after its reveal and getting to play some games that aren’t even out yet, like Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, there were so many things I couldn’t test out at that time.

Now with my Switch 2 unboxed and set up in my living room, I’m slowly working my way through the long list of different devices I want to test to see if they’re compatible with the new console. From a few of the best webcams for Game Chat to the best Nintendo Switch controllers, I have plenty of gadgets and original Switch accessories I want to try out.

With Mario Kart World being a Switch 2 launch game, there was one accessory in particular I couldn’t wait to use in Nintendo’s new open world kart racer. Keep in mind that this was an accessory I had gone back and forth on for years, debating whether it was truly worth the investment. Well, after playing Mario Kart World with it, I’m certainly glad I got it when I did.

From whim to win

Back in 2019 when you could finally find the original Nintendo Switch on store shelves, Hori released two racing wheels for the console: the full-size Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe and the smaller Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Mini. Unlike other Switch accessories that ended up being discontinued over the years, these ones remain in production and on store shelves. In fact, you could probably find one or even both of them at any big local retailer right now.

I don’t know about you but when I’m dragged to Target on a family shopping trip, I often find myself killing time in the video game section. While the Switch games and Amiibos have certainly changed over the years, I can always find either Hori’s Pro Deluxe or Pro Mini racing wheel on the shelf. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve come this close to buying them over the years.

Ahead of the launch of the Switch 2, both of Hori’s Mario Kart racing wheels were heavily discounted on Amazon and I figured it was time to test them out for myself. Not exactly by myself though, as I picked them both up to play together with my son. He’s still too young for video games but he knows his way around a controller and sure loves pressing buttons.

Given that people were still playing Mario Kart 8 over a decade after its release in the runup to the Switch 2, I figure he’ll probably be able to start on the Pro Mini and then grow into the Pro Deluxe well before we’re talking about the follow-up to Mario Kart World.

My son is getting a bit short changed with the simpler buttons on Hori’s Pro Mini racing wheel but the Pro Deluxe one lives up to its name with a full suite of buttons and even some useful extra ones. Built into the wheel itself, you have ZL and ZR buttons and around back, you have paddle shifters for the L and R buttons.

Then on the face of the racing wheel, you have almost every button you’d find on a standard Switch controller. There’s also an Assign button on the top right which can be used to remap the ZL and ZR buttons, the left and right stick buttons (the ones you press when you click in a thumbstick), the left and right paddles and even the racing wheel’s pedals on the floor.

All of this gives you plenty of options when it comes to customizing Hori’s Pro Deluxe racing wheel to your heart’s content. Even without assigning buttons though, Mario Kart World makes things easy for you since the ZL button and L paddle both can be used for items while you can drift using either the ZR button or the R paddle.

I tried out the Hori Pro Deluxe and Pro Mini racing wheels while playing Mario Kart 8 a few weeks ago when I first got the controllers. Everything worked well out of the box then but after setting up my Switch 2, it was time to see if Nintendo had made Switch controllers backwards compatible with its new console.

Surprisingly Switch 2 ready

Both of Hori’s Switch racing wheels come with suction cups to attach them to a coffee table but personally, I like using the included clamp that only comes with the Pro Deluxe version for a stronger mount. After getting the racing wheel mounted, I plugged it into my Switch 2 dock and ran the cable for its pedals behind my desk and down to the floor.

We really hadn’t heard much about Switch 2 compatibility with third-party Switch controllers ahead of launch which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I turned on the console and the Hori racing wheel instantly worked without any issues. If, like me, you’re testing out original Switch controllers on the new console, one thing worth noting is that Switch 1 controllers aren’t able to wake the Switch 2 from sleep. All of their buttons and everything else should work as intended though.

The same was true with the racing wheels’ floor pedals which connect at the back using a connector similar to the ones you’d find on a wired telephone. I like how there are some small circles on both pedals to provide some much needed grip. However, the same can’t be said for its base which slid around quite a bit on my wood floors. Back when I tested it out in the game room where we have a carpet underneath the coffee table, this wasn’t a problem though.

I started out testing the Hori Pro Deluxe racing wheel in the Mushroom Cup Grand Prix in Mario Kart World. Compared to a traditional controller, there was certainly a learning curve, particularly when it came to turning the wheel and engaging the right paddle shifter for drifting around curves. I also appreciated the fact that I wasn’t stuck with doing things this way due to Mario Kart World’s controls and the fact that Hori gives you multiple ways to use the same button on the racing wheel. For instance, when I needed to quickly use an item, I used the left paddle shifter but when the timing of using an item was more important, I found myself pressing the Item button on the left side of the wheel’s hub.

One other big difference between the Hori Pro Deluxe and the Hori Mini racing wheels is that while mine has a Mario logo front and center, my son’s racing wheel has a ZL button in the middle. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, using this button is a bit more fun as it does double duty as a horn when you don’t have items. With Mario Kart World though, your character still honks their cart’s horn but they also perform a short wave when you press it.

After realizing I still had a ways to go when it came to using a racing wheel in an actual race, I switched over to playing Mario Kart World’s Free Roam mode. This was a lot of fun with the racing wheel, especially when just cruising around. I really liked having all of the standard controller buttons right there on the hub. The D-pad on the left side certainly came in handy when looking at Mario Kart World’s overworld map and choosing which course I wanted to fast travel to next.

Perfect for mixing things up

Now is it worth it to pick up the Hori Pro Deluxe racing wheel if you want to get better at Mario Kart World? Well, after trying it out for myself, I’d say probably not. Playing with a controller is always going to be the best way to play Mario Kart and this is certainly true if you're racing online or playing against your friends and family in split screen mode on your TV.

Still, I had a blast playing both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and especially Mario Kart World with this accessory. It almost feels like it was made for the latter’s Free Roam mode, even though its initial release came a few years after the former had launched. Another great thing about Hori’s Pro Deluxe and Pro Mini racing wheels is that they both work on PC too and after I finish this story, I’m going to give the larger one a try on my new triple monitor setup.

Serious racing sim fans will likely scoff at the idea of using a more basic racing wheel like this one. However, I feel like at the price, it’s a good way to see if using a wheel while playing racing games is something you’re really interested in. Dedicated sim racing setups can get expensive real fast and you definitely don’t want to invest all that money and put one together before knowing whether or not you’ll actually use it.

Given that the Hori Pro Deluxe and Pro Mini racing wheels came out back in 2019, I wouldn’t be surprised if a wireless version, specifically for the Switch 2, was already in the works. This would make a lot of sense as the company already put out its wireless Racing Wheel Apex for the PlayStation 5 and PC. Only time will tell though.

Even though I plan on primarily using a controller as I work my way through all of the courses in Mario Kart World, I can’t wait to break out my Hori Pro Deluxe racing wheel and especially my son’s Pro Mini one every now and again to mix things up. Given we’ll probably be playing Mario Kart World all the way up till the release of the Switch 3, it’s always good to have options.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve played 8 Nintendo Switch 2 launch games — here’s the 3 I’d buy first (Mario Kart World isn't one of them)
• Here's how to set up your new Nintendo Switch 2
• I just found the perfect Switch 2 screen protector — and it’s the first time I’ve ever installed one without issues

Aside from the obvious issues with stick drift, the biggest issue with the original Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons is that they had a tendency to be rather uncomfortable.

More so in some games than others, but in the early days of the console I found my hands getting sore very quickly — to the point where I'd have to stop and take a break.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has tweaked the design of the Joy-Cons ever so slightly, offering a smoother magnetic connection, a larger profile, mouse controls and more. Unfortunately, the same comfort problem still remains, and I actually think it might be worse this time around.

Mario Kart is the bane of my hands

Back in 2017 when I got the first Nintendo Switch, I spent a lot of time playing Mario Kart 8. It was one of the few games I had when I bought the console, and I put in a huge number of hours trying to 3-star all the Grands Prix in the different difficulties.

I still haven't managed to get very far on 200cc, if anyone is wondering.

The problem with playing Mario Kart on Joy-Cons, either in handheld or TV mode, was that my hands would get incredibly sore over extended periods of time. It may be something to do with the way I held my hand during the races, with my thumb pressed down on the acceleration button almost constantly. (You can enable auto acceleration, but that's cheating to me.)

Maybe it's my big hands compared to the compact nature of the Joy-Cons or maybe it's the general design of the mini controllers — possibly both. But it felt like no matter what games I played, I'd need to take breaks far earlier than I would have done if I'd been using a full-size controller.

Mario Kart was not the only offender. In those early days I had comfort problems with a variety of different Switch games, from Skyrim to Stardew Valley. But over the course of 8 years, I've slowly gotten used to the general shape of the Joy-Cons in my hands — to the point where discomfort is no longer an issue.

Now that Nintendo has changed the design, even if it should be for the better, those issues have come back with a vengeance. And, of course, Mario Kart has been the key offender.

Switch 2 Joy-Cons are way more uncomfortable for me

It doesn't matter whether I'm playing in handheld mode, with loose Joy-Cons or attaching them to the official grip. After a while my hands start to ache while playing the game. Mario Kart is the worst offender so far, though I will admit that is what I have spent most of my time playing.

I took a break from writing this to make sure that my experiences couldn't be written off as general fatigue, and I found that my right hand was starting to ache before I finished a single race on Mario Kart World.

Feeling your hand slowly seizing up is not a fun thing, especially when you're in the middle of a race. Over an extended period I could almost feel what Chandler's hand must be like after an extended session of Ms. Pac-Man. Obviously I don't want to be stuck with my hand in a mis-shapen claw for however long it would take to relax, so I had to take a break.

Medical experts are always telling us we need to take regular breaks from screens, so maybe that isn't such a bad thing. But the last thing I want when I'm feebly trying to outrun a blue shell is to have to contend with cramps in my hand. Especially when I still have 3 more races to go.

The only reason I can think that it's suddenly so bad again is that the new Joy-con design is just subtly different enough that the muscle memory from the old Switch is now functionally useless. Which means I'm going to have to start over from scratch — hindered by the fact I'm now almost 8 years older and starting to fall apart.

Bottom Line

The comfort of Joy-Cons certainly isn't a dealbreaker for me, and I'm certainly not going to avoid playing my Switch 2 — especially once there are more exclusive games to play. But it does mean that I might have to bite the bullet and opt for a different kind of controller the majority of the time.

That's either going to have to be a brand new controller, or some kind of grip to make the Switch 2 Joy-Cons a lot more comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. Ideally something a little more affordable than the Switch 2 Pro Controller.

If I'm going to have to spend $80 on something for the Switch 2, I'd rather buy a game.

More from Tom's Guide

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There’s nothing quite like unboxing a new game console and getting everything set up, especially after spending an entire evening waiting in line for a midnight launch.

That’s exactly what I did yesterday when I finally picked up my Nintendo Switch 2. Although I did manage to get a pre-order in ahead of time, it was cancelled hours ahead of launch day. After unsuccessfully heading to GameStop to get a Switch 2, I ended up in line at Best Buy with plenty of other people hoping to do the same thing.

Luckily, the store I went to had plenty of Switch 2 consoles in stock and three and a half hours later, I was on the way home to unbox my new handheld and start the process of transferring all of the data from my old console. Everything was pretty straightforward at first—until the downloads started.

Given I had my original Switch since launch, I’ve amassed a pretty big collection of the best Nintendo Switch games. In fact, I had so many digital games that I upgraded from a 512GB microSD card to a 1TB one not that long ago. With all that extra storage, I was able to keep every single Switch game I ever purchased downloaded and ready to play on my console.

Though the Switch 2 now comes with a whole lot more internal storage (256GB in fact), that old microSD card from your original Switch won’t work for storing games. Instead, Nintendo’s new console uses much faster microSD Express cards which, as you can guess, are not only more expensive but are also hard to come by right now.

I didn’t mean to transfer all of my Switch games to the Switch 2 but it was too late and there was no turning back now. Fortunately, after a moment of inspiration, I found a better way to manage my downloads.

Stuck in download limbo

All I wanted to do last night was to download Mario Kart World and try out the new free roam mode in Nintendo’s iconic cart racer. Instead, I found myself staring at the Switch 2’s home screen which was now filled with original Switch games that instead of being transferred to my new handheld outright, needed to be redownloaded.

Normally, to speed up this process, I would have just taken an Ethernet cable and plugged the console into one of the best Wi-Fi routers. However, as I was working on a dedicated desk setup for the Switch 2, I figured I could do that while my games downloaded. Boy was I wrong.

By the time I finished getting my monitor set up and adding a pair of the best computer speakers on either side of my desk, I hadn’t even downloaded half of Mario Kart World. To make matters worse, my home screen and even the Show More list of games at the end were filled with pending downloads, some for games I had finished and didn’t even want to replay on Switch 2.

To kill time, I tried tidying things up but that shortly proved tedious. By hitting the plus button, I could open a larger menu and scroll over to Delete Software to remove some of the games in my download queue from the Switch 2. Doing this individually for each game got tiring really fast.

From there, I realized that tapping A brought up another smaller menu where I could cancel individual downloads a lot faster. Doing so still took a lot of time with my larger game library and I just couldn’t push myself to keep going after hours of waiting in line for my Switch 2.

It was then that I remembered that using a Switch 2 Pro Controller or a pair of Joy-Cons in handheld mode wasn’t the only way I could interact with the Switch 2.

Managing downloads with mouse mode

Back in April at the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in New York, I had a chance to try out the Switch 2’s new Mouse Mode in both Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as well as in Drag x Drive. While the latter definitely took some time to get used to, using Mouse Mode in Metroid Prime 4 felt incredibly natural. I just put a Joy-Con 2 down on the desk in front of me and held the other in my hand and it really felt quite similar to using a mouse and keyboard.

As I waited for Mario Kart World to download and became increasingly frustrated with the state of my Switch 2 home screen, it dawned on me that, yes, Mouse Mode isn’t just for games. In fact, you can use it throughout the Switch 2’s home menu and even on the eShop.

I went back to the kitchen, grabbed my Joy-Con 2 Straps from my Switch 2 box and put them on. While this certainly made Mouse Mode feel smoother, it wasn’t until I put a desk mat down that everything clicked. I’d go as far as to argue that Mouse Mode works best with a desk mat, especially given that Nintendo was using similar ones to mine at the event I went to.

With my right Joy-Con 2 now acting as a mouse, I could easily navigate through the Switch 2’s menus. However, I also found that using the controller’s triggers as my A button made it a lot easier to manage all of my pending downloads. A click to cancel download here and a click to cancel download there and my concerns that I would quickly fill up my console’s built-in storage faded away instantly.

Now I just need an Ethernet cable

With my home screen no longer filled with games I wasn’t looking to replay right away, I got to thinking about my Switch 2’s internet connection. Despite being a Wi-Fi 6-enabled device, I just wasn’t seeing fast download speeds at all. As someone with a 10 gigabit fiber connection and one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers at home, this was worrying.

Although my Switch 2 isn’t next to my Wi-Fi router, it is next to a satellite from one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems. This means I should have been seeing much faster game downloads. Naturally, I dug into the Switch 2’s settings to see if I could find what was wrong.

After running a speed test on the console, I wasn’t too happy with the numbers I saw. In the screenshot above you can see my download speed was 111 megabytes per second (Mbps) but when I first tested it, it was as low as 30 Mbps. I did notice though that my Switch 2 was connected to my router’s 2.4 GHz band and not the faster 5 Ghz one.

Unlike with a traditional router where you can pick which band your devices connect to, mesh routers often combine both bands — or all three if you’re dealing with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 — into a single network. I’ve had problems with the best smart home devices in the past where they couldn’t connect to my mesh network as they weren’t able to access the 2.4 Ghz band directly. This same thing could be happening with my Switch 2 and I plan on reaching out to Nintendo about this.

In the meantime though, I’m just going to run an Ethernet cable from my router to my Switch 2 when I want to download a lot of games at once. Likewise, you can always use a USB-C to Ethernet adapter if you just want to bring your console close to your router for downloads while in handheld mode.

Even though my Switch 2 launch experience hasn’t been perfect, I can’t wait to finally try out other games that make use of Mouse Mode. I know for a fact that I’ll definitely be using this new control scheme when navigating around my Switch 2’s home menu as it’s the closest we’ve got to using a Wii remote as a pointer device since the Wii U.

More from Tom's Guide

• I abandoned my Steam Deck for a year but Nvidia GeForce Now has made it a Nintendo Switch 2 killer
• Buying a Switch 2? I've picked the best trade-in options for your old console
• I got tired of having a bad remote play experience so I used Wi-Fi 7 and this powerful gaming tablet to fix it for good

Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and while a lot of people are already busy playing to their heart's content (and destroying me on Mario Kart World online), eight of us on the team are busy going hands-on to deliver a full review soon!

With the review embargo lifting on launch day, we were nervous, but quickly proven wrong by how much we love this console. However, to do a scored review quickly wouldn't give you the full picture of what the Switch 2 is like.

So instead, we're going to give you our impressions in-progress and answer some of your burning questions.

I've asked all the lucky Nintendo Switch 2 owners on our team for their thoughts, and we'll keep updating this with new discoveries and opinions as we go.

Nintendo Switch 2 restocks - quick links

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Beautiful hardware, familiar software

The Switch 2 is undeniably gorgeous hardware that makes the original look dated by comparison.

Nintendo has refined the design with thoughtful touches throughout: the Joy-Con controllers now snap into place with a satisfying click and feel substantially more robust, which clumsy gamers (like me) will appreciate. The overall aesthetic is sleeker and more premium than its predecessor.

However, launching with Mario Kart feels like playing it safe rather than showcasing what this new generation can truly do. While it's undoubtedly polished, the game doesn't feel like the next-gen showcase you'd expect from flagship launch software.

Visually and mechanically, it's more evolutionary than revolutionary, leaving you wondering what the Switch 2 is really capable of when developers push its limits.

The hardware improvements are immediately apparent and welcome, but the software side leaves room for Nintendo to prove this isn't just a prettier Switch. Those who bought at launch are essentially betting on future potential rather than the day-one wow factor I was expecting.

Better-looking, more ergonomic, overall stunning

I was on the fence about pre-ordering the Switch 2 but now that I've spent two hours with the review unit, I'm kind of regretting not getting it.

It's a beautiful, striking console, and I really like that it sports an all-black design (controversial opinion, but I was never a fan of the original red and blue Joy-Cons). I do wish the Switch 2 had an OLED screen but its current screen is still so bright, colorful and detailed.

I also like that the screen is much bigger than my OG Switch's — more room for me to appreciate the beautiful world of Hyrule when I (eventually) sink another 300 hours into the modern Zelda games

.I, of course, played a bit of Mario Kart World too and instantly fell in love with it, and I can't wait to play more of it — especially to review Switch 2 headsets and controllers. The Joy-Cons feel so much sturdier and the bigger size also makes them more ergonomic. I was on the fence before but I don't think I am anymore.

A familiar experience — for better and worse

So far my Switch 2 experience has not been all that different from playing the original Switch. A big chunk of my time was spent getting the console set up, consolidating data from 2 different consoles onto the new machine.

Then, thanks to my ongoing internet issues, downloading Mario Kart World took the better part of an hour — severely limiting my play time.

Still, the time I spent actually using the Switch 2 for its intended purpose felt incredibly familiar. Nintendo hasn't exactly reinvented the wheel here, and anyone with a passing familiarity with the first Switch will be able to jump straight in without any issues.

While there are some new aspects to be aware of, everything from the UI to the controls is more or less the same as before. Which, if you remember what happened to the Wii U, is undoubtedly a good thing.

Unfortunately I found that the Joy-cons are still as uncomfortable as ever. While I seem to have gotten used to the shape and feel of the originals, the newer and larger design on the Switch 2 is reminding me just how sore my hands would get playing Mario Kart 8.

Only this time it feels almost as though my right hand is starting to seize up after too many races. Time to add a proper controller to my wish list.

Meh-rio Kart World

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about the Switch 2’s launch. I’ve been playing Nintendo hardware for as long as I’ve been able to speak in full sentences, but I wasn’t entirely convinced that Mario Kart: World was the killer launch app the Switch 2 needed.

Alas, seeing as I’ve already played a lot of the major titles available at launch on other systems, putting pedal to the metal was the only thing I wanted to do to put my shiny new console through its paces.

I managed to fit in a handful of hours on launch day… and I’m still not sure. That’s not to say Mario Kart: World has disappointed me; it hasn’t, it looks and plays great (especially as a primarily handheld Switch user), but I just wanted something a little meatier to dive into at launch.

I’ve enjoyed Knockout Tour and tackling missions or hunting Peach Medallions in Free Roam, and I’m looking forward to revisiting some of the updated best Nintendo Switch games, but I don’t think I’ll know whether I truly love my new system until Donkey Kong: Bananza rumbles onto the scene next month.

Even better on the big screen

After going hands-on with the Switch 2 at a Nintendo event back in April, pre-ordering the new console was a no-brainer for me, especially as there are plenty of Switch 1 games that will hopefully really shine on its powerful new hardware.

At the same time, being able to play in docked mode on a 4K monitor would likely look a whole lot better than the blurry images I get when doing so with the original Switch.

Following a few hours of waiting outside my local Best Buy, I had a Switch 2 in hand and was ready to test this out. While I transferred my games and save data to the console, I got the new dock in place and hooked everything up. I immediately noticed a major difference in image quality thanks to the Switch 2’s higher resolution and the addition of HDR really made the console’s more colorful new UI pop on the big screen.

Even though the Switch 2 is a brand new console, it has a familiar yet novel feeling to it. I knew how most things worked but with others — like Mouse Mode — I eagerly read through Nintendo’s on-screen tutorials. This is the same with handheld mode as you immediately know you’re holding a Switch console, though its larger size does make the Switch 2 feel much more comfortable in hand.

As for playing Mario Kart World and the Switch 2’s other launch games from the comfort of my own home, I still haven’t gotten that far due to the abysmal download speeds I’ve been experiencing so far. Good thing the new dock has an Ethernet port though.

I love it, but Nintendo frustrates me

Confession: I didn't pre-order a Switch 2. I did get to go hands-on for a couple hours (alongside going along to my local retail store to hog the demo machine), and just as I expected, it's a lot of fun to use.

The larger build feels better in the hand, the buttons and joysticks have a nicer, more tactile feel to it; the screen is bright and colorful and Mario Kart World would for sure be my next addiction.

...so why am I holding off? Part of me is thinking about Black Friday (got to save those pennies), but I'm rather annoyed by how I can't use that top USB-C port to use my AR glasses.

Ever since using them with my Steam Deck, it's been the only way I've played. My neck thanks me for not craning over and looking at a screen, and for some odd reason, Nintendo has chosen not to support the DisplayPort protocol needed to run them.

In a different world where I could've plugged my Viture Pro XR glasses in here, this would've been a day one buy. But we are where we are, and I'm frustrated by the big N's decision here.

Setting up is so simple

Setting up a brand-new Nintendo console is always easy, and that remains true for the Nintendo Switch 2. At a minimum, all you’ll need is a Nintendo Switch 2 and a reliable internet connection. You can either start fresh without transferring data from an old Switch or transfer your data to get you started faster.

Regardless of which method you choose, you’ll be up and running in less than five minutes. That gives you more time to play Mario Kart World and all the other awesome Switch 2 launch games. Thanks for making the setup process easy, Nintendo!

The new display shines

Out of the box, the Nintendo Switch 2 feels fresh and premium. It has a large 7.9-inch 120Hz display, Joy-Cons that magnetically attach to the system, and an improved stand offering various viewing angles.

The screen looks impeccable thanks to its VRR and HDR support, which makes games look awesome in handheld mode.

I got the Mario Kart World bundle since I wanted a game to play instantly. Right now, there aren’t a lot of games to play, so I think everyone should get this bundle, if possible. The Switch 2’s enhancements are great, but they won’t mean much if the software is limited.

I told you that if Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t support AR glasses, I “might actually lose it.” Now after testing it ourselves, we can confirm this is true – there is no video out in those USB-C ports, so it’s time for a crash out.

In the year of our Lord, 2025, is it really that hard to put in the right USB-C port? No, it’s not, and my 35-year-old neck can’t take it anymore. By this point, I think it’s fair for most folks to expect some form of video signal from this essential socket, right as the best AR glasses you can buy are set to explode in popularity.

Which is why it becomes all the more annoying when it’s just not there. Some phone companies are notorious for this (looking at you, Nothing) but to not have it on the Switch 2 is just diabolical.

What’s the problem?

So technically, it could do video, but Nintendo’s supporting the wrong kind that nobody uses. This comes down to protocols – 99% of the market use DisplayPort Alt Mode for real versatility and a nice high bandwidth, whereas the big N seems to be using the same Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) standard it used with the original Switch.

Bear in mind this is a standard that was typically used with a micro-USB port, so it’s rather old and is used for cost effectiveness. But what it’s done instead is cause a whole load of headaches and neck pain.

You see, my favorite way of playing on the best handhelds like my Steam Deck (especially with Nvidia GeForce Now) is to pop in my pair of Xreal Ones and have a 1080p picture right in front of my eyes.

Whether it’s on my beanbag in the living room or on a long haul flight, being able to look straight ahead rather than crane your neck to look down or cause hand strain by trying to hold up the handheld for a long period of time has been a Godsend. But that’s just a little too convenient now isn’t it!

Back to the old, busted ways

Instead, we’re right back to square one – having to use whatever weird workaround from the likes of Xreal or Viture to trick the Switch into thinking it's running in docked mode, run that HDMI signal through an encoder then to the glasses.

Not only is this a pain to set up, but it causes serious latency issues on gameplay and leads to drastically reduced battery life with the increased power draw of the Switch thinking it's in a dock.

Nintendo is using an entirely different video out standard to literally every other device on the planet, and I just can’t wrap my head around it.

You had one job

Will many people care? I’ve seen the launch day queues going for blocks, so I’m inclined to say “not really.” But that’s not the point, and neither is the possibility of Nintendo making it proprietary so that the company could make its own glasses.

The point is that USB-C was brought in to be a universal standard, and be all things to all people – I mean universal is literally in its name! And yet, companies are just doing weird things with it, to the point that it’s actively making your experience with gadgets worse.

And what’s even weirder is that Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 does support USB mice. The company seems open to third party accessories, so why on Earth did we not get AR glasses thrown into the mix?

On behalf of all 30-somethings who are plagued by the neck pains of a poor posture past like me, it’s time you called a chiropractor.

More from Tom's Guide

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Today's the day many a gamer has been waiting for. The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been released, meaning everyone that was lucky enough to pre-order the console should be receiving it.

But while most people will be off playing Mario Kart World, others are diving into the Switch 2 to see what the console is made of — literally. The first teardown of the console has made its way online courtesy of ProModding and it's an interesting watch.

This is able to show us exactly what's inside the Switch 2's interior and how the console has been put together. While it doesn't delve into specifics like repairability, there are some insights to be gleaned from the teardown.

Right at the very end of the video ProModding notes a few key details about the phone. One of the most important is that the screen has the same film as the Switch OLED, and it's already been widely reported that you should not remove this. Not if you want the screen to actually work in handheld mode.

The Joy-Cons also sit tighter than they do on the original Switch, but they can still be wobbled slightly. The thermal paste is also the same as that on the original console, which ProModding notes means that the gray paste will have dried out in around a year and a half.

The Verge notes that people have replaced the thermal paste on their original Switch consoles for better performance, and that may be something that the more intrepid Switch 2 owners start doing in the near future — after the warranties have already expired.

Finally the YouTuber describes the Switch 2's rear kickstand as "obviously too flimsy."

Apparently moving it from only a single edge means putting the stand at "high risk" of breaking. So be careful if you plan on using the console in tabletop mode.

No doubt this is the first of many teardowns of the console, and it's likely that we'll see a lot more analysis on how the Switch 2 (and Joy-Cons) is built over the coming days.

Needless to say, in light of this quick analysis, and iFixit retroactively changing the Switch 1's repairability to 4/10, you may want to be very careful with your new purchase. Especially since it may not be easy to get a new one.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to set up a Nintendo Switch 2
• Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live — where to buy now and latest launch day news
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The Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here. It's been a long time coming, but the highly anticipated console arrives on Thursday June 5.

Protecting your data and online privacy might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you get your hands on the Switch 2, but it's more important than you might think.

Like almost every other device, the Switch 2 connects to the internet and requires accounts, sign ups, and downloads. You'll be sharing a fair amount of personal data with Nintendo and fellow Switch gamers, and it might not always be totally secure.

The best VPNs are a great tool for protecting your data online and they can be used with a variety of gaming consoles. The best gaming VPNs may also be able to unblock geo-restricted games, as well as protecting you from malware and hackers, and even improve performance.

But can you use a VPN with the Nintendo Switch 2? Yes and no. Unfortunately it's not the simplest of answers, but we'll explain everything below.

Using a VPN with the Nintendo Switch 2

Unlike most devices – but similarly to most games consoles – the Switch 2 doesn't support VPNs as standard. This means you can't just download a VPN app onto the console and game away. However, there are other ways to benefit from VPN protection.

Use a VPN on your router (or similar)

If you only plan on using your Switch 2 at home then you could set up a router VPN. Most providers allow you to install a VPN on your Wi-Fi router, but there are a few steps to it and it may be tricky for beginners.

If you plan on going down this route, we'd recommend ExpressVPN because it offers its own Wi-Fi router known as Aircove. You do have to pay for the hardware separately, but you'll get a Wi-Fi router pre-loaded with VPN software that you can set up in five minutes.

Once set up, every device connected to your router is protected by the VPN – even devices that don't natively support VPNs like the Switch 2. The Aircove UI has just been redesigned so it's even easier to view your connected device, connect to servers, and create device groups.

Aircove Go is a smaller, more portable version of the Aircove. It's perfect for travelling and staying protected on the go.

Setting up a virtual router

Simply creating a hotspot, either on your phone or laptop, won't enable you to share your VPN connection.

What you can do however, is set up a virtual router. The success of this varies between devices, but we found connecting on Windows to be the easiest.

Windows

It's possible to share your VPN connection on a Windows 11 device. To begin, make sure you have your VPN app open, but not connected to a server.

1. Search for your system Control Panel.

2. Select Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings – you should see your Wi-Fi network showing a green "connected" bar.

3. Open your settings, head to Network & internet, then Mobile hotspot, and turn it on. You can edit the name and password of your hotspot connection.

4. A new adapter connection should then be created within your change adapter settings tab – make sure to note its name.

5. Now look for your VPN connection. If you're using ExpressVPN it'll be called ExpressVPN TAP Adapter. Other VPNs will vary, but look for something similarly titled.

6. Right click and select Properties.

7. Click the Sharing tab and check the box titled Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection.

8. From the drop-down list, select the name of the mobile hotspot connection that was created earlier and press OK.

9. Head to your VPN app and connect to your desired server.

10. Your virtual router is now set up and ready to go.

11. Grab the device you want to protect, such as your Switch 2, navigate to the Wi-Fi selection screen and connect to your virtual router.

12. Your connected device will now benefit from VPN protection.

It's worth noting that in our testing we did encounter some difficulties. We were successful in the end, but be prepared to troubleshoot or try more than once.

Mac

It's quite complicated to set up a virtual router on Mac. Unlike Windows devices, Macs only have one Wi-Fi channel. This means it can either connect to or broadcast Wi-Fi – not both.

This means you'll need an Ethernet connection and this isn't commonly available when you're out of the house. It is technically possible to do, but for a handheld, on-the-go console like the Nintendo Switch 2, we'd argue it's not really worth it.

However, if you have an Aircove Go, you can utilise its Ethernet connection to set up a Mac virtual router. But it's simpler to connect directly to the VPN-enabled Aircove Wi-Fi.

If you are interested in setting up a Mac virtual router at home, then this Comparitech guide is a good place to start.

Benefits of using a VPN with your Nintendo Switch 2

VPNs are very handy for protecting your device when you're connected to public or free Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi can sometimes be exploited by hackers. They can create fake hotspots to intercept your data, or infect your device with malware.

A VPN encrypts your data, hiding it from hackers or third-parties. Even if you unknowingly connect to a fake hotspot, a hacker won't be able to see your information and your data remains secure.

So if you're out and about with your laptop and Switch, and fancy a quick gaming session, make sure you're connected to a virtual or VPN router before you play.

Connecting to a VPN can keep your latency low when gaming online and reduce ISP throttling. Your ping will stay at a usable speed and is unlikely to fluctuate in the same way a non-VPN connection might.

With the fastest VPNs, your connection and performance shouldn't be affected and you might even have the edge over others in your lobby. In our testing, Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all exceeded speeds of 900 Mbps, with ExpressVPN just below at 898 Mbps. As long as your internet connection is good, a VPN won't slow you down.

Some people don't always join online lobbies for the right reasons. VPNs secure your data and can therefore protect your data from DDoS attacks and hacking. If you fall victim to an attack or hack like this, a VPN will ensure your data remains encrypted.

You can change your location to access geo-restricted games or lobbies but be aware that this could breach the T&Cs of the game, developer, or device.

It's unlikely you'll be caught, especially if you're only using a VPN to reduce throttling. But if you're caught cheating or breaching T&Cs you may find your account suspended, banned, or even something more serious.

In summary, the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't support a native VPN app. If you want to put the effort in it is possible to protect it with a VPN, but it's not the easiest. If you know you want router VPN protection, both at home and on the go, then ExpressVPN's Aircove router is worth considering.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the most anticipated gadgets of 2025, but a recent report has revealed that it will be lacking in options outside of gaming.

A change to Nintendo's approach to streaming apps, originally noticed by Ars Technica, appeared as part of the Switch 2's updated support page. In the update, Nintendo states that the Hulu, Crunchyroll, InkyPen, Abema and niconico apps from the original Nintendo Switch cannot be used on the Nintendo Switch 2.

While the concept of a games console launching without the ability to stream shows and movies might be shocking, it’s not all that surprising. While Sony and Microsoft might have sold the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as multimedia devices, Nintendo's current Switch has always been focused more on gaming. For one prominent example, there was never a dedicated Netflix app on the original Switch. Removing the few remaining options, therefore, seems in character for Nintendo.

With that said, I am still amazed that Nintendo is releasing a modern console in 2025 with no set options to stream movies and shows, especially when it is releasing at an increased cost. If you want to watch any of the new shows on these streaming apps from the comfort of your living room, you’ll need one of the best smart TVs on the market rather than your new Switch 2 console.

So, what old games can I play on my Switch 2?

When it comes to other products from the original Nintendo Switch, you’ll be happy to know that nearly all of the original 122 first-party games will run fine. The only stated issues are with the Nintendo Labo cardboard kits, which were designed to fit the original console’s dimensions. On top of that, some games that use features designed for the original Joy-Con, such as Nintendo Switch Sports' leg strap accessory or WarioWare: Move It!'s IR motion camera-based microgames, will only work if you pair an external Joy-Con with the Switch 2.

When it comes to third-party games, Nintendo has stated that over two-thirds of the roughly 15,000 titles will work with either no issues or minor problems that will be quickly solved. Nintendo goes on to state that of the around 5,000 remaining games, most will likely launch with no issue, but further tests are in progress.

Nintendo has also updated its PDF documents that list individual games that either won’t launch, feature compatibility faults and other games that have issues that should be addressed by launch, or shortly after.

Overall, while it is sad to see the few remaining streaming apps disappearing from the Nintendo Switch 2, the backward compatibility seems to be on point. Not only that, Nintendo is also adding several free Switch game updates that look to add Switch 2-specific features, while also improving performance on the new console.

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Mario Kart World is the Switch 2 launch title that most people will recognize, but it wasn't always intended to be one.

In fact, the game's developers have revealed they actually wanted to release the open-world racer on the original Switch console. But the older hardware just couldn't handle it.

Speaking in an interview on the Nintendo website, Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki confirmed that the game had actually been in development since 2017. But programming director Kenta Sato said that apparently developing for the Switch 1 means it "was difficult for [them] to incorporate [they] wanted."

Evidently developers were always conscious of what they'd have to give up to get the game running on the Switch. They discussed things like lowering resolution, dropping visuals, and even reducing the frame rate to 30fps.

But in the end the team realized they couldn't let any of that go. 60fps was something the team felt was particularly important for Mario Kart games — something that even Mario Kart 8 could handle consistently.

It all worked out in the end

Eventually the team decided to simply make more DLC for Mario Kart 8, as a way to bide time and figure Mario Kart World out. It was only after the Booster Course Pass was released that the topic of switching to Switch 2 came about.

According to Yabuki this "suddenly opened up a bunch of possibilities on what [they] could do." noting that "It was truly a ray of hope."

If that means we get an uncompromised version of Mario Kart World, then that's definitely a good thing. Considering the expansive new environments and the 24-player races, it's not surprising that this is better off on the Switch 2 than the original console. It's enough to make me wonder what other games went through a similar situation.

Considering how long ago Metroid Prime 4 was announced, and how good the game looks, I wouldn't be surprised if there were similar conversations happening behind the scenes. But we may never know for sure.

And if you plan to play Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 for yourself but haven't got hold of a console yet, we're tracking pre-order restocks as they happen on our Switch 2 pre-order live blog.

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Remember a few years ago, there were countless rumors of a Nintendo Switch Pro that never came to fruition? Well now that the Switch 2 is on the way, and some of the hardware has leaked out ahead of release, it sounds like there's a reason why that console never materialized.

According to Digital Foundry, it seems like the Switch Pro was always supposed to be the Switch 2. We just started hearing about the hardware super early.

Nintendo has revealed the official specs for the Switch 2, but there are some details that are a little vague. On top of that, there's only so much you can get from hardware specs on their own. But as Digital Foundry notes, alleged Switch 2 motherboards have arrived on various Chinese retail sites — allowing for some testing to take place.

YouTubers Geekerman and Kurnal have actually released hands-on videos with those alleged motherboards. In them, they dive into what the motherboard has to offer and start to test its overall capabilities.

What the Switch 2 hardware has to offer

If you want in-depth technical details about the Switch 2 hardware, check out both the aforementioned videos for a deep dive. But here are the basics of what to expect.

Much of the analysis seems to corroborate previous Switch 2 rumors, including the fact it has a custom Nvidia T239 processor, with eight ARM A78-class CPU cores and a custom RTX 30-series Ampere GPU. Six of those CPU cores are available to developers, while the final two are reserved for system software.

It's noted that despite concerns that the 8nm chips employed in the Switch 2 would require too much power for handheld use, that doesn't seem to be an issue. Which makes sense for a console that is literally named after its hybrid nature.

Other points of note include 12GB of LPDDR5X DRAM, split between a pair of 6GB modules, though apparently only 9GB is available to developers. Where that other 3GB of memory goes is unclear.

Switch 2 is just the Switch Pro with a different name

The analysis on the motherboard does show one bizarre piece of information, though. Both Geekerman and Kurnal found that the chip was "taped out", or had its design finalized, all the way back in 2021. Which is likely where all those rumors about the Nintendo Switch Pro came from.

Stuff will have leaked out much earlier in the production process, and may have got muddled up with the impending launch of the Switch OLED. Because, if you remember all the way back to the early part of the decade, there had been rumors suggesting the Switch Pro could come with a 7-inch OLED screen.

Though in the end the Switch OLED came out offering a display upgrade and little else of substance. That certainly tempered the rumors for a little while.

As Digital Foundry notes, chips are typically finalized the year before a big release — meaning the Switch 2 could technically have been released three years ago. As to why Nintendo would wait, all we can do is speculate.

Presumably the ongoing popularity of the original Switch played a part, because why ditch your existing system if it's still selling in great numbers? No doubt the surge in popularity during the pandemic helped prolong the console's lifespan too.

As to why Nintendo can use 4-year old hardware in a console that will likely last the better part of the next decade, Digital Foundry says the "fundamental features are still impressive and clearly do the job." Which is more than most of us can really ask for. It wasn't like the Switch 2 would ever offer PS5 Pro-levels of performance anyway.

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With the impending release of the Nintendo Switch 2, a new chapter in gaming history is about to be written. But before it gets here, there are a ton of awesome games you probably missed the first time around on the original Nintendo Switch.

Some of the best Nintendo Switch games include everything from Super Mario Odyssey to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. You’ll struggle to find a Nintendo Switch gamer who hasn’t at least heard of these big names, but there are plenty of lesser-known games on Nintendo’s console that are well worth your attention.

As part of Tom’s Guide Gaming Week, I’ve gone through my library of Nintendo Switch games and pulled out my favorite titles from over the years that you might have missed.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

I’ve played (almost) all of the Dragon Quest spin-offs on Switch and this one is definitely the best of the bunch.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 combines the blocky world of Minecraft with an action RPG. As well as mining resources and crafting, there are also enemies and boss battles to take on. But my favorite thing about Dragon Quest Builders 2 is its story — you need to rebuild a broken world that’s overrun with monsters, and help all the people you come across.

Villagers in each area need shelter, beds, bathrooms, and more, and it’s awesome that you can make functional builds like shops and restaurants that villagers will use. You truly see the impact you’ve made on the characters’ lives as you rebuild the world from scratch, which comes with a real sense of accomplishment.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 also has multiplayer where you can visit your friends’ worlds and play together online. It’s just a shame that the Nintendo Switch’s hardware isn’t best equipped to handle this, as things can get a bit laggy in online mode — especially if you’re viewing intricate builds.

Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy Deluxe Edition

Professor Layton is one of my favorite game series of all time, so you bet I’m recommending this lesser-played entry on my list.

The premise of Layton’s Mystery Journey is simple: it’s full of puzzles, puzzles and more puzzles. Each brain-teaser is strung together with a cute story as you solve mysteries assigned to the Layton Detective Agency, with some light sleuthing and mini-games to break up your playtime.

Layton’s Mystery Journey stands out from the pack of puzzlers thanks to its stylized visuals (the illustrated backgrounds in particular look gorgeous,) memorable characters and well-written dialogue. And the puzzles themselves are well-constructed, with a variety of genres on show that put everything from your math skills to your logical reasoning to the test.

I’ve played all the Professor Layton games and while these puzzles seem to be on the easier side of the series’ offerings, that’s not too bad if this is your entry point — or if you haven’t played anything that tests your brain in this way in a while.

Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise

Fitness Boxing is a fitness and rhythm game series that’s designed to make you sweat. You’ll work alongside a virtual trainer to punch, duck and weave your way through moving panels, aiming to hit each move with perfect form and timing.

I struggle to make myself get enough exercise at the best of times, but this game's ability to sync movements up to a beat with a scoring system gets my full attention. Sure, the Fitness Boxing series soundtracks are full of instrumental versions of cheesy pop songs, but I can’t deny that punching my inner demons away to Bananarama’s Venus got me pumped up.

When it comes to fitness games on Switch, most people will probably think of Ring Fit Adventure. Ring Fit Adventure is arguably the better package, as it comes with more varied workouts, and has a story mode to keep you coming back every day. But I like that Fitness Boxing requires less space and doesn’t need Ring Fit’s bulky Ring-Con accessory.

I also like that the different Fitness Boxing personal trainers have unique personalities that you can swap around to switch things up — most of the time, my favorite trainer Guy sounds like he’s as unenthusiastic about working out as I am, which I find cathartic.

Fitness Boxing 3 seems to have an even bigger focus on the trainers themselves, and I’m looking forward to picking up a copy once I feel like I’ve seen all that Fitness Boxing 2 has to offer.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

Ace Attorney is a series I’m convinced everybody needs to at least try. In The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, you’re placed in the shoes of Ryunosuke Naruhodo, a Japanese lawyer operating in Victorian England. Between the streets of London and the courtroom, you need to investigate, interrogate witnesses and make logical deductions to defend your case.

The storylines and characters in this game are extremely memorable, with some tough legal battles that seriously made me sweat. This is also probably the funniest entry on my list, as Naruhodo’s sarcastic reactions to the rest of the cast’s antics never failed to make me laugh.

I can attest that The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a good entry point into the series, as it’s the one I started with.

It’s a prequel that’s unconnected to the rest of Ace Attorney for the most part, but once you’ve played this one, you’ll definitely want to give the rest of the games in the series a shot. (And handily, all the other major titles in the Ace Attorney series have seen Switch ports, so they’re easily accessible.)

Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition

Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition is the only thing that could satisfy my cravings for a new Animal Crossing game after I’d had my fill of New Horizons.

In fact, for me, Disney Magical World 2 felt like it had so much more to offer that I’d take it over New Horizons any day — fight me.

Disney Magical World 2 is part life sim, part café management sim. As well as collecting furniture and clothing you like just for fun, you also have incentive to improve your café with new decorations and dishes to continue progression.

The titular Magical World is expansive, with lots of Disney-themed lands to explore, characters to meet, and mini-games to play. You can try your hand at everything from gardening to ballroom dancing, and there’s even a meaty dungeon-crawling action RPG segment where you can fight boss battles.

Some of the RPG levels could be balanced better, and you may struggle to find rare crafting ingredients if you forgo using a wiki. But this game has an addicting gameplay loop and a ton of cute items to collect and decorate with, meaning it’s well worth picking up for gamers who love Disney.

(I also recommend Disney Magical World 2 over the other Disney life sim on Switch, Disney Dreamlight Valley. Sure, Disney Dreamlight Valley has more modern visuals but it’s also stuffed with microtransactions. I much prefer Disney Magical World 2 as it gives you a life sim that’s full of content without hounding you to spend any more money.)

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp deserves way more attention than it got on release. It’s a strategy RPG that puts you in charge of a legion of soldiers, tanks and other militia and tasks you with taking back your land from your enemies.

Once I got the hang of its combat system, Advance Wars had me seriously hooked. Some of the missions were tough and had me coming back several times for retries, but the satisfaction that came with victory was more than worth the struggle.

I loved how the difficulty built upwards throughout the game. Each mission introduces new obstacles to get to grips with, and each Commanding Officer you face in battle has unique abilities that switch things up.

There’s plenty of replay value here, as you can redo missions with different characters that you’ve unlocked to try and beat your previous scores. This game’s presentation is fantastic too, with attractive cartoony visuals, a stellar soundtrack and plenty of well-written, voice-acted dialogue.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Princess Zelda steps up to the plate as the heroine of this adventure, attempting to save Hyrule from getting sucked into a dark void. Armed with the Tri Rod, Zelda can wield the power of Echoes to copy objects in order to solve puzzles and defeat enemies.

This game packs in a large overworld to explore that’s stuffed with secrets, puzzles and tricky boss battles. It’s an extremely entertaining ride that gets you to really think about how to go forwards using the options you have available to you. And it deserves bonus points for its adorable diorama-style visuals.

There is a big flaw to contend with in Echoes of Wisdom, however, and that’s its menu system. The Echoes menu is constantly used to select objects and monsters. However, each Echo is organised in a single straight line, and it takes forever to scroll through if you’re struggling to find a specific one. Better sorting options and a search function would have been much appreciated.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is arguably the most well-known game on this list, but if you missed it in the shuffle of other Zelda titles, it’s a ton of fun and you should definitely give it a shot. As long as you don’t mind spending a chunk of your playthrough searching through your list of Echoes to find that Fire Wizzrobe you’re after.

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When I'm not working, you'll find me gaming. I'm usually sinking hundreds of hours into RPGs on my PS5 Slim. Sometimes I feel like I've spent more hours playing Baldur's Gate 3 than eating. While I prefer single player games, I'm not opposed to playing co-op titles, and I love the array of two-player games taking up space on my Nintendo Switch — and who better to play these games with other than my girlfriend?

Here's the catch, though: my partner isn't a gamer. She's an artist, so she loves the art direction in most titles, and appreciates the effort that goes into designing them. When we got together, I wanted to introduce her to the wonderful (and vast) world of gaming, so I set out on a mission: to find the best couch co-op games.

Two and a half years after I first accepted the quest, I have found the best 2P games that my partner now adores — and often asks me herself to play them before I bring it up.

If you've got a non-gamer loved one who you want to chill out with with too, these are the top 5 couch co-op titles that they won't be able to resist.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I was a little skeptical about Super Mario Bros. Wonder when I first saw it. I thought, "It's a 2D platformer with Mario characters, how good can it actually be?" I know, I know, I was very wrong. It won me — and my partner — over with its sense of whimsy, wonderful level design, whacky power-ups, and trippy levels-within-levels. There are a total of 152 levels across seven worlds with varying landscapes and classic Mario enemies.

My skepticism flew out the window the moment my partner got hooked onto the game — and that was a few minutes into the first level. There are many playable characters to choose from. My partner always chooses Toadette (we even went to Halloween dressed as Toad and Toadette) while I go for Yoshi.

We work together to defeat enemies and traverse some obstacles, but we also compete to see who can jump the highest to reach the top of the flagpole at the end of each level — a bit of competition never hurt anyone.

Available on Nintendo Switch.

Untitled Goose Game

You know that meme about being a silly goose? My partner and I refer to one another with that term of endearment, so it's no wonder that we love playing Untitled Goose Game together.

I had just finished my single player campaign when I first met my partner, and it was around that time that the publisher had released a free two player update. And what's better than one annoying goose? Two very annoying geese.

The goal is simple: you are two geese going around an unsuspecting village and pulling pranks on the residents. There are five main areas and you're given quest items to check off. You'll be asked to steal a boy's glasses, make the gardener wear his sun hat, make a man spit out his tea, among other things. How you achieve these is entirely up to you and your partner. And as a goose, you can honk your heart out.

If you're playing with another person, you can also steal flowers to give to each other — now that is cute. There's tactical advantages here too. One of you can honk (or spread your wings) to distract an NPC while the other steals, say, a bell. It's a lot of fun and can get very chaotic, perfect for a night in.

Available on Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS, PS4, Xbox One.

Overcooked

Overcooked and Overcooked 2 are our most-played two player title. Thing is, Overcooked (and its sequel) don't really have plotlines. The overarching theme is that you and up to three other players must save the Onion Kingdom by whipping up dishes, from pancakes to pizzas.

Each level lasts just a few minutes, and the levels vary in difficulty. Some are so easy that we've scored 1,000 points straight away, whereas some make us want to pull our hair out.

My partner and I rarely argue — bordering on 'never' — but it's during Overcooked and in-between our characters burning meals that we've argued. Phrases like "Why aren't you doing the dishes?!" and "Please, for the love of all that's good, throw me a banana!" get yelled out a lot. If we fail a level, we'll pout and hmph and give each other the side-eye or the cold shoulder for a while afterwards.

But we always laugh about it later because we never argue outside of playing this twisted, fantastic, chaotic game. If you want to put your relationship to the test, Overcooked is the title for you, because if you get out of an hour of playing the game unscathed, you know your partner's a keeper.

Available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia.

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is one of the best games ever made. Period. It's no wonder it's earned a spot on this list.

A racing game where you play as classic Nintendo characters and throw magical items to ruin another's race? Who can say no to that? I won't lie, we don't play Mario Kart 8 that often as our free time together is taken up by either Overcooked or 51 Worldwide Games (see below), but we still have a blast whenever we get behind the wheel. She picks Toadette (surprise) and I play as Link (because I love the new-gen Zelda games).

When I bought the Booster Course Pass which unlocked 48 new courses, my partner was delighted to see Maple Treeway was part of it. There are a few reasons she loves it. She has fond memories of playing it on her Wii. She loves the music. Autumn is her favorite season (after spring), and she loves trees. While she likes the calming aspect of Maple Treeway, I like the chaotic energy of every Rainbow Road track — opposites do attract, they say.

Mario Kart 8 is an all-time classic, and if there's anything that would make us go splitsies on the Nintendo Switch 2, it would be Mario Kart World.

Available on Nintendo Switch, Wii U.

51 Worldwide Games

51 Worldwide Games is somewhat of an underdog. I'm not sure many people are aware of its existence as I've only ever met one other person who owns the game. I believe it's one game everyone should have, especially if you or your partner likes board and card games.

As the name suggests, the game consists of 51 games from around the world, such as chess, Yahtzee, four-in-a-row, air hockey, and more.

It's perhaps one of the most chill games out there and carries a lovely sense of nostalgia which both my partner and I adore. There's even a fishing game where both of you just fish with relaxing music playing in the background. We love 51 Worldwide Games for its simplicity. It's the perfect game for when you don't want to exercise too much brain power, and don't want the stress of, say, Overcooked.

Also, if you can't make space for a chessboard in a small apartment, you can at least play it virtually — and that goes for all the board games included in 51 Worldwide Games.

Available on Nintendo Switch.

I love my PS5, but it's my Nintendo Switch my partner adores more thanks to how easy it is to play co-op games on it.

All five games I've mentioned are extremely fun in their own unique ways. There are many, many couch co-op games there that I'm yet to play with my partner, such as Split Fiction. There may be other hidden gems — like 51 Worldwide Games — we haven't discovered yet either. The upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 may bring new titles with new mechanics too, and we can't wait to dive into them.

For now, I'd recommend everyone to get Untitled Goose Game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Mario Kart 8, and 51 Worldwide Games — trust me, your non-gamer partner will thank you.

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Gaming has never been bigger. In 2025, the industry dwarfs all other forms of entertainment, and the interest and excitement surrounding new blockbuster games and cutting-edge hardware have never been higher.

Gaming has also never been more diverse, with more games to play than ever, plenty of powerful hardware options, whether you’re opting for PC or consoles, and endless accessories that can augment your experience in a multitude of ways. Right now is a very good time to be a gamer.

Here at Tom’s Guide, we love all things gaming. So, to celebrate one of our favorite pastimes, we’ve created our first-ever Gaming Week. Seven days of bespoke coverage dedicated to every aspect of gaming, from the latest hardware to the essential accessories and, of course, the must-play games.

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