In theory, the newly-released Nintendo Switch 2 is the all-in-one gaming platform that Nintendo fans have been waiting for: better graphics, bigger screen, in-console voice chat, and the hardware upgrade necessary to run massive video games like Elden Ring on a handheld device. In practice? Well, let’s just say there’s little need to stand in line for hours just to get your hands on one right away.
When I play-tested the Nintendo Switch 2 in early April, my first brush with the console confirmed my suspicions that Nintendo is currently in the business of upgrading its existing hardware, rather than innovating and building something new. The Nintendo Wii and the original Nintendo Switch changed how gamers physically interacted with their video games, but the Switch 2 feels more like the house of Mario playing catch-up with its competitors.
That may read as if I’m fully writing off the Switch 2, but its improvements on the original 2017 console are indeed a long time coming. And for many Nintendo fans, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the console of their dreams. The launch title, Mario Kart World, is without a doubt the greatest Mario Kart experience yet. And if you ever wanted to play Cyberpunk 2077 or Final Fantasy VII Remake away from your gigantic PS5 at home, the Switch 2 can handle it. But what’s stopping me from full-on endorsing this thing? Well, I haven’t mentioned the price yet.
Nintendo Switch 2 Console and Mario Kart World Bundle
Long-Overdue Upgrades. But At What Cost?
The Nintendo Switch 2 markets at $449.99, or $499.99 when bundled with Mario Kart World. That’s a colossal jump from the Switch’s original price of $299.99 (or even the 2021 OLED screen version at $349.99). Add the new Pro Controller, the Switch 2 Camera, a larger carrying case, and the Mario Kart World joy-con wheels, and you’ll drop around $700 for a console with just a single launch title.
To be fair, the Nintendo Switch 2 features backwards compatibility, which means that all Switch games still run on Switch 2—and you can even upgrade them to Switch 2 versions with better graphics and improved gameplay for a small fee.
Another critical improvement from the Switch 2: Nintendo fans who never had the chance to experience many award-winning third-party titles—which were previously exclusive to PlayStation and Xbox—can play some of those games right on the new handheld. I play-tested a few hours of Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2, and even the infamously once-unplayable game ran smoothly on Nintendo’s latest console.
The Switch 2 also adds a new feature called GameChat, which—other than requiring that you have some friends who also own a Nintendo Switch 2—allows you to talk with friends and even see them live (think: a built-in Zoom chat) while playing certain compatible games. Mario Kart World, of course, is one of them.
Still, other big-ticket new titles for the Switch 2 won’t see release until later this year. Donkey Kong Bananza hits shelves on July 17. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is out on July 24, Borderlands 4 releases on September 12, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A drops on October 16. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond still has no release date. Plus, many of 2025’s most exciting third-party titles—Death Stranding 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Silent Hill f, Ghost of Yotei, and The Outer Worlds 2, for example—will require day-one gamers to also own a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. So, if you want to wait until the holidays to purchase a Switch 2, it’s a sound decision.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle
Still, There’s No Harm in Diving in Now
I’ll say it again: the Switch 2 is a worthy successor to Nintendo’s breakout handheld. The new console comes with 1080p resolution, 120fps frame rate, an LCD display, 256 gigabytes of storage, 3D special sound, and a sizable 7.9-inch display. But the Switch doesn’t just feel bigger and better simply because it is bigger and better. There are magic elements at play whenever you hold a brand-new Nintendo console—and the gaming giant still knows how to make a controller just feel right.
The Switch 2 is all about quality-of-life improvements. The raised + and – buttons on the Pro Controller are a no-brainer. Plus, the magnetically attached Joy-Cons are an absolute breeze to use. Where Microsoft’s user interface constantly drives me up the wall, Nintendo has long reigned supreme when it comes to simply making technology make sense.
Final Verdict? You’ll Want One Eventually.
The Switch 2 offers an all-in-one experience for the whole family like we’ve never seen before. Instead of needing to purchase every single console so that little Jimmy can play Mario Kart with his friends on the Switch and then Dad can spend late-night hours wrangling monsters in Elden Ring on his PlayStation, the Switch 2 says, The whole family can do it all on one machine for $500.
Once it’s 2028 and we have a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey, an Animal Crossing game even better than New Horizons, and a Legend of Zelda title that rival Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the sell may look even easier in hindsight.I don’t know if that’s worth pulling your hair out to secure a Switch 2 as fast as possible, but it’s certainly worth the eventual upgrade.
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