Nintendo Switch 2 Review: A Refined Evolution

After eight years of pioneering portable-console hybrid gaming, the original Nintendo Switch has finally passed the torch.

Its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2, has arrived, not with a revolutionary bang, but with a confident, evolutionary hum, signaling a new chapter for the beloved gaming giant and its legions of fans.

This isn’t a radical departure from what worked; rather, it’s a meticulously refined iteration, designed to feel both refreshingly new and immediately familiar.

Nintendo, in its characteristic fashion, has taken a successful formula and polished nearly every facet, delivering a system that feels like a substantial upgrade while retaining the soul of its predecessor.

The moment the Switch 2 is unboxed, its premium feel is undeniable.

Gone are some of the vibrant hues of the original, replaced by a sleek, matte black finish that exudes sophistication.

While some might lament the initial lack of color, history suggests Nintendo will likely introduce more expressive Joy-Con designs in due course.

For now, subtle accents around the thumbsticks and on the controller interiors offer just enough vibrancy without detracting from the elegant aesthetic.

This isn’t merely about looks; the Switch 2 also boasts a more satisfying heft in handheld mode, contributing to a sense of durability that was sometimes lacking in the original.

Perhaps the most significant tactile improvement comes with the redesigned Joy-Cons.

The notorious plastic locking mechanism, a source of frustration for many – including this reviewer, who once suffered a broken lock rendering a controller useless without a case – has been replaced by a magnetic system.

This isn’t just about greater durability; it imparts a newfound solidity to the system, with a satisfying click as the controllers snap into place.

The Joy-Cons themselves are larger and feel more robust, a welcome change, particularly for the new mouse mode, which demands a controller that can withstand dynamic movement.

While the individual Joy-Con still isn’t my preferred way to play games like Mario Kart World, the option for impromptu multiplayer remains a cherished Nintendo staple.

Initial whispers of concern swirled around Nintendo’s decision to revert to an LCD screen for the Switch 2, especially after the original’s OLED model set a new visual benchmark.

As someone who readily embraced the Switch OLED, I shared those reservations.

Yet, in practice, the Switch 2’s larger LCD screen is remarkably vibrant, dispelling any sense of downgrade.

The colors pop, and the clarity is impressive.

While an OLED variant might emerge later in the console’s lifecycle, it’s genuinely hard to envision a significant enough visual leap to justify it, given the quality of the current display.

Where the Switch 2 truly shines, and perhaps where it was most urgently needed, is in its performance.

The original Switch had, in its later years, begun to strain under the weight of more graphically demanding titles.

The Switch 2 unequivocally addresses this.

Games like the new Mario Kart World are a visual feast, running laps around its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with stunning cloud formations and incredible color saturation.

Even existing titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, benefit from the Switch 2’s enhanced capabilities, showcasing a drastic improvement in graphics and frame rates.

This isn’t just about raw power; it’s about intelligent refinement, ensuring a smoother, more immersive gaming experience that was becoming increasingly elusive on the older hardware.

However, not every aspect of the Switch 2 marks a leap forward.

The user interface, for instance, remains stubbornly identical to the original Switch’s Home Screen.

For years, fans have yearned for customizable themes, a feature present on the 3DS, yet Nintendo has opted for continuity over innovation here.

While maintaining a consistent interface across both Switch generations makes sense for features like GameShare, it feels a little too plain, a missed opportunity for a fresh start.

GameShare itself is a compelling new multiplayer addition, allowing Switch 2 users to stream multiplayer games to friends on either a Switch 2 or an original Switch, even if those friends don’t own the game.

My experiments with Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury showed it worked well in close proximity, though stream quality quickly degraded with increased distance.

This feature holds immense promise for casual co-op, but its practical application on, say, a plane or bus, remains to be thoroughly tested.

Nintendo has also unveiled a new Pro Controller, and here, the philosophy seems to be “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, just make it better.”

It retains all the beloved features of the original while adding crucial improvements: a headphone jack (a godsend for late-night sessions), a new ‘C’ button for GameChat, and two mappable buttons on the back.

The thumbsticks offer greater movement, and the buttons protrude slightly more, contributing to a more comfortable and responsive feel.

The smooth new finish perfectly complements the system’s aesthetic.

Crucially, Nintendo has ensured broad backward compatibility, meaning most existing peripherals, including the original Pro Controller and GameCube controller adapter, still work, a thoughtful nod to loyal fans.

GameChat, heavily featured in the Switch 2’s marketing, performs largely as advertised.

It prioritizes the main game’s performance, leading to some choppiness on other players’ screens during chat.

Yet, its talk-to-text feature is surprisingly robust, accurately translating speech with a clarity that surpasses most mobile phones.

All this enhanced power, however, comes at a price: battery life.

In handheld mode, a non-stop Mario Kart World session lasted just over two and a half hours (154 minutes, to be exact) before the system issued its third low-battery warning.

This is a significant decrease from previous Switch models and will undoubtedly be a source of frustration for those planning extended portable play on long journeys.

Furthermore, not all original Switch games are currently compatible with the Switch 2.

While Nintendo is working to rectify these issues, a small list of titles, including Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection, exhibited start-up problems in my testing, resulting in a black screen and crash.

Prospective buyers should consult this list to ensure their favorite games aren’t among those facing initial hiccups.

From a hardware perspective, the Nintendo Switch 2 delivers nearly every improvement one could desire.

It feels sturdier, the screen is beautiful, and the graphical and performance enhancements are substantial.

New features like GameShare, despite their current limitations, promise more engaging multiplayer experiences.

While the stagnant user interface and reduced battery life are notable drawbacks, the sum of its parts makes the Switch 2 a compelling proposition.

For those who’ve longed for a portable system capable of handling bigger, more beautiful games, with much-needed improvements to chat and overall performance, the Nintendo Switch 2 represents a bright, if not entirely flawless, future.