I thought Nintendo Switch 2 would just be more of the same – now I've played it, this is so much more

Nintendo Switch 2 brazenly appears to buck Nintendo’s 20 year trend of hardware innovation by appearing disappointingly familiar at first glance. A tablet you can take out of its TV-connected dock and then take it on the go, simultaneously offering a home console and portable device in one package.

As I transfer over my account to be met with practically the exact same home screen I just came from, I could be forgiven for feeling just a little disappointed. But never has such a feeling been so short-lived. Turns out Switch 2 is spectacularly good and improves on its predecessor in almost every way. Every way but one, in fact.

Read my detailed review below but for context read our Switch 2 vs Switch OLED comparison.

Nintendo Switch 2 review: in the box

• All you need to play
• Well packaged

There are few surprises when you open the surprisingly small box (which you can see in my Switch 2 unboxing video). The console itself is a decently slim slab that instantly attracts dust to its beautiful screen.

There are two JoyCon 2 controllers, which now snap onto the sides of the unit using magnets. An Ultra HDMI cable for 4K 120hz gaming (yes, you read that right, Nintendo is doing 120hz gaming now), a sleek-looking dock, a new higher-wattage USB-C power adapter and JoyCon 2 wrist straps follow.

There’s also a controller grip for your JoyCon 2 controllers to slot into. If you plumped for the Mario Kart World bundle of the console like I did, you also get a little paper insert with your download code to go alongside the usual safety instructions. It’s almost exactly the same experience as unboxing the original Switch, but the high quality of the hardware materials is evident, making you feel like you’ve purchased a deluxe item.

In the box score: 5/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: specs

• Impressive display and specs
• Backwards compatible

The console comprises a 7.9-inch, 1080p, LCD, touchscreen display, backlit by LEDs. It’s capable of displaying HDR visuals at 120hz on this screen out of the box. Dimensionally, it’s the same thickness as the previous Nintendo Switch, but noticeably bigger at 116mm x 272mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Con 2s attached).

The computational hardware has three times as much RAM as the OG Switch at 12GB, and there’s 256GB of internal storage, though some of that is taken up by the proprietary OS.

This new console is backwards compatible with the majority of Switch titles, has Bluetooth and wifi connectivity, supports up to 4K resolution when docked via HDMI and can connect to ethernet using the dock. Games can be downloaded from the eShop, purchased on familiar-looking game cards, or activated via weird dummy game cards or download codes.

The Switch 2 features just one microphone with built-in noise cancelling, an optional USB camera (and will recognise some third-party cameras too) and supports twin-stick analogue control. Directional buttons are exactly that: buttons, due to the way the L/R JoyCon 2 pads can be used on their own as a smaller controller for impromptu multiplayer gaming.

Finally (to abridge a seemingly endless list of great features), there’s a headphone/microphone jack socket and a Micro SD Express slot for expanded storage. Standard SD cards won’t work here except to transfer screenshots and captures.

Specs score: 4/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: design

• Slim and comfy design
• Smart JoyCon 2 functionality

While the original Nintendo Switch was a masterstroke of hardware design, almost every single element has been reworked and made better. The magnetic JoyCon 2 controllers connect and disconnect pleasingly and with little effort, the U-shaped kickstand is much more stable (though a little fragile-feeling when you pull it out) and allows for greater control of the screen angle when you prop it up on a table.

There’s now a welcome second USB-C socket on the top as well as the bottom, so you can charge it while it’s in tabletop mode. All of the buttons are slightly larger, and the analogue sticks have been reworked and now feel completely smooth to use, all the way around. Lovely stuff.

While the JoyCon 2 controllers' edges have been rounded off to more comfortably fit your palms, I found they can still dig in a little, which is disappointing. But mostly the details are absurdly well-considered. For instance, the dock has four tiny little grippy feet, but one of them has been left deliberately less grippy than the others, just in case the cable gets snagged to decrease the chance of it tipping over.

Then there’s the way the new Joy Con 2 controllers both work as mice in the OS and compatible games. There’s no trackball or laser; instead there’s a low-resolution black and white camera with a custom lens to compensate for the extra distance added by the optional Joycon Strap attachments.

This new feature enables you to use mouse control on practically any textured surface, including your own leg, so you don’t need to move from the sofa. In practice it works beautifully and bodes well for shooting games.

Heat has been carefully managed using a combination of fan-generated air flow across both the front and back of the chipset, thermal paste, magnesium alloy heat distribution and even capillary-action water cooling too. Everything’s been considered and optimised for gaming.

Design score: 5/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: features

• New mouse controls
• Unique online features

Analogue control, mouse control, 10-finger touch screen control, digital buttons… control is a joy however you choose to do it on Switch 2. But perhaps the biggest new feature is Game Chat, which you access by pushing the new ‘C’ button.

After so many years of Nintendo offering only bare bones online functionality, suddenly the company seems to have mastered it. You can share your screen with friends, chat to them with clear audio that eliminates most background noise and even removes the sound of the game you’re playing.

The frame-rate of the shared screen isn’t amazing by any stretch, but it works. You can even have it transcribe your conversation in real time, which is remarkably quick and surprisingly accurate.

There’s all the old functionality like Amiibo connectivity too, and the ability to take screenshots and save reduced-quality video of the last 30 seconds of play. This can now be exported to the improved Nintendo Switch App, making it way easier to access your media.

There’s also now the ability to use Game Share in select games to let someone else stream the game from your device while you play from a single game card, online or locally. Even streaming (locally only) to a Switch 1 works. You can also loan out the new virtual game cards, sharing digitally-downloaded games with family and friends for up to two weeks, as if it was a physical cartridge you own.

Features score: 5/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: performance

• Impressive resolution and framerates
• Improves old games at a code level

After this first weekend with the console, I’m extremely impressed. Quite how this little tablet is managing 4K at 60fps is a mystery to me. I have yet to see it truly struggle with anything. Instead, Switch 2 is demonstrably fixing Switch 1 games and apps that formerly struggled.

Speaking of which, Switch 1 games aren’t being run natively nor even emulated. Instead the Switch 2 is rewriting their code in real time to allow the vast majority of games to play at enhanced frame rates and higher resolutions for games that support dynamic resolution scaling. It means previously dubious ports like Batman: Arkham Knight are now running at a locked 30fps.

The eShop is now a pleasure to use and runs way better, even with a game suspended in the background. Taking screenshots now feels instantaneous, and coming in and out of the home screen while playing a game is smooth and responsive. The effort that’s gone into making it all ‘just work’ must have been phenomenal, but the result is an extremely capable machine that seems eager to make everything it touches feel new and exciting again.

The only hardware downside I can find is the battery life. While simple games can let you play for longer, full-fat Switch 2 gaming will deplete the battery in about 3 hours, which really isn’t that long at all, though comparable to Valve’s far bulkier Steam Deck.

Performance Score: 4/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: the games

• Limited new games at launch
• Excellent retro game list

The Switch 2 launch line-up is comparatively underwhelming, with only Mario Kart World feeling truly essential to play on day one, but at least this one game, now an open world racer crammed with hidden areas to explore, is so far proving to be worth the wait.

Worth a mention is the Nintendo Switch 2 Tour is a cheap and stylish onboarding 'game' that's essentially a mix of short minigames and tech demos showcasing the new console's features. It's a shame you need to pay for it, PS5's similar Astro Bot demo came free and pre-installed. You also need to buy every Switch 2 accessory to clear the Tour on 100%.

There are also some really big names ported to Switch 2 for launch, such as role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 (complete with its new-gen only DLC), Street Fighter 6, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Hogwarts Legacy and more, all looking comparable to their releases on the existing top-end consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

New, downloadable treats include Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer, bringing home the original 1993 coin-op ROM, and Fast Fusion – a cheap and very cool futuristic racer exclusive to Switch 2 from Shin’en. Special mention must go to the GameCube Collection available to Nintendo Online subscribers, offering classic games from Nintendo's back catalogue unavailable before. (Read our Switch 2 GameCube Collection impressions.)

But it’s also got premium upgrades for some all-time classics, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Both look amazing at their increased fidelity and fluidity. Another similar day one enhanced game is Sid Meier's Civilization 7, which makes use of the new mouse controls. (Read our first impressions of using Switch 2 mouse controls.)

It’s all looking very good for the future, but hardly bountiful right now. Certainly enough to be getting on with before Metroid and Donkey Kong arrive.

Games Score: 3/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: price

• Expensive at launch
• Mario Kart World bundle offers value

The standalone version of the Switch 2 console costs £395.99 or the version with Mario Kart World as a digital download for £429.99, which is the cheapest way to get a game that is otherwise £66.99 digitally or £74.99 for a physical copy. Read our Switch 2 deals and stock tracker for the best prices and availability.

It’s all a lot of money, especially if you want extras like controllers (£75-ish), camera (49.99), memory card (£50-ish) or the online membership (£35.99 or more per year).

Price score: 3/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: who's it for?

It’s all a bit too premium and expensive to give to very small children, but with family-friendly games, such as a new version of Super Mario Party Jamboree, and mature games like Cyberpunk 2077, there really is something for everyone here. (If you want a true family console for young children, the Nex Playground is a fun option.)

There are very competent parental restrictions available so it’s a great gift for bigger children. Whether you want to game at home in high resolution on a big-screen TV, or disappear into a different world during a long train journey, Switch 2 has got you covered. Just make sure you bring the charger if your train journey is really long, eh?

Nintendo Switch 2 score card

• In the box: Console, dock, two superb controllers. Possibly Mario Kart World. Perfect. 5/5
• Specs: Not ground-shaking, but superb for a handheld device. 4/5
• Design: Sleek, beautiful, every little detail is carefully considered. Wonderful. 5/5
• Features: So many options for fun and they all work flawlessly. 5/5
• Performance: Battery life aside, frankly it has no right to perform this well. Incredible. 4/5
• Games: Mario Kart World, welcome ports, plus a great many Switch 1 gems. 3/5
• Price: It is expensive. Worth it, certainly, but it adds up so fast. 3/5

Nintendo Switch 2 review: buy it if

• You love Switch and wish it could run modern games
• You grab your gaming time in 20 minute bursts
• You value Nintendo’s ethos of fun and colour

Nintendo Switch 2 review: don't buy it if

• You already have a Switch and don’t notice its shortcomings
• You are a PC gamer who demands 120fps on ultra settings
• You’re scared of mice