I played the Nintendo Switch 2 and, yes, it's exactly what you'd expect (and want)
The Nintendo Switch 2 isn't reinventing the wheel for its console, but it wonderfully refines what made the original so beloved.
It was a rainy Saturday in New York City last weekend with a full day planned, including George Clooney’s Broadway debut. When Nintendo invites you to play their new console before it’s released, you work around your plans and brave the rain. The anticipation was palpable as I made my way to the event.
First impressions and Mario Kart World
The event kicked off with the usual hardware showcase—new controllers, accessories, sleek new console design—all nice to look at through their glass cases, but mostly appetizers before the real meal. I quickly made my way to the first game: Mario Kart World.
We started off playing in docked mode, racing through a couple of Grand Prix rounds against another attendee you were paired up with. The game immediately felt familiar yet fresh: the graphics on a big screen looked excellent, and the controls were effortlessly smooth.
Switching over to handheld mode, I was disappointed the screen wasn’t OLED, but even still, the visuals were surprisingly excellent. Roaming through open-world tracks added a layer of exploration that felt entirely new for Mario Kart, plus some of the new gameplay elements, like grinding on rails and doing tricks in the air, are fun.
Here’s a little video I took with my Ray-Ban Meta glasses:
Things moved upstairs when we dove into the Knockout Tour. The slowest players were eliminated at every checkpoint in this massive, chaotic, 24-person race. It was 15 minutes of pure adrenaline and laughter—exactly the kind of Nintendo multiplayer madness that reminds you why these events exist.
Drag x Drive and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Next up was a giant demo area packed with games, giving off big E3 vibes—minus the sweaty crowds. With limited time, I sprinted straight to Drag x Drive, which I couldn’t wait to play since it was announced at the keynote.
This wheelchair basketball game cleverly takes advantage of the new Joy-Con features, turning them into a pseudo-mouse-and-keyboard setup. At first, it felt like trying to play with oven mittens (not that I’ve tried), but after a few minutes, the controls clicked. Soon enough, I could turn on a dime, fire successful jump shots and was totally hooked. It was one of those surprise hits you don’t expect, but then think about for days afterward.
Also impressive was Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Running at a silky-smooth 120fps, this game looked stunning. After scanning my environment to enter new areas and getting used to the controls, I then entered a boss battle where the new mouse-like Joy-Con controls shone. It gave off (simple) PC gaming vibes, a first for a Nintendo console, letting me aim more precisely and naturally while dodging enemy attacks. Again, everything looked great and ran smoothly, so it all seems the wait will be worth it.
A few other quick highlights of games I tried:
Cyberpunk 2077: It didn’t exactly shine on Switch 2. The graphics were disappointing, though it played well enough (e.g., no slowdowns, though it seemed to be 30fps).
Hogwarts Legacy: Looked alright—think PS4 visuals—but struggled noticeably with framerate issues oddly enough.
Hades II: Perfect for handheld and will be a console exclusive at launch. Looked great and felt great. As someone who sunk too many hours into the original on Steam Deck, this is a must buy.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Interesting use of the new Joy-Con mouse controls. It worked well enough, but if I’m someone is playing Civilization seriously, they probably stick with PC or commit to handheld.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut: I remembered why I didn’t click with Yakuza the first time I played one of the games a while ago—it feels like slow pacing and repetitive gameplay. The graphics were not great, either. Definitely for die-hard fans only.
GameCube Classics: As a massive GameCube fan, I had to check out some of the titles on display. Revisiting Wind Waker on the Switch 2 was pure nostalgia. The classic controller felt just as perfect as always (yes, I said it).
The event had a very E3-esque vibe to it. Lots of stations setup with dedicated games and employees to tell you about it. / JOSH MCCONNELL
Donkey Kong Bananza steals the show
After my time on the show floor wrapped, the grand finale of the Experience was an area dedicated to Donkey Kong Bananza, a game developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team (which you can tell based on its charm).
The gameplay was pure joy: smashing (and throwing) rocks, digging into terrain, collecting bananas, and basically destroying anything that looked remotely smashable. Visually stunning, Bananza was a fitting way to wrap things up, though the occasionally erratic camera during intense smashing sprees did prompt Nintendo staff to gently warn about potential motion sickness before playing.
Final impressions and thoughts
The Switch 2 isn’t exactly reinventing the console wheel, but it refines what made the original so beloved. With improved graphics, clever new Joy-Con features, and standout titles, Switch 2 is undoubtedly a compelling package. It’s a more polished and sophisticated-looking Nintendo Switch with updated power.
My top picks from the event? The delightful Donkey Kong Bananza, the classic yet fresh Mario Kart World, and the unexpected gem Drag x Drive. As I left, Nintendo sweetened the deal with some stylish Switch 2 backpacks. Who doesn’t love a bit of branded swag to clutter their closet?
I was already sold on the Switch 2, but this event was the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to get my hands on one at launch in June, assuming I’m quick enough to snag one and tariffs don’t make it $1000.