Every Nintendo Switch 2 launch game reviewed - all 25 games so far

Metro

16 hours ago

Nintendo's new console already has two dozen games available, but reviews have been sparse, as GameCentral gives an overview of everything that's currently available.
It's been over two weeks since the Nintendo Switch 2 came out and it's only now that we can bring our coverage of the launch to a conclusion. For no adequately explored reason, Nintendo didn't send out review units until the day before launch, so no outlet was able to prepare reviews beforehand and even now it's only the high-profile ones that have been covered in any detail.
This has not pleased third party publishers, who have lost out on coverage they originally expected to help promote their games, and there's some launch titles that we're never going to get around to playing. What we've done though, is to try and draw a line under things and offer links to our full reviews, mini-reviews for ports we have played, and a brief description and Metacritic score for those we haven't.
There are only four Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives games so far – two from Nintendo and two from third party publishers – but many of the other games do have some new Switch 2 features, like mouse support or new modes. None of that makes much difference but what is encouraging is that the majority of the third party ports so far have been very high quality, and surprisingly close to the PlayStation 5 versions.
Nintendo – £74.99 (physical) or £66.99 (digital)
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The most high-profile launch game by such a degree that it has a staggering 95% attach rate in some regions. It's as clear an example of a console killer app as there's ever been but it's not the flawless creation that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was, with a strangely underutilised open world environment that doesn't spoil the experience but does make you wonder what else Nintendo has planned for the game, in terms of future DLC.
Score: 9/10 (Mario Kart World Switch 2 review)
Nintendo – £7.99
Not necessarily the worst game Nintendo has ever made but certainly the dullest. This well meaning interactive exhibit describes, in painstaking detail, what the Switch 2 can do and how it works. This can be quite interesting but the minimalist presentation and thoroughly un-entertaining mini-games make it a slog to get through, even if it is very cheap.
Score: 3/10 (Welcome Tour Switch 2 review)
Konami – £44.99
We're not even going to get into how Konami seems hellbent on rebooting every single franchise it owns except Castlevania, but we were actually quite excited to see the return of Survival Kids (aka Stranded Kids, aka Lost In Blue). The original was one of the very first survival games of any kind but sadly this new game is a highly repetitive co-op puzzle game, that's trying to channel some of the madcap fun of Overcooked! but doesn't really get close.
Score: 5/10 (Survival Kids Switch 2 review)
Shin'en – £13.49
The original F-Zero was a launch game for the SNES in Europe but while there still isn't a brand new game, the Switch 2 did get GameCube classic F-Zero GX, as well as this: the latest entry in the Fast series from tribute band Shin'en. They've been making F-Zero clones for over a decade now and while they still lack the nuance and finesse of Nintendo's games they're still a lot of fun and the graphics in Fast Fusion are very impressive for a budget-priced game.
Score: 7/10 (Fast Fusion Switch 2 review)
CD Projekt – £59.99
The most high-profile third party game for the Switch 2 is a port of Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion Phantom Liberty. CD Projekt Red has taken a lot of care over this one, utilising all the Switch 2's features, including optional motion controls, and putting out a version of the game with a superior performance to the PS4 Pro and in some cases even comparable to the PlayStation 5 edition.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition un-scored review
EA – £44.99
Apart from being one of the best games of the year – and one of the best co-op games of all time – the Switch 2 version of Split Fiction is very instructive in terms of what should be expected of third party ports in general.
For a start, it's the only current gen-only game available at launch. And while that's not a particularly good indication of the Switch 2's power, given that Split Fiction isn't a very graphically demanding game, it's still impressive that it works as well as it does. It's capped at 30fps when docked but it looks almost indistinguishable from the PlayStation 5 version.
It's also notable for having the same online features as the other versions, including cross-play, and the ability to GameShare with the Switch 1. This is a strange feature, because the game isn't available on Switch 1, but Donkey Kong Bananza seems to have the same option. As you might expect, the Switch 1 version doesn't run nearly as well as on the Switch 2, but it is playable, and this is presumably going to become a relatively common feature for Switch 2 games.
Score: 9/10 (Split Fiction PS5 review)
Warner Bros. Games – £49.99
If the functional but compromised original Switch port for Hogwarts Legacy was miraculous for simply existing, this Switch 2 version is a notable, welcome upgrade. The improved visual detail and loading times, while naturally not comparable to the PlayStation 5 (here's our full review of that) and Xbox Series X, now look easily in the same league as the last gen versions – if not better.
The main advantage of the Switch 2 version, if you casually ignore anyone who has played on a PC this century, is mouse controls. You can jump between the dual analogue setup and mouse functionality by flipping one Joy-Con on its side, and it transitions seamlessly between them whenever you want. There's a mouse sensitivity slider which you can attune to your speed and, after some adjustment in nailing down the spell configurations with the buttons twisted sideways, it quickly became our preferred way to play.
The big question is whether that justifies the £49.99 price tag. Considering the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions can be picked up relatively cheap these days (around £20), we'd recommend going for those instead, for the most polished wizarding role-playing experience. If Nintendo systems are your only option though, this is a substantial improvement over the original Switch port in every way.
Score: 8/10 (Hogwarts Legacy PS5 review)
Capcom – £34.99 (Years 1-2 Fighters Edition: £49.99)
Since it's also available on PlayStation 4, this isn't quite the miracle port it first seems but it's still hugely impressive. To a casual observer it looks almost identical to the PlayStation 5 version and while careful comparison shows it has less effects and the resolution is clearly being upscaled, the important thing is that multiplayer matches are all 60fps.
That's a big achievement for a launch game, especially as it supports rollback netcode and cross-play. The latter is vitally important in terms of ensuring a steady supply of opponents and while Nintendo's online infrastructure won't be put to the test until there are more Switch 2 owners in the world, it seems to work fine right now.
Switch 2 still seems the least appropriate console for a fighting game, given the Joy-Cons have no D-pad and we don't think there's a fighting stick for it yet, but beyond that this really has no drawbacks. There's the question of whether Capcom will give it exactly the same support as the other version but it's already got the current DLC available for it, so hopefully that means they're not just going to abandon it after launch.
Score: 9/10 (Street Fighter 6 PS5 review)
IO Interactive – £54.99
Another third party game that seems like the last thing you'd expect on a Nintendo console, but surprisingly this one runs worse than either Street Fighter 6 or Split Fiction. World Of Assassination is essentially all three modern Hitman games combined into one, so there's a ton of content available, as you try to take out your targets in as inventive a manner as possible.
Hitman has long been one of the best examples of sandbox gameplay in a mainstream video game, where you learn to exploit every inch of a level, and the characters within it, to complete your mission in increasingly unlikely ways.
There's no question that this is a great game, but the problem is that this is not the ideal way to experience it. The frame rate is uneven and while this isn't a straight action game there's a constant sense that it's only barely managing to work on the Switch 2. The occasionally blurry visuals are also less impressive than other launch ports and while some of that may be fixed with a patch, it's clear this is a fairly compromised port.
Score: 7/10 (Hitman 3 PS5 review)
Sega – £44.99
The Switch 1 version of Sonic X Shadow Generations is undeniably the worst one, if only for its locked frame rate of 30fps. Fortunately, the Switch 2 version is a solid revision that's almost on par with the PlayStation 5 version, which we reviewed here.
Both the Sonic and Shadow portions run at a consistent 60fps and visually the graphics don't seem any worse than the PlayStation 5 version – although some textures, like Shadow's chest fur, look a bit blurry in places. The cut scenes also don't reach 60fps, even on performance mode, but that's the case for the PlayStation 5 version too.
This also all applies to handheld mode, but everything looks a little blurrier for some reason, especially when boosting, making it the less ideal option compared to playing the game on the TV while docked. The biggest issue, is the fact that Sega isn't offering any sort of upgrade path for Switch 1 owners, meaning you've no choice but to pay full price for the Switch 2 version.
Score: 8/10 (Sonic X Shadow Generations PS5 review)
Sega – £44.99
Most of these third party games don't have any extra content, beyond maybe a few extra motion controls, but Yakuza 0 goes further by adding new cut scenes and a brand new online multiplayer mode. That sounds good in theory but it's easy to see why the cut scenes were deleted from the original version and the multiplayer mode adds up to very little. The game itself is still one of the best entries in the series though.
Score: 7/10 (Yakuza 0 Director's Cut Switch 2 review)
Capcom – £32.99
We were very frustrated by Path Of The Goddess when it was first released last year, as while we loved the unique art style and use of Japanese mythology, the promising mix of action and strategy was not all we hoped.
You control a warrior named Soh as you fight demonic monsters emerging from portals all around the game world. To seal the main one in each map you need to escort a priestess to it, while organising villagers to protect her in what could generously be described as a real-time strategy.
The problem is that the strategy elements are shallow and underplayed and while the game is fun and interestingly weird, it really doesn't add up to much. We were interested to see how the mouse controls work, but while they're fine on a technical level they're really not necessary, given how little of the map you can see at any one time.
Score: 6/10 (Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess PS5 review)
8-4 – £20.99
The first two chapters of the follow-up to Undertale had been released before the Switch 2 launch but the third and fourth (out of a total of seven) were kept back until now – although they're also now available on PlayStation and PC. The NES style graphics don't look like much and, to be honest, the role-playing battles do get repetitive, but the storytelling is just as engaging and subversive as Undertale.
We'll give the game a full review when all the chapters are out (the current four still only add up to about 14 hours) and we could easily see the score increasing by that point, but don't be put off by chapter 1 as it's easily the worst, especially in terms of repetition.
It's not the plot that's important in Deltarune but the bizarre range of characters and the surreal situations you find yourself in. Although at the heart of it all is a very pacifist ideology, that celebrates the power of love and the need for empathy without ever seeming mawkish or patronising. And while also paying homage to old school Japanese role-players and having a cracking soundtrack.
Score: 8/10
Sega – £34.99
Sega has been the most prolific supporter of the Switch 2 so far, with three launch titles, all of which have been reasonable efforts. We only reviewed the original crossover between puzzle games Puyo Puyo (better known to Mega Drive owners as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine) and Tetris but we're not too shocked to find that the sequel is pretty much the same.
It's stacked full of options, including a story mode, the chance to play both games individually, and the all-important crossover mode. This mixes the rules from both games and since they're similar enough it works pretty well, as your screen becomes filled with tetriminos and… whatever Puyos are supposed to be.
There are lots of other modes beyond just that, including one that adds minor role-playing elements, so it's perhaps no surprise that the only other thing they could think of for the Switch 2 version is a new 2v2 option. Apart from that, a resolution bump, and mouse controls (which don't work at all well) this is the exact same game that's already available on the Switch and, like Sonic X Shadow Generations, there's no upgrade option, if you already own the previous version.
Score: 8/10
Hamster – £14.99
A new Ridge Racer used to great every new console release but while that tradition has lapsed in recent years (there hasn't been a proper new Ridge Racer in over a decade) we did get this port of the original arcade game for the Switch 2 launch – although it's also available one Switch 1, Xbox, and PlayStation. As simplistic and shallow as it is, the game is still as much fun as ever, with this version also adding a time attack mode and allowing for rewinds and VRR support.
Score: 8/10
Nintendo – £66.99 (upgrade pack: £7.99)
One of the best games ever made gets a mild remastering for the Switch 2, which ups the resolution and raises the frame rate to 60fps. There are no other graphical improvements, so some of the texture work is looking a bit long in the tooth, but the smoother gameplay does make a real difference. There's also a free mobile app that can help you locate any Korok or shrines you missed.
Score: 10/10 (Breath Of The Wild Switch 2 review)
Nintendo – £66.99 (upgrade pack: £7.99)
The sequel to Breath Of The Wild gets the same treatment on Switch 2, with improved frame rate and visuals but no other significant changes. That's not a complaint though, especially as the upgrade for both remasters is surprisingly cheap, and completely free if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The mobile app also has an extra function for Tears Of The Kingdom, allowing you to share Ultrahand creations via a QR code.
Score: 10/10 (Tears Of The Kingdom Switch 2 review)
2K – £59.99 (upgrade pack: £10.00)
Take-Two didn't send out review copies for this game and given there's only two reviews on Metacritic we're guessing that was the same for everyone. It's a shame, because the PC-orientated design is perfect for showing off the Switch 2's mouse controls, but we've no idea how well it does or doesn't work. The Metacritic scores are 60 and 70 though, so that doesn't sound too promising. Mind you, the original PC version wasn't great either and while that will likely change over time here's our launch review.
Koei Tecmo – £57.99
To be clear, these last few games we didn't chase up for review copies, because we knew they'd be low priority, and we didn't have time to look properly at them. Nobunaga's Ambition is a long (incredibly long – it started out on PC in 1983) running series of grand strategy games, most of which weren't released in the West until quite recently. We don't know how this one is but it has a Metacritic score of 81.
Square Enix – £33.99
While Square Enix has already announced that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is coming to the Switch 2 their only launch game is this considerably lower profile remaster. The original was pretty good, and felt more like old school Final Fantasy games than any of the modern entries in the series, but it was a 3DS game so there's only so much this remaster can do; especially as it also has to battle with a terrible story and voiceovers, which prevented the original from becoming a true classic. The current Metacritic score is 84.
Hello Games – £39.99
The frustrating thing about all this is that there's no master list of available titles for the Switch 2 and Nintendo has made no effort to highlight third party titles, so it's been difficult to even draw up a list of titles that were released on June 5. One of the last to be announced was this new version of space exploration game No Man's Sky, which we've not played but has proven very popular, if the eShop charts are anything to go by. There're only three scores on Metacritic so far (it takes four to get an aggregate), of 90, 90, and 100.
Marvelous – £59.99 (upgrade pack: £10.00)
Although this spin-off from the Harvest Moon/Story Of Seasons franchise was out for the Switch 2's launch it also released the same day on Switch 1 and PC. We haven't played it, but we've never been impressed with the series and its attempts to mix farming with dungeon crawling – so both aspects are usually very shallow and repetitive. Maybe Guardians Of Azuma is different though, as it has four reviews on Metacritic, adding up to a score of 80.
Konami – £44.99
If nothing else, this wins the award for the longest game name this year, and the Switch 2 already has a number of contenders for that accolade. We've not played these particular remasters but we imagine they're identical to the ones released last year. Suikoden 2 in particular is an all-time classic and we've reviewed it many times before, as it's one of the best role-playing games of the PS1 era, with some interesting strategy elements.
Level-5 – £52.03 More Trending
Seriously, what is going on with the length of these game names? We haven't played Fantasy Life I, but it's from another franchise we've never been impressed by. A sort of cross between Final Fantasy and Animal Crossing, the idea is that you lead a relatively mundane life in a fantasy world, taking the role of not just mercenary and mage, but also a cook and woodcutter. Or at least that's how it was in the one we played. There are only three reviews on Metacritic, for 80, 90, and another 90.
Epic Games
Now this one we have played, for the obvious reason that it's free-to-play. Maybe it's just how the algorithm has us pegged but we've seen more advertising for Fortnite on Switch 2 than anything from Nintendo – and not without reason. The game runs extremely well on Nintendo's new console and the demographic for the two must match up exactly. It's not clear if player numbers will ever be revealed but we expect Fortnite to prove very popular on Nintendo's new format.
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