Nintendo Switch 2 review: The good, the bad and the middling of the $719 console
The Switch 2's most noticeable upgrade is its 7.9-inch 1,080p screen with up to 120Hz refresh rates. PHOTO: AFP
Nintendo Switch 2 review: The good, the bad and the middling of the $719 console
SINGAPORE – Nintendo has done it again.
Eight years after the Nintendo Switch revolutionised console gaming by offering a hybrid experience that combines handheld gaming and home consoles, the Switch 2 brings key refinements to the Japanese gamemaker's flagship console.
The question is not whether the Switch 2 improves on its predecessor – it does – but whether these improvements justify the hike from the first iteration's $425 launch price.
Despite key improvements, playtesting the console reminds me more of the modest step from Nintendo's Wii to the Wii U, rather than the revolutionary leap between the latter console and the Switch.
The Good: A better Switch
The Switch 2's most noticeable upgrade is its 7.9-inch 1,080p screen with up to 120Hz refresh rates – a big improvement over the original's 6.2-inch 720p screen. Games look visibly sharper and crisper, and the larger screen makes extended handheld sessions more comfortable.
Under the hood, hardware improvements enable technically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2020) to run smoothly on Nintendo hardware for the first time.
Storage also receives a long overdue upgrade from 32GB of internal storage to 256GB – addressing one of the Switch's most frustrating limitations: insufficient space for today's increasingly expansive digital games.
Build quality remains a Nintendo hallmark, but the new aesthetic abandons the bold neon red-blue scheme for subtler accents and sleeker lines.
The new Joy-Cons have a magnetic attachment system that make for easier attachment and removal. And they now allow for motion-controlled mouse functionality, opening up games that were originally made for the PC, like Civilization VII (2025), to more intuitive gameplay.
Backwards compatibility with the original Switch's games is another selling point. Only a few of the over 15,000 games available for the device cannot be played on the Switch 2.
The Lukewarm: Launch games are hit or miss
The biggest new release in the small line-up of games made for the Switch 2 is racing game Mario Kart World (2025).
PHOTO: AFP
What might turn some enthusiasts off is the new console's reliance on this backwards compatibility.
The biggest new release in the small line-up of games made for the Switch 2 is racing game Mario Kart World (2025) – unlike in 2017 when the original Switch launched with The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017) as one of its exclusive titles.
Most of the other launch highlights are Nintendo Switch 2 ports or remakes of popular hits like Breath Of The Wild , Cyberpunk 2077 , Split Fiction (2025) and Bravely Default (2012).
While all original Switch games can be played on the new Switch, not all games will receive the free update that allows them to fully utilise the Switch's new features – like the social function GameChat or the device's upgraded hardware.
As a gamer whose most anticipated upcoming Nintendo release is Pokemon Z-A (set for an Oct 16 release), one point of frustration is having to pay US$10 (S$13) more for the Nintendo Switch 2 edition. T his mark-up on Switch 2 game prices appears to be the norm for games also available for the Switch.
Other small but easy-to-miss tweaks include the console's new kickstand. When coupled with a new USB-C charging port on top of the device, this allows for yet another mode of portable gameplay.
A new feature, GameShare, lets players share their e-cartridges – digital versions of games they have bought – with fellow Switch 2 owners for up to 14 days. However, porting over old digital games from the original Switch locks them out of that device.
The Ugly: Cost of technical refinements
The technical refinements come with some frustrating drawbacks. The biggest among them is that the new console's battery life marks a regression from that of the original Switch.
While the original has a battery life of 4½ to nine hours, the new Switch has only two to 6½ hours of battery life – a step back for the hybrid console .
The console's weight with Joy-Cons attached has also gone up to 534g from 400g , though it still feels comfortable to hold.
Nintendo's traditional stubbornness also persists in unintuitive ways. For one, Singapore still lacks a dedicated eShop, meaning that Singapore users looking to buy and download their favourite games must do so in foreign currencies.
The Switch 2's $719 price point positions it as a premium gaming device, approaching the cost of a PlayStation 5 ($669+) and Xbox Series X ($799+), but with greater portability – at the cost of poorer technical performance in certain areas.
As an evolution of the concept, the Switch 2 delivers what it promises: a better Switch. But it does not fundamentally reimagine what that means.
Verdict: To buy or not to buy?
If you are a gamer already satisfied with your current Switch and do not crave the technical upgrades necessary to run hardware-demanding games, it might make sense to hold off until more exclusive games are released for the Switch 2.
But if you loved the original Switch and everything it represents , the Switch 2's refinements make it a clear upgrade in every regard except for battery life and price point.
For dedicated Nintendo fans, these upgrades seem to be worth the investment. The console s old 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days. I n contrast, i ts predecessor sold 2.7 million units in its first month.
Part of what explains this feat – beyond the Switch 2's refinements – is how, much like the original Switch, Nintendo's flagship console arrives at a lull period in video game console development.
Console-makers Sony and Microsoft have only just begun to tease the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox. Their last new consoles were released in 2020.
In the absence of other next-generation offerings, console enthusiasts seeking a shiny new bauble are hardly spoilt for choice.
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Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Nintendo Switch 2 review: The good, the bad and the middling of the $719 console
The Switch 2's most noticeable upgrade is its 7.9-inch 1,080p screen with up to 120Hz refresh rates. PHOTO: AFP Nintendo Switch 2 review: The good, the bad and the middling of the $719 console SINGAPORE – Nintendo has done it again. Eight years after the Nintendo Switch revolutionised console gaming by offering a hybrid experience that combines handheld gaming and home consoles, the Switch 2 brings key refinements to the Japanese gamemaker's flagship console. The question is not whether the Switch 2 improves on its predecessor – it does – but whether these improvements justify the hike from the first iteration's $425 launch price. Despite key improvements, playtesting the console reminds me more of the modest step from Nintendo's Wii to the Wii U, rather than the revolutionary leap between the latter console and the Switch. The Good: A better Switch The Switch 2's most noticeable upgrade is its 7.9-inch 1,080p screen with up to 120Hz refresh rates – a big improvement over the original's 6.2-inch 720p screen. Games look visibly sharper and crisper, and the larger screen makes extended handheld sessions more comfortable. Under the hood, hardware improvements enable technically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2020) to run smoothly on Nintendo hardware for the first time. Storage also receives a long overdue upgrade from 32GB of internal storage to 256GB – addressing one of the Switch's most frustrating limitations: insufficient space for today's increasingly expansive digital games. Build quality remains a Nintendo hallmark, but the new aesthetic abandons the bold neon red-blue scheme for subtler accents and sleeker lines. The new Joy-Cons have a magnetic attachment system that make for easier attachment and removal. And they now allow for motion-controlled mouse functionality, opening up games that were originally made for the PC, like Civilization VII (2025), to more intuitive gameplay. Backwards compatibility with the original Switch's games is another selling point. Only a few of the over 15,000 games available for the device cannot be played on the Switch 2. The Lukewarm: Launch games are hit or miss The biggest new release in the small line-up of games made for the Switch 2 is racing game Mario Kart World (2025). PHOTO: AFP What might turn some enthusiasts off is the new console's reliance on this backwards compatibility. The biggest new release in the small line-up of games made for the Switch 2 is racing game Mario Kart World (2025) – unlike in 2017 when the original Switch launched with The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017) as one of its exclusive titles. Most of the other launch highlights are Nintendo Switch 2 ports or remakes of popular hits like Breath Of The Wild , Cyberpunk 2077 , Split Fiction (2025) and Bravely Default (2012). While all original Switch games can be played on the new Switch, not all games will receive the free update that allows them to fully utilise the Switch's new features – like the social function GameChat or the device's upgraded hardware. As a gamer whose most anticipated upcoming Nintendo release is Pokemon Z-A (set for an Oct 16 release), one point of frustration is having to pay US$10 (S$13) more for the Nintendo Switch 2 edition. T his mark-up on Switch 2 game prices appears to be the norm for games also available for the Switch. Other small but easy-to-miss tweaks include the console's new kickstand. When coupled with a new USB-C charging port on top of the device, this allows for yet another mode of portable gameplay. A new feature, GameShare, lets players share their e-cartridges – digital versions of games they have bought – with fellow Switch 2 owners for up to 14 days. However, porting over old digital games from the original Switch locks them out of that device. The Ugly: Cost of technical refinements The technical refinements come with some frustrating drawbacks. The biggest among them is that the new console's battery life marks a regression from that of the original Switch. While the original has a battery life of 4½ to nine hours, the new Switch has only two to 6½ hours of battery life – a step back for the hybrid console . The console's weight with Joy-Cons attached has also gone up to 534g from 400g , though it still feels comfortable to hold. Nintendo's traditional stubbornness also persists in unintuitive ways. For one, Singapore still lacks a dedicated eShop, meaning that Singapore users looking to buy and download their favourite games must do so in foreign currencies. The Switch 2's $719 price point positions it as a premium gaming device, approaching the cost of a PlayStation 5 ($669+) and Xbox Series X ($799+), but with greater portability – at the cost of poorer technical performance in certain areas. As an evolution of the concept, the Switch 2 delivers what it promises: a better Switch. But it does not fundamentally reimagine what that means. Verdict: To buy or not to buy? If you are a gamer already satisfied with your current Switch and do not crave the technical upgrades necessary to run hardware-demanding games, it might make sense to hold off until more exclusive games are released for the Switch 2. But if you loved the original Switch and everything it represents , the Switch 2's refinements make it a clear upgrade in every regard except for battery life and price point. For dedicated Nintendo fans, these upgrades seem to be worth the investment. The console s old 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days. I n contrast, i ts predecessor sold 2.7 million units in its first month. Part of what explains this feat – beyond the Switch 2's refinements – is how, much like the original Switch, Nintendo's flagship console arrives at a lull period in video game console development. Console-makers Sony and Microsoft have only just begun to tease the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox. Their last new consoles were released in 2020. In the absence of other next-generation offerings, console enthusiasts seeking a shiny new bauble are hardly spoilt for choice. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
9 hours ago
- CNA
5 reasons the Nintendo Switch 2 is a must-buy – and 5 games to play now
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally launching in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines on Thursday (Jun 26), with Malaysia following suit on Jul 3. The newest Nintendo console is already a bestseller, having sold 3.5 million units in just four days when it launched in the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Retailing at S$716 for the base unit, and S$769 for the Mario Kart World bundle in Singapore, the new handheld console features improvements across the board, including a much faster processor that will load all your games a lot faster than the original Switch. If you're yet undecided on whether to pick up the new console yet, read on. 5 REASONS TO GET THE NINTENDO SWITCH 2 1. A MUCH LARGER AND BETTER SCREEN Compared to the 6.2-inch of the original Switch, the Switch 2 comes with a much bigger 7.9-inch LCD screen. It features a 1080p resolution, which will give you crisp and clear graphics, while also featuring HDR10 for much more vibrant colours. The cherry on top is variable refresh rate, a feature that lets the console adjust how the screen displays your content. This gives you a much smoother and more responsive visual experience when you play games that support this feature. What all this adds up to is a handheld console that your eyes will really appreciate, especially as you're cruising down the racetrack in Mario Kart World. And the bigger screen makes it a lot easier to play with a friend in handheld mode when it's resting on a table, too. 2. MUCH BETTER CONTROLLERS Nintendo has also upgraded the Joy-Con controllers, this time with a new docking system that uses magnets. This means you don't have to slide the Joy-Con controllers in like the original Switch. Simply put the Joy-Con controllers at the side and they snap into place. To undock the controllers, simply press a button at the side and they pop right back out. The controllers are also slightly bigger and feel sturdier, and you'll love how much more comfortable they are to use in your hand compared to the original Switch Joy-Cons. And since it's larger, the top SR and SL buttons are also bigger and much easier to press. 3. BETTER PERFORMANCE The Nintendo Switch 2 uses a custom Nvidia chip that offers substantial improvements over the original Switch's Tegra X1 chip. This new chip not only loads games much faster, it also allows the console to access features such as Ray Tracing, Nvidia's DLSS upscaling, and supports 4K resolution when the Switch 2 is docked. Ray Tracing simulates and traces how light rays are in the real world, which allows realistic looking reflections, shadows and light effects. Meanwhile, DLSS is an AI-powered image reconstruction system that uses a lower resolution image and upscales it to look good. 4. WAY MORE STORAGE Nintendo is massively upping the size of the Switch 2's storage with 256GB compared to the original Switch, which only came with 32GB, and the OLED version which comes with 64GB. This means you can download plenty of games without worrying about running out of space, and if you really need more, the Switch 2 console lets you add up to 2TB using a microSD Express card. 5. GAMECHAT LETS YOU CHAT WITH FRIENDS WHILE GAMING This new feature lets you voice or video chat with up to 12 friends at the same time, share your screen, and even works when you're playing different games. You can also connect any USB-C camera to the Switch 2 for video. While GameChat requires a Nintendo Online membership usually, it's currently in Open-Access, and will be free to use until Mar 31, 2026. 5 GAMES TO PLAY ON YOUR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 As the first official game for the Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World is a fun multiplayer game that you will spend hours speeding around a vast world filled with impressive looking race tracks. You can play with up to four people locally using split screen, and it's even better when docked, since you can play it in 4K resolution on a huge TV. Besides the standard grand prix modes, there's also a last-man-standing mode called Knockout Tour which features you racing continuously through all the four race tracks without a break, and if you get knocked out if you aren't within the minimum positions required. It's actually pretty fun if you like long endurance type races. And if just plain racing feels too boring for you, Mario Kart World is the first game in the series to offer an open world experience called Free Roam. You can simply zip around the open world to look at the scenery or try out racing tricks such as grinding on rails and practise before the actual race modes. 2. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD NINTENDO SWITCH 2 EDITION One of the launch titles for the original Nintendo Switch, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is a classic that's still a lot of fun if you've never played the original. You play as Link, the silent protagonist who must save the world. There are powers to unlock, monsters to fight and a princess to save. It's all played out in an open world setting, letting you decide how you want to approach the game in a very non-linear style. The Switch 2 Edition features performance enhancements, including higher resolution support, improved frame rates, HDR support and fast loading times. If you already own the base game on the Switch, you can buy an upgrade pack from Nintendo eShop so you don't have to buy the whole game again. 3. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM NINTENDO SWITCH 2 EDITION The sequel to Breath Of The Wild, Tears Of The Kingdom sees Link trying to save the world again from a new threat. This time around, there are new powers, a vast underground world and islands in the air to explore, and the ability to build machines such as cars or planes. And best of all, one of the new abilities you get lets you reverse time, which opens up a lot of tricks you can do, such as reversing falling debris to squash enemies, or even using it to climb up buildings you normally wouldn't be able to. Time travel can be messy to understand, but Tears Of The Kingdom makes it fun. 4. CYBERPUNK 2077 If you're in the mood for a dystopian sci-fi RPG, Cyberpunk 2077 is finally available on Nintendo's handheld console. And it's only available on the Switch 2, as it requires the performance of the new console to run. You're a high-tech mercenary in the fictional Night City in California and must try to figure out how to survive being overwritten by another consciousness. Bear in mind that this game features adult themes and settings, so you may want to enable parental controls on your Switch 2 if you have kids. 5. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 WELCOME TOUR While this game is technically a tech demo for the Switch 2, it features a bunch of fun mini-games that will let you get familiar with the Switch 2's capabilities. And best of all, it takes place inside a reconstruction of the Switch 2, the Joy-Con, and other accessories, which is actually pretty cool. Note that this isn't a free pack-in title, you'll have to fork out US$9.99. You'll also need a USB webcam for some challenges, but you can do that with any USB-C compatible webcam – you don't need the official Nintendo version.
CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
Commentary: Nintendo's secret for the Switch 2? Ignore the extremely online
TOKYO: Online, gamers declared the Switch 2 'anti-consumer'. In reality, no one cared. With Nintendo charging US$450 for its new device – and up to US$80 for some games – influencers and TikTokers took to their accounts to warn it was too expensive. Across social media, others decried how new terms of service gave the Japanese firm the ability to remotely disable the latest machine if they detected unauthorised activity. Many games sold in physical packages were, they complained, glorified download codes. Anyone expecting the backlash to dent sales was disappointed. The Switch 2 is not only Nintendo's best-selling device ever, it has become the fastest-selling games console of all time with 3.5 million units snapped up in the first four days alone. Shares have hit record highs. For executives, it's the latest example of an increasingly pertinent lesson: While the internet has given consumers a voice, you must not confuse it for reality. THE NOISE OF THE TERMINALLY ONLINE Separating the signal of genuine consumer sentiment from the noise of the most terminally online is a challenge. Early feedback can often be useful: Sony changed the design of the original 'boomerang' PlayStation 3 controller after online mockery; Nintendo itself should have responded quicker to complaints about broken original Switch controllers. But frequently, digital conversation is divorced from actual consumer behaviour. Consider how, as smartphones grew larger during the 2010s, online users demanded smaller devices that could be easily used with one hand – something Steve Jobs had championed before his death. But when Apple finally responded with the iPhone Mini in 2020, those users simply didn't show up in large numbers, and it was discontinued in 2023. Having coined the slogan 'think different', Apple is used to facing down fuss, from its removal of MacBook disk drives to abandoning the headphone jack. Nonetheless, in the noise there is sometimes signal – the firm ignored the iPhone 4 'Antennagate' issue for much too long and was forced into an embarrassing climbdown. Online communities are frequently too far in the weeds to represent the average consumer. On social media, advocates for preserving physical games are upset with the Switch 2's Game Key cards, which are essentially just a code to download the game from the internet. The move is good for software makers, who pay less for the memory cartridge, but in future years means Nintendo will have to keep those downloads available. Still, it's a niche issue: The average Switch 2 buyer, raised on Netflix and Spotify, likely couldn't care less about physical ownership of most games. KNOWING WHO TO IGNORE It's also increasingly hard to isolate genuine fan engagement from click-chasing rage-bait. Online revenue-sharing creates incentive for insincere actors to generate controversy that often matters little to the wider public. There was much ink spilled and calls for boycotts ahead of the launch of Warner Bros' Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy, owing to author JK Rowling's views on gender and trans issues. None of that stopped it becoming one of the best-selling of all time. Meanwhile, right-leaning activists have led backlashes over Sony's The Last of Us Part II (decried for inclusive changes from the first game, including a lesbian protagonist and transgender character) and Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows (due to its choice of a Black samurai hero) that have had little sales impact. Knowing who to ignore isn't just a tech issue. A growing theory among those on the political left posits that the movement's failure to stop the election of US President Donald Trump could be due to ideological capture by overly active online voices on the fringes – leading politicians to focus on niche concerns of little interest to the majority of voters. Of course, online issues can end up being important. The backlash to faded social network Tumblr's decision to eliminate adult content preceded a decline in popularity that saw it sold for a fraction of the US$1.1 billion it cost in 2013. The #MeToo movement emerged from testimonies shared over social media to become a worldwide phenomenon. And indeed, much of the success of the Switch itself comes from Nintendo's responding to gamers' complaints about its predecessor, the Wii U. But consumers often simply don't know what they want. Henry Ford may not have actually said that if he'd asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. But it's nonetheless true that users will say one thing when their revealed preferences show otherwise. Social media is acclaimed as the 'global town square' where grand ideas are debated and exchanged. But in reality, it's often more like a crowded bar – where the loudest voice usually isn't the one you should pay attention to.
