Switch 2 reviews: What the critics love — and don't love — about it
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
After months of anticipation, the Switch 2 is finally here, and the early reactions are good news for Nintendo and gamers alike.
Thursday was the launch day for the Switch 2, and even within the first 24 hours, we're already getting an idea of how it runs and feels outside of closely monitored Nintendo demos.
If you're still wondering whether it's worth waiting in a long line at your nearest gaming store to get your hands on a Switch 2, you may want to check restocks sooner rather than later because it sounds like you're missing out.
Here's a look at what the early reviews for the Switch 2 are saying, including the highlight that could win over reluctant Switch 1 owners.
See also: Where to buy the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, games, and accessories
Includes:
Nintendo Switch 2 Console
Includes The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Includes amiibo Riju: The Legend of Zelda Series
Includes amiibo Sidon: The Legend of Zelda Series
Includes amiibo Tulin: The Legend of Zelda SeriesView Deal
The new-and-improved Joy-Cons are arguably the most important highlight of the Switch 2 in early reviews.
In his unboxing video, YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) said, "These Joy-Cons are so much better than the old ones."
He also praised the larger overall size of the new Joy-Cons, including the larger buttons and joysticks, and improved ergonomics. However, Brownlee raised the question of durability with the pins that connect the Joy-Cons to Switch 2. Attaching and removing the new Joy-Cons is more fluid, but that single pin connecting them does seem like it could be fragile if you aren't careful.
TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff shared similar praise for the new Joy-Cons, commenting in an X posts, "First impressions: It's relatively thin and light but has a density or heft to it that gives it a quality feel. The ergonomics are solid. Love that the Joy-Cons snap on and off magnetically."
Not everyone was totally satisfied with the design, though. YouTuber Austin Evans answered some FAQs in his hands-on video with the Switch 2, where he compared it to handheld gaming PCs and the Switch Lite.
"I think [the Switch 2] is slightly too big, if I'm honest with you, but you're talking to a guy who likes the Switch Lite," Evans said. He added, "The Switch Lite is still the superior size, but the Switch 2 is fine."
This is a valid criticism since the larger display may make the Switch 2 a bit more unwieldy to hold, especially for gamers with small hands. If you're used to the compact Switch Lite, the ergonomics of the larger Switch 2 may take some getting used to.
One of the Switch 2's biggest selling points is its larger, higher-quality display, which supports up to 4K resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. However, you might have a hard time testing out those display options at first since you'll need a TV with a compatible resolution and games that support the higher resolution and refresh rate.
Austin Evans explained this in his video: "You can only do 120Hz if you're at 1080p or 1440p."
That applies to internal and external displays. Only a handful of games currently support those higher display options, though. As Brownlee pointed out in his unboxing video, Mario Kart World is the best way to experience the 120Hz display, at least for right now.
Brownlee praised the display, saying, "The 7.9-inch display looks way better; 120Hz looks so much better."
When comparing the Switch 2 to the Switch OLED, Brownlee also made a good point about the lack of OLED on the Switch 2: "At the end of the day, most people just want a bigger screen, and that's what the Switch 2 is delivering. We also fully expect, if we're being reasonable, there's probably going to be a Switch 2 OLED at some point."
As much as the Switch 2 is off to a good start, this is a crucial point to consider if you're considering buying one. If you don't mind waiting, you might be better off holding out for the Switch 2 OLED. By the time it comes out, perhaps a couple of years from now, many more games will be available specifically for the Switch 2 and designed to take advantage of the newer hardware.
While games and hardware are probably top-of-mind for most gamers, it's also nice to hear that the Switch 2's UI and eShop seem to be smoother and cleaner than they were on the Switch 1.
You might not notice the difference at first. As Evans remarked, "The Switch 2 seems to have almost the exact same software. It's a little different. You can see that the UI is a little cleaner-looking on [the] Switch 2 compared to Switch 1."
Tabitha Baker of GamesRadar+ agreed, saying, "This is pretty much the same deal as you'll find on the original, barring some GameChat functionality and slicker highlighting across the main screen."
TechRadar's Rhys Wood praised the new-and-improved eShop on the Switch 2 in his live review, saying, "I can confirm the [eShop] experience is a heck of a lot smoother now. Individual store listings can cycle trailers and screenshots very smoothly, and everything just seems to be organized a lot better. Additionally, I've noticed that download speeds appear to be much faster than they were on the base Switch model."
Considering all of these initial first impressions, is it worth waiting in those long lines or vigilantly watching restock notifications to try to get your hands on a Switch 2?
Possibly, although there are reasons to wait. The Switch 2 genuinely does have some major improvements over the original, specifically the greatly improved Joy-Cons and a much higher-quality display. If you can afford the price tag (at least $449) and you have an opportunity to purchase one, the Switch 2 offers a nice upgrade over its predecessor.
With that said, there are a couple of reasons it might be worth waiting on the Switch 2. For starters, buying one at launch is very challenging due to the sheer demand for this console. If you're happy with your current Switch, you can save yourself some trouble by waiting until this initial hype cools down. For instance, if you wait until Black Friday, you might even be able to get your Switch 2 on sale.
On a practical level, there aren't many games specifically for the Switch 2 available yet. So, you're not missing out on a lot at the moment. More games designed for this new hardware will be available as we get closer to the end of the year.
Lastly, as mentioned above, it's worth considering the possibility of a Switch 2 OLED down the line. If you recently purchased an original Switch or can't afford the Switch 2 right now, you might be better off saving your money until an even better Switch 2 with an OLED display comes along.
If you just can't wait to play the new Mario Kart, though, you can check live restock updates for your best shot at buying a Nintendo Switch 2.
Where to buy the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, games, and accessories
I went hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2. It's phenomenal in every way — with one quirk
"I'm really excited — but not about the price": As tariff threats loom, Nintendo fans at exclusive NYC event are torn over the Switch 2
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx among honorees at 2025 BET Awards: Full winners list (updating live)
The 2025 BET Awards, hosted by Kevin Hart, took center stage Monday night to honor Black excellence across music, film, television, and sports. Dubbed "Culture's Biggest Night," the star-studded event showcased the best of the best in creative achievement. Heading into the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar led the nominations with an impressive 10 nods, including Album of the Year for GNX, Video of the Year, Viewer's Choice Award, Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, and Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Close behind were Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla, each receiving six nominations. Metro Boomin came in with five bids, while SZA and The Weeknd tied with four nominations apiece. More from GoldDerby Billy Bob Thornton on 'Landman's' overnight 'international hit' status and how he's 'afraid' to read reviews 'Sly Stone was way ahead of the game': Questlove explains the 'genius' legacy of the late funk-rock master Pickleball, punchlines, and personal growth: 'Hacks' stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs on their bond and what's next Lamar's fellow Album of the Year nominees are Chris Brown for 11:11 (Deluxe), Doechii for Alligator Bites Never Heal, Beyoncé for Cowboy Carter, GloRilla for Glorious, the Weeknd for Hurry Up Tomorrow, Drake and PartyNextDoor for Some Sexy Songs 4 U, and Future and Metro Boomin for We Don't Trust You. The eight films nominated for Best Movie are Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Luther: Never Too Much, Mufasa: The Lion King, One of Them Days, Rebel Ridge, The Piano Lesson, and The Six Triple Eight. Adding to the night's celebration, BET previously announced that Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin will receive the prestigious BET Ultimate Icon Award. The honor recognizes their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact. The 25th annual BET Awards will air live on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET/PT. See the full list of 2025 BET Awards winners below. ALBUM OF THE YEAR 11:11 (Deluxe) — Chris Brown Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé Glorious — GloRilla GNX — Kendrick Lamar Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd Some Sexy Songs 4 U — Drake and PartyNextDoor We Don't Trust You — Future and Metro Boomin VIDEO OF THE YEAR '3AM in Tokeyo' — Key Glock 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' — Shaboozey 'After Hours' — Kehlani 'Denial Is a River' — Doechii 'Family Matters' — Drake 'Not Like Us' — Kendrick Lamar 'Timeless' — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti 'Type Shit' — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott and Playboi Carti VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD 'Residuals — Chris Brown 'Denial Is a River — Doechii Nokia — Drake 'Like That — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar 'TGIF — GloRilla 'Not Like Us — Kendrick Lamar 'Luther — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA 'Brokey — Latto BEST COLLABORATION '30 for 30' — SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar 'Alter Ego' — Doechii featuring JT 'Are You Even Real' — Teddy Swims featuring Giveon 'Beckham' — Dee Billz featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo and KJ Swervo 'Bless' — Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug 'Like That' — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar 'Luther' — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA 'Sticky' — Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne 'Timeless' — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST Bruno Mars Chris Brown Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas III Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker SZA Victoria Monét BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST Cardi B Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Burna Boy Drake Future Kendrick Lamar Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, the Creator BEST NEW ARTIST 41 Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Dee Billz Leon Thomas III October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims BEST GROUP 41 Common and Pete Rock Drake and PartyNextDoor Flo Future and Metro Boomin Jacquees and Dej Loaf Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist Maverick City Music BET HER AWARD Beautiful People — Mary J. Blige Blackbiird — Beyoncé Bloom — Doechii Defying Gravity — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Heart of a Woman — Summer Walker Hold On — Tems In My Bag — Flo and GloRilla VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Anderson .Paak B Pace Productions and Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, the Creator BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD 'A God (There Is)' — Common and Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson 'Amen' — Pastor Mike Jr. 'Better Days' — Fridayy 'Church Doors' — Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix) 'Constant' — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula 'Deserve to Win' — Tamela Mann 'Faith' — Rapsody 'Rain Down on Me' — Glorilla Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT Any Gabrielly (Brazil) Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Bashy (United Kingdom) Black Sherif (Ghana) Ezra Collective (United Kingdom) Joé Dwèt Filé (France) Mc Luanna (Brazil) Rema (Nigeria) Sdm (France) Tyla (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Ajuliacosta (Brazil) Amabbi (Brazil) Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) Dr Yaro (France) Kwn (United Kingdom) Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa) Merveille (France) Odeal (United Kingdom) Shallipopi (Nigeria) Txc (South Africa) BEST MOVIE Bad Boys: Ride or Die Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Luther: Never Too Much Mufasa: The Lion King One of Them Days Rebel Ridge The Piano Lesson The Six Triple Eight BEST ACTOR Aaron Pierre Aldis Hodge Anthony Mackie Colman Domingo Denzel Washington Jamie Foxx Joey Bada$$ Kevin Hart Sterling K. Brown Will Smith BEST ACTRESS Andra Day Angela Bassett Coco Jones Cynthia Erivo Keke Palmer Kerry Washington Quinta Brunson Viola Davis Zendaya YOUNG STARS AWARD Akira Akbar Blue Ivy Carter Graceyn 'Gracie' Hollingsworth Heiress Harris Melody Hurd Thaddeus J. Mixson Tyrik Johnson Vanvan SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR A'ja Wilson Angel Reese Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau'jae Johnson JuJu Watkins Sha'Carri Richardson Simone Biles SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR Aaron Judge Anthony Edwards Deion Sanders Jalen Hurts Jayson Tatum LeBron James Saquon Barkley Stephen Curry SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Brandon Scott Jones on CBS' 'Ghosts': 'I enjoy playing characters that are desperate' 'She's got tunnel vision': Wendi McLendon-Covey reveals what she loves most about her character Joyce on 'St. Denis Medical' Marlon Wayans on laughing through tragedy in 'Good Grief' and why social media has made comedy 'toxic' Click here to read the full article.


CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
Act Fast to Score Gaming Accessories for Up to a Door-Busting 87% Off at Woot
Gaming is an addictive hobby, and today's devices allow you to do it in multiple ways: from your PC, phone, a classic console, handheld and more. That being said, if this is your main hobby, it's understandable that you want to have an arsenal of accessories that'll secure your winning strategies. Right now we've spotted gaming accessories at Woot for as high as 87% off until June 14. Now is the perfect chance to score controllers, cables, chargers and even select video games that would make a great Father's Day or graduation gift -- all without having to pay full price. Woot has plenty of deals on offer for every type of gamer. These include games such as Star Wars Outlaws for Xbox Series X for just $25, saving you $45 over its usual asking price. Other selections include Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for PS5 for $35, which is half off. For people who enjoy piloting and aviation, the Microsoft Flight Simulator (2024) is 50% off, bringing it down to $65. A new Nintendo Joy-Con can now be had for just $65, saving you $15 off its regular price of $80 for a limited time. Other cool accessories include this Neat Bumblebee II USB microphone for just $17, down from its usual price of $100 and a full 83% off. Large items are also on sale, such as this Puma Playseat active gaming chair for just $60, which is $110 off the usual asking price. Other gaming necessities such as this Razer Kaira Pro headset are down to just $90, saving you $60 over the usual price. The entire catalog of items is worth looking through, as it includes accessories for Xbox, PlayStation, Meta Quest and more. Amazon Prime members get free shipping on all Woot orders, which means you can save a bit more. We also have a list of the best gaming PC deals in case you want look through other gaming goods. Why this deal matters Many of the headsets, chargers, games and accessories available at Woot right now cost up to 87% more when bought elsewhere. However, buying these accessories now could save you money in the long run if you've already been looking for better ways to play. Keep in mind that these deals are live until June 14, so if you've got your eye on something, you'll want to act fast.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The New Nintendo Is Here. It's Missing Something Crucial That the Previous Ones Have All Had.
Of the many reasons Nintendo has flourished during its four-decade run in the video game industry—a Pixar-like dedication to quality, a memorable roster of mascots, an inherent creative brightness that cuts against the grimdark fantasies promulgated by other franchises—the company's prime advantage might be its commitment to affordability. The Nintendo Switch, a massively successful console that first made landfall in 2017, retailed for $299—a bargain compared with the $599 Xbox Series X and $699 PlayStation 5 Pro. Remember the Wii? The motion-controlled triumph that became all the rage in retirement homes during the mid-2000s? It was priced at $249, half as much as the lumbering PlayStation 3 which arrived one week prior. (It also included the eternal Wii Sports, bundled in the box, as a bonus.) It's a strategy that has sent an enduring message to consumers. Nintendo might not flex the same graphical fidelity of its rivals—Sony and Microsoft may consistently boast more impressive technical specs—but families could expect to save money when they purchased the company's hardware. And, frankly, that's what's been on my mind most as I surveyed the launch of Nintendo's latest console last week. The long-awaited Switch 2 is here, and it weighs in at an eye-popping $449. Its marquee launch title? A new Mario Kart game that costs an unprecedented $80. The Switch 2, it should be said, has an impressive design. Nintendo has outfitted the console with a gorgeous LCD screen, robust internal storage, and a motherboard powerful enough to furnish its lineup of games in glistening 4K. If you are one of the millions of people curious about the next installments of The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, or Animal Crossing, it is easy to consider its inflated price tag as a genuinely worthwhile investment in your future. And yet, like every other piece of video game machinery that has debuted this decade, the Switch 2 isn't going to shift any paradigms, because we are rapidly approaching a ceiling of what is possible with a graphics card. In the 1990s, each new console release represented a watershed moment in the industry. The Nintendo 64 arrived in 1996 with a suite of games rendered in 3D, leaps and bounds more impressive than the Super Nintendo, which imprisoned everything on-screen in a 2D plane. The justification for the cost was self-evident—a couple hundred bucks was more than worth it to unlock a whole new dimension. The Switch 2, meanwhile, functions essentially like a prettier, svelter, and more efficient update to the previous generation of hardware. The price is dramatically outpacing the novelty of the technology, and that discrepancy has been noticed by the gaming public. During the rollout of the Switch 2, when Nintendo hosted livestreams showcasing its upcoming 2025 catalog, the chat box on the side of the screen billowed up with the same message repeated ad nauseam: 'DROP THE PRICE.' It is hard to get a straight answer out of Nintendo about why its hardware has suddenly gotten so expensive, but it must be said that the company unveiled the Switch 2 on the afternoon of Donald Trump's so-called 'liberation day'—on which he announced a barrage of ill-conceived tariffs to be levied on the global population. Nintendo, recoiling from the chaos, briefly suspended preorders of its new consoles 'in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.' The announced price tag would eventually go unchanged, because Trump, as the saying goes, chickened out, but the impact may not be over: It wasn't long before Nintendo also warned of 'price adjustments' on accessories. The United States' self-inflicted financial uncertainty may also have already been factored into the Switch 2's retail calculus. That's certainly what industry analysts think. Joost van Dreunen, who studies the business of video games at New York University, told IGN in April that with the higher price, 'Nintendo appears to be building in a buffer against these potential trade barriers,' while Piers Harding-Rolls, who studies the gaming market at Ampere Analysis, speculated that the company 'probably had a range of pricing for the US market in play up until the last minute due to the uncertainty on import tariffs.' Nintendo, naturally, has remained publicly neutral about the issue. 'Our basic policy is that for any country or region, if tariffs are imposed, we recognize them as a part of the cost and incorporate them into the price,' said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa during a fiscal year report in May. (Given how open-ended Furukawa's statement was, I'm not surprised some experts believe that the Switch 2 might get even more expensive if Trump reintroduces portions of his tariff program, especially his original planned 46 percent tariff on Vietnam and 49 percent tariff on Cambodia, the countries where the company does much of its Switch manufacturing.) To be clear, Nintendo isn't the only heavy hitter jacking up its prices. Video game development is taking longer and growing steadily more expensive, and that has caused all the power brokers in the industry to print out new price tags. Just yesterday, Microsoft showed off The Outer Worlds 2, due out in October, which is a madcap sci-fi RPG that will also be the company's first $80 game. (For context, the average video game cost $60 for much of the 21st century. That number jumped to $70 in 2020, and five years later, norms are shifting again.) Similarly, remember that Xbox Series X I mentioned earlier? The one clocking in at $599? That's actually a recent phenomenon. When the console launched in 2020, it was a hundred bucks cheaper. The tech hasn't changed, but those ominous 'market conditions' certainly have, so Microsoft bumped up the cost earlier this year. This is a pretty radical departure, and it can't be explained away by simple inflation. Not long ago, video game hardware decreased in price over time, once it became sufficiently outpaced by flashier tech. But the titans of this industry have become increasingly responsive to fluctuations in the supply chain, and those old patterns have fallen by the wayside. The only question, it seems, that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are asking of their consumers is how much they're willing to pay. If that shift in philosophy turns their consoles into a luxury? Then so be it. Last weekend, I re-created a ritual I've savored every summer since I started playing video games. A few friends came over to fire up the latest Nintendo, down some beers, and enjoy a rousing evening of Mario Kart. The latest entry in the series hasn't altered the formula much; This is still the crowd-pleasing racing game it was in 1998, and 2007, and 2021. Gamers and nongamers alike instinctually internalized the controls, and together we jostled for position on the circuit, creating fleeting rivalries with those homing red shells. It left me a little melancholy. To think such a simple joy has become a premium experience? A new Mario Kart game is like manna from heaven for college dorms and bachelor pads. But today broke twentysomethings will need to scrounge up half a grand for the price of admission. I suppose that's just what life is like in 2025, when everything—rent, groceries, concert tickets, gym memberships—leaves us feeling gouged. No leisure goes unpunished anymore, and given the Trump economy's gloomy forecast, I fear it'll get worse before it gets better.