I love Nintendo hardware and I was excited for the Switch 2. The form factor is better, the Joy‑Con 2 controllers feel sturdier, and the bigger 7.9‑inch 1080p screen is a real upgrade. Docked 4K output and the revised internals make older games feel fresher too. On paper, this is exactly what I wanted. In practice, the software side still feels thin for a brand‑new console.
What’s good
Hardware. Nintendo kept the magic of the original and tightened almost everything: a nicer screen with HDR/VRR, revised Joy‑Cons with new tricks like mouse‑style input, and a sturdier build. Even enhanced ports like Cyberpunk 2077 are surprisingly playable here, with a proper physical 64 GB cartridge option on day one. That last bit matters to me.
The software drought
As of August 2025, there still aren’t many Switch 2–specific games. Launch leaned heavily on enhanced versions, and weeks later it still feels that way. Mario Kart World is fun and the “go anywhere” open‑path idea is ambitious, but the free‑roam layer feels undercooked and it needs more maps. Donkey Kong Bananza is a great time and honestly should have been there day one, but beyond that, brand‑new first‑party experiences are thin.
For context, press coverage has been a mix of praise for Bananza and World alongside lists padded with upgraded Switch 1 hits. That’s fine for backwards‑compat value; it’s less exciting when you bought new hardware to play new games.
Physical vs digital (and the “fake physical” problem)
My bigger frustration isn’t even the game list, it’s how we’re buying games. Nintendo’s new “game‑key cards” have shown up across a lot of third‑party releases. They look like boxed games, but they’re just download keys you must keep inserted to play. Japan’s National Diet Library won’t even archive them because there’s no actual game on the card, which tells you everything about preservation. As a collector, that stings.
Yes, true cartridges still exist and when publishers choose to use them, it can pay off. CD Projekt shipped Cyberpunk 2077 on a real 64 GB cart at launch, and physical sales were strong. That proves the appetite is there when you give players the real thing.
What I want to see next
More Switch 2–first games this holiday, fewer game‑key cards, and steady support for the titles that are already here. Mario Kart World needs more thoughtfully designed areas if the connected‑world idea is going to sing. Bananza shows the hardware can carry a big, modern Nintendo platformer—now give us a few more reasons to keep the dock plugged in.