After watching the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct last month, I was cautiously optimistic about the upcoming console. As a Nintendo WiiU die hard, I really want Nintendo to have success with the Nintendo Switch 2, as their last ‘sequel’ console did not win over consumers. Almost every reservation I had about the Switch 2 was squashed when I attended the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in Melbourne last weekend.
The event allowed thousands of fans to be some of the first to get their hands on a Nintendo Switch 2 in Australia ahead of its release on June 5, 2025. During the event, the Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond demos stole the show, with some humble offerings of upcoming third-party titles like Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, also available.
For context, the games I went hands-on with were:
- Mario Kart World (Grand Prix and Knockout Tour mode)
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Drag X Drive
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition
The first thing I noticed upon picking up the Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time was just how much larger it is, while still feeling comfortably familiar with the OLED I’ve owned for a couple of years. It has a 7.9-inch LCD screen that produces vivid colours and the blackest blacks that you would at first glance think is an OLED. I was genuinely shocked at how vibrant the display was. I can’t see myself missing my Nintendo Switch OLED once the Switch 2 launches.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is equipped with Joy-Con 2 controllers, which instead of sliding into place, now magnetically snap into place. I know what you’re thinking: do they feel flimsy only being magnetic? And the answer is no, they are incredibly sturdy, you would think that they are permanently attached to the console. The Joy-Con 2 controllers have the impressive HD rumble 2 technology as well, which delivers a diverse range of vibrations suitable for different in-game events.
The most interesting addition to the new iteration of Joy-Cons is the new mouse function. You can turn your Joy-Cons on their belly and use them as if they were a computer mouse. After using this function to play Drag x Drive and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, I was impressed with how precise and smooth this function was to use. For context, I used the Joy-Cons on three different surfaces: a desk mat/pad, a regular flat table surface, and my pants. Not once did I ever feel frustrated with the mouse function, though, ergonomically, I’m worried about how long I’d be able to comfortably use it without getting a cramp. Apart from that, this is a game changer, and for games especially like Metroid Prime 4, it completely changes the landscape for FPS games on consoles.
In terms of performance, what really showed me how powerful this console is compared to the Nintendo Switch was how smooth every game felt while playing. The insanity of Mario Kart World’s Knockout Tour mode can accumulate over a dozen racers on screen at once, but at no point did the frame rate or performance ever drop. I got to play a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and the improvements across the board are night and day. The graphical enhancements, thanks to this new powerful hardware, really do breathe new life into the game and give it the visual fidelity it deserves. I hope to see more flagship titles from the OG Switch, like Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Bayonetta 3, and Metroid Dread, get the “Switch 2 Edition” treatment.
Every game I played was docked except one session of Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour demo. The visuals docked, especially with Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, and Metroid Prime 4 were unreal. This is the first time in years I have felt Nintendo haven’t been behind in terms of graphics and performance. At a technical level, yes, they still aren’t fully there, but the gap is much narrower, and with a majority of Nintendo’s first-party games, you don’t need the power of a PS5 Pro.
I came out of the weekend extremely confident in my pre-order. The jump in hardware from the Nintendo Switch or Lite will be extreme for any owners of those SKUs looking to upgrade. It is certainly worth the price tag attached to the console, especially with massive games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokémon Legends Z-A all coming out later this year.
Don’t forget to check out all of our Nintendo Switch 2 coverage right here.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is out on June 5, 2025.
