Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Review — Unbundled Fun

The launch of a new console is always thrilling, especially one that comes packed with intricate features. Nintendo Switch 2 has many features its predecessor didn’t, so a game introducing these new features feels like a perfect companion piece to accompany the new console. Video games bundled with new consoles aren’t anything new; we saw Astro’s Playroom pre-installed with PlayStation 5, showing off the brand new features of the DualSense controller. Even Wii Sports, a game bundled with the Nintendo Wii, technically showcased the console’s motion controls effortlessly. It is a shame Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is not bundled in with Nintendo Switch 2, as it perfectly highlights the new features in a semi-engaging way, but at an unwarranted cost of $15 AUD.

Welcome Tour takes place across the Nintendo Switch 2 console and its parts, plus other peripherals like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. You play the game as a tiny human in a line of eagerly awaiting patrons to the Welcome Tour, where you must make your way across these different parts of the console, starting at the left Joy-Con 2. Each zone contains mini-games relating to the function of that part. The left and right Joy-Con 2s contain mini-games utilising the HD Rumble 2 and Mouse features, whereas the Nintendo Switch 2 screen has mini-games relating to framerate and even HDR.

These mini-games vary in enjoyment and difficulty, but are definitely the saving grace of the game. The game utilising the mouse function was a standout, as that is one of the most exciting functions the Switch 2 has to offer. Other mini-games merely exist to showcase a function and struggled to evoke any sense of enjoyment from me.

To progress to the next zone, you must participate in a stamp rally of sorts and find a stamp relating to each function of that part. To do this, you must walk around to each feature of the part you are on; whether that be an air vent, USB-C charging port, mouse sensor, and more. Collecting the different stamps is a fantastic way to learn all of the intricate details about your new console; however, I do feel like the process could’ve been made a little more exciting.

Nintendo have a large platter of iconic characters from Mario to Link that could have been incorporated into what sometimes feels like a mandatory university lecture you just don’t want to be at. It feels like a missed opportunity that these characters that make up the rich history of Nintendo have mostly been left out of what feels like a walk through a museum.

Outside of the mini-games and stamp rally, demos and quizzes are available to participate in. Quizzes are just that, questions relating to a function of the Switch 2 and its many parts, but these offer little enjoyment and replayability. The demos are not quite mini-games, but experiences that highlight the features of Switch 2. Some of these are interesting enough to play, albeit not essential to progress through to the next zone.

Let’s talk about the price tag. While $15 doesn’t seem like a lot, I do feel like an experience like this should have been bundled in or pre-installed onto Nintendo Switch 2. The game serves as an interactive manual, one where you will learn things you wouldn’t learn through everyday use, but placing a price on that feels anti-consumerist. The game can not even be 100% completed without owning some of the extra peripherals, like the Switch 2 camera, for instance. Nintendo have a lot of confidence in themselves charging for a product like this, which is admirable to an extent, but I can’t recommend anyone buy this unless they are dying to see the inner workings of Nintendo Switch 2.