I am not quite ready to render a final, official review synopsis of Nintendo’s Switch 2 console. I haven’t spent enough time with it yet. I streamed Mario Kart World yesterday, tried putting a Switch 2 game in a Switch 1 console, and have spent most of my day today becoming someone who knows what’s what when it comes to HD rumble 2 in Welcome Tour. I may not be ready to give it a grade, but I, along with some of the other editors here at Game Informer who have been spending time with the system, can at least share some of our early impressions.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (2025)
Nintendo sent us a console to start reviewing yesterday, and I booted it up and was instantly charmed by the fact that there was music during the startup screen. We’ve all come to revere the Wii Shop Channel music, and it always made me sad that Wii U and Switch abandoned the soundtrack for various menus. The Switch 2 is still generally a silent platform, but it was nice to hear some original music at least while getting signed in.
One of my favorite initial hardware elements is the magnetized Joy-Cons. I used to nervously eject the Switch’s Joy-Cons on and off during load times, and while I still do that here (and worry about long-term wear), I do find the process more satisfying. Feeling them lock back into place is nice, and tearing them away from the magnet feels good.
There is obviously lots more to say about Switch 2, but the zoomed-out larger picture is that the system feels good, if safe. I love when Nintendo takes big swings with its hardware, but it has led to some undeniable stumbles. Switch 2 feels like a bunt, but a very confident bunt that feels good in your hands. It’s not the Nintendo Revolution (famously the Wii’s codename prior to launch) we’ve come to expect from Nintendo, but may be exactly what I wanted. – Kyle Hilliard, executive editor
Mario Kart World (2025)
After spending several hours with the new system, I’m impressed with what I’ve encountered. The interface is familiar but tweaked for usability. Transitioning from my old Switch to the new console was relatively straightforward, but I did feel compelled to create new linked Nintendo accounts for my other family members, as there’s some weirdness there with what gets erased from your old console otherwise.
I’ve had time to update at least one older game to the new Nintendo Switch 2 version – Tears of the Kingdom. It seems to run well, and I can notice some increase in fidelity, but nothing is world-shaking at first glance.
Most of my time has been with Mario Kart World (as I expect will be the case for most people who bring a unit home in the coming days). Our review is forthcoming, but the short version is that it’s got some great courses, fun updates to controls and driving, and a more fully considered approach to solo play than prior Mario Kart releases. It’s definitely fun, and should welcome all members of the family, regardless of age. – Matt Miller, editor-in-chief
Though booting up the Switch 2 for the first time was underwhelming, as it does little to differentiate itself from the Switch in significant ways from an OS perspective, I was pleasantly surprised by the eShop. The Switch eShop started pretty straightforward before years of shovelware, an unusually large amount of AI hentai-forward games, and an abysmal load rate turned it into my least favorite video game software anything ever. I despised using the eShop. That’s why I’m so thrilled with the Switch 2 eShop. It’s easier to use, clean, and loads fast. Scrolling doesn’t feel like trudging through oatmeal anymore, and the visibility of games is nice. Here’s hoping it remains that way. – Wesley LeBlanc, senior associate editor
While I haven’t spent much time playing the console yet, I’ve immediately fallen in love with the improved Joy-Cons. As fun as the gimmick of detaching controllers is, it always felt a little stressful on the base Switch. It’s especially stressful to accidentally attach a Joy-Con 1 upside down, forcing you to do an uncomfortably forceful ejection that I was sure would destroy my handheld forever. The new magnets on the Joy-Con 2, however, feel fantastic. It’s more secure than I expected and even more intuitive than the last iteration. Also, magnets are just fun to play with! There aren’t many instances in my day-to-day life when magnets are relevant, so the sheer sensation of attaching and removing the controllers fills me with an odd childlike wonder. I’ve no clue how durable they’ll be over time – I especially hope Nintendo has fixed the notorious drift problem – but for now, they are a welcome improvement. – Charles Harte, associate editor
