According to Nintendo, the new Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a record-breaking start. It has sold over 3.5 million units worldwide in just four days after its 5 June launch, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo console to date. The console launch has seen it sell roughly twice as many as the original Nintendo Switch in most regions. Of course, there’s no telling what it will do eventually, but it is a good start!
Launch Games Exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2
I had hoped the new console would do well, but I hadn’t expected that it would do this well at launch. After all, I think the launch games are a bit lacking, but then, I’m no fan of Mario Kart in any form; it’s really not for me. I am a disaster waiting to happen when I have to drive in any game. I’ve tried, believe me. I bought Mario Kart for the Wii and even tried again with Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS. But I just can’t seem to keep a steady course, I bump into every wall I can find and drive into every deep, dark crevice. My highlight in awful driving was in the Wii game, when, after a few tries, I thought I finally got the hang of it. I was fairly pleased with myself when I managed to stay on course at a good clip. I even managed to overtake someone, but it was a bit odd that that person was going the other way. I should have known that the message “turn around” on screen was a giveaway…I was going the wrong way.
Anyway, I’m going off track here in regards to the topic (nice pun in the context, right?). Back to the Switch 2. Even though there are some nice updates to already existing games, we only have Mario Kart World and Survival Kids as new launch games, both exclusively for the Switch 2.
Lynne has played them both, one for review and one for fun.
Thoughts About Mario Kart World
Making full use of the improved performance of the Switch 2, Mario Kart World brings together twice as many racers, in a range of racing modes, with the added challenge of weather events and a day/night cycle. As well as the traditional circuit races and grand prix, Mario Kart World introduces a couple of new elements.
Depending on your location within the world and the location of the next circuit, you may find yourself driving to it as part of the race, avoiding all the other road users as well as your competitors. There is also a knockout tour, where you must finish within a certain position to continue racing. All the race modes have wider tracks and roads, and more boosts – this leads to a fast and furious experience; much more intense, but thoroughly enjoyable. You’ve still got the opportunity to unlock new characters by winning grand prix, but also by using certain items whilst racing.
However, Mario Kart World is more than just a racing game. With the open world layout, you can roam around, exploring all of the circuits and the land between. This gives you the opportunity to practise the circuits and discover the shortcuts, thus increasing your chances of winning. You might also discover one of the many mini challenges, medallions or question mark panels, which all unlock decorations for your karts. In both racing or free roam modes, you can grab a lucky snack and get a new costume for your character – so much to collect!
Overall, Mario Kart World is an impressive addition to the Mario Kart franchise.
Survival Kids
Survival Kids is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 and uses the game-sharing ability, among other features. Although designed as a multiplayer game, it’s possible to play solo. Lynne played it with her gaming buddy on local wifi, and wrote this in her conclusion:
“Survival Kids is bright and colourful, with lovely graphics and great audio narration. The ability to GameShare makes playing with friends and family more accessible and enjoyable, and some of the challenges are easier to complete. However, Survival Kids has been carefully designed so that you can complete the whole game by yourself.
I’ve had a blast with the bomb flowers, reached new heights with the cannons and wanted more islands to explore. Survival Kids is definitely a contender for one of my games of the year.”
Problems With Backwards Compatibility
Switch 2 has backwards compatibility, so most of your games you already had will be playable on the Switch 2.
But NintendoLife has published a tested list of games that won’t start on the Switch 2 or have progressions issues (I see Botany Manor on the list, as well as Overcooked! All You Can Eat and quite a lot more.) Of course, developers might be hard at work behind the scenes to fix this!
They also show games that have in-game issues when trying to play them on the Switch 2 (Like Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition, Pikmin 3 Deluxe and Nintendo Switch Sports)
Then there’s a list of games that can’t be played on the Switch 2, unless you use the Joy-Cons from your Switch 1. These include all Nintendo games that used the Joy-Con in special ways, like for Ring Fit, Nintendo Labo games, 1-2-Switch and Game Builder Garage.
And thanks to NintendoLife, we can see a list as well of games that are being worked at to update them for the Switch 2. Overall, though, loads of games are already playable.
Upgrades for Games That are Playable on the Switch 1, Too
Despite the list above, there are nice upgrades to existing games too, that will give the games a new lease of life. Games are getting a free performance boost, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons has had this past week, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
For other upgrades you have to pay, like for an upgrade to Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and for Fantasy Life i: the Girl Who Steals Time. Most of these patches and upgrades mention performance boosts and smaller patches that “improve playability” of select Switch games.
The most noticeable ones are for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. At the cost of $ 9.99 in the eShop you can buy an upgrade pack (or get it included in a Nintendo Switch Online +Expansion Pack membership) that we feel is very much worth it.
Zelda Notes
Paula took Zelda Notes for a spin, and felt it was a brilliant companion app for new and previous players who want to explore The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Zelda Notes feels tailor-made for players who love to explore every nook and cranny of Hyrule. The app’s intuitive integration with the games allows you to seamlessly share Autobuild designs and items via QR codes, opening up new ways to interact with the Zelda community. Whether you’re swapping rare weapons with friends or scanning someone else’s time-saving build, Zelda Notes makes the experience feel more alive and even more interconnected with the gameplay.
What really makes Zelda Notes shine with the Switch 2 is how it enhances both gameplay and storytelling. The Voice Memories feature is a surprising addition, delivering narrative insights and character perspectives that deepen your connection to the world of Hyrule and the surrounding areas. Meanwhile, the map of Hyrule tracks your progress in the game by mirroring it on the app’s map. The Photo Studio and daily roulette bonuses give you a reason to check in regularly, even between major quests. It’s the kind of companion app that doesn’t just sit on your phone; it will become part of how you play. For completionists and casual players alike, Zelda Notes feels like the missing piece that enriches both the practical and immersive sides of the Zelda experience.
Of course, developers are probably hard at work making sure their games look great on Nintendo’s new console. So it might just be that the games I mentioned here are spruced up or offer even more upgrades. Time will tell!
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