Is the Switch 2 really worth $450? I played it myself and here’s 5 things to consider

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is a worthwhile, but very familiar upgrade to the original Switch. I’d describe it as similar to the incremental move from the Wii to the Wii U, but hopefully, for the Japanese gaming giant’s sake, Switch 2 turns into a far bigger success.

I generally enjoyed the roughly 2.5 hour hands-on experience at Nintendo’s Toronto event. However, the Switch 2 is far from flawless, especially when it comes to its third-party games and Joy-Con 2’s mouse feature, to name a few key issues. On a more positive note, Mario Kart World is poised to be a system-selling blast, and the Pro Controller 2 feels like a massive step above its predecessor. I also like how firmly the new Joy-Con 2 attach to the Switch 2’s display.

With all of this in mind, given its limited initial game lineup, there’s the all-important question of the $450 handheld’s price and whether it’s even worth buying at launch.

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The Switch 2 is bigger than I expected

It feels slightly smaller than the Steam Deck or ROG Ally X

While I’m impressed with the Switch 2’s overall build quality, including its brushed black metal build and solid-feeling Joy-Con 2 controllers, I can’t help but feel that it’s pretty big compared to the original Switch. Though it’s slightly smaller than the

Steam Deck
and the

ROG Ally X
, it’s still bigger than the original Switch, in part because its display is now 7.9-inches compared to the original Switch’s 6.2-inches and the Switch OLED model’s 7-inch screen.

I only used the Switch 2 in handheld mode for about 15 minutes, and while it felt comfortable in my hands thanks to the Joy-Con 2’s more ergonomic design, it’s still a bit unwieldy. Can I still slide it into a backpack once I pop it in a case? My best guess is yes, but it’ll undeniably take up more space in my bag, making the handheld notably less portable than the original Switch, which already felt large at times.

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The Switch Pro Controller 2 and the Switch 2 Joy-Cons feel great

Has Nintendo finally solved Joy-Con drift? We don’t know yet

On a more positive note regarding the size increase, the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons are far more comfortable and no longer feel cramped. This means they’ll be better for longer gaming sessions, particularly in handheld mode. The trigger’s ergonomics have evolved, too, making them more satisfying to pull and offering a feel similar to the Xbox Series X’s controller and the PS5’s DualSense. Adding to this, it’s great to see that the Joy-Con 2 firmly attach to the Switch 2’s display with powerful magnets and don’t flex like the original Joy-Con, giving the handheld an overall solid feel the original Switch lacked.

The Switch 2 Joy-Con grip is great and even includes back buttons like the new Pro Controller 2, though very few games at the event took advantage of them. I didn’t get a chance to pop the Joy-Con on and off, but the new straps feature bigger shoulder buttons, making them easier to use individually. The key thing I’m still concerned about is whether the Joy-Con 2 will eventually suffer from drift. We don’t know yet, but I don’t totally trust that Nintendo has solved this issue.

I’m impressed with the Switch Pro Controller 2, too. It’s exceptionally comfortable, with snappy buttons that offer satisfying feedback. In fact, I’d say it’s my favorite controller that I’ve ever held other than the Xbox Elite Series 2 gamepad. I’m concerned its matte finish will be easily scratched, though. It’s also a grease magnet if you’re prone to sweaty hands like me, and I’ve never seen a controller attract dust as much as the Pro Controller 2 does. Like the Switch 2, the Pro Controller 2 feels like a worthwhile upgrade to the first Pro Controller, and I’m glad I pre-ordered one.

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The new mouse feature is cool, but incredibly impractical

Get ready for your coffee table to become a scratched mess

I like a unique control scheme and was a big fan of the Wii’s waggle controls and even the original Xbox One’s Kinect. But as cool as the gimmick is, the Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 mouse controls aren’t practical. If you’re unaware, through a mix of their own sensors and gyro controls, you can flip the Joy-Con 2 on their side and use them in a computer mouse-like way.

This worked shockingly well with Metroid Prime 4, allowing me to easily pinpoint my enemies by sliding the right Joy-Con 2 around like a traditional mouse, while moving my character with the left joystick. It took me a few minutes to get the hang of the control scheme, but once I did, it quickly felt very natural (and I’m not a PC gamer). Beyond Metroid Prime 4, I didn’t mind using this control scheme with Drag x Drive, an in-development wheelchair basketball game where players swipe the Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode to move forward and backward, and make a shooting motion to score a basket. The experience was far more intuitive than I expected.

The issue is that using the Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode requires a stable, flat surface in front of you. On top of that, you’ll need to be okay with potentially scratching your table. For example, I can see the Joy-Con 2 making a mess of my plastic coffee table in my living room. To even consider playing a game like Metroid Prime 4 with mouse controls, I’d need to buy a large mouse to protect it. Even then, it’s a lift-up table that can be pretty unstable sometimes. Nintendo seems to be aware of these potential pitfalls, given there was a big mouse pad in front of every Drag x Drive demo station.

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Mario Kart World is a clear system seller

But it’s just one game

Now that the dust has settled, it’s obvious the Switch 2’s launch lineup is a bit weak. Sure, there’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom visual upgrades, alongside a slew of third-party titles like Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, just to name a few — but these are games we’ve already seen on other platforms. Donkey Kong Bananza, the next big Nintendo release, doesn’t drop until July 17th, and I wasn’t sold on what I played at Nintendo’s event.

Thankfully, like Breath of the Wild with the original Switch, Mario Kart World does a great job filling the void. The game looks great and runs smoothly, its open world is compelling and fun to explore, and most importantly, Knockout Tour, which has 24 players driving between tracks and getting progressively kicked out of races like in a battle royale-style shooter, is excellent and ups the stakes considerably. Mario Kart World is the type of game I can see myself sinking hours into while I scour its world for countless secrets and unlockables. I still need to spend more time with it to know for sure, but Mario Kart World feels like a notable upgrade over Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

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The Switch 2 can play Cyberpunk 2077, but it’s a muddy mess

Third-party games don’t look great

If you were hoping the Switch 2 could be your one console to rule them all, I’m about to disappoint you. During my time with the home console-handheld hybrid, I spent time playing Hogwarts Legacy and Cyberpunk 2077. While Hogwarts Legacy ran at a relatively smooth frame rate, it’s very muddy visually. This is especially disappointing given that Hogwarts Legacy released on the original Switch just a few months ago.

Cyberpunk 2077 suffered from similar issues, and its frame rate was less-than-stellar. My best guess is that the game ran at 30fps most of the time, but it dropped from that mark very frequently, especially during heated gunfights. Like Hogwarts Legacy, characters’ faces also lacked detail, and their hair looked a low-resolution aliasing mess. You would think the power of the Switch 2’s custom Nvidia chip would kick the visuals up several notches, but in my experience this just didn’t seem to be the case.

Speaking of aliasing, while it’s great to see Breath of the Wild running at a solid 60fps and 4K, unfortunately aliasing in the game is off the charts, leading to a distracting visual experience. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s awful, but when you see those jagged edges, they’re difficult to ignore. All this is to say that while it’s impressive the Switch 2 offers modern features like

DLSS
, the AI-upscaling tech doesn’t look great on the console when it’s turned up really high, and it’s unclear how customizable it’ll be. I’ve experienced similar issues with my ROG Ally X and found that setting FSR to Balanced yields the best results.

Will third-party games look better in handheld mode? I hope so. For some reason, nearly every demo at Nintendo’s event had the Switch 2 docked.

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