March Edition 2026: The Nintendo Switch 2: Is It Really a Level Up from the Switch 1?

Introduction to the Overall Console

The Nintendo Switch 2, one of the most anticipated gaming consoles of last year, has a few surprises and tricks up its sleeve that fans weren’t ready for. However, despite these, there are still many things that make the new Switch worth it. People were getting tired of the Nintendo Switch 1, as there weren’t many releases of games, and even if there was one, it still wasn’t the greatest. People started getting restless, and even some just quit the Nintendo Switch 1 entirely. Until on January 12th, Nintendo introduced the Switch 2, making fans all across the world hyped. People slowly started coming back to Nintendo games, and so when the console was released, bundles and just the console alone sold out everywhere, making it very hard to get at the start. Despite the price, people still wanted it, showing just how the popular release of a dying console can rejuvenate an entire fanbase. 

There are two option bundles that players can choose from, with one that includes the new Mario Kart game (Mario Kart World) and the new Pokémon Z-A gameThe Switch 2 also has many different parts that are new or better than the Switch 1. The Switch 2 has a bigger screen and bigger Joy-Cons that also have a different color, which is full black except for the insides of the console, which are blue or red-orange, respectively. There was also a release of another Joy-Con set recently, with one being pale green and the other lavender purple. We will cover all of this and more in the article.

The Hardware 

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a sizable upgrade from the original Switch. It’s still weaker than the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but it runs games much faster and smoother thanks to a new NVIDIA processor. When docked, the Switch 2 can output 4K at 60 frames per second. It also has 12 GB of fast RAM, which helps games load faster and multitask better without hurting battery life. The Switch 2 includes 256 GB of storage with support for up to 1 TB MicroSD cards, letting players store many more games. In handheld mode, it has a larger 7.9-inch 1080p HDR screen with up to a 120 Hz refresh rate, making games sharper, brighter, and smoother than before.

The Games

The games are the core component of any console—without them, there is no reason for the console to exist. The following are reviews for games that we have played on the Switch 2.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

As a direct successor to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Legends: Z-A shifts the sub-series from the ancient past to a futuristic, bustling Lumiose City in the Kalos region. The game revolutionizes the franchise with polished mechanics like real-time battling and the long-awaited return of Mega Evolution, featuring 27 new forms in the base game and 19 more in the recently launched DLC. While the visual textures and models occasionally lag behind other modern Nintendo titles—making the $60–$70 price tag a point of debate—the improved performance on Switch 2, creative world-building, and ‘Wild Zones’ earn it a high 9/10 score.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Switch 2 Edition 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, released in 2023 during the middle of the Switch 1’s lifetime, is not just a sequel to Breath of the Wild. Building on the foundation of Breath of the Wild, the game takes everything that worked well and transforms it into bolder, more creative ideas. Set in the same Hyrule of the Calamity Age, Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK) feels familiar and completely new, expanding the same map in breathtaking ways. Its impact was immediate, just like its predecessor, earning near-universal acclaim, including a rare ten out of ten from IGN—known for their overly tough standards—and a ninety-six on Metacritic, who placed it among their highest-rated “Must Play” games of all time. 

The mechanics are nothing short of revolutionary, especially the fan-favorite building system using Zonai devices found throughout the open world. These devices have different use cases and can be used to build devices to help explore the seemingly endless open world. With abilities like Ultrahand, players can now construct different vehicles, machines, weapons, and complex contraptions. Whether you’re crafting a plane to explore the sky or creating demons using flamethrowers and freeze rays, the game encourages creativity and imagination. Performance is much smoother, and the already stupendous graphics have once again improved into 4K. The world feels as if new life was breathed into it, and the added connectivity enriches gameplay. This combination of a banger storyline, awesome mechanics, and next-level features make Tears of the Kingdom deserving of a score of 10/10. It's more than a sequel; it’s a defining entry in the gaming industry.

Cyberpunk 2077 

Cyberpunk 2077 is a fast-paced shooter that is popular among many gamers that is set in a futuristic world. In the game, you play as V, who gets a brain virus and has to find a way to stop it before it is too late. You can customize your character in any way you like, and it can affect gameplay in many different ways. You can install robotics, which is called “cybernetics.” These cybernetics can be equipped in different areas of the body. 

There's also an assortment of weapons that the player can choose from. In the game, there are three main types of weapons: power, smart, and iconic. They each function and are equipped differently.  The game is open-world, which allows the player to roam around and do things in any way they want to. Other than these, Cyberpunk 2077 features multiple different mechanics that let you explore this open-world in style. Keeping all this in mind, Cyberpunk 2077 is a very diverse shooter role-playing game that anybody can enjoy however they want. This is a game truly worth deserving a 9/10.

Mario Kart World 

Mario Kart is a game that has been a staple of Nintendo games ever since Nintendo started the Mario series. Loved by fans, it is now introduced modernly with the release of Mario Kart World (MKW) on the Switch 2. MKW introduces new mechanics, like rail riding, charge jumps, and wall riding, to the game while also bringing back old tracks and maps in a modern way.  MKW also remasters old maps from different Mario Kart games, like Wario Stadium from Mario Kart 64, Toad's Factory from the Wii, or even the classic Rainbow Road from all Mario Kart games, allowing people of all ages to enjoy the game. The only real difference that makes this version stand out so much is the open world. You can freely roam and explore each track, with there being different highways in between them. Knockout Tour is also a new addition to the Mario Kart franchise, which uses the highways between tracks during races. In this mode, players play an elimination-style mode where racers continuously drive across interconnected tracks in an open world, with the bottom four players eliminated at each of the six checkpoints until only one winner remains, offering a tense, nonstop "battle royale" experience unlike a traditional Grand Prix cup. These new additions keep racers on the edge of their seat throughout the races and add risk to the game. With all these awesome changes, Mario Kart World is a fresh, new entry in the Mario Kart franchise, getting a 9/10.

Online Capabilities/Multiplayer

The Nintendo Switch 2 brings about new features, including Gamechat, a way to call and talk to your friends via the console while playing games, and has continued its long-standing name as ‘the’ console for multiplayer games.  In the Switch 2, there is a dedicated button for Gamechat under the home button, marked with a C. . Although Gamechat is a great attempt from Nintendo, it is not viable for most people and some may prefer to use other communication platforms like Discord or Google Chat. . Firstly, chatting with your friends isn’t free for so long—Nintendo has announced that after March, gamers will need to pay forNintendo Switch Online, a subscription by Nintendo for a minimum of $20 each month. Since the Switch 2 and its games are so costly, it just adds another burden. This problem of chatting with your friends can be solved by having your laptop open to Discord or any other chatting system, and the best part about those apps is that they are all free.  In conclusion, Gamechat is a big missed opportunity from Nintendo, since there are so many ways this problem can be solved for free.

Multiplayer is also a big aspect of the new console and has been a Nintendo staple for decades. Despite having you pay $20 a month to play in online multiplayer (when the person isn’t 800 feet to 1 mile from your console), it still comes with various perks for the player that make it worth it. Also, you get to enjoy the Nintendo Classics, which include the Nintendo 64 and GameCube. (Nintendo 64 and the Gamecube games are only available for the premium tiers.)

Is It Worth the $450 Price Tag?/Conclusion 

Taking all of its many features into account, we would say that the Switch 2 is worth its $450 price tag if you can afford it. The Switch 2 console by itself has little to bring to the table, but with the new games Nintendo releases, it’s almost mandatory to buy. Since Nintendo has moved on from the Switch 1, that means that new games won’t be accessible without the Switch 2. In order for you to continue to enjoy gaming with your friends, you must pay $450 to keep up. If we follow the same pattern with the Switch, then we should have about eight years filled with multiple game launches until the next Switch version is released or announced, making this a very good investment. In that eight-year time span, there are sure to be many game releases.

The Switch, unlike the PS5 or Xbox, carries only Nintendo games (along with some others), whereas most consoles can’t even get their hands on them due to the extremely strict laws on Nintendo property and copyright. If you are a very avid fan of solely Nintendo games, then the Switch 2 would be a great use of $450. If you are willing to pay the price, then you also should spend an extra $70 for each game you buy, or even an additional $30-40 for DLCs. If you’re not into Nintendo games as much but prefer portability, buying a Steam Deck is recommended, as it has many different games but unfortunately no Nintendo games. Overall, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a very costly buy but can be worth it in the long run depending on an individual gamer’s interests. The Nintendo Switch 2 has its differences from the original, iconic Nintendo Switch 1, but despite the setbacks, the games and overall console make it all balance out in the end and is worth a purchase.