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TheNintendo Switch 2runs original Nintendo Switch games better than their native hardware ever could. That’s not true across the board, but it’s broadly accurate enough, with enough titles, to be worth considering an upgrade to Switch 2 at launch - even when there aren’t many actual Switch 2 games available yet.
Below, we’ll go over how to upgrade your Switch 1 games for Switch 2, as well as what you can expect from the boosts to each of the main games receiving more substantial updates. Once you’re finished reading, go forth and enjoy those older classics all over again!
How To Update Switch 1 Games For Switch 2
The upgrades for Switch 1 games come in three main varieties:
Even if you don’t shell out for those purchasable upgrades,you’ll still enjoy at least the minor improvementssimply by virtue of booting up those games on Switch 2.
Games With Minor Improvements
For most Switch 1 games,it’s enough to play them on Switch 2 without any added downloads. We’ve seen more rock-solid performance without formal updates in games as recent asXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition; gone are the hitches, and image quality’s a bit better, too.
The list of games this applies to is, understandably, too vast to cite by name. Suffice it to say, if you’re playing a Switch 1 game on Switch 2, there’s a high chance that it will gainsome sort of benefitfrom the newer hardware. It just won’t be a big one.
Nintendo is cranking out software updates for even some of the minor-improved titles, however. For instance,Xenoblade Chronicles 3has a new update for Switch 2.
In these cases,press the ‘+’ button while hovering over the game in question on the home menu, and select’Software Update’to complete the procedure. It’s a good idea to do this for any Switch 1 game you install on your Switch 2, just to be safe!
Games With Major Improvements
And then there are the20 games (at launch; possibly more to come)which feature more impressive boosts:
We’ve tested this withSuper Mario Odysseythus far; installing the game via the Virtual Card system (available as one of the sub-menus on the home screen) seems to have automatically done the trick, asno additional software update was requiredin that game’s case. Again, it’s always worth checking, though.
Super Mario Odyssey has really rather impressed us already - between theoptimized image quality and HDR support, it’s like experiencing Mario’s latest 3D adventure for the first time. It also hasGameShare support, which means you may play together not just locally, but online with a friend.
Games With Purchasable Upgrades
Right now, this most coveted list includes six games - butonly two are available at launch, with the third coming in July, the fourth in August, and the last one coming when the game itself launches, in October.
For information on how to upgrade to Switch 2 Editions of the above games, please consult ourdedicated guide on the matter.
