TheNintendo Switch 2is here. A new console from the beloved company only comes about once a decade, so it’s always a cause for celebration. Of course, with a new console comes myriad new games to play on it, and the Switch 2 is no exception. I mean, so long as you’re a fan of things you’ve already played a bunch, looking and feeling better than ever.
Jokes aside, the Switch 2 launch selection is ripe with first-party bangers and a surprisingly high number of blockbusters from developers big and small alike. If you managed to sneak in a pre-order or find a stray console in a dodgy alleyway somewhere, here are some of the must-play games on the new console worth digging into.
1Mario Kart World
Kart, Grind, Cheep Cheep, Repeat
If you’ve picked up a Nintendo Switch 2, you need to playMario Kart World. One of the only bundles contains a digital copy of the game, but if you aren’t in that camp, I promise thatthis kart racer is worth the $80 Nintendo is charging for it.
Boasting a lusciously designed selection of courses to race through across a big open world, this is the most comprehensive Mario Kart experience to date that takes no prisoners. You’re still going to be in pole position only for a blue shell and three subsequent bananas to ruin an amazing run as you hurl the controller at your poor grandmother. And that’s just locally. When you go online andgive Knockout Tour a try,you’ll be drifting until the goombas come home.
It’s also the only massive exclusive untilDonkey Kong Bananzaarrives in July.
2Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Time to teach your parents about HDR
Unfortunately, this game, which is designed to teach you how to make the most out of your new console, is also a game you need to pay for. However, it’s only $10, and is more than just some glorified tutorial with a selection of cute minigames and worthwhile explanations for a litany of jargon that other consoles assume you know everything about.
Welcome Touris also surprisingly dense with plenty of medals to collect and bonuses ripe for unlocking after you’ve learned the difference between HDR and HD Rumble. If you want to have the perks of 4K resolution explained to you through a single Mario level, this one’s for you.
3Cyberpunk 2077
Come on down to Dog Town
There are few games on Nintendo Switch 2 that have to be seen to be believed, and this top-notch port ofCyberpunk 2077is one of them. With thePhantom Libertyexpansion opting to bypass base PS4 and Xbox One consoles, the fact it appears on Switch 2 without any notable compromise is very impressive.
Night City still looks wonderful, even if it’s not quite up to the power of the PS5 or high end PCs, and it even runs nicely to boot. It’s the warning shot that the Switch 2 could put the Steam Deck out to pasture and become the best way to play this fantastic RPG on the move. There are also a handful of unique features such as mouse controls, gestures, and more for players to dig into.
4Fast Fusion
We have Wipeout at home
This cheap and cheerful sci-fi racer might fall under your radar considering Mario Kart World is also among the Switch 2 launch selection, but at just $15, I promise it’s worth your time. It’s a blistering fast experience with several luscious cars and winding tracks to choose from.
I love having spectacular wipeouts as I’m trying to switch between red and blue boost pads at speeds my eyes are too slow to properly comprehend. If you think Mario Kart is too slow, give Fast Fusion a try.
5Bravely Default Flying Fairy
Save the world while busting a move
JRPG remasters are all the rage these days, and one I’ve been waiting an awfully long time for isBravely Default. Now, as part of the Switch 2 launch, it’s finally here. First released on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2012 and directed by Kensuke Nakahara, it’s a subversive take on turn-based combat with a lovable cast of characters.
This remaster not only sports upgraded visuals that keep the cutesy art style intact, but also a couple of minigames that take great advantage of mouse controls. One has you dancing in adorable outfits while the other tasks you with flying an airship without crashing. Good luck!
6Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
Bring back the original intro song please
This is where Kazuma Kiryu’s journey all began, and it’s now available in all its glory on the Nintendo Switch 2. Set in 1980’s Japan, you step into the shoes of our hardened hero along with Goro Majima long before embracing his iconic Mad Dog persona.
Yakuza 0is a delight in combat, character, and storytelling that I can’t recommend enough. Just get ready for some very long cutscenes and even longer karaoke sessions. This fresh version also comes with additional cutscenes and the Red Light Raid mode that allows you to play as various different characters while fighting waves of enemies both alone and with friends.
7Hitman
Great job, Agent 47
IO Interactive’sHitmantrilogy is a masterpiece of stealth gameplay, and now you can play three entire games and close to a decade’s worth of updates wherever and whenever you like. The amount of content on offer here is staggering, and it runs great on the Switch 2.
My personal advice for getting maximum enjoyment out of Hitman is to carry both a fire axe and screwdriver wherever you go. These babies can go for miles and are a slapstick joy as you nail some poor dude right between the eyes with them. Yes, I do need therapy…
8Deltarune
Why is everyone in this so cute?!
This parallel story to Undertale has been dolled out in free chapters for years, but now Toby Fox has finally released the full experience, and it’s arrived first on Nintendo Switch 2. You can kill your enemies, or decide to spare them by using the power of friendship. It’s all up to you.
While it’s far from the most visually stunning or mechanically ambitious game on this list, it more than makes up for that with lovable characters, incredible music, and a killer sense of humour that has already cementedDeltarunein the annals of gaming history.
9The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Fresh Princess of Hyrule
Yes, you likely playedBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomto death on the original Switch, but I promise these upgrades are positively transformative. It was clear both games were already pushing the hardware to its limits, and were in desperate need of more power to achieve their full potential.
With the Switch 2, both games run at a silky-smooth 60 frames per second at 4K resolution and feel absolutely delicious to play. There’s also the addition of new features through using the Nintendo Switch app, whether it be audio logs, a photo studio, and more. I’m also just an absolute sucker for these two gems, and I’ll take any excuse to jump back in.
10Street Fighter 6
Bust a move!
There is no Wii Sports equivalent available for the Switch 2 at launch, so I’m declaring thatStreet Fighter 6is the next best thing. I’ve been to enough caravan parks in my time to be abundantly aware that fighting is a serious sport if you look hard enough.
Not only does this version give other consoles a run for their money, it includes all the cool new content that has been released since its initial launch a couple of years ago. While it will take some patience to learn and master its roster of fighters, I promise it is well worth it.
