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Outside of the phenomenal Mario Kart World and next week’s Donkey Kong Bananza, there isn’t much new Nintendo software to keep early Switch 2 adopters occupied. Thankfully, Nintendo has seen fit to improve a heap of existing Nintendo Switch games on the shiny new system, both in the form of graphics-boosting free updates and more substantial paid reworks. The different options can be confusing, however, so here’s an explanation of how it all works.
So what’s the difference when you play Switch games on Switch 2?
Depending on how they were coded, some original Switch games simply run better on Switch 2 without any additional meddling from developers. Games with an uncapped frame rate – developers sometimes restrict this to help regulate performance – especially reap the benefits, especially if they chugged along on the original Switch. 2023’s brilliant Bayonetta 3, for example, runs at 60fps on Switch 2, making it even more essential (though a resolution bump would be welcome, too). The Switch game that consumed more than 700 hours of my time, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, now loads into matches significantly faster. Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Skyrim also see significantly reduced loading times, and the infamously sluggish Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity now runs at a locked, reliable frame rate.
The ugly-as-sin Witcher 3 on Switch also benefits hugely, thanks to dynamic resolution scaling and uncapped frame rate, transforming this once blurry mess into something sharper, smoother and infinitely more playable. Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Arkham Knight and Wolfenstein 2 also see similarly improved resolution and performance.
Which games have got free Switch 2 upgrades so far?
Switch 2 owners now have the benefit of high dynamic range (HDR) support, as well as more TV-friendly resolutions (up to 4K). A wealth of beloved Nintendo-made Switch games have received free updates for Switch 2, helping them take advantage of the new hardware.
First up, we have the smaller updates to less notable titles. In a bid to making multiplayer easier, there have been free updates to both Nintendo’s boardgame collection Clubhouse Games and Big Brain Academy, adding the handy Gameshare feature – allowing you to play multiplayer with other people who don’t already own the game – as well as niche titles like Game Builder Garage and Tamagotchi Plaza getting Joy-Con mouse support. Read on below for the more substantial free updates awaiting you on Switch 2.
Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
One of the most infamously poorly performing games on Switch was 2022’s Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. While its free-form open world approach to questing impressed, terrible frame rate, ugly textures and an eye-strainingly inconsistent resolution tarnished the core experience. Thankfully, developer Game Freak has attempted to make things right on Switch 2. These games have seen a night and day improvement to frame rate, transforming barely moving windmills in the distance and slideshow-esque movement of hordes of Pokémon into the smooth motion you’d expect. The resolutions are noticeably higher too, with characters and Pokémon looking sharper, especially when you’re playing in handheld mode. Roaming the region’s vast locales on Switch 2, there are also more Pokémon scuttling around, making Paldea feel more lived-in. While there is sadly no HDR implantation and the original shonky texture work remains, the graphical and performance improvements are more than enough to make these Paldean adventures feel complete on Switch 2.
Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo has wisely opted to future-proof the best 3D Mario yet made, doubling the game’s resolution to 1800p docked along with fully implemented HDR. Odyssey has always boasted impeccable art direction, and now Mario’s planet-hopping capers shine that bit brighter, the red dunes of the Sand Kingdom glistening in the distance and the roaring T rex’s fangs looking sharper than ever. The frame rate is now consistently higher, too, meaning that each jump and spin feels even snappier. Gameshare support has also been added, allowing a second player to hop in to join you as Cappy on a second Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom
While both of the cutesy Switch Zeldas always had their charms, one of them certainly wasn’t their performance. Stuttering and stalling worse than a 1970s car, the patchy frame rate often let down what was otherwise a charming experience. Good news for Switch 2 owners, then – Nintendo has polished both up dramatically. Now rendered in crisp 4K TV-friendly resolution, sporting full HDR support and yes – running at a solid 60fps – both of these Grezzo-developed Zeldas leap off the screen with new life. If, like me, you put down Echoes of Wisdom last year due to performance issues, now’s the time to experience both it and Link’s Awakening at their very best.
New Super Mario Bros U
While last year’s Super Mario Wonder has undoubtedly stolen its thunder, Nintendo has opted to give the Wii U’s 2D Mario an extra bit of spit and polish on Switch 2 regardless. With improved resolutions, frame rates and – you guessed it – HDR implementation, this love-it-or-hate Mario sidescroller has never looked better.
ARMS
Remember ARMS? The springy-limbed motion controlled fighting game that launched just after the original Switch? Much to everyone outside Nintendo’s surprise, it’s been shown some love eight years after release. Criminally underrated at the time, the motion-controlled melee now has more precise movement, enabling your blows to pummel their intended target with more subtle movements. Four-player local multiplayer now runs perfectly, a setup that would cause the original Switch to slow to a fun-ruining crawl. While its divisive controls mean it still won’t be for everyone, ARMS always featured wonderfully charming character designs, and now its endearingly cartoony world feels new again.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Another Wii U classic gets an upgrade: this multiplayer Mario magic has now sprinted and leapt its way on to a third Nintendo console. On Switch 2, 3D World benefits from an improved frame rate and the expected resolution bump, and Bowser’s Fury gets the same 4K-TV-worthy upgrades along with full HDR support.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Also making its way on to its third Nintendo console in 11 years, this charming, slow-paced puzzle adventure now sparkles thanks to HDR implementation and a resolution bump in both docked and handheld modes. For those who want to bring a pal along for the ride, Treasure Tracker now also has GameShare support.
Splatoon 3
The Shibuya-chic squidlings of Splatoon were originally born on Wii U, but Nintendo’s futuristic paintball shooter has evolved a lot since then. It has always been bright and colourful, but its streetwear cool was marred by the vaseline-esque blur of lower resolutions. No more: now rendered in full 4K on Switch 2, Splatoon 3’s ink-splatted dystopia shines with delightful detail. Whether you’re taking down bosses in the surprisingly excellent single-player campaign or splatting strangers in online Turf War matches, Splatoon’s slick character designs boast a new found richness. Splatoon 3 on Switch 2 feels like a whole new game – if you missed it the first time around, there’s never been a fresher way to play.
What about the paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades?
Unlike the free updates detailed above, Switch 2 Editions are old games that have been scrubbed up and resold, often packed with additional content. Nintendo charges anywhere from £7.99 to £16.99 to upgrade a Switch game to a Switch 2 edition, and players who don’t own the original game can also simply buy the Switch 2 Edition outright for £60-£70. Subscribers to Nintendo’s online service get some of these upgrades for free.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
When it comes to all-time launch games, it’s hard to beat Breath of the Wild. Sensibly then, Nintendo hasn’t tried, simply opting to spruce up the best Zelda and its sequel instead. Some of the best open-world games ever made, these lovingly restored titles finally have the horsepower behind them to let their enchanting art style shine. Hyrule’s painterly plains pop with a new found richness. Areas where the Switch struggled like, Kokoro forest, no longer feel like sprinting through treacle, and high res textures along with 4K and HDR support highlight new details in areas that I’ve already explored for hours. Tears of the Kingdom especially benefits. HDR illuminates the murky darkness of the depths. Sky islands shine with a pleasing sunkissed warmth. There is also a new Zelda Notes app, which functions as part GPS, part ticklist, allowing you to track down whatever secrets you’ve yet to find in either game. Both editions are free with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, or you can upgrade from Switch 1 for £7.99 each.
No Man’s Sky
The creation of Hello Games, No Man’s Sky launched to much controversy nine years ago, and has since gone on to become the interstellar exploration sim of gamer’s dreams. When it was ported to the original Switch in 2022, it was functional but not much to get excited about. On Switch 2 however, No Man’s Sky has had a radical overhaul, looking and playing like a brand-new game. Running at 1440p docked and 1080p in handheld, HDR helps the otherworldly colour palettes of each strange new planet and its inhabitants to ooze vividly. It runs flawlessly, too, immersing you fully in its melancholic sci-fi. The best part? Hello Games has opted to offer this Switch 2 Edition upgrade to Switch 1 players, gratis.
Fortnite
The globe-conquering battle royale always felt a bit hampered on Nintendo’s ageing console, and now, developer Epic Games has given it a much-needed glow-up. Running at a silky smooth 60fps and rendered in far higher resolutions, Fortnite on Switch 2 also supports higher quality textures and vastly improved draw distances alongside the resolution bump – helping you to see distant objects and aim at other players more precisely. There is, of course, now GameChat support too, along with mouse controls for those looking to infuriate everyone else playing with analogue sticks on Switch.
Super Mario Party Jamboree TV – coming 24 July
One of the more substantial Switch 2 Edition upgrades comes in the form of Super Mario Party Jamboree TV. As well as your expected resolution bumps, this package adds a plethora of new ways to party. First up is the PlayStation EyeToy-esque Bowser Live mode, which has players flailing about to complete mini games via the Switch 2’s camera peripheral. Then there’s the titular Jamboree TV, which shows players’ faces on to the gamescreen alongside all-new microphone and camera-based experiences, alongside the brand new mouse-controlled Carnival Coaster mode. This upgrade will set owners of 2024’s Super Mario Party Jamboree back an additional £16.99.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World – coming 28 August
Taking a leaf out of the book of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, this Switch 2 edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land features an all-new story-led expansion. This all-new adventure sees our squishy hero attempting to save his friends from a newly crystallised world, as you leap, swallow and battle your way across new levels. Both Star-Crossed World and the original will also offer increased resolution and improved frame rates, with this Switch 2 Edition upgrade also costing £16.99.
