Best thing I bought this year: Nintendo Switch 2

I waited Nintendo Switch 2 For a long time. Rumors about The Switch Pro is claimed to be real but was never released I circled around for years as I watched fewer and fewer third-party AAA games make their way to the little Nintendo console that could. There were always enough first-party titles and indie games to convince me, but I watched them with some envy Games like Al-Din ring It took the world by storm, knowing that I would have to wait until Nintendo’s next-gen consoles arrived to add it to my Switch library. Now, finally, it’s here.

The Switch 2’s main strength for me is that it’s a better version of the original Switch. Its 7.9-inch, 120Hz 1080p screen looks sharp – yes, an OLED screen would have been nicer, but I’m not complaining – and its ability to output at up to 4K resolution, or up to 120Hz at lower resolutions, is a welcome improvement. It can play most original Nintendo Switch games, some of which have been updated through free or paid patches to run at a higher frame rate or resolution.

The only original Switch 2 game I’ve played so far Mario Kart Worldwhich I picked up as part of the package with the system. My most played game is the original Switch title The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom Tearswhich runs at 4K and 60fps if you get the Switch 2 version for $10 (it’s a free download if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription). This subscription also allows me to play an increasing number of games GameCube games are available as Nintendo Classicsincluding titles I didn’t play as a kid.

I specifically put off playing games from my backlog, including games from several years ago, so I could play them on a larger screen in handheld mode, and I don’t regret my decision. Put dozens of hours in Traveler Octopath While relaxing on the couch with the big screen handheld was a lot of fun. Nintendo and third-party developers have also been very generous in releasing free demos for Nintendo Switch 2 titles, including Donkey Kong Bananza and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergradeso it is possible to try larger titles before you decide to choose them.

My only real complaint with the Nintendo Switch 2 is the 256GB of internal storage, which isn’t enough for people like me who have built up a large digital library of Switch games. Adding more requires you to enter a file Micro SD Express card, Which could be twice its price Regular microSD cards Used by the original Switch. I’m hoping that if a hardware revision is made, it will include an OLED display and at least 512GB of storage. By then, hopefully microSD Express cards will become less expensive.

The console’s starting price of $449.99 was a shock to many, but it seems fair given its tech specs and the escalating tariff situation that… Switch 2 pre-order timing delayed In North America, Nintendo was forced to raise the price Original Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Recently announced It “will shift our primary development focus to Nintendo Switch 2 and expand our business around this new platform.” I’ll continue to look forward to exclusive titles that make their way to my new console of choice, as well as ports of third-party games that I haven’t had access to yet.