(Credit: Nintendo/Will Greenwald)
One of the best things about the Switch 2 is backward compatibility, which allows it to run Switch 1 games. Some titles will look exactly the same, while others will be enhanced to take advantage of the Switch 2's increased power and capabilities. I got my hands on the Switch 2 at Nintendo's launch event in New York and got a firsthand chance to see how much better Switch 1 games look and play on the new console.
Breaking Down the Different Types of Switch 2 Games
The Switch 2 runs three types of games, which are separated into categories based on how they’re designed to be played on the system:
Switch 2 Compatible
Switch 2-compatible games are digital or physical Switch 1 titles you can play on Switch 2, but they aren't enhanced for the system. That’s all original Switch releases with a few presumable exceptions in terms of compatibility (like Nintendo Labo). They'll probably run just as well as they did on the Switch, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they'll run better (you'll probably enjoy 4K upscaling in docked mode, though).
That said, Nintendo announced that several games, including The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, and Super Mario Odyssey, will get free updates for the Switch 2. The updates "may" improve performance, but Nintendo wasn't specific about it.
Switch 2 Editions
Next up are Switch 2 Editions, which are enhanced Switch 1 titles that leverage the Switch 2's power. This could be as simple as improved performance, like 4K resolution or higher-than-60fps frame rates, or as advanced as incorporating entirely new features with the Joy-Con 2's mouse functionality or the Switch 2 Camera. The upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A are cross-generational releases with Switch 2 Editions.
Switch 2 Edition titles will have dedicated retail releases, but you don't need to rebuy the full versions if you own the original games. Paid upgrades will bump your Switch 1 titles to Switch 2 Editions with all their extras. The pricing isn't clear, but the upgrades should cost roughly $10 to $20 depending on the release—and the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack might offer some upgrades as part of the subscription.
Switch 2 Exclusives
Finally, Switch 2 exclusive games are made specifically for the new console. They include the cool-looking Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.
Playing Switch 1 Games on the Switch 2
Nintendo didn't demo Switch 2-compatible games, but I played many Switch 2 Editions. I've favorably reviewed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Kirby and the Forgotten Land on the Switch, but they're even better on the Switch 2.
Breath of the Wild played incredibly well for an ambitious open-world RPG. I only spent a few minutes with it on the Switch 2, but it has been noticeably upgraded. In docked mode, the Switch 2 Edition delivered crisp 4K60 graphics and HDR. It rendered at 1080p in handheld mode, though the 120Hz display meant more fluid animations. The docked Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition appeared to move in 4K60, too.
I'm less familiar with Super Mario Party Jamboree's graphics, but visuals aren't the point of the upgrade. Instead, its Switch 2 Edition adds mini-games that use the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode and the Switch 2 Camera.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn't out yet, so I didn't play the Switch 1 version. However, I fired up the Switch 2 Edition version, and it looked fantastic thanks to 4K graphics and frame rates above 60fps. And yes, Beyond's 1080p120 mode was incredibly smooth, though I can't say whether it reached or consistently hit 120fps.
Naturally, the best-looking games on Switch 2 are the ones designed for the console.
Switch 2 Exclusives Look Even Better
Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World were made specifically for the Switch 2, and it shows. Both games appeared to run at a sharp 4K resolution in docked mode, with smooth action hovering around the 60fps mark.
Mario Kart Worlds looked especially impressive since it can most directly be compared with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The latter was no slouch on the Switch 1, but Worlds has a much higher rendering resolution and more granular details like textures and lighting effects. It also features an open world to explore, a first for Mario Kart, and I raced through it without a hitch.
In terms of style, Donkey Kong Bananza resembles Super Mario Odyssey, but with a higher resolution and frame rate. It also has much more in the way of shininess (not ray tracing, just shininess). More importantly, it has lots of destructible environments that Donkey Kong can punch through like a furious mole. That means kicking up many tiny items, such as coins and gold nuggets, and that's where the game impressed me. The frame rate remained high even as Kong pummeled the ground into a different shape and grabbed dozens of collectible bits in the process.
I'd like to see how Switch 2-compatible games run on the system, but they weren't available at the event. Barring big technical problems, non-enhanced Switch 1 games should play as you remember them. That means no title running at 4K or higher than 60fps. But at least you can run them, which means the Switch 2 will start out with a library that's just as strong as the original's.