First Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews Are In: Impressive but Overpriced
Early impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2, shared by gaming outlets, highlight both the strengths and the more divisive aspects of Nintendo’s next-gen console. Reviewers who got to test it say the design still feels familiar, but the console is noticeably bigger — with a 7.9-inch 1080p display. It uses an LCD panel instead of OLED, yet the image remains vibrant, and the 120 FPS in handheld mode makes everything feel extra smooth. The Joy-Cons now attach magnetically and, surprisingly, the new “mouse mode” turned out to be really helpful in shooters like Metroid Prime 4, making aiming much easier.
Under the hood, the Switch 2 packs an NVIDIA chip with RT and tensor cores, bringing ray tracing and DLSS 3.0 to the table. That’s enough to run demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 on medium settings. Nintendo claims the GPU is ten times more powerful than the original Switch’s. But what really matters to most players? 4K/120 FPS on a TV and smooth performance in handheld mode.
The launch lineup includes 46 games — refreshed classics like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, plus multiplatform titles such as Street Fighter 6 and Civilization 7. While some critics are calling it the “upgrade we’ve been waiting for,” gamers aren’t as enthusiastic. After the Treehouse: Live stream showcasing upcoming titles, social media was flooded with backlash over pricing: $450 for the console and up to $90 for physical games feels like too much.
External factors aren’t helping either. New U.S. tariffs announced by Trump could drive the price even higher. Investors are uneasy too — Nintendo’s stock has taken a hit, with some drawing comparisons to the 3DS launch back in 2011, when a steep price cut became inevitable. That history could repeat itself.
For now, the Switch 2 looks like a solid upgrade for die-hard Nintendo fans willing to pay for exclusives. But on the broader market, the high price and lack of a true “wow” factor might hold it back. With the release set for June 5, we’ll soon find out whether Nintendo struck the right balance between innovation and accessibility.
