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Why I Love the Nintendo Switch 2 (Even If It’s Not Perfect)

 

    As someone who stuck with the original Nintendo Switch from launch day in 2017 all the way to 2025, I can confidently say: the Nintendo Switch 2 was worth the wait. There’s something deeply satisfying about holding a piece of tech that feels premium. That’s the first thing that hit me when I unboxed the Switch 2. From the materials to the responsiveness of the new Joy-Cons, it’s a noticeable upgrade in quality, not just in specs, but in feel. It’s the kind of jump that reminds you what Nintendo is capable of when they’re ready to evolve.

 

    I’ve used the Switch 2 daily since launch. It’s become my go-to platform not just for new titles, but also to revisit my backlog of older games that many of which now run smoother, load faster, or simply look better like all of the Resident Evil games from 6 and befor. As someone who skipped the OLED model and stuck with my launch Switch all these years, this feels like a true generational upgrade, not just a revision.

 

Donkey Kong Bananza, Civ 7, and the Joy of New Hardware

 

    The biggest surprise for me has been just how good the new Joy-Cons feel in action. Games like Civilization VII benefit massively from their improved precision and ergonomics which they feel designed with actual gameplay evolution in mind, not just as detachable controllers.

 

    But if there’s one title that truly made me fall in love with the Switch 2, it’s Donkey Kong Bananza. This game is a particle effects playground, with lush environments and screen-filling action that the original Switch would’ve choked on. Playing it in 4K docked mode, I actually caught myself pausing to admire the fidelity. It’s easily one of the most visually impressive games Nintendo’s ever published, and it screams “next-gen.”

 

    I picked up Mario Kart World through the launch bundle, and while I’m glad I didn’t buy it standalone, it was a great bonus to help ease into the new generation. It’s fun, familiar, and technically polished, even if it didn’t quite blow me away like Bananza did.

But It's Not All Bananas and Rainbows

 

    As much as I love the Switch 2, it’s not without its faults. The lack of VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) in docked mode is a strange omission in 2025, especially when both Xbox and PlayStation have had it for years. And despite the system’s power, the launch lineup felt a bit thin for first-party heavy hitters. I’ve mostly been leaning on third-party support and older titles to fill the gaps.

Also, can we talk about the game chat feature? Or rather, the fact that no one is talking about it because no one seems to use it.

 

    Nintendo’s online infrastructure still lags behind the competition, and this half-hearted addition didn’t move the needle.

That said, I can’t pretend this situation is unique. I remember when I first got my Xbox Series X: amazing hardware, but not a lot of exclusives to showcase it early on. In both cases, I found myself excited to revisit older games just to see how much better they ran — and that in itself is a testament to good design.

 

Final Thoughts

 

    Is the Nintendo Switch 2 perfect? No. But is it exactly what I needed after nearly a decade with the original? Absolutely.

Nintendo has always danced to the beat of its own drum, and while the Switch 2 doesn’t completely rewrite the rules, it confidently refines them. It’s a console that respects your time, your hands, and your nostalgia, all while pushing forward into a new era of fidelity and performance.

 

    If you’re like me, someone who held onto their original Switch and waited for a true successor for the Switch 2 will feel like coming home, but with better lighting, smoother floors, and a whole lot more Donkey Kong.

 

By: Abraid @ PolyWire