The Nintendo Switch 2 is just a few weeks away, and I can’t wait to have my own console in my hands. It has been a long time coming, y’all. Just think about it for a second. We have been playing the same Switch console since back in 2017. We then got the Lite version, which is cool and all, but it didn’t compare to the Switch OLED and its amazing screen. But no screen tech in the world could deliver better performance, and let’s be honest, the Switch performance has been lacking.
Watch this video below:
Thankfully, we are just a few weeks away from the new console and all the cool new games. I have played basically every new Nintendo Switch 2 game already ahead of the launch in June. If you’re on the fence about what to pick up on day one, here are some of my standout games.
Mario Kart World
Before you scroll down to the comments section on this video and smack talk me for being excited about a game that costs £90 or R2000 in my country, I know. Mario Kart World is ludicrously expensive. BUT, we need to ask ourselves some questions; how long are you going to play Mario Kart World for and what other Switch 2 exclusive game is there?
If your answer is “I will play Mario Kart World for the next few years” and “I guess nothing else”, then you can likely justify the asking price for this game. Mario Kart World is likely going to be that game you go back to even after you clock in over 300 hours. It is that game you boot up when friends are over and that game you launch when you’re around friends with their own Switch 2 consoles.
There’s honestly nothing else like it and I doubt there ever will be. I played Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at least once a week on my original Switch, and we’re talking about years later.
If you’re not sold yet, Mario Kart World is shaping up to be something rather magical. Set in an open world for the first time, players can race wherever they want, complete various side objectives, explore hidden areas, unlock new outfits, use new power-ups and compete in two major racing modes.
After playing the demo, I can definitely say Mario Kart World feels refreshing while at the same time, still captures the magic we know from the series. The Forza-like tracks mean that maps aren’t just loops of the same track. Instead, you race from one end to the other end of a long course. When you’re done, you then race to the next track across the open world.
I am most excited to see how Nintendo has incorporated these tracks into the world itself and how players will get to them. One track is seemingly set in the sky, and the thought of getting up to it makes me super excited. If the world has even half the sense of discovery that, say, Tears of the Kingdom has, I think we’re in for a real treat here.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition
Speaking of Tears of the Kingdom, the next game I recommend you get is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This game is seemingly more than just a port. Nintendo has worked hard to create a better-looking, more polished game with a higher frame rate and resolution.
Not to mention that Tears of the Kingdom comes with the new Zelda Notes feature where you can link the Nintendo App to the game and use your phone to check the map, navigate anywhere you want to go, and track down things you need to collect. There’s also a huge focus on sharing creations and downloading user-generated content through the app. So you’ll be able to download all those crazy-looking machines that players were going wild about during the game’s original launch and test them out yourself.
The app also brings some cool achievements to the game, where you can track how much you have done, how far you have walked, and even scan your amiibos and keep track of which ones you own. While the game content will likely still be pretty much the same in the Switch 2 Edition, the Zelda Notes and visual enhancements make this one of the better remasters coming to Switch 2.
Kirby and The Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World
The best Kirby game since Kirby has been improved on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the special Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Star-Crossed World. The game has been, firstly, ported to the Switch 2 with new visual and performance enhancements. However, the cool new feature in the game is the Star-Crossed content.
Nintendo has essentially taken every level in the game and added content to it by using this other dimension that has seemingly leaked into the world. New platforms mean new ways to get around, new power-ups create cool new ways to fight enemies, and the sheer attention to detail means that Nintendo has worked hard to create unique exploration opportunities for every level.
I am not sure exactly how deep the Star-Crossed world content goes at this rate, but after playing the first few levels, it all felt seamless and pretty fun to play through.
Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour
This is yet another controversial take on the list because I know people are upset that this game is not free, and Sony did Astro Bot free, and there should be standards about stuff, but we need to build a bridge now and get over it. For £10, you’re likely not going to miss paying rent for picking up the Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour.
I love this game for what it wants to do – create an immersive Switch 2 welcome experience by showcasing all the cool new innovations that come with the console. There’s no one who knows the Switch 2 better than Nintendo, and I think the mini-games and attractions will be as fleshed out as possible.
I think that players who appreciate technology and perhaps have respect for the innovation that has gone into Switch 2 will enjoy this game. While playing the demo, I really enjoyed how it showcased the thought behind the features of the Switch while I got to experience the outcome of years of development.
Cyberpunk 2077
Lastly, we have Cyberpunk 2077. Honestly, there are better platforms to play this game on, but if you have ever wanted to play it on the go, and at the best possible visual experience from a handheld point of view, the Switch 2 is it.
I think having Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2 is kind of a cool thing to own. It is a fully-fledged action shooter RPG with so much content to explore, unique builds to create, and weapons to use. Sure, it may not have had the best reputation at launch, but it has come a long way. If anything, the game feels like the definitive package but all crammed into the Switch 2.
I think from a technical level, Cyberpunk 2077 will also be something cool to show off to not only yourself but to the naysayers who don’t believe the game can run properly on the console. It will get you all warm and excited inside for the future of the Switch 2 as the handheld proves it is now the capable handheld on the market.
Other Games
Of course, while the Switch 2 has some great games at launch, the months ahead are also filled with cool new games coming our way. We have Super Mario Party Jamboree, which has been upgraded for the Switch 2. It comes with new features that include using the camera and the Joy-Con mouse functionality to complete certain mini-games. I think the experience is going to be pretty fun and offer something that no other Mario Party game has had in the past.
We then have Donkey Kong Bananza. I played this game during my hands-on, and it honestly is so much fun. I think Nintendo might be cooking up a real contender to the Mario 3D series at this rate. Kong is incredibly fun to play as, and smashing up rocks and deforming the world around you felt intuitive and addictive. I do think there’s some secret story going on in the game that directly links to Super Mario Odyssey, so I am very interested to see where it goes.
We also have Metroid Prime 4: Beyond coming our way later this year too. The game looks stunning on the Switch 2 and runs at 4K 120Hz in docked mode. It also supports mouse functionality. Outside of those first-party games, we also have loads of third-party ones too, like Hades II, Star Wars Outlaws, possibly Call of Duty 2025, and more. The year is going to be stacked with Switch 2 games.
The Nintendo Switch 2 console is expected to launch on 5 June. I had hands-on with the console earlier this month. Be sure to check out five things I loved about it here, and five things I didn’t love so much about it here.
You can also catch up on our South African pre-order guide for the console here along with all the confirmed game launches coming your way at launch and after launch here.
