A GeekDad Game Guide for the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup has generated a lot of conversation in online gaming circles. There are younger fans who, rightly, expect a robust and expansive assortment of hot new titles to accompany a fresh console. Then there are those of us who lived through the Nintendo 64 release and its /checks notes/ two North American launch games.
With a selection including a pair of new Nintendo offerings, two special Switch 2 Upgrade Packs for beloved Zelda titles, a dozen or so third-party games, and a smattering of other free upgrades and new additions to the Nintendo Classics library, I’ve found the Switch 2 launch library more than adequate for my gaming needs.
While I haven’t yet played everything available on the Nintendo Switch 2, between demos, special events, and my own personal library, I have experience with the majority. As such, I’d like to take a moment to spotlight my favorite launch games on my new favorite system.
Freebies
First and foremost, anyone picking up a Switch 2 around launch likely already has a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription. (For the record, I’d recommend anyone in the Switch ecosystem pick up a sub, specifically the eight-person/$79.99 annual family membership. The “family” in question can literally just be you and seven friends.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmDD7JSfhcE
If so, your first three downloads should be the following bundled freebies:
— The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack
— The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack
— Nintendo Classics — Nintendo GameCube
The Upgrade Packs boast improved framerates, load times, resolutions, and textures, breathing new life into your favorite open-world LoZ titles. Currently, only three GameCube games are available, but F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur II, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker are all proper bangers, and more GC goodness is on the way.
First-Party/Family Fun
When it comes to my pick for first-party Nintendo products and suggestions for outstanding family gaming, the answer is the same, and it’s not likely to surprise anyone.
I’ve been a believer in Mario Kart World since I first put my hands on the Switch 2 earlier this year, and now that I have the game on my own system, I simply cannot get enough. The newest iteration of Nintendo’s iconic cart racer franchise has everything you’d expect — -fierce Grand Prix competition, Battle modes, robust multiplayer support, and all your favorite characters and vehicle types — -plus so much more!
Supporting up to 24 drivers (representing dozens of characters with tons of unlockable costumes), everything from the standout new Knockout Tour to the open roads connecting courses is lively and lush. Whether you’re grinding rails Tony Hawk-style, bouncing off walls, or just exploring the free-roaming environments with friends, Mario Kart World is everything a console launch game should be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pE23YTYEZM
A single Switch 2 system supports two- to four-player Multiplayer, two-player Online Play, and two-player Wireless, giving you plenty of bang for your buck even outside of the robust Single Player — -comprised of Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, Time Trials, Vs Race, and Battle. But don’t neglect Free Roaming, a whole new type of Mario Kart experience that is alternately meditative and madcap thanks to a combination of wide open spaces and cleverly hidden mini-games.
For the non-gamers in your clan, smart steering and auto-accelerate options help to level the playing field for first-timers, and the larger footprint of the Joy-Con 2 controllers makes single Joy-Con play a much more inviting option. Enabling tilt controls and using the Joy-Con 2 Wheel accessory is a further step up, but nothing can compare to the freedom and precision of dual Joy-Con 2/Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller play.
Yeah, Mario Kart World is an early system standout. Truly an earth-shattering opinion from yours truly.
What may surprise you, however, is this addendum; also pick up Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
I realize that this title’s $9.99 price tag is nearly as polarizing as MKW’s $79.99, but I’m recommending it anyway.
Though mostly billed as a single-player exploration of the Switch 2 hardware, my family has found Welcome Tour to be an amazing shared gaming experience. From challenging each other to complete a tiny pixel-perfect recreation of Super Mario Bros. World 1–1 as it slowly stretches across the living room television to using a combined 10 fingers to test the multi-touch interface of the Switch 2’s screen in handheld mode, there’s ample fun for everyone — -even if you just want to try and help the primary player sniff out all the hidden stamps in this surreal game world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfUVKXiYrpg
While I don’t exactly blanch at the $10 price point, my one caution concerning Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is to be aware that not all activities can be enjoyed in all modes. Some require docked play while others depend on handheld mode. A few mini-games even need specific accessories like the Switch 2 Camera and Pro Controller, but there are still plenty of other ways to net those important medals to advance the game without making additional hardware purchases.
Fighting
While my family patiently awaits news regarding the one fighting game we all adore — -Smash Bros., naturally — -my oldest and I are happy to bide our time with Street Fighter 6.
This title has been on our to-buy list since its original 2023 release, and, as neither of us is exactly competitive-tier players, I’m totally satisfied that it landed on our new Switch 2 rather than one of its many alternate platforms.
The core of the Street Fighter 6 experience can be found in the Battle Hub, with (literal) old-school arcade-style battles that are cool enough on their own, but that’s not all the BH has to offer. It’s a literal social hub, where you can communicate, learn, practice, and further customize your in-game avatar.
Said avatar is central to the single-player campaign mode found in the World Tour story mode. Here you’ll start with the bare basics before exploring Metro City to hone your craft. It’s a quirky approach to the genre that’s perfect for those trying to get their bearing in the world of Street Fighter. It also primes you to step into the Fighting Ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VafUG2-98tg
Fighting Ground has everything from the more traditional arcade story mode — -where you’ll choose a character and fight your way through the roster — -to practice and versus features to specialty content like the Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest match. These employ Joy-Con 2-specific motion controls, the sheer novelty of which has been a big hit in my household.
Speaking of controller options, the Fighting Ground is also the perfect place to try out the game’s trio of control types (Classic, Modern, and Dynamic), tweak button and stick settings, and remap things to your heart’s content while exploring SF6 in all its neon paint-soaked glory.
Dual Joy-Con 2 controls and the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller both really shine in Street Fighter 6. The face buttons are well-spaced and responsive, the D-pads are solidly functional, and even the nubby Joy-Con 2 sticks feel great in-hand. The real surprise here was how well the game plays off your television.
Obviously, we tend to limit our in-house 1-v-1 to the docked TV mode, but we found Tabletop mode to be a great option on the go, especially for quick Gyro Battles. Handheld mode is also a solid choice, especially for single-player content.
Action
There are a number of notable action titles available on the Switch 2, but I’m currently engrossed in Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.
This was another one that pulled me in back at the Switch 2 press event. Which is, perhaps, a little odd considering the game’s dubious original release back in 2020.
In the ensuing five years, CD Projekt Red has not only crushed the bugs and smoothed out the glitches, they’ve managed to finesse the game into an all-time best-seller. The Switch 2’s Ultimate Edition arrives with this refined core experience and the Phantom Liberty DLC to boot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijqVBkgZ79Y
Now — -and I can’t stress this enough — -Cyberpunk was, is, and shall surely always remain an adults-only affair. From graphic violence and drug use to copious amounts of language and nudity, it lives up to every bit of its M rating from the ESRB. But if that’s the kind of hard-hitting gaming experience you’re looking for, you will no doubt be wowed with Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.
Perhaps even more so than Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077 is a veritable showpiece on the Switch 2, and not just in TV mode. I’m currently experiencing the game almost exclusively in Handheld mode, and there are times when I genuinely can’t believe how good this game looks and how solidly it controls right there in the palms of my hands.
And as if that weren’t enough, the title also packs some specialty features just for the Switch 2. These include touchscreen support in Handheld and Tabletop mode, Gyro and Mouse Sensor aiming, and an entire array of Motion Patterns, gesture-based controls to dodge, use items, reload weapons, and more!
Any way you choose to take on Night City, the Switch 2 is more than a match for its vast dystopian expanse.
Roleplaying
RPGs are also already pretty well represented on the Switch 2. You got your classic Suikoden, Hogwarts Legacy for the young wizards among you, and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for those who like a little farming sim mixed in.
Personally, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and I was not disappointed.
Compared to something like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Bravely Default isn’t exactly the most visually dazzling of Switch 2 launch games, but it’s still lush and beautiful in its own right. The delicate gouache of the 3DS’s character and level designs have been nicely translated to the new hardware, and even without the original’s stereoscopic 3D effects, there’s still a wonderful sense of scale and movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hndnB0ZaZN4
A blend of free-roaming exploration and turn-based combat, this familiar tale of warriors, crystals, and a fight for survival differentiates itself by allowing players to push their luck by using the Brave option, thus borrowing actions from an upcoming turn, or shore up their defenses using Default to bank bonus actions for later.
The Flying Fairy HD Remaster brings back everything I loved about the 3DS original, like its spectacular job system and story-driven party conversations, alongside easier navigation, a snappier menu system, and a new Game Corner featuring mini-game content that can be controlled via Joy-Con 2 mouse functionality.
Indie
Admittedly, couching Deltarune as a mere indie game is sure to ruffle a few feathers, but despite the nigh-universal praise heaped upon Toby Fox’s spiritual successor to the beloved Undertale, its deeply personal nature and gorgeously minimalist presentation both positively ooze DIY cred.
An inspired blend of RPG, bullet hell, and even rhythm gameplay, Deltarune is among the easiest of recommendations for T-rated fare on the Switch 2. Arriving on the eShop just in time for the system launch, this version includes chapters one through four, and the $24.99 price tag also includes the forthcoming release of its remaining chapters.
Best of all, if you’ve already played through the freebie chapters one and two on your Switch, you can simply pick up where you left off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN4ZcGJoZac
While not exactly a resource hog on any platform, Deltarune is perfect for playing on the go in handheld mode. Simultaneously embracing the quirkier side of the classic JRPG (like the Mother series) and cleverly thumbing its nose at those same conventions, it boasts a surprisingly deep narrative packed with beloved characters and plot twists aplenty.
Visually, it’s nothing short of pixel art perfection, and despite the fact that the Switch 2 Welcome Tour assured me that this new console has the same speakers as its predecessor, the clear stereo separation makes its stunning chiptune soundtrack sound better than ever.
If you have a teen or tween in your household, you likely already have at least a passing knowledge of Undertale characters and lore, but consider taking that to the next level by adding Deltarune to your Switch 2 library. You will not be disappointed.
Review copies were provided for each of these included titles by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. Vampire Waluigi is the best Waluigi.
