GameCube classics are exactly what they sound like: GameCube games you can play on your Switch 2. It's part of Nintendo Switch Online, but only works on the Switch 2, not the original.
The service launched with three games:
Nintendo has confirmed more:
The library will grow over time, just like the N64 and SNES collections did.
These aren't just ROM dumps. They look better than original GameCube, have customizable controls, and include suspend points (save states). There's even a CRT filter if you want that old-TV look. Online multiplayer works too.
GameCube classics aren't in the basic $20 per year Nintendo Switch Online. You need the Expansion Pack at $50 per year. That also gets you N64, Game Boy, and other retro games.
If you're not interested in retro games, this might not be worth it for you.
GameCube games need more power to emulate. The original Switch couldn't handle it. The Switch 2 can.
There's an official wireless GameCube controller if you want the authentic experience. The Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller work fine, but GameCube had a weird button layout that some people prefer for these specific games.
Nope. Your old dock won't work with the Switch 2. The console is bigger and needs a new dock anyway.
The Switch 2 is larger. It has a 7.9-inch screen compared to the original's 6.2 inches. It literally won't fit into the old dock. You'd damage something trying.
Even if size wasn't an issue, the old dock can't do 4K. It maxes out at 1080p. The Switch 2 dock has HDMI 2.1 for 4K HDR output. Different hardware.
The Switch 2 comes with its own dock in the box. You're not missing out on anything. Only buy extra docks if you want them in multiple rooms.
The original Switch can actually use the Switch 2 dock if you put it in there carefully. Same USB-C connector. It won't do 4K (the original Switch can't), but it works. Not officially supported, but people have done it.
If you have one of those compact portable docks, it might work with Switch 2. Depends on the size and how the connector is positioned. Check before assuming your travel setup still works.
Probably yes, eventually. The Joy-Con 2 uses the same kind of analog sticks that caused drift on the original. Nintendo didn't switch to drift-proof technology.
A lot of people expected Hall effect sensors, those magnet-based sticks that don't wear down. Third-party controllers have used them for years to avoid drift.
Here's the catch: the Joy-Con 2 attaches magnetically. Those magnets would mess with Hall effect sensors, which also use magnets. Nintendo had to pick one or the other. They went with the magnetic attachment and stuck with traditional sticks.
Kind of annoying, honestly.
Nintendo still offers free repairs for drift. The class-action lawsuit made sure of that. If your Joy-Con 2 develops drift, contact Nintendo and they'll fix it at no cost.
Some people say the Joy-Con 2 sticks feel better built than the originals. The controller is bigger, so maybe there's more room for sturdier components. But it's too early to know if drift will be less common.
If you're really worried about drift, buy a third-party controller with Hall effect sensors. 8BitDo makes good ones. They won't snap onto the Switch 2 magnetically, but they'll work wirelessly forever without drift.
Or just use the Joy-Con 2 normally and take advantage of the free repair program when needed.
Potentiometer sticks will always drift eventually. That's just physics. The question is how long it takes. Nintendo's betting the Joy-Con 2 will last longer. We'll see.
Finally. Real voice chat on a Nintendo console.
The Switch 2 has GameChat built right in. No smartphone app, no weird workarounds. Just press the C button on your Joy-Con 2 or Pro Controller and start talking.
The console itself has a microphone. So even when you're playing docked on your TV, you can voice chat without plugging anything in. Want better audio? Use a headset. But it works out of the box.
Voice chat with friends across any game. Playing Mario Kart while your friend plays Zelda? You can still talk.
Screen share lets you show your gameplay to friends in real-time. Like streaming, but just for your friends.
Video chat is available if you buy the optional Switch 2 Camera accessory. Not essential, but it's there.
Online features require a membership. But here's a nice perk: GameChat and all online features are free for Switch 2 owners until March 31, 2026. So you've got time to try it out.
If you're worried about your kids talking to strangers online, parental controls can restrict or disable voice chat entirely. Nintendo thought about this.
Remember the Nintendo Switch Online app? The one you had to download on your phone just to voice chat? Where you needed your phone next to you while playing? That was embarrassing.
GameChat works like PlayStation or Xbox party chat. Like Discord. Like how voice chat should have worked on Nintendo consoles years ago. It's finally here.
Short answer: about as powerful as a PS4, which is roughly 7 to 10 times stronger than the original Switch.
When docked, the Switch 2 pumps out around 3 TFLOPs of GPU power. That's more than the PS4 (1.84 TFLOPs) and Xbox One (1.31 TFLOPs). In handheld mode, it drops to about 1.7 TFLOPs to save battery.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X are still way ahead at 10+ TFLOPs each. The Switch 2 isn't trying to compete on raw power with those.
Raw numbers aren't everything. The Switch 2 has some tricks:
DLSS is the big one. It's NVIDIA AI magic that takes a lower-resolution image and upscales it to look like 4K. This means the Switch 2 can output 4K that looks nearly as good as native 4K without actually rendering at 4K. Clever.
Ray tracing is in there too. Realistic lighting and reflections that weren't possible on the original Switch. Not every game will use it, but it's available.
Cyberpunk 2077 runs on Switch 2. Actually runs. The enhanced Zelda games look gorgeous. Third-party games that struggled on the original Switch play smoothly now.
Will you get PS5-level graphics? No. But the gap is way smaller than it used to be. The original Switch was embarrassingly underpowered compared to PS4. The Switch 2 holds its own.
Here's what matters: you're getting near-PS4 power in something you can throw in a backpack. The PS5 can't do that. If portability matters to you, the Switch 2's power is more than enough.
This is the big question, right? Let me give you the honest answer: it depends on you.
The Switch 2 is faster, has a bigger and sharper screen, outputs 4K to your TV, and has way more storage. Games load faster and run smoother. The new Joy-Cons snap on magnetically. It's better in basically every measurable way.
But "better" costs $450.
You play on TV a lot. The jump from 1080p to 4K HDR is real. If you have a nice TV, you'll notice.
Performance bugs you. Remember how Pokémon Scarlet stuttered everywhere? Or how some games took forever to load? That stuff is mostly fixed on Switch 2.
You play every day. If gaming is a big part of your life, the improvements make everything feel better.
You want GameCube games. Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and eventually Sunshine and the Pokémon games are Switch 2 exclusive.
You play casually. If you pick up your Switch once a week, your current one works fine.
Money is tight. $450 for the console, then controllers, maybe storage, maybe games. It adds up fast.
You want more exclusives. The first-year lineup is solid but not incredible. The real heavy hitters are still coming.
Almost all your Switch games work on Switch 2. You're not starting over. And many of them actually run better on the new hardware without any patches.
If your current Switch still does what you need, there's no shame in waiting. But if you've been frustrated by performance, want better visuals, or you're just ready for new hardware, the Switch 2 delivers.
The Switch 2 had a decent launch lineup, headlined by Mario Kart World. Here's what you can play right now and what's coming soon.
This is the game most people are buying. It's a proper new Mario Kart, not just a port. Open-world mode, 24 players per race (up from 12), 50 characters, off-roading mechanics. It's already sold over 14 million copies since launch.
If you're getting the $499 bundle, Mario Kart World is included.
Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom got Switch 2 editions with better graphics and performance. These are paid upgrades, not free patches. Worth it if you want to replay them looking their best.
Some solid games hit day one:
Not a huge third-party showing, but it's launch. More are coming.
If you have Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack ($50 per year), you get access to GameCube games. At launch there's Wind Waker, Soulcalibur II, and F-Zero GX. More are coming: Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, the Pokémon games.
These are Switch 2 exclusive and won't work on original Switch.
Here's the thing: almost every Switch 1 game works on Switch 2. That's thousands of titles ready to go. And many run better on the new hardware. So even if the launch lineup seems small, you've got plenty to play.
Moving to the Switch 2? Here's how to bring everything with you.
Digital purchases are tied to your Nintendo Account, not your console. Sign into your account on Switch 2 and your whole library appears. Download what you want to play. Easy.
This is where people sometimes get tripped up.
If you have Nintendo Switch Online: Most of your saves are already backed up to the cloud. Sign into Switch 2 and download them. Done.
But watch out: Some games don't support cloud saves. Pokémon, Splatoon 3, and a few others. Those saves live only on your original Switch. You'll need to transfer them manually.
Manual transfer works like this: Get both consoles on the same Wi-Fi. Go to Settings, then Data Management, then Transfer Your Save Data on each one. Pick the saves you want to move. Takes a few minutes depending on how much data you have.
Pop your old Switch cartridges into the Switch 2. They play fine. The cartridge slot accepts both Switch 1 and Switch 2 game cards.
One thing though: save data for cartridge games is stored on the console, not the cart. So you still need to transfer those saves separately.
If you have screenshots or videos on a microSD card from your old Switch, you can copy them to Switch 2. Just insert the card and there's an import option.
Can't use that microSD for games though. Switch 2 needs the faster microSD Express format.
When you sign in with your Nintendo Account, your friend list, profile, online membership, and digital library all come with you. The manual work is just the save data for specific games.
Yep, the Switch 2 does 4K when docked. Connect it to a 4K TV and you get 3840×2160 resolution at 60Hz with HDR. Big upgrade from the original Switch's 1080p max.
The Switch 2 uses NVIDIA's DLSS technology to hit 4K. Basically, the console renders games at a lower resolution and then AI upscales them to 4K. It sounds like cheating, but honestly? It looks great. Most people can't tell the difference from native 4K during actual gameplay.
This is how Nintendo packed 4K capability into a portable console without making it cost $800 or drain its battery in an hour. Smart trade-off.
The built-in screen tops out at 1080p, but that's still Full HD and looks sharp on the 7.9-inch display. You also get up to 120Hz refresh rate and HDR in handheld mode, which the docked mode doesn't have. TV output is locked to 60Hz.
Variable Refresh Rate works in handheld but not when docked. If you have a nice TV with VRR support, the Switch 2 won't use it. Some people find this frustrating since VRR is standard on most modern gaming TVs now.
The original Switch maxed out at 1080p when docked, and a lot of games struggled to even hit that. Switch 2 at 4K with HDR is a night-and-day difference if you have a good TV. Games like Mario Kart World and the enhanced Zelda titles look genuinely impressive.
The Switch 2 costs $449.99 for the standard console. That's $150 more than the original Switch cost at launch, and $100 more than the Switch OLED.
If you want Mario Kart World—and let's be honest, most people do—the bundle at $499.99 saves you about 30 bucks compared to buying separately. Limited stock though. Once it's gone, it's gone.
The price jump makes more sense when you look at what's inside. The Switch 2 has a way more powerful processor, outputs 4K to your TV, has a bigger 1080p screen instead of 720p, and comes with 256GB of storage built in. It's a substantial upgrade.
Here's where it gets expensive:
If you want the full setup with extra controllers and storage expansion, you're looking at potentially another $200 to $300 on top of the console.
UK gets it for £395. Japan is ¥49,980 for the base console. The Mario Kart bundle in Japan runs ¥53,980.
Good news: Online subscription prices didn't change. If you want GameCube classics (Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and more), you'll need the Expansion Pack at $50 per year. Those games are Switch 2 exclusive and won't work on the original Switch.
Yes, it's expensive. It's also a significant upgrade from the original Switch. Whether that's worth $450 depends on how much you'll use it.
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