Nintendo Switch 2 Review: Real Reasons It Is Worth the Price

The short answer: yes, the Nintendo Switch 2 is worth it. The build quality improvement is immediately noticeable, old Switch games run better without patches, the 7.9-inch screen is a meaningful upgrade, and Pokopia is a Switch 2 exclusive that moves consoles on its own. Here is the honest review.

When I was sick with a cold on the couch, I spent more time than I care to admit scrolling posts about the Nintendo Switch 2 (thanks Pokopia-tok). I loved reading about the experience, not just the specs, especially for the amount Nintendo put on the price tag. And despite being the type of person who hangs onto a cell phone for 8 to 10 years before upgrading, I was sold on the Switch 2 fairly quickly once I read past the shop specs.

Here is what has actually resonated in the transition from the original Switch, and what I think you will appreciate too.

Nintendo Switch 2: Quick Specs

Build Quality Is a Genuine Upgrade

Not just a marketing talking point. Gamers who have upgraded from the original Switch to the Switch 2 are consistently surprised by how much more substantial the console feels in their hands.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically now instead of sliding into rails, and the tactile difference is the sort of thing you feel every single time you pick it up. The button that releases the Joy-Con from the console has a click that is satisfying in the way good packaging or a perfectly functioning pen is oddly satisfying.

The Joy-Cons themselves are also larger, which sounds minor until you have spent any amount of time cramping your hands around the originals during a long handheld session. For anyone with larger hands, or who has quietly complained about hand fatigue on the first Switch, this is for you.

Small things add up to a console that feels premium in a way the original Switch no longer quite matches.

Old Switch Games Run Better

This does not get talked about loudly enough, especially by retailers who just want you to buy the new titles.

Even without downloading patches or paying for upgrade packs, many original Nintendo Switch games run noticeably better on the Switch 2. Faster load times, improved frame rates, smoother overall performance — all because the hardware is simply more powerful.

If you have a shelf of Switch 1 games you love but sometimes found frustrating, the Switch 2 gives you a better version of the library you already own. That is a meaningful argument when you are justifying the price tag to yourself.

The Screen Is Easier to See

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen, which is noticeably larger than the original Switch’s 6.2-inch screen. For anyone with less than perfect vision, this matters. As a stubborn person who sometimes just does not want to wear glasses, I can remember plenty of gaming sessions spent squinting at the original Switch on the couch or in bed. No need now.

The larger screen also makes tabletop mode substantially more usable — you can actually see what is happening without being six inches away from the console. Handy for travel, commutes, and propping it on a tray table without additional accessories.

GameChat Is a Genuinely Cozy Multiplayer Feature

Nintendo’s GameChat lets you voice chat, share your screen, and video chat while playing, all from within the system itself. The Switch 2 also has a built-in microphone with noise filtering, so you do not need a headset to use it.

For anyone who wants to play games with friends in other cities, or who wants to recreate the feeling of sitting on a couch together without the travel, GameChat is quietly a big deal. It is not a flashy feature but it is the kind of thing that makes the console feel genuinely connected in a way the original Switch never was.

You Do Not Have to Think of Yourself as a Gamer to Appreciate the Switch 2

The Switch’s long-standing reputation as the console that converts non-gamers is going to be even more true of the Switch 2. Approachable party games, cozy game options, first-party Nintendo titles, and three play modes (TV, tabletop, and handheld) make this a console designed to be fun rather than intimidating.

If there is someone in your life who is curious about gaming but put off by the learning curve of other systems, the Switch 2 is a genuinely good entry point. The library skews accessible in a way most other consoles do not.

Pokopia Is a Switch 2 Exclusive and It Is Moving Consoles

Pokemon Pokopia is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive — there is no Switch 1 version and no workaround. With every screenshot and video of gameplay, it is exactly the kind of exclusive that moves consoles, and Nintendo knows exactly what they are doing with this release.

Whether you are a longtime Pokemon fan who has been waiting for something that feels genuinely new, or you just want a concrete reason to justify the Switch 2 purchase to yourself, Pokopia is a full answer. Many people are saying it scratches the itch they wanted Animal Crossing: New Horizons to scratch — a cozy, open world with depth and story rather than just vibes.

Read the full comparison: Pokopia vs Animal Crossing New Horizons: Is It Worth It for ACNH Fans?

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Worth It?

Yes. It is a significant purchase at around $449.99 USD or $599.99 CAD, but the value holds up.

For new players or anyone buying as a gift, the Switch 2 is one of the more justifiable consoles at this price given the depth of the combined library — it plays Switch 2 titles and most original Switch games, so you are not starting from zero on a new platform.

For existing Switch owners upgrading, the build quality improvement, the automatic performance boost for games you already own, the better screen, GameChat, and the growing exclusive library all hold up without spin. People who have bought it are not regretting it, and at this price point, that is not a small thing.

Nintendo Switch 2: Shop the Console and Accessories

• Nintendo Switch 2 Console
• Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2
• Kirby Air Riders (Nintendo Switch 2)
• Kirby Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2
• Mario Kart World (Nintendo Switch 2)
• PDP Afterglow Wave Wireless Pro Controller
• Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)

Related Reading: Pokopia vs Animal Crossing New Horizons: Is It Worth It for ACNH Fans? | Cozy Nintendo Switch Games Worth Playing