I remember it was raining. Loads. June 5th, 2025, I’d booked the afternoon off work, such was my excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 Experience in London had lit a small fire in me, and I was adamant I’d enjoy this launch period as much as I possibly could.

The weeks before had been…not stressful, but weird. The Switch 2 Direct in April was lots of fun, but the pre-order window wasn’t made immediately clear. Smyths Toys in the UK, however, had them up without any fanfare the moment it finished, which I was quick to snap up. The pre-order experience in the UK was a strange one. Nintendo had clearly spent about two years prior to unveiling their new machine loading up on stock to ensure that demand is met, but consoles were made available in drips and drabs.

Stanislav Kogiku-SOPA Images

I aimed to get one console at launch, but wanted to ensure I was able to secure a second for my partner. Smyths Toys, as mentioned, came in clutch. The Nintendo store offered pre-order windows by invitation, which secured that second console, as well as a GameCube controller. My preference, however, was to service The Game Collection, my favourite independent online gaming outlet (not an ad, just a fan). I had maybe in £25 in reward points which I wanted to put towards the new machine. In May, after missing out on 4 or 5 drops, I managed to snag a Mario Kart bundle through them. The Smyths order was cancelled.

At around 11am on the 5th of June, the door went. The first of my two orders had arrived, from the Nintendo store. About 2 hours later, once I’d logged off at work. At that point, I sunk into the sofa, let my old Switch and my new Switch 2 do some talking to each other, and tucked into Mario Kart World’s Knockout Tour mode, the Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and also a jacket potato for lunch.

A year on from that day, I think it would be wise to look back and judge both the good and the not so good of the Switch 2’s first year in the wild.

Mean Machine

It’s probably best to start with the hardware. For myself personally, there’s been a minimal change in my playing habits with Nintendo’s hybrid consoles. What that means is, 90% of the time it’ll be in its dock, being played on the TV. I did look to play in handheld mode a bit more in the second half of 2025, playing Earthbound, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, and Madden 26 in bed as well as on TV, but I wasn’t overly compelled to keep this going. So, basically, almost identical to how my Switch experience played out in 2017.

I don’t know if there’s a science to it, but I do find games that run with a lower frame rate seem to be more playable in handheld. The aforementioned Madden 26 was extremely jarring to play on TV, but felt like there were far fewer issues on a smaller screen. Fortunately for me the larger third party titles I want to play are almost always on the PS5, so It’s not really an issue for my playing experience. If the Switch 2 was my only console, however, I may be concerned at what this might look like in 5 years time. That said, I haven’t tried the Switch 2 versions of Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil Requiem, or Pragmata, for example, so can’t really properly judge how games of that scale might run on Switch 2.

Game Boy

A Nintendo console more than any other is defined by the games Nintendo makes for it, and this is where the bulk of the debate regarding the Switch 2 has, and will, focus. It’s in an unenviable position of being compared constantly to one of the most successful consoles ever made, of which enjoyed an unbelievable first 12 months in terms of releases. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey, and that’s just what comes to mind instantly. Yes, obviously there are circumstances that conspired to force this line up. You can’t follow up your worst selling console ever without something special to get people on board. Unfortunately for the Switch 2, the shadow of that launch will stretch across its own.

For the most part, I think what we’ve had so far has been largely good. Mario Kart World, despite what people online might tell you, bangs. My game of 2025 (well done me for getting that piece out, by the way. Idiot.), and one I continue to go back to. Donkey Kong Bananza also very good. I really liked it, though the DLC wasn’t great and I did regret getting that almost instantly. Not sure it ranks alongside Mario’s finest outings, but certainly the best DK has ever been, for me.

Nintendo Life

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was also pretty good, I liked that a lot. Looked and played like a dream, but the zonai mechanics carried over from Tears of the Kingdom weren’t really for me. A step back from Age of Calamity, but still a good time. The breakout this year has been Pokopia, which combines two absolute money-printer; Pokemon and cozy life sims. Pokopia has sold over 4 million copies, which puts it 3rd on the all time Switch 2 sales chart, behind Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. It’s been out for 2 months. The other two are a year and 11 months old respectively.

The first party exclusives I’ve yet to play are Kirby Air Riders, Mario Tennis Fever, Drag x Drive and Yoshi and Mysterious Book, though I’ll certainly look to make time for them eventually.

Benefactor of Circumstance

Nintendo, of course, still has a console with 128 million active users to cater for, and, given the state of the industry (thanks AI), knows a lit of those users cannot afford to make the leap to Switch 2 just yet. My theory is the reason we have yet to have the next big Zelda and Mario games is because they just don’t think they have the install base to truly receive them just yet. They will come. You and I both know they will come. I think it just makes better business sense to make sure they release at a less volatile moment in time. For now, in the first 12 months, however, I do understand how and why some may be a little disappointed with the consoles line up.

Sales wise, the Switch 2 couldn’t have asked for a better start. At last count, the console had sold just shy of 20 million units. At the same point, the Switch had sold roughly 17.7 million units. There are obvious facors at play in both instances. Stock issues plagued the original Switch for much of its early years, whereas, as we’ve established, the Switch 2 was well stocked. The original Switch also launched at a time when you could get a PS4 for like £200. Good luck finding a PS5 for anything less than £400 right now. The Switch 2, in many ways, offers good value for money for those in the market for a brand new console.

So…good?

Has it been a successful first year for the Switch 2? Yeah, by and large. I do think that the line up of console exclusives is still lacking a little, but we know it’ll get there. I’ve found plenty of reasons to get onto the Switch 2 over the past year, and I think it’s built a good foundation for the next year. The challenges it needs to overcome are entirely out of its control. That price increase in September is going to be a real test as to the legs this console really has. For now, however, a solid effort. B+.