So you’re not sure whether buying the Nintendo Switch 2 on day one is worth it. $449 is a lot of money, and the prospect of spending more on games this generation isn’t a particularly inviting one.
Relax. I’m here to make your decision easier with eight reasons why you should take the plunge and become an early adopter.
8
Nintendo’s Launch Games Are Exciting
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did some serious heavy lifting on the original Switch’s launch day, but here, its Switch 2 remaster is a blip in a sea of launch titles.
The main game to buy a Switch 2 on day one for is Mario Kart World. This sales juggernaut-to-be brings an open-world twist and more dynamic races to the famous kart racing series. It’s controversially expensive at $80, though buying the Switch 2 launch bundle that includes the game chops a hearty $30 off that price. If you’re looking for a deal, that might be the best you’ll find for some time.
Nintendo is also releasing a GameCube emulator app for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. The three launch titles are The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur II (the version featuring Link). If these have the same multiplayer with friends functionality that other Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) emulators offer, the console’s launch is the perfect time to get everyone together for a throw down.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Donkey Kong Bananza—the famous ape’s new 3D platformer—comes out just over a month after launch. It may be difficult to find the console in stores at that point, meaning a launch purchase will prevent a headache later if you have your eye on that game.
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7
The Third-Party Launch Lineup Is Diverse
Third party support is huge for the Switch 2, with a launch lineup that has something for everyone.
RPG lovers are in for a treat with Deltarune and Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Action game fans will have no shortage of content either with Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, and the absolutely massive Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition trilogy collection.
Speedsters not interested in kart racing can instead get into the cockpit of Fast Fusion and Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer (not that it’s the highest profile of third-party releases, but I love that we’re back to console launching with Ridge Racer in any capacity). 2025’s premiere co-op game and early game of the year contender Split Fiction is also a must-play, and if you want to get into fighting games, there’s no better time than alongside other newcomers during Street Fighter 6’s Switch 2 debut.
There are far more launch titles than I can possibly name-drop, and if you don’t have other gaming consoles, it’s a veritable treasure trove of modern classics. The early dry period for Nintendo releases is the perfect time to check them out.
6
Some Switch Games You Own Get Free Upgrades
Much ink has already been spilled on the Switch 2 Edition program, in which a handful of games get paid updates with new content and improved performance. However, the list of games getting free updates is even larger.
It’s unclear what each specific update will entail; some will add GameShare functionality, like in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics and Super Mario Odyssey, while others will receive much-needed performance boosts like Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. If you’ve been putting off any of these games due to performance woes, the Switch 2 will (hopefully) remedy this on day one.
5
You’re Already Paying for New Nintendo Switch Online Perks
Nintendo Switch Online’s perks are expanding and—uncharacteristically for the Switch 2—prices are not. That means anyone planning to upgrade to a Switch 2 later will be paying for features they can’t use in the interim.
The GameCube emulator being added to the Expansion Pass is one of these, which pairs with the wireless GameCube controller only NSO subscribers will be able to buy. Also included is free access to the Switch 2 Edition upgrades of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
4
GameChat Is Free for the First Year
You’ll also need Nintendo Switch Online at any tier to use GameChat. This is Nintendo’s suite of social features for the Switch 2, including voice chat through the console’s built-in microphone and video chat using an optional $49.99 camera peripheral. It’s accessed using the C button that Nintendo kept us guessing about after its initial Switch 2 teaser.
However, GameChat will be free to everyone until the end of March 2026, meaning early adopters get a year-long trial to see if the service is for them. It’s admittedly a bit of a weird offer since the main use-case of GameChat is to play games online (which you’ll usually need an NSO subscription for). Nonetheless, it’s the only chance you’ll have to try this feature Nintendo dedicated an entire button to without paying.
3
GameShare With Older Switches in Your Household
GameShare is one of the Switch 2’s most consumer-friendly features. It allows Switch 2 units to share a select handful of games with any other device in the Nintendo Switch family, locally or online.
GameShare only works when a GameChat session is active, so there are limitations; you’ll want to try loaning out virtual game cards to give others proper offline trials. Yet if you’ve been dying to play Super Mario Party Jamboree or Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury with friends who don’t own copies of their own, a Switch 2 will let you do just that.
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2
Get the Best Trade-In Price for Your Old Switch
The Switch 2 is an expensive console at $449.99, but given that it’s backwards compatible with Switch games, you can comfortably sell your old device to help soften the financial blow. The sooner you do so, the higher the price you’re likely to receive for it from retailers and refurbishment sites.
So far, we know GameStop will be offering $100-175 when you trade in your Switch for a Switch 2, with the price depending on the Switch model. It’s possible other retailers offer deals of their own, too. You probably won’t get better rates than these after the trade-in window closes.
1
The Discounted Mario Kart Bundle is Time-Limited
The $499.99 Switch 2 bundle that comes with a digital copy of Mario Kart World is currently the best way to save money on the console. You’re essentially getting the platform’s headlining launch title for $30 off, which is far more palatable than its $80 retail price.
This bundle is only sticking around for launch, though. Nintendo’s been quiet about exactly when they’ll phase it out but has made it clear that they will. Acting sooner will ensure you snag what will surely be a rare discount on the game.
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Despite some of my disappointments regarding the Switch 2, I’ll be there day one for many of these reasons.
Beyond Nintendo’s new releases, I’m particularly excited about Fast Fusion. Its developer Shin’en always delivers, be it with Fast RMX at the Switch’s launch and The Touryst, which was a technical marvel on every platform (fun fact: it may still be the only 8K game on the PlayStation 5, and it runs without a hitch in that mode).
