The Nintendo Switch 2 is out now, with a whole host of games launching alongside it. It was a solid launch line-up, with an absolute juggernaut leading the pack alongside an impressive third-party offering, and new versions of Switch games.
The headline launch title was easily Mario Kart World, which expands the classic arcade racing formula into an interconnected world that can be explored with friends. There’s also Split Fiction, which is a match made in heaven for a new Nintendo console.
Here are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games, including Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and Hogwarts Legacy. Now that the console is out, these are the games to play first, some of which we’ve already played and reviewed.
Nintendo Switch 2 launch games
Here’s the full list of Nintendo Switch 2 launch games. These launched alongside the console on June 5, 2025.
- Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
- Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- Deltarune
- Fast Fusion
- Fortnite
- Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Mario Kart World
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
- No Man’s Sky (significantly updated for Switch 2)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
- Split Fiction
- Street Fighter 6
- Survival Kids
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch 2 Edition)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch 2 Edition)
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
It’s likely that we’ll hear more from Nintendo regarding upcoming Switch 2 games post-launch. We’ll keep you up to date, and add to the list as the news comes in.
Wake up, Samurai
Reasons to buy
Peerless quest design
+Remarkable ray-traced realism
+Superb immersive sim gameplay
Reasons to avoid
Some half-baked mechanics
–Lots of unfortunate glitches
–The narrative feels compromised
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition made its way to Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day. It’s a massively updated version of the last-gen builds of the game, and it features the excellent Phantom Liberty DLC as well.
The best value in gaming
Reasons to buy
Vibrant world
+Fun combat
+Unique building mechanic
+Excellent monetization
Reasons to avoid
Still only one map
–Constantly shifting world can make it hard to keep up
Fortnite is now playable on Nintendo Switch 2, meaning you’ll be able to earn a Victory Royale wherever you are. The game is currently in its sixth Chapter, and what we’ve heard about the next Season of Fortnite sounds very exciting indeed.
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Seemless kart racing
Reasons to buy
A stunning showcase of Switch 2’s increased power
+Knockout Tour is a chaotic blast
+A vast, eclectic soundtrack that I need on Nintendo Music immediately
+Online play is impressively stable
+Seamlessly transitioning to Free Roam from the menu is a blessing
Reasons to avoid
Unlocking some characters can be frustratingly random
–Character select screen is a total mess
–While Free Roam can be fun, it feels a little empty
–Stickers are a very underwhelming collectible
–There’s no dedicated circuits-only option for Grand Prix events
Perhaps the most anticipated Switch 2 launch game was Mario Kart World. For good reason, too, as we certainly came away impressed after spending some time with the game. In TechRadar’s Mario Kart World preview, Hardware Editor Rhys Wood praised the game’s seamless open world and the new Knockout Tour mode.
Through the dragon’s eye
Reasons to buy
An incredibly immersive experience
+Beautiful landscapes that pop in HDR
+60fps makes gameplay genuinely fun and combat silky smooth
+The resolution upgrade feels like wearing glasses for the first time
+Zelda Notes rules
Reasons to avoid
Zelda Notes would be better in the actual game
–I still wish it had proper voice acting
A Nintendo Switch 2 version of Tears of the Kingdom arrived on June 5, with upgraded visuals and performance. In TechRadar’s Nintendo Switch 2 preview, hardware editor Rhys Wood had this to say about the new versions:
“Playing it (Breath of the Wild) and Tears of the Kingdom at a rock-solid 4K 60fps on console feels like it’s not real. But it is on Switch 2. Both games also have drastically sharper image quality, meaning they’re absolutely the definitive version of each release.”
A new contender
Reasons to buy
It’s feature complete (minus older battle passes)
+Has all Year 1 and 2 characters
+Online matches work great
+Smooth performance everywhere except…
Reasons to avoid
…World Tour is a choppy mess
–Classic motion inputs aren’t a good fit for the Joy-Con 2
–Slightly grainy image compared to other systems
We absolutely adored Street Fighter 6 on PS5, and thankfully we found it to be a similar experience on Switch 2. TechRadar even previewed it during our Switch 2 hands-on finding that “It maintained a solid 60fps throughout gameplay and felt as responsive (and loaded just as quickly) as versions on those other systems.”
A new tale
Reasons to buy
Unique, personable characters
+Hilarious, off-the-wall writing
+Stunning chiptune soundtrack
+Surreal, atmospheric pixelated worlds
+Delve deeper into the story with each chapter
Reasons to avoid
Bullet Board can feel impossible to maneuver at times
–Encounters can be repetitive, especially in Chapter 1
Deltarune released its next two chapters alongside a full release on Nintendo Switch 2. This one is from the creator of Undertale and features a story that runs in parallel to 2015’s beloved cult RPG.
Enter the mirror
Reasons to buy
Unique, fun-filled, character-driven story
+Brilliant (and sometimes surreal) level design
+Varied gameplay mechanics and environments
+Play portable, on tabletop, or on TV thanks to Switch 2’s hybrid design
+Excellent sound, even in Tabletop mode
Reasons to avoid
Drop in visual quality, shadow renders, and framerate from PS5
–A multitude of confusing local and online co-op options
–You need two sets of Joy-Con 2 controllers
–Certain gameplay mechanics can be harder to see in Tabletop mode
Split Fiction is one of our favorite games of 2025 so far, building on team Hazellight’s previous titles to deliver a truly explosive co-op experience. In TechRadar Gaming’s Split Fiction review, we said that “It packs an array of captivating mini-games into a linear, yet highly rewarding platformer, laced with Hazelight’s trademark storytelling to keep you on your moral toes.”
Take a guided tour
Reasons to buy
Exploring a giant Switch 2 is quite endearing
+Minigames and tech demos can be cool
+You’ll genuinely learn a thing or two about the console
Reasons to avoid
Unlocking new areas can involve a pixel hunt
–Flat out assumes you have a 4K TV and Switch 2 accessories
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is essentially an interactive demo for the new console. It’s a good choice for the first game to play once your Nintendo Switch 2 has arrived, though be aware that Nintendo is charging for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. A strange decision indeed.
Making history
Reasons to buy
Visually impressive
+Matches have a more consistent pace
+Swapping Civs is smartly implemented
+Fantastic roster of leaders to choose from at launch
Reasons to avoid
Legacy Path system ultimately leads to samey games
–Diplomacy feels half-baked
Civilization 7 makes some bold changes to the tried and tested formula, changes that we praised in our Civilization 7 review. It makes use of the Switch 2’s Joy-Con mouse mode as well, which makes playing even easier for fans of 4X strategy games.
Stone-cold killer
Reasons to buy
Looks good in handheld mode
+Hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of things to do
+Some of the best level design ever
+Stealthy infiltration is still brilliant
Reasons to avoid
Choppy performance at times
–A fair number of bugs
–Very limited offline functionality
Hitman World of Assassination bundles the three main Hitman games, their DLCs, as well as a whole heap of extra content. The Nintendo Switch 2 gets a Signature Edition, which features some Mario-themed cosmetics.
Personally, I’m loving being able to take Hitman on the go in portable mode. Being able to chip away at Freelancer Mode while commuting is an absolute dream, as is trying out time trial challenges for levels like Sapienza and the Berlin techno club-set “Apex Predator” mission.