Is the Switch 2 worth buying? My first week with the Switch 2!

I spent a whole week analyzing the Switch 2 and multiple games. Is $450 too much? (Credit: Nintendo)

The Nintendo Switch 2 (NS2) released on Thursday, June 5th, 2025, to much controversy revolving around the price of the console as well as its first party games. Despite the controversy, the Switch 2 sold 3.5 million consoles in the first 4 days of its release. So, what's going on? Is this upgrade worth the $450 price tag?

My Switch 2 arrived at my doorstep at 7:34am EST on June 5th (thank you Walmart!) and I spent the entire day gaming. The first couple hours consisted of completing the system transfer from my Switch OLED and fully charging my new Switch 2 and Pro Controller 2. I finally picked up my copy of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma from Best Buy and I was off! 12 hours later, I finally put my Switch 2 down and went to sleep.

Now, a week later, I have many thoughts on Nintendo's newest console. Let's start with the hardware.

Switch 2 Hardware

The NS2 is obviously bigger than its predecessor but I didn't find it much heavier. I also play on Steam Deck so the weight and size didn't impact me but might impact Switch only players. I love the magnetic joy-cons and have yet to pinch my fingers with it (wish me luck).

While the screen isn't an OLED, it still beautifully displays games. The NS2 screen is much larger than any of the previous switch editions. I worried I would miss the OLED screen but so far, I haven't.

My biggest issue with the hardware so far is the game slot. The original Switch has a small cover that opens and closes to input games. The cover and hinge held up and I never had any issues with it. For some reason, Nintendo redesigned this slot to work like an old CD disk drive. Why? No idea. I honestly hate this new design because I find the plastic to be a little flimsy in the slot, and I worry about it breaking.

Overall, the NS2 is a solid console. They improved on a lot of hardware issues most people had with the original Switch. I haven't had any issues with joy-con drift or weak magnets. The kickstand is a little thin but sturdier than I expected. I'm pleased with the hardware upgrades.

Switch 2 Performance

The question on everyone's mind, how does it play?

Since receiving my NS2, I have played: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Pokémon Violet, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Mario Kart World, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Almost all of these games ran spectacularly on the Switch 2.

Guess which one didn't? Currently, Disney Dreamlight Valley (DDV) is still being optimized for the NS2. They are even releasing an NS2 Version of the game.

The one standout improvement was the loading time: trying to load DDV on the Nintendo Switch is like trying to get molasses out of the jar, insanely slow. The NS2 cut the loading time in half! I've never loaded DDV so quickly.

Sadly, the textures looked awful, and the game froze when I tried to receive an item from a character. Hopefully Gameloft releases an update with bug fixes, so the game runs smoothly on the NS2.

Rune Factory and Fantasy Life looked absolutely amazing on the NS2. I've played 40 hours of Rune Factory so far. Pokémon Violet is like night and day! It finally runs the way it should have upon release! I am a long time Pokémon fan and even I couldn't excuse how bad Violet looked and ran. Mario Kart World was a lot of fun and ran well, which was expected of Nintendo's big launch title. Welcome Tour looked great but should've been a free tech demo.

The battery however is as bad as everyone expected. Naturally, it depends on the game you're playing. Since most of my week has been spent on Rune Factory, I found myself charging my NS2 a lot and/or playing in docked mode for longer play sessions. In handheld, I was able to play Rune Factory for around 3 hours before I desperately needed a charge. Considering Rune Factory is a larger game and runs incredibly on the NS2, I am willing to overlook the battery life.

Overall, the graphics and loading times have greatly improved since the Nintendo Switch. Most game performances have improved from their Switch counterparts. The new NS2 games are optimized beautifully. Minus the battery life, I find the NS2's performance to be a massive improvement.

So, is it worth your money?

This should be a simple yes or no answer, but the real answer is, it depends.

If you're a Nintendo stan like I am or are sick of games not running well on the Nintendo Switch, then buying the NS2 is a necessity. If you already have a Switch and love how it runs or if you play most games on another platform, then I would say you should save your money for now.

The NS2 is a must buy console but that doesn't mean it's a day one must buy. Most of the launch titles are playable on other platforms and very few exclusive games launched. Only a handful of cozy games launched with the Switch 2 and a lot of the upcoming ones will be available on other platforms as well.

I LOVE my NS2 and don't regret purchasing it at all. With all the improvements and updated hardware, the $450 price tag is absolutely justified. Whether or not you should be running to the store is ultimately a personal decision. As a Pokémon and Nintendo stan, I knew I needed to play Pokémon Z-A on the NS2.

Hopefully this helped you decide whether or not the NS2 is right for you. Let us know in the comments if you're buying one or not. If you already own one, how do you feel about the price vs performance? Any regrets?