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Welcome everyone. Downs and I decided to do a collaboration article about the Switch 2 1st year anniversary. However, instead of just going over memories or a look back at the games, we decided we would instead talking about our different user experiences. We both played the Switch 2 differently and it’s worth talking about for not only existing players but potentially new owners. So, let’s get started.

Switch 2: One Year Later

A full year has passed since the Switch 2 launched. As a day-one owner, my relationship with the system has been somewhat on-and-off. Because of that, Andrew and I decided to team up for this blog and discuss how the system has fit into our day-to-day gaming lives over the past year.

With that out of the way, let’s get started.

Early Days (First 6 Months)

My excitement for the Switch 2 was pretty high leading up to launch. For me, the original Switch had too many limitations that made it difficult to stay invested in the platform. Many third-party ports were the weakest versions available. The Pro Controller was never bad, but it always felt like it was missing something. Outside of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo’s first-party lineup was consistently okay, but rarely managed to fully hook me.

I often felt like I was trying to get something out of the Switch that it simply wasn’t capable of providing. Super Mario Odyssey is probably the best example of this. It’s objectively a good game, but its priorities didn’t align with what I wanted. The game felt like it was targeting an artificial total of hours you can play the game by filling it with filler collectibles while lacking meaningful exploration and engaging challenges.

More the Same or Greater?

The Switch 2, at its core, is essentially the same concept as its predecessor. The system basically has copied and pasted its old UI, just with significantly stronger hardware. Despite that, the system’s new limitations feel much more acceptable to me. Right from launch, I picked up most of Nintendo’s first-party releases along with a handful of third-party titles. I’m not a fan of Game Key Cards, so that immediately narrowed down my total game selection.

During those first six months, I primarily used the Switch 2 as a home console and only occasionally undocked it for portable play. A large reason for that was the new (paid link) Pro Controller. The texture, grip design, and overall feel seemed almost tailored to my preferences. Even more impressive were the back buttons, which immediately felt superior to any back paddle or programmable button setup I’d used before.

The Games Themselves

As for the games themselves, I found my experiences significantly stronger than what I had with the original Switch. Technically, my first game was (paid link) Mario Kart World, but the title that truly grabbed my attention was (paid link) Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma.

I’ve praised this game more times than I’d like to admit. It gave me a similar feeling to when I first played (paid link) Breath of the Wild—something familiar, yet refreshing at the same time. (I wrote an entire article about that experience.)

After that came (paid link) Donkey Kong Bananza, which immediately caught my interest. Many of the issues I had with (paid link) Mario Odyssey felt addressed here.

The destructible environments in Bananza gave me the freedom to create my own paths toward objectives, and the changes I made to the world remained visible. That persistence helped the environments feel more lived-in and made it easier to remember where I’d been and what I’d interacted with. Most importantly, the collectibles felt meaningful. In Mario Odyssey, many collectibles felt like boxes to check off. In Bananza, nearly everything served a purpose.

The final major game I played during this period was (paid link) Pokémon Legends ZA. It’s certainly a divisive game due to its relatively shallow gameplay systems, but as someone who suffered through the painfully mediocre (paid links) Pokémon Sword and Shield, I ended up having a much better time with Legends ZA.

The Last 6 Months

From the beginning of the year until now, my gaming time has been fairly limited. In fact, the only major Switch 2 title I’ve spent significant time with has been the controversial remake Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted. Despite its rough launch state, I still found a lot to enjoy.

Even so, compared to the original Switch at the same point in its lifespan, I feel far more invested in upcoming releases. There are several first-party games I’m excited to play, including Pokémon Wind and Waves, (paid link) Fire Emblem: Fortune Weave, and the (paid link) next Star Fox title.

Switch Game Enhancements

Beyond new releases, many Switch games are receiving updates or enhanced editions on Switch 2. As a result, a large portion of my existing library has become more appealing thanks to improved visuals and a controller that better fits my preferences.

Because of that, my backlog feels far more approachable than it ever did on the original Switch. Games like (paid links) Pokémon Pokopia, Yoshi’s Mysterious Book, and Hyrule Warriors now feel like titles I’ll actually get around to playing.

For players like me, the Switch 2 strikes a nice balance between delivering new experiences and improving the library I already own. That distinction is a big reason why my outlook on the system remains positive one year later. As for the future, time will tell.

Any Regrets

As of now, I don’t regret buying the Switch 2 on day one. The hardware has been reliable, and the overall experience remains just as fast and responsive as it was at launch. Most of the issues I’ve encountered haven’t actually been problems with the system itself, but rather limitations of my own setup. For example, HDR looks noticeably worse on my TV when using the Switch 2. However, that’s more of a consequence of using an older budget 4K television than a flaw with Nintendo’s hardware.

Biggest Criticisms

If I had to point to my biggest criticisms of the platform today, they would be the continued prevalence of Game Key Cards and Nintendo’s decision to leave out the IR sensor found in the original Joy-Cons. While neither issue is a dealbreaker, both feel like unnecessary compromises. In particular, the lack of an IR sensor means certain games still require original Switch controllers, which can be inconvenient.

That said, my experience only represents one type of Switch 2 owner. While I play a lot of games, I’m not someone who lives entirely within the Nintendo ecosystem.

There are several aspects of the platform that I simply can’t comment on with much authority. I rarely purchase digital games, so I don’t have strong opinions on the eShop experience. I haven’t come close to filling my storage, making memory management caused by digital games and Game Key Cards a non-factor for me. Likewise, I almost never use the Joy-Cons, so I can’t speak to their long-term durability or battery life. Even my experience with Game Key Cards is somewhat limited, as I only own a couple of them.

Multi Console User?

I’m also not a player who sticks to a single platform. I generally choose whichever system best fits the experience I’m looking for. For example, most of my third-party gaming happens on the PS5 Pro, simply because it’s the most powerful system I own. As a result, there are periods where the Switch 2 sits unused—not because I’m unhappy with it, but because another platform or game has taken priority.

Even with those caveats, my first year with the Switch 2 has been a positive one. The system has done exactly what I wanted it to do: deliver stronger hardware, improve Nintendo’s existing library, and make me more interested in the platform than I ever was during the original Switch era.

Of course, that’s only one perspective. To get the viewpoint of someone who has practically lived on the system since launch, it’s time to hand things over to our resident no-life—I mean, Switch 2 power user—Andrew.

No Life User

June – August

The first three months after the launch was a weird time. I enjoyed playing (paid link) Mario Kart World with the family and of course (paid link) Donkey Kong. I tried to stick with (paid link) Bravely Default but it didn’t work all that well for me. Survival Kids kept me busy for a while, but after writing the review, I found myself without a game to really get engrossed into. By the end of July, I found myself going back and playing my original Switch more than the Switch 2. Of course, the fact I was heavily into (paid link) Digimon Survive helped that along but I took note that I was playing my Switch 2 less and less.

September – December

September is when the corner really started to turn for me. We had Silksong release on the 4th and it consumed my life up until November when I beat it. You can find my review for that here. At the same time, we had (paid link) Kirby Air Riders launch November 20th which made for even more multiplayer fun. So I found myself with my Switch 2 in my hands a lot. We also had the Donkey Kong Bananza DLC drop, then Kirby and the Forgotten Land got a (paid link) Switch 2 version with DLC. All in all, the Switch 2 was becoming a system I couldn’t put down.

January – Now

January still saw some active gameplay with my Switch 2 but it did start to drop off a but since I got back into Vita games. What really kicked it back off again was when (paid link) Resident Evil Requiem released. This kicked off a chain reaction of my Resident Evil addiction. Since beating and reviewing Requiem, I played (paid link) Resident Evil 7, which I only played through once but then came (paid link) Resident Evil 8, which I’ve played 5 full times.

Of course, Resident Evil is not the only game that has kept me coming back to the system repeatedly. We’ve also seen the likes of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book release recently. I’ve had a really fun time with it and I can’t wait to publish the review as well.

Conclusion

I think Downs and I will continue to get a lot of use out of this system. There are so many games to look forward to in the future, especially with some of the games shown in the latest Direct. Make sure to stick around for future reviews and articles about the Switch 2 and more. If you haven’t bought the (paid link) system yet, now is a great time to jump in!

Until next time, happy gaming!