Remember when Doom on the original Switch felt like black magic? That 2017 port from Panic Button became the gold standard for what gamers lovingly called impossible ports – games that had no business running on Nintendo’s handheld but somehow did anyway. Fast forward to 2025, and Switch 2’s first year has been defined by a similar phenomenon, except this time the bar is significantly higher.
The Switch 2 launched on June 5, 2025, and while Mario Kart World was the marquee first-party title, the real test came from third-party publishers. Could this new hybrid system handle current-gen games without embarrassing compromises? After six months of releases, patches, and player testing, we’re finally getting answers about what Nintendo’s latest hardware can and cannot do.
Cyberpunk Became the Benchmark
For early adopters, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition wasn’t just another launch title – it was a referendum on the entire system. This was the game that famously melted down on PS4 and Xbox One back in 2020, the game CD Projekt Red pulled from digital stores due to performance issues. It absolutely would not have run on the original Switch in any form.
The fact that Cyberpunk 2077 not only ran but ran well on Switch 2 immediately raised expectations for what else might be possible. Despite some visual compromises compared to PS5 and Xbox Series X versions, the port looked fantastic on Nintendo’s 7.9-inch 1080p HDR screen. It represented a considerable step up from The Witcher 3 on the original Switch, which was already considered an impressive technical achievement.
If Switch 2 could handle Night City’s dense environments, demanding lighting systems, and complex AI without falling apart, what couldn’t it run? That question has driven much of the conversation around the system’s first year.
Winners and Losers
Not every port hit the same quality bar. Street Fighter 6 performed admirably, maintaining the fighting game’s crucial frame rate stability that competitive players demand. Various Yakuza games made the transition smoothly, bringing Sega’s crime dramas to Nintendo hardware for the first time. Cronos: The New Dawn and Apex Legends both showed the system could handle fast-paced action without major compromises.
Then there were the disappointments. EA Sports FC and NBA 2K both launched locked at 30fps, a significant downgrade from their 60fps performance on other current-gen consoles. For sports games where responsiveness matters, that frame rate cut hurt the experience noticeably.
Persona 3 Reload arrived with odd frame-pacing issues that caused noticeable stuttering, breaking immersion during what should have been smooth gameplay. Most baffling was Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, a port that somehow looked noticeably worse than the nearly 12-year-old PS4 version it was supposedly based on.
Star Wars Outlaws Steals the Crown
If Cyberpunk 2077 proved Switch 2 could handle demanding open-world games, Star Wars Outlaws showed what the system could do when developers really optimized for the hardware. Ubisoft’s internal RedLynx team delivered what many consider the best third-party port of Switch 2’s first year.
The game launched in decent shape and only got better through post-release patches. By late 2025, Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 held up extremely well against PS5 and Xbox Series X versions, with one particularly impressive comparison point – it absolutely demolished the Steam Deck version in both performance and visual quality.
Star Wars Outlaws also supported cross-progression, letting players pick up their PS5 saves on Switch 2 with minimal fuss. This feature should hopefully become standard practice, incentivizing publishers to bring multiplatform releases to Nintendo’s system simultaneously rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Technical Surprises Beyond AAA
While big-budget ports grabbed headlines, smaller games revealed interesting details about the system’s capabilities. Ball X Pit received a significant boost with the Switch 2 version. Fantasy Life i showed particularly pronounced differences between Switch and Switch 2 versions, suggesting even games not designed to push technical boundaries benefit from the improved hardware.
SpongeBob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide and Two Point Museum might not stress the system, but they demonstrate an obvious fidelity increase over what the aging original Switch could manage. For players who lean toward indie titles and less graphically intensive games, these quality-of-life improvements add up over time.
DLSS Changes Everything
The secret weapon enabling many of these impressive ports is Nvidia’s DLSS technology. This AI-powered upscaling can take games running at lower native resolutions and intelligently scale them up to look sharp on Switch 2’s 1080p screen in handheld mode or 4K when docked.
DLSS gives Switch 2 a significant advantage over other handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck, which relies on AMD’s FSR upscaling technology. The quality difference between DLSS and FSR is particularly noticeable in handheld mode, where every pixel counts on a smaller screen.
This Nvidia partnership represents a smart strategic move by Nintendo. While the Switch 2’s raw processing power can’t match PS5 or Xbox Series X, DLSS helps close the gap in practical performance, allowing games to look and run better than the hardware specs alone would suggest.
What’s Still Coming
The first year established a solid foundation, but 2026 promises even more ambitious ports. Elden Ring was delayed after earlier reports of poor performance, but demo builds shown at PAX Australia ran well and looked fantastic in portable mode. That gives reason for optimism about FromSoftware’s massive open-world game making the transition successfully.
Other major third-party titles confirmed for Switch 2 include Project 007: First Light from IO Interactive, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Each of these will test different aspects of the system – FromSoftware’s intricate level design, IO’s stealth mechanics, and Square Enix’s cinematic presentation.
Recent leaks suggest Metaphor: ReFantazio and Mafia: The Old Country are also coming to Switch 2 in the first half of 2026. These ports will continue answering questions about what the system can handle as developers get more familiar with the hardware.
Backwards Compatibility Smooths Transition
Nintendo confirmed that 98.88% of third-party Switch titles passed basic compatibility testing or received updates to work on Switch 2. That’s over 15,000 games instantly available to Switch 2 owners, providing an enormous library from day one.
The system even supports original Switch Joy-Cons connected wirelessly, salvaging games that would otherwise be incompatible due to hardware differences. This allows titles like 1-2-Switch that relied on the infrared motion camera to still function, along with Nintendo Labo games that need the old controller tech.
GameCube controller support through the classic adapter also works on Switch 2, meaning GameCube titles available through Nintendo Switch Online can be played with original controllers. It’s a nice touch for retro gaming enthusiasts who still have their old hardware lying around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best third-party ports on Switch 2?
Star Wars Outlaws is widely considered the best third-party port on Switch 2, with Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Street Fighter 6, and various Yakuza games also delivering excellent performance. These games demonstrate what the system is capable of when developers optimize properly.
Can Switch 2 run current-gen games?
Yes, Switch 2 can run many current-gen titles designed for PS5 and Xbox Series X, though often with visual compromises like lower resolution or reduced graphical settings. DLSS technology helps maintain image quality despite these reductions.
What is DLSS on Switch 2?
DLSS is Nvidia’s AI-powered upscaling technology that allows games to run at lower native resolutions while looking sharp at 1080p in handheld mode or 4K when docked. This gives Switch 2 a significant advantage over other handheld gaming devices.
Are Switch games backwards compatible on Switch 2?
Yes, 98.88% of third-party Switch titles work on Switch 2, representing over 15,000 games. Nearly all first-party Nintendo games are also compatible. Only Nintendo Labo VR Kit is confirmed incompatible due to the larger tablet size.
What major games are coming to Switch 2?
Confirmed third-party games include Elden Ring, Project 007: First Light, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Borderlands 4, and many others. Leaks suggest Metaphor: ReFantazio and Mafia: The Old Country will arrive in early 2026.
Does Switch 2 support cross-progression?
Some games like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows support cross-progression, allowing players to continue their saves from PS5 or Xbox. This feature varies by publisher and is not universal.
How does Switch 2 compare to Steam Deck?
Switch 2 generally outperforms Steam Deck in optimized ports thanks to DLSS technology and dedicated development support. Star Wars Outlaws, for example, runs significantly better on Switch 2 than Steam Deck.
The Port Story Continues
Switch 2’s first year established something the original Switch pioneered – that Nintendo hardware doesn’t need to match Sony or Microsoft’s raw specs to deliver compelling versions of major third-party games. Smart technology choices like DLSS, strong developer relationships, and Nintendo’s massive install base create conditions where publishers want to bring their games to the platform.
Every port tells a story about what’s possible, what compromises are acceptable, and where the limits lie. Cyberpunk 2077 proved open-world games work. Star Wars Outlaws showed exceptional optimization pays off. Even the disappointments like the 30fps sports games provide valuable information about where developers might cut corners.
As developers get more comfortable with the hardware in 2026 and beyond, we’ll likely see even more ambitious ports pushing the system further. The foundation built in year one suggests Switch 2 won’t just be a platform for Nintendo exclusives and indie games – it’s becoming a legitimate destination for major multiplatform releases. And that changes everything about what we can expect from Nintendo hardware going forward.