Although the official Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2 focused primarily on highlighting the console's newest features, there were still plenty of exciting games unveiled. From porting over the best games from the original Switch to entirely new first and third-party titles, there is plenty to be excited about when Switch 2 eventually releases on June 5th. Although the Direct was jam-packed with plenty of content itself, it felt like there was a surprising lack of first-party titles to celebrate the new hardware.

Given how similar the Switch 2's design is to the original console, it's hard not to jump into comparing the two systems now that we've had a better look at what's coming for the device. Thankfully, there won't be a similarity in stocking issues thanks to Nintendo's scalper prevention plan for Switch 2, ensuring more fans can get a hold of one before resorting to resellers. While the console itself will be easier to get a hold of, the Switch 2 Direct begs the question of how the launch title lineup compares to the original.

What Games Are Launching With Switch 2?

A Less Traditional Release Focus For Nintendo

With Switch 2 becoming available for pre-order in less than a week, it's a good time to take a deeper look at what games the console offers on release before jumping into the next generation. While Nintendo has struggled with a variety of initial options for their consoles in the past, Switch 2 already has a considerable line-up of high-quality games ready for day one of its release:

The first and surprisingly, the weakest category of Switch 2's offerings comes from its first-party titles, with Mario Kart World being the only real option set for a day-one release aside from the Welcome Tour tutorial game. Given the anticipation leading up to Switch 2's release, it felt like an incredibly disappointing choice to not have a greater push for Nintendo titles to help the console overcome initial skepticism. Thankfully, there were still several incredibly exciting projects in the works targeting future release dates, with games like Kirby Air Riders and Donkey Kong Bananza adding great value to the device.

Arguably the most exciting prospect of the features showcased for Switch 2 is how the new device lets you experience your original Switch games in an entirely new way.

Arguably the most exciting prospect of the features showcased for Switch 2 is how the new device lets you experience your original Switch games in an entirely new way. Taking advantage of the drastically improved hardware, Switch 2 will offer enhanced versions of games like Breath of the Wilds, Mario Party Jamboree, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and more, all for a small fee.

Many Switch titles like Pokémon Scarlet & Violet will be receiving free compatibility updates for the Switch 2, although additional content like DLC and new features will be restricted to an additional purchase for certain games.

On top of boasting drastically improved performance even in notoriously challenging environments like the Korok forest of BOTW, several upgraded games will boast expanded content and mechanics to take advantage of unique hardware features provided by Switch 2. The best example of this can be seen in Mario Party Jamboree, with new video functionality, mini-games, and reworked modes to take full advantage of Switch 2's potential, all without having to buy a brand-new game.

The last major category of Switch 2 titles comes in the form of its third-party games, which is where the capabilities of Switch 2's hardware are put to its full test. Porting over complete versions of games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman: World of Assassination, and even Elden Ring, there will be plenty of chances to see just exactly what the new device is capable of handling. Aside from porting over AAA titles, there were plenty of smaller games that stole the show as well, with Deltarune Chapters 1-4 being a fantastic announcement to celebrate the release of the new console.

How Switch 2's Games Compared To Switch 1's

The Console That Started The Mobile Gaming Movement

While Switch 1 might not have had as many games to back its initial release, the original console provided a more condensed selection of first-party titles to take advantage of its innovative new design. The most notable entries taking advantage of this new hardware came from the 1-2-Switch party game, Snipperclips, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, and most importantly, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild​​​​​​. Despite how fantastic Mario Kart World seems at first, it's tough to beat just how groundbreaking Breath of the Wild was for Nintendo, with Switch 1 offering the following games as well:

Although it's easy to criticize the recent Switch 2 Direct over its lack of major launch titles similar to Mario Odyssey or any of its predecessor's iconic offerings, many of the Switch's fan-favorite titles came out well after the initial release of the device. Although the launch window titles like Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe certainly helped boost the popularity of the original Switch shortly after release, its initial offerings struggled to compare to Switch 2.

Why Switch 2 Has The Better Launch When It Comes To Games

A Library Of Legacy Titles Offers A Significant Edge For Switch 2

Despite disappointments over the lack of first-party titles, the Switch 2 has a significant advantage when it comes to the number of high-quality games available to play right out of the box, thanks to its reliance on third-party titles. Playing AAA games on the original Switch was far from the primary selling point, with the console holding the key to Nintendo's great catalog of games. Comparatively, this new direction is the perfect way to showcase Switch 2's drastically improved hardware without altering the classic style of Nintendo games, offering better performance over upgraded fidelity.

The perfect way to showcase Switch 2's drastically improved hardware without altering the classic style of Nintendo games.

On top of these changes, the addition of virtual GameCube compatibility is another great feature of Switch 2, letting you experience even more of Nintendo's best titles on a single, portable device. Unfortunately, the GameCube content is exclusively limited to Switch 2 owners, but the addition of beloved titles like Windwaker finally making it to modern consoles again is a great sign for Switch 2's future.

While it will take some time until Switch 2 can reach the same heights as the original Switch, it already has plenty of gaming options to entice newcomers right off the bat. With even more exclusive content from reworked versions of existing games, virtual console functionality, and the surprising announcement of the FromSoftware's Nintendo exclusive Duskbloods, Switch 2 just might be able to achieve the potential the original console had in spades.