Let’s begin with the Divine Beast in the room: Nintendo’s open-world Legend of Zelda games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, are already two of the most superb games ever created. The definitive experience of both is now exclusive to Switch 2, thanks to the $9.99 upgrade (free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack) that brings a gorgeous 60 frames per second to both games alongside improved resolution and textures. Put simply, 60 FPS is transformative for these games. Factor in the new Zelda Notes app, which includes voice notes from Zelda, player-specific navigational guides, and more in Tears of the Kingdom, and you have two of the best Zelda experiences ever on Switch 2. – Wesley LeBlanc

The most recent mainline Pokémon games delivered on Game Freak’s promise to give us a true open-world RPG, and it did so admirably from a content and design perspective. However, the terrible technical performance of those 2022 releases poisoned their reputations forever. Now, three years later, these open-world entries in the Pokémon franchise are finally worth returning to thanks to free Switch 2 upgrades. The steady 60 frames-per-second performance, improved resolution, and reduced pop-in make the games feel new. But actually, it’s just the experience that should have launched in 2022. Still, those who stuck with the original version despite its technical hitches will tell you that buried beneath all of those problems is one of the best Pokémon adventures to date. It’s still not perfect, but now that those technical issues are largely resolved, we can wholeheartedly recommend this as a top-tier Pokémon game without that massive qualifier. – Brian Shea

If you missed out on the original Bravely Default on Nintendo 3DS back in 2012 and are a fan of classic JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to check out this excellent remaster. It’s probably the number one “new” game I’d recommend to Switch 2 players because Flying Fairy HD Remaster, like the original game it’s based on, is a nostalgic great time. There are crystals, unique turn-based battles, and a loveable (if trope-y) cast of characters to meet and control – sound familiar? This remaster brings a gorgeous update to the painterly visuals, improved framerate, and additional optional content. It’s not one to miss. – Wesley LeBlanc

I’m not sure what wizardry CD Projekt Red and Nintendo performed – beyond Nvidia’s custom DLSS – but Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 is a sight to behold. The entire Cyberpunk 2077 package, including its great Phantom Liberty expansion, is a delight on Switch 2. Though its 1080p/30 FPS handheld mode isn’t the most stable, the 720p/40 FPS handheld mode works great – and trust me, on the Switch 2’s vibrant LCD screen, 720p is satisfactory. It all runs even better docked, too, and thanks to the new mouse features of the Joy-Con 2 and Switch 2 specific gyro motion control, Cyberpunk 2077 offers players plenty of unique on-the-go action you can’t get any other way. You can also transfer your save from another platform with little hassle, so you won’t have to start over (unless you want to). It’s worth checking out for the sight of it running on Switch 2 alone, but it helps that Cyberpunk 2077 is now, after years of many updates, an excellent game in its own right. – Wesley LeBlanc

Hitman: World of Assassination consists of three excellent immersive-sim sandbox games from IO Interactive, and surprise! Playing these on the Switch 2 is a dream. The frame rates fluctuate between the range of 30 FPS and higher (rarely dipping below 30 FPS), and there are some clear texture downscales, especially in the Hitman 3 levels, but having these games on the go is a fair tradeoff. I love these games, and see myself making my way through these fantastic hand-crafted sandboxes once more on Switch 2. – Wesley LeBlanc

I loved Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess when I played it on Steam Deck last year. Unfortunately, I’m a bit spoiled by that version of the game, which runs at a smooth 60 FPS. There’s a noticeable downgrade on Switch 2, with 30 FPS and some blurry visuals, and it can be a little hard to get past that. But, even so, Kunitsu-Gami is still a sleeper hit from 2024 and one everyone should check out. It blends tower defense strategy with fun and flowy action combat in a gorgeous Japanese setting. It’s far too overlooked. Though Switch 2 isn’t the ideal place to play it, if you haven’t yet and are looking for a unique game on the console, look no further than Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami. – Wesley LeBlanc

If you missed this combo package last year, which combines a remastered version of Sonic Generations and a new Shadow the Hedgehog-focused campaign, Switch 2 is an excellent place to give it a go. With 60 FPS gameplay in Performance Mode, a noticeable increase from the Switch’s 30 FPS, and improved visuals, these games have never looked better on the go – especially Sonic Generations. Just make sure to switch to Performance Mode, because it defaults to Quality Mode, which isn’t ideal. – Wesley LeBlanc

The original Survival Kids launched on the Game Boy Color in 1999 (and was recently added to the Game Boy Switch Online library). It received a number of sequels, but the Switch 2 launch game is the first time Konami has revisited the franchise in some time. This entry feels different than the past with its focus on fast-paced co-op, but it offers quick and satisfying gameplay sessions and is an early adopter of Switch 2’s GameShare feature. That means playing with a friend who has their own Switch 2, but doesn’t own the game, is a totally viable option. You and your friends must work together to explore small islands to gather food and materials in order to survive and move on to the next island. The game is not overcomplicated, and you won’t feel the sting of starvation and exhaustion as you watch the sun set, as is typical for the survival genre, but it’s a charming and vibrant game to play on your new Switch 2 with friends that isn’t called Mario Kart. – Kyle Hilliard

With the Switch 2 comes the GameCube library for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, and though the launch lineup is small, it packs a punch. There’s The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur II. Though Wind Waker isn’t the massively improved HD remaster version that launched back on Wii U, playing through this island adventure on a handheld console is still a treat. F-Zero GX remains a GameCube hit, and maybe if enough people check it out, Nintendo will finally make a brand new F-Zero (one can hope). And finally, there’s Soulcalibur II. As someone who adored the PlayStation 2 version, it was fun jumping into the GameCube version, and this will likely be the first GameCube game on Switch 2 I will roll credits on. Playing as Link, this version’s guest fighter, is awesome. Back on PS2, I only got Tekken’s Heihachi Mishima (cool, but he ain’t no Link).  – Wesley LeBlanc

If you’re tired of losing your lead to poorly timed Blue Shells, Fast Fusion from Shin’en might be exactly what you’re looking for. The sequel to Switch launch title Fast RMX racers, you compete in high-speed, adrenaline-fueled races around the world where your futuristic vehicle can scream down the track at several hundred miles per hour. The ability to jump and lean complements the extraordinarily tight handling as you collect boost tokens, search for shortcuts, and bounce between two vehicle phases to correspond with the boost pad you’re hoping to use. Fast Fusion outputs at 4K and 60 frames per second in HDR, taking full advantage of the extra oomph Switch 2 brings to the table. It may not have the bells, whistles, or grand scale of Mario Kart World, but it delivers a technically impressive and mechanically sound racer that fans of F-Zero and Wipeout should not miss. – Brian Shea

Technically the sixth entry released in the franchise, Yakuza 0 is a fan-favorite for many reasons, the most important being that it is a good game. Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio had become very practiced at making Yakuza games by the time it released, but it is also, arguably, the best entry point for the series since it is a prequel that takes place in the ‘80s and follows long-time series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu’s earliest adventure. To have a dedicated version for Switch 2 is welcome, but it is a port of a 10-year-old game, and sometimes you can tell. It just feels a little outdated in the face of the series’ recent entries. But the essential parts are here. The game looks good and runs well on Switch 2, and there are new cutscenes and an online cooperative brawling mode. Those bonuses are probably not enough to justify a replay for those familiar with the game, but for newcomers late to the series who want something good for Switch 2, you can’t go wrong hanging out with Kiryu. – Kyle Hilliard