This is a question that I'm absolutely positive that a large amount of gamers have been pondering over the past few months, ever since Nintendo first announced the Switch 2 during the April 2nd Nintendo Direct.
While plenty were excited for the new specs and features, Nintendo sparked somewhat of a controversial debate when announcing an $80 USD price tag for their games alongside the $450 console.
Debates and thoughts such as:
Will this influence other platforms to increase the prices?
Is Mario Kart World worth more than the expected cost of GTA 6?
Are the console specs enough to justify the purchase or is it an upgraded Switch 1?
Should I purchase the Switch 2 or the newly announced ROG Xbox Ally?
And many, many more, all within their own right.
Cutting straight to my answer on if the Nintendo Switch 2 is worth it ....
Answer: Well... It depends...
Hear me out 😅
Based on my experience with the console, I have a few beliefs that may or may not resonate with you and your gaming needs personally. I'll form them as questions, with answers. Here they are:
Honestly, No. Thinking of the more powerful consoles that have been released in terms of performance and graphics like the PS5 & Xbox, the Switch 2's price does make me lift an eyebrow. Don't get me wrong. The Switch 2's graphics are noticeably better, and it's not even close. The performance boost and load times don't go unappreciated either. While politics and inflation may influence manufacturing and shipping cost, a handheld console with less impressive specs than a Playstation 5 and more expensive games just doesn't quite sit right. I also believe that Nintendo just gave other platforms the OK in terms of major price increases for their next launch.
Here's a IGN article documenting all major console launch prices, as well as what they would be in today's economy with inflation: https://www.ign.com/articles/comparing-the-price-of-every-game-console-with-inflationI'm curious to know where you think the Switch 2 stands in terms of pricing.
Yes. Simple enough. While not quite on par with more powerful consoles such as the Playstation 5 or Xbox X|S, as I said before... Compared to the Original Switch the graphics are significantly better, and the performance is significantly higher. Pokemon Scarlet & Violet used to perform like a freeze-framed GIF of a Potato. Breath of the Wild, while impressive, was still held back by the limitations of the system. Now, on the new console, Pokemon SV is beautiful, clear, and vibrant, and BOTW has never looked better on a big screen! I even dove into Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time, and was fully immersed in the experience. I never felt like the console was holding me back, and the load times were seamless, if not fantastic for something so compact! I will say that undocked, or off-charge, the Switch 2 only provides about an hour and a half to two hours of battery life on these high performing games. Make sure to keep a USB C handy at all times.
I'll leave my reasoning and final thoughts with you hear. My answer is "It depends", because it depends on what your style and needs for gaming are. I stand by my opinion on the Switch 2 being an expensive system, with expensive games. However, what I believe the Switch 2 has going for it is power. Power in the performance coming from such a compact handheld. Power in the nostalgic value that Nintendo has for all of it's mainline IP's and releases, like Zelda, Pokemon, Mario, Metroid, and more. Power in its fanbase. Power in it's overall influence on gaming. None of this is bad, by the way. I tend to fall into the Nostalgia and memories that Nintendo has provided, therefore, I don't mind the investment. Based on my experience, along with power, what I think this console also provides is a great future.
I would buy this console if you have the extra cash and don't mind paying for a few upgrades for your older games. The future is bright for the Switch 2.
If you don't have the extra cash, and aren't as big of a Nintendo fan, I would wait. Wait until you catch a Black Friday sale. Wait until the OLED version is released. Wait until their are newer Switch 2 titles out other than Mario Kart.
In closing, if I were to put my thoughts on a rating, it would be as follows:
Worth the Buy: 6.5 out of 10. Not right now.
Switch 2 as a console: 8.5 out of 10. Looking forward to the future of this console.
