Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2: review

The Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector is designed for anyone looking to defend their Nintendo Switch 2 from knocks and scratches.

Made from tempered glass, covered with an anti-reflective surface and treated with an anti-fingerprint coating, it promises to keep your handheld console crack-free, while not diminishing your gameplay experience; a big swing, particularly given its relatively affordable $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95 price.

The process of applying the screen protector to our Switch 2 was easy, thanks in no small part to Belkin’s simple system. Once you’ve popped the supplied frame over the Switch 2’s screen, the screen protector naturally nestles into its exact position on the glass, without the hesitation and second-guessing often experienced when applying screen protectors.

All I then had to do was peel back the top layer of film and coax all of the air pockets to the edge of the display; this took all of about 20 seconds, which is far faster than with some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

Admittedly, a few stubborn bubbles remained, but I’ve applied a lot of screen protectors in my time – I’m both an early upgrader and horrendously clumsy – and I’ve always found that these eventually get squeezed out over the first few days of use.

As long as you’ve ensured that your Switch 2’s screen is sufficiently clean before applying the protector, it really is hard to imagine how you could go wrong here.

Once it was applied, I was genuinely impressed with the quality of Belkin’s screen protector. Thanks to the tempered glass it’s fashioned from it feels sturdy to the touch – rather than the plasticky feel of some products, you get all of the hardness of standard glass without the brittleness. And its bevelled edges mean it can have a decent thickness to it while not having a pronounced lip around its rim, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the device.

Sometimes this kind of protection can come at a bit of a tradeoff, giving you peace of mind at the cost of increased reflectivity, but Belkin’s anti-reflective treatment seemed to minimize the amount of reflections cast across the screen. It didn’t seem to hurt the pop of the Switch 2’s gloriously vibrant display at all, with Mario Kart World’s colorful palette still looking as hyperreal as ever.

Even under the harsh lighting of our photography studio, I had to spin it to pretty extreme angles for reflections to significantly affect the viewing experience, and you’re unlikely to encounter conditions this unfavorable under real-world use.

Being this well designed doesn’t mean anything if a screen protector cracks under pressure though. So how did the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector perform under testing conditions?

Pretty capably, it turns out.

Out of the gate, I wanted to make sure it was going to actually go the distance – it doesn’t matter how hard your screen protector is if it peels off long before it sees any action. Rubbing the corner didn’t cause any layers to come away and, even when I got my nail in there, it didn’t easily lift away from the screen. My impression is that the Belkin should hang on in there for the long haul.

Simulating multiple years of cumulative wear and tear isn’t all that easy, so it’s important that we subject these screen protectors to a level of abuse I’d hope you wouldn’t subject your own console to.

Taking my keys to the screen protector, I started trying to scratch it, gingerly at first and then, when it resisted my efforts, rather less gingerly. No matter how hard I tried to score the glass, the keys in my hand just slipped off it, so while I imagine it will sustain damage from direct blows, you can rest easy knowing that it’ll laugh off regular scuffs and scrapes with ease.

Even though I’ve spent a lot of money on screen protectors over the years, the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 still impressed me. It’s easy to apply, well made, and should guard your handheld console against all but the most severe abuse.

Once you factor in the aforementioned price – just $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95 – it becomes a bit of a bargain, especially given that you shouldn’t have to replace it for trivial reasons, like superficial scratches or premature peeling. If you want to safeguard your Switch 2, it’s a very safe bet.

Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & availability

• Launched June 4, 2025
• Retails for $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95

First released on June 4, 2025, the Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 is Belkin’s first foray into the gaming screen protector space. Priced at $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95, it’s a very competitive option – although it is worth noting that some rivals’ offerings include two protectors for the price of one.

Still, I would argue that the value you’re getting here is pretty decent. Two screen protectors over one sounds like a bargain, as long as they don’t last half as long, effectively negating their cheaper price. Based on Belkin’s track record in this space, and how durable its screen protector proved in our testing, this one should last you a decent while, making it still a smart investment for the price.

Should I buy the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How I tested the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2

• I applied the screen protector following the instructions
• I tested how it affects brightness, shows fingerprints, and how easy it is to damage
• I relied on decades of handheld gaming experience

Since TechRadar has started testing Nintendo Switch accessories, it’s been important for me to work out a standardized process for how we test them. First off, we apply the screen protector to a Nintendo Switch 2 to see how easy it is to adhere. Then we test how the screen protector affects the brightness of the screen and viewing angles, before seeing how it copes with smudges and fingerprints.

I also wanted to make sure that we checked how well the screen protectors cope with damage. While I wasn’t quite brave enough to drop a flagstone onto our testing Switch 2 and see whether it survived until the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, I did try several methods to test the hardiness of the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector. I tried scuffing the edges of the screen protector and peeling it with my nails to see if it would come loose, before attempting to scratch it vigorously with my keys.

In terms of experience, not only have I been gaming on the go for most of my life – Imma OG Game Boy right here – but I’ve been writing about tech and gadgets on and off for almost 15 years. My reviews team tests a wide array of gaming accessories from controllers to wireless headsets – and perhaps most relevant, I’ve broken more screens than I can count.

• First reviewed: September 2025
• Read more about how we test

It’s fair to say that Nintendo’s slate of Nintendo Switch 2 Editions has been a mixed bag, both in terms of what the company offers in each, how much it’s charging, and how the reception has been.

The Switch's Zelda titles getting a frame rate and resolution boost for a few bucks each was very welcome but many were left decidedly out of the party mood when it came to Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Jamboree TV add-on.

In many ways, that makes the hilariously titled Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World an outlier, and not just because it’s got possibly the longest name on the platform.

It meshes a modest visual improvement with additional content that’s easy to recommend, and takes a fantastic platformer to new heights, not unlike its protagonist floating on the breeze. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a great stand-in as the wait for a new open-world Mario game goes on.

Rescue mission

It sounds odd, but I’ve always likened Kirby and the Forgotten Land to the early Astro Bot games, before Sony’s cute mascot went and became a platforming megastar. Its levels feel diorama-like - they’re 3D, but with minimal camera panning, and you’re tasked with searching in every nook and cranny to find a Waddle Dee.

If you’re coming to this new version, wondering if anything has changed in that regard, the answer is yes, but only insofar as you’ll be hunting down Starries this time around. While I must admit I had been expecting a separate menu icon a la Jamboree TV Switch 2 upgrade, or even Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, I was surprised to jump into my old save and see that everything happens in the same world map.

Star-Crossed World's story is as simple as a mystery meteor landing and turning various older areas into more colorful, crystal-tinted versions, while even giving some of Kirby’s (admittedly adorable) foes a crystalline makeover, too.

Your pink blob’s mission is simple: rescue Starries in each level, while also ticking off some side objectives that might require a little more exploration.

What’s old is new

While there’s an argument that for around $20 / £16.99, fans should be able to expect wholly new levels, that’s not what’s happened here. In fact, it’s much cleverer than that. Kirby is tasked with reclaiming Starries (not as cute as Waddle Dees, for my money) by finding them in existing levels, but each becomes a much more expansive quest.

As an example, one area sees Kirby travel through an existing level, only to essentially part the sea midway through and explore a whole new region under what would have been the water. In another (and a personal favorite), our puffy pink protagonist hits the gem to open a new path, only for it to begin a railway track or rollercoaster of sorts that they need to fight and platform their way along.

Given a big differentiator of the base game from the rest of Kirby canon was having our hero wander through a sort of post-apocalyptic, recognizable world, some took umbrage with the more restrictive creativity brought upon by a new setting. That’s almost entirely jettisoned here, like Nintendo is letting its hair down somewhat.

In fact, if you’re jumping in for the first time, the meteor hits right after the first set of levels is completed, so you don’t have to reach the end credits to experience everything new.

All you can eat

The Mouthful mode returns in Star-Crossed World, and the same criticisms from the original TechRadar Gaming review apply - namely that, as funny as it is to see Kirby become a vending machine or a traffic cone, its implementation is all very linear.

This time around, there’s a Spring for jumping high and crashing down on foes, as well as a Sign that turns Kirby into a sort of flat shape for downhill sliding sections. The highlight, however, is the Gear Mouth, which allows Kirby to roll around on floors, walls, and ceilings, adding a literal new dimension to platforming.

That brings us to the platforming, and while it’s mechanically great to play, it’s just lacking the challenge of, say, a Super Mario Odyssey or even some of Donkey Kong Bananza’s trickier sections. I should stress that this doesn’t make all of the game’s imaginative ideas moot, but it does mean it’s easier to blow through in a weekend than some of its genre peers.

Another holdover from the base game is that boss fights are a little formulaic. While I appreciate that there are usually a handful of approaches to take with a few different upgrades available before the start of each skirmish, it does tend to devolve into dodging as much as you can and then spamming whichever attack you have to hand.

There’s a new Ultimate Cup Z EX boss rush that’s been added to the Coliseum for those looking for more of a challenge, though, which is a nice touch and helps scratch that trickier itch similarly to the Forgo areas of the 2022 original.

Not quite 4K(irby)

Although the original game was hardly a slouch in terms of visuals, the bump in resolution on Nintendo Switch 2 is welcome.

Both The Forgotten Land and its Star-Crossed World additions run at what appears to be 1440p while docked, meaning it’s not quite as sharp as the Switch 2 upgrades of Tears of the Kingdom or Breath of the Wild, but it does run at a crisp 1080p in handheld.

The real relief is that it’s now running at 60fps across the board, which makes replaying even old levels feel just a little fresher thanks to the smoothness on offer. Load times have been improved, too.

Still, I do feel like Nintendo could have divorced the new content and the visual upgrade when it comes to what’s on offer.

Is the company really going to be any worse off for giving away the visual upgrade for free and charging just for the extra content? It’s hard to say, but if you’ve been waiting to play Kirby and the Forgotten Land on Switch 2, you won’t get any visual improvements without paying.

All in all, then, Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is one of the easiest ‘upgrade packs’ to recommend at the time of writing for Nintendo’s nascent console.

While I wish the visual upgrade had been free to anyone with a Switch 2 and a copy of the base game, the added areas in Star Crossed World are some of the best yet, and I’d wager playing the game without them would now make the game feel incomplete in some ways.

Should you play Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility

Sadly, there aren’t a huge number of accessibility features here. There are two difficulty modes, Wild Mode and Spring-Breeze Mode, which offer additional difficulty for more coins, or additional health, respectively.

There’s no button remapping outside of swapping between a pair of preset options, either.

How I reviewed Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

I spent the last couple of weeks playing the new content, immediately after replaying the entirety of the base game to give me a better perspective on how things differ and what’s new.

I played both in docked and handheld, with the former being on a Sky Glass TV while the latter made use of AirPods Max for listening to those oh-so-satisfying sound effects that had me itching to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate again.

First reviewed August 2025

The very first time I booted up Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S on Nintendo Switch 2, I had to look up a list of what had actually been changed.

This is a port of one of my favorite puzzle games ever, the original Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 from 2020 - a title that I’ve sunk more than a hundred hours into across PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Still, the tweaks present in this new version are so slight that even I struggled to see them at first.

You’re basically getting a single new mode here: the co-op Puyo Tetris Double Mode which features fast 2v2 battles. It’s a fun way to play for sure, but it’s not a necessary addition in a game that is already overflowing with content. If you own the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory, you have the option of showing your face as you play too - another ultimately superfluous extra.

There’s also support for the mouse controls of the Joy-Con 2, though they’re disappointingly awkward to use. Playing Tetris or Puyo Puyo with a cursor is considerably slower than button inputs, making matches more fiddly thus putting you at a clear disadvantage.

At least GameShare is well implemented, giving you an easy way to play with friends on either Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.

Bursting at the seams

The original version of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 offers so many modes that it’s almost hard to keep track of them, so here’s quick run-down of the most significant ones so you know what you’re in for before I get into the new stuff:

• Versus - a traditional competitive match of either Puyo Puyo or Tetris
• Big Bang - clear a board of existing pieces faster than your opponent
• Party - competitive Puyo Puyo or Tetris with special items added in
• Skill Battle - play Puyo Puyo or Tetris as a character with special skills and items
• Fusion - Puyos and Tetris pieces fall at the same time
• Swap - Swap between Puyo Puyo and Tetris every 25 seconds

These can either be played solo against bots or as part of a robust online offering that’s complete with a basic competitive ranking system.

This is on top of loads of unique challenge modes, a detailed ‘Lessons’ tutorial mode, and a full-on RPG style single-player campaign with cute artwork and fully voiced dialogue scenes packed with charming moments.

This all results in what is without a doubt one of the most comprehensive and content-rich puzzle games of all time. Seriously, after more than a hundred hours, there are still some modes that I’ve barely touched.

Mix and match

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S adds just one new mode, available as an option when you select the Versus mode. It splits four players into two teams of two, with each team sharing their own board.

It’s nothing particularly wild in comparison to the modes found in the base game, but still very entertaining as you desperately try to coordinate placing pieces with your partner in high-speed matches. As good as it is, however, it sits in a sea of other excellent modes so doesn't justify much of the $39.99 / £34.99 asking price.

The same is true of the new mouse controls, which allow you to browse the menus with a cursor or drag the Joy-Con 2 around to position falling pieces on the board.

The latter implementation is awkward though, proving significantly slower than just using the buttons, so it’s something that anybody would probably never want to use. The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera support is lackluster too, simply allowing you to show your face in matches instead of the usual character portrait.

GameShare is great at least, and, in my testing, proved impressively responsive when I paired my Nintendo Switch 2 up with my Nintendo Switch Lite. If this all was sold as a $9.99 / £9.99 or so Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade rather than a more pricey standalone release, then I could see this feature alone being well worth the cost.

Ghost town

In the graphics department, things haven’t changed as much as you might think. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 was already a great looking game on Nintendo Switch and, while the picture quality of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is a smidge sharper, it’s not a noticeable upgrade unless you directly compare the images side by side.

Loading times seem extremely similar too, which is to say that they’re still good but not substantially improved.

This apparent lack of technical differences leaves me wondering why Sega has made the baffling choice to split multiplayer matchmaking pools between Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 still has a very active online scene, even after all these years, so you can reliably find matches at almost any time. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, on the other hand, seems deserted after just a few weeks.

I have managed to get into a couple of games here and there, but waiting times are significantly longer than the original game. It’s a huge shame and means that existing Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 owners have no real reason to splash out for this release, as it comes at the cost of online play.

If you’ve never experienced Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 before, then the purchase is a bit more justifiable. You’re still getting a great game here at the end of the day with hundreds of hours of quality puzzle action and a handful of new features designed to take advantage of the capabilities of your brand new console.

This is technically the most definitive version of the game so far, so it’s not a bad starting point if you’re a newcomer.

Should I play Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S doesn’t feature any dedicated accessibility settings. It has a limited settings menu, with options like turning off auto save, disabling controller vibration, and tweaking the language. The game is fully voice acted, but subtitles are still featured throughout.

How I reviewed Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S

I played just under five hours of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S on Nintendo Switch 2, having played a significant amount more of the original Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PS5.

During my time with the game, I compared my experience with that of the original release, making careful note of any differences. I endeavored to test every one of the new features, plus the new mode extensively.

First reviewed August 2025

I don’t envy CD Projekt Red. The task of cramming a gigantic open-world role-playing game (RPG) into a highly compressed package for a new portable console in time for launch day must have been a daunting one.

Even so, the developer has managed something spectacular with Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which stands apart as easily the most ambitious and accomplished Nintendo Switch 2 port yet.

This is the definitive Cyberpunk 2077 package, complete with its superb Phantom Liberty expansion and almost five years of content updates. I must admit that I was less than thrilled with the game back at launch in 2020 thanks to its abysmal performance, bugs, and countless missing features, but today, having been thoroughly polished up, it's without a doubt one of the best RPGs around and offers hundreds of hours of entertainment.

Play your way

If you’ve never tried Cyberpunk 2077 before, the Switch 2 version is a worthy place to start. Set in a nightmarish vision of the not-too-distant future, you are V - a fully customizable protagonist. The character creator here is fantastic, thanks in no small part to the sheer number of post-launch additions like new hairstyles and make-up options that it received, and equips you with everything that you need to achieve your desired look.

You could easily spend hours carefully tweaking its many, many sliders, or simply opt for something from the robust selection of presets to jump right in. After nailing your appearance, you’re asked to select a Life Path, effectively your character backstory.

There are three to choose from: a wandering nomad, a high-flying corporate fixer, or a basic street thug. Each one dramatically alters the game’s opening, which can spice up subsequent playthroughs, but has a limited impact outside of that. You get a few new dialogue options every now and then, plus the odd unique quest or too, but you shouldn’t expect a radically different experience.

Thankfully, the massive skill trees offer more than enough variety to make repeat playthroughs worthwhile. They’re packed with interesting abilities and cater to a wide range of playstyles. I’ve been an unstoppable axe-wielding giant with the ability to take hits like a fridge, a nimble hacker picking off opponents one at a time completely undetected, and a flashy gunslinger landing deadly critical hits with my pistols.

The option to outfit your character with a range of Cyberware (futuristic body enhancements) brings an even greater level of fine-tuning. From enhanced eyesight to super-powered jumps and electric punches, you may be spoiled for choice, but you’re not going to struggle to find one that suits your desired approach.

Back in the neon streets

The Night City setting has always been a visual treat, and it holds up surprisingly well on Nintendo Switch 2. You have two graphics presets to choose from; the standard Quality and Performance modes, but, uniquely, the option to choose a different one for either handheld or docked play. Both target a 1080p picture when docked, with Quality aiming for 30fps and Performance going for 40fps.

Although you do benefit from slightly prettier lighting and reflections in Quality, I would recommend Performance mode all the way when docked, as the framerate is not only higher but less prone to small drops. The resolution can take a noticeable hit every now and then, especially in busier firefights, but never enough to truly spoil the experience.

It’s a huge improvement compared to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Cyberpunk 2077 either way, and doesn’t feel too far off from the kind of performance you would expect on the Xbox Series S - a great result for a portable, slim machine.

Performance is also my preference in handheld mode, where it targets 720p at 40fps. The resolution is a little higher in Quality mode, but I don’t think it’s worth losing performance over. Visuals have been noticeably dialed down in handheld compared to docked, but honestly it can be hard to spot many of the cutbacks on the far smaller 7.9inch Nintendo Switch 2 screen compared to a 4K TV.

The game certainly holds up significantly better than The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, another sprawling RPG from the same studio, did back on the original Nintendo Switch. That was undeniably an impressive port too, but the much lower-power hardware led to far more compromised visuals.

Unfortunately, it does fall apart a little when you get to the content from the Phantom Liberty expansion. The neon-lit district of Dogtown pushes the Nintendo Switch 2 to its absolute limits, especially if you start trading fire with its many armed goons. Again, the performance never renders the game unplayable - but it’s noticeably more jagged.

Overall, this handheld performance still puts the Nintendo Switch 2 firmly ahead of its biggest competitor: the Steam Deck OLED. Moving from my Steam Deck to Nintendo Switch 2, the difference was night a day. Playing on Nintendo Switch 2 felt smoother and the visuals were much more consistent throughout.

The higher resolution 1080p screen of the Nintendo Switch 2 also leads to a significantly more crisp picture, though the Steam Deck OLED’s OLED panel does offer brighter colors on the whole.

Hack and slash

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition also takes full advantage of a wealth of Nintendo Switch 2 hardware features. There’s support for motion controls with the Joy-Con 2 controllers, allowing you to slash enemies with melee weapons by swinging your arms or aim weapons more precisely with the in-built gyroscope. Mouse controls are also present, which is a blessing if you like to run around with a sniper rifle.

The smart progression sharing system even lets you seamlessly continue your saves from PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. This is a game changer for a title of this size, and a fantastic reason to buy on Nintendo Switch 2. Nothing quite beats the feeling of playing for a few hours on PC before heading out for a flight safe in the knowledge that you can pick up exactly where you left off on the move.

This all results in a Nintendo Switch 2 launch game that’s easy to recommend. It’s a real showcase of the system’s technical chops, utilizes its exclusive features well, and, on top of all that, hosts a rich RPG experience with plenty to do and lots of reasons to replay.

Should I play Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition features a dedicated accessibility menu with plenty of options. This includes interface customization, such as the ability to enable different colorblind modes (protanopia, tritanopia, and deuteranopia), increase the size of HUD elements, or remove visual effects.

Subtitles are featured throughout the game, with options to change the size and appearance of them. There are also plenty of difficulty options, plus aim assist features for those who find the combat a challenge.

How I reviewed Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

I played Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for more than 15 hours on Nintendo Switch 2. During this time I endeavoured to complete as much content as possible and compared my experience to my testing of the PlayStation 5 and PC versions of the game.

I tested both docked and handheld mode, taking the Nintendo Switch 2 out and about on a variety of trips. While on planes or trains, I relied on my trusty pair of Final VR500 earbuds for audio. When playing in docked mode, I used either the Joy-Con 2 controllers or the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.

First reviewed August 2025

Joy-Con 2: one-minute review

The Joy-Con 2 controllers are what you’ll get packaged with your Nintendo Switch 2 console. They differ greatly from the likes of the DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller in that the Joy-Con 2 are essentially two separate gamepads that can be used either combined as one, or individually for local multiplayer.

From a design standpoint, that makes the Joy-Con 2 quite clever, as was the case with the original model. For families and at social gatherings, they can make access to multiplayer easier - even if their small size doesn’t make for the most comfortable of play sessions.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers do improve things on this front. They’re slightly larger than the 2017 model and more ergonomically sound. Using them both for handheld play, or with the (included) Joy-Con 2 grip, the play experience is serviceable. While I much, much prefer the overall feel of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, you won’t be hard done by with the Joy-Con 2 thanks to its build quality improvements, convenient magnetic connectors, and decent battery life.

That said, for some Nintendo Switch 2 games, you may be incentivized to opt for the Joy-Con 2 over other controllers. That’s because of the standout new feature: mouse controls. While not a ton of games support this at present, mouse controls work surprisingly well across a variety of surfaces.

Despite the overall improvements, the Joy-Con 2 hasn’t quite managed to escape some design awkwardness of its predecessor. The asymmetrical stick layout just doesn’t sit right with me here, and while I know it would prove irksome for local multiplayer, I found myself wanting a symmetrical stick layout like we see on devices like the Nitro Deck and Steam Deck OLED.

The analog sticks themselves also aren’t much of an improvement. The sticks are still very shallow, and the concave design isn’t particularly comfortable. They’re also not Hall effect, as confirmed by Nintendo itself, so the possibility of stick drift down the line still looms large.

Joy-Con 2 review: price and availability

• $94.99 / £74.99 / AU$139.95
• Available at My Nintendo Store
• On the expensive side

A single pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers come packaged with Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. However, they can also be purchased separately if you need a spare or you’re looking to get some big multiplayer groups together.

They’re definitely on the expensive side, though, costing $94.99 / £74.99 / AU$139.95.

That’s $10 pricier than the Switch 2 Pro Controller in the US, but in the UK, they come in at the same £74.99 price. In both regions, the Joy-Con 2 are available to purchase from the My Nintendo Store.

Joy-Con 2 review: Specs

Joy-Con 2 review: design and features

Are the Joy-Con 2 controllers a better product overall than its 2017 predecessor? The short answer is yes. Nintendo has largely stuck to its guns with the overall concept, but has refined it for a decidedly more polished experience.

Build quality is a noticeable step-up. The Joy-Con 2 are slightly larger, and thus are much friendlier on larger hands. It’s a smart redesign, considering that kids who played with the original Joy-Con controllers as early as 2017 are a good deal older now.

It also means that adults will have an easier time using a single Joy-Con, though not by much. Wielding a single Joy-Con 2 horizontally is still a bit of a squeeze. Though thankfully, the SL and SR buttons have been made larger to compensate.

The Joy-Con 2 definitely give off a less toy-esque impression. The bold neon red/blue color scheme that many original Switch owners had has been swapped out for a more mundane black, though that red and blue can be found beneath the analog sticks and at the sides where the magnetic connector and SL/SR buttons are housed.

They do look slick, boasting slightly rounder edges than its predecessor. Otherwise, you’re getting a familiar Joy-Con experience here. Analog sticks, directional, and face buttons are all found in the same place. The only big difference here is the addition of the GameChat button for accessing the Switch 2’s bespoke voice chat app.

Unlike the original Joy-Con, there’s no rail system here for connection purposes. Mercifully, this has been swapped for much more elegant magnetic connectors, allowing the Joy-Con 2 to click into the Switch 2 handheld or the Joy-Con 2 grip with ease.

A button nestled next to the triggers also pushes the Joy-Con 2 back out. It remains to be seen if these connectors wearing down over time becomes a bigger issue, especially as the magnetic pull is quite strong. But for now, it’s something I much prefer over the awkward rail system of the first Joy-Con.

Joy-Con 2 review: Performance

The most notable addition to the Joy-Con 2 has to be their mouse controls. By detaching one (or both), they can be turned sideways with the SL/SR buttons facing down and used as a mouse. Some games were heavily advertised with this feature, including Cyberpunk 2077, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition, and Sid Meier’s Civilization 7.

Mouse controls work rather well, and can be used in certain games as well as the Switch 2’s Home dashboard and Nintendo eShop. The lack of a scroll wheel definitely hurts navigation and general usability, but overall sensitivity feels fine, and this can even be adjusted in the system settings if you’d prefer faster or slower cursor movement.

The sensor is decent enough that you can use mouse controls on many surface types, including your own trousers. Though for best results, I’d stick to a flat surface like a desk or table.

For more traditional gameplay, the Joy-Con 2 are serviceable, though it’s not much of a jump from the original Joy-Con controllers. I still find the analog sticks to be uncomfortably shallow, and their slippery concave cap design can make it hard to find purchase while playing more hectic or action-focused titles.

I also lament the return of individual buttons for the d-pad. I understand the decision here - opting for buttons makes them more multiplayer-friendly - but I much prefer a more traditional d-pad like we see on the Switch 2 Pro Controller.

Otherwise, all the gubbins from the original Joy-Con are here, too. That includes gyro aiming support - best used with games like Splatoon 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - and near-field communication (NFC) support for the scanning of amiibo figures and cards.

Battery life holds up decently, as well. I managed roughly 20 hours on a full charge - give or take a couple. This does line up with Nintendo’s official projections, but do note that your mileage will vary here. Each Joy-Con 2 has its own battery, as well, so it’s entirely possible that one could run out of juice before the other.

Should I buy the Joy-Con 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Joy-Con 2 review: Also consider

Consider these two alternatives if you’re looking for a Switch 2-compatible controller that offers something different.

How I tested the Joy-Con 2

• Tested for over a month
• Played in both handheld mode and with the Joy-Con 2 grip
• Compared to the original Joy-Con and the Switch 2 Pro Controller

I’ve tested the Joy-Con 2 regularly since getting my Switch 2 console on launch day (June 5, 2025). I’ve primarily used them in handheld mode when traveling or as part of a cheeky before-bed session. However, I’ve also used them while slotted into the Joy-Con 2 grip, as a more traditional controller.

While I think the Joy-Con 2 are perfectly fine controllers, I found myself preferring the Switch 2 Pro Controller for longer gaming sessions, especially in docked mode. The Pro Controller is one I just find to be more comfortable, and its long-lasting battery life cannot be taken for granted. Still, in local multiplayer environments, the Joy-Con 2 shone thanks to the two controllers acting as separate entities, minimizing the need to dig out other gamepads.

First reviewed July 2025

Read more about how we test

To beef up its Nintendo Switch 2 first-party library, Nintendo has been bringing enhanced versions of Nintendo Switch games to its new console, both as standalone releases or with an additional upgrade price. While it started strong with Switch 2 editions of two of the greatest games of all time, Super Mario Party Jamboree is a trickier proposition.

This isn't the same as a remaster like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, which integrated new features into the existing game, but more of an expansion bundled with the base game like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and at a higher price. Sure, you can play the base game in 4K or on a nicer 1080p display in handheld mode, but you don't really notice a big visual bump, while the Switch 1 version had no performance issues that this Switch 2 Edition has improved.

All the same content, including the single-player Party Planner Trek, the motion-based modes, and the online-based modes, are still there, and if you're upgrading, all your save data and unlocked rewards and content carry over. But you're not going to experience any material differences from the original game I covered in my previous review. For instance, DK hasn't had a Donkey Kong Bananza-style facelift, while Switch 2 functions like the camera doesn't feature either. All the new Switch 2-exclusive content you'll find exclusively in Jamboree TV, so without further ado, let's get to that.

Mouse trap

Jamboree TV revamps the Mario Party model into a game show setting, featuring the annoying talking flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, though you can thankfully also mute him. But rather than just picking Mario and pals as contestants, if you have a compatible camera attached to your console, you can also put your own faces on screen as a circle besides your character, though for privacy reasons, you won't be able to capture any screenshots or video when using this feature.

Once your contestants (and/or yourselves) are up on stage, you get to choose between four modes: Mario Party, Carnival Coaster, Bowser Live, and Free Play, the latter where you can play any of the minigames but is presented rather barebones compared to the same option in the base game's Minigame Bay.

Mario Party lets you play the core board game with all seven boards from the base game, but with some new exclusive twists. Aside from the standard party rules, this introduces two new rules.

While Tag-Team lets you play as a 2v2 instead of the usual free-for-all, Frenzy is a welcome option for those strapped for time, condensing a game down to just five turns but throwing in all the perks and high stakes of the last five turns of a normal game, so you start with more coins and a star, more to spend but more to lose. Of course, the option to save the game and continue from where you left off in another session is still possible.

While camera play won't make a huge difference on gameplay (although having everyone see your mug when you've had a star snatched from you is going to be more priceless than just selecting an emote) the 14 new mouse-based minigames are a decent addition. They're all creatively varied, not just basic point-and-click or drag-and-drop affairs, but sometimes also incorporate gyro controls, while also requiring team coordination.

But given you've also got 73 other minigames in Mario Party mode, you might only encounter a mouse minigame a handful of times, and there's no way to change a setting for more mouse minigames. You can, however, turn off mouse minigames, which you'll have to if pairing the original Switch Joy-Con as extra controllers, but that annoyingly also turns off motion-based minigames.

It's for that reason that there's the mouse-only Carnival Coaster. In this co-op mode, you ride a rollercoaster-slash-shooting gallery with five different themed routes to choose from, and have to try and get to the end before time runs out. You can gain precious seconds by aiming the mouse to shoot enemies that pop up during the ride, as well as completing randomly selected mouse minigames. These minigames adopt co-op rules rather than battling another team, while you're awarded more bonus time based on how well you do.

Make some noise

If it sounds like the biggest addition to Jamboree TV is mouse controls, you'd be right because the Bowser Live mode feels half-baked, even though it should be a bigger deal. For this game show within a game show, two teams or two battle to win the Koopa king's approval in either camera or microphone-based minigames. The camera is a literally bigger deal because rather than just capturing your heads, it captures each person's whole body so that you're fully transported into the scene and tasked with doing pretty silly things like balancing goombas on your head or hitting coins from a question block as fast as you can.

Meanwhile, microphone minigames takes advantage of the Switch 2 Camera as you use either your voice of handclaps, and it's incredible how well the microphone picks up both even when you're standing or sitting several feet away, so you don't have to yell, even if that's what you're encouraged to do in Bowser Chicken, where you shout to propel a car forward to score points, but not before reaching Bowser at the end. But since the microphone doesn't pick up who's shouting, that allows some underhanded shenanigans like having another team shout just when you thought you stopped your car at just the right spot.

Yet for all the snazzy presentation and wild atmosphere of this mode, Nintendo only thought to include three minigames for each, and they're all incredibly short. So, in a format where you have just two rounds before a final round that's basically determined by which team can make the most noise, the novelty wears off very quickly. It feels like a lack of confidence, perhaps owing to the fact that the camera is also not going to be a peripheral that everyone has. But then it also means it's definitely not worth investing in one if you're expecting to make better use of it in this game.

One other feature that I wasn't able to test pre-launch was GameShare, a cool feature that allows you to share a multiplayer game with other Switch owners even if they don't own the game. However, from the information provided, its support for Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition only works locally and only lets you play a single board, Mega Wiggler's Tree Party, and none of the modes from Jamboree TV. It makes you wonder what even the point is of including the feature when it's so limited, especially when Mario Party boards play perfectly fine on a single console.

Should you play Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility

While there are no set accessibility settings, Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV allows you to adjust the difficulty of CPU, message speed, as well as whether or not to include a tutorial before the start of each minigame. Jamboree TV minigames requiring a camera, motion, or mouse do not have alternate controls, but for microphone minigames, you can also clap your hands instead of using your voice. Content in the base game remains unchanged, so there are no alternate controls to the Motion Island modes.

How I reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV

I played Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV for about 8 hours on Nintendo Switch 2, including several local multiplayer sessions, but was unable to test online or GameShare as per Nintendo's pre-launch guidelines.

I previously reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree on Switch, so I was able to make comparisons between the original version and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. As there are no meaningful changes in the base game, my time was primarily spent on Jamboree TV.

I played primarily in docked mode on an LG C2 OLED TV. I mostly played with a single Joy-Con in horizontal and vertical, button, motion and mouse-based configurations, and also used the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, except for when capturing screenshots.

The conversation around interactive-visit-come-video-game Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, rather unfortunately, has not been about the game itself. Rather, many players have (rightly so) lamented the fact that this is a paid download rather than a pack-in experience - similar to the likes of Wii Sports or even Astro’s Playroom on PlayStation 5.

That being said, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour remains one of the top downloads on the Switch 2 eShop - at least here in the UK - so folks are certainly buying it. The question is, then, is it worth the $9.99 / £7.99 you’ll end up paying for it? Well, yes and no.

There are positives to take away from the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour experience. If you’re a hardware head like me, Welcome Tour presents information about the Switch 2 system in bite-sized chunks of trivia. There are even info booths and quizzes to undertake that highlight specific features, such as HD Rumble and mouse controls. I’m also a fan of the tech demos and minigame challenges that let you try out said features in a practical fashion.

Realistically, though, it’s an experience that only lasts a handful of hours, and rather annoyingly, it could be a more expensive game than its modest price tag lets on. That’s because some of the demos and minigames outright require things like a 4K TV or the Switch 2 Camera.

If you’re shooting for 100% completion, then Welcome Tour assumes you’ve gone all-in on the Switch 2 ecosystem as a whole. This is why I strongly feel the game should have come pre-installed onto your Switch 2 console; having to pay for a game that you might not even get to experience everything in - depending on the hardware you own - is extremely disappointing.

Ins and outs

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is presented as a giant exhibition for the new console. You’ll start by picking your avatar’s appearance simply by plucking them from a queue to the venue; you’re either an extremely tiny human, or the exhibition and its various sections are monolithic in size. I’ll let you decide which is more likely there.

If your objective in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is simply to plough through all the areas, then that’s easy enough. You’ll begin on the left Joy-Con 2 controller, and you’re tasked with finding and checking all the components there. That includes things like the analog stick, directional buttons, and magnetic connector.

Once you’ve seen it all, you can unlock the gate to the next area, where you’ll repeat that process. It’s fun at first, but even though it’s a short experience overall, there will be instances where you’ll find yourself pixel hunting while uncovering all the gizmos needed to unlock the next area. That means a lot of running around this isometric exhibition, which can be quite a chore.

Up for a challenge

To sidestep some of the tedium said exploration can bring, I do encourage you to take things at a measured pace in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Thankfully, there are some distractions to be had in the form of quizzes, minigames, and tech demos.

Quizzes are the most straightforward of the bunch. There are various booths dotted about the exhibits, and talking to the person there will load in some information displays you can read to learn more about various aspects of the Switch 2 ecosystem.

Minigames are a bit more bespoke. Each area will have at least one or two, and most are fun little diversions. You’ll be tasked with a great many things with these, again having something to do with the Switch 2’s capabilities. Examples include using the Joy-Con 2’s mouse to pilot a UFO avoiding spiked balls, and a task where you have to guess the framerate of a ball bouncing across a screen.

Finally, there’s the tech demos. These don’t offer much of a challenge and instead showcase various aspects of the Switch 2’s tech. An early example has you shaking the Joy-Con 2 like maracas to demonstrate HD Rumble, while another showcases the handheld’s HDR capabilities, where you can let off fireworks and compare the differences between HDR and SDR color gamuts.

Completing quizzes, minigames, and tech demos will award you with medals, and collecting enough of these will unlock more content, including harder versions of minigame challenges. Some of these were surprisingly tough, too, so you may have your hands full if you’re a completionist.

Though the completionist route is kind of where Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour can potentially fall apart. The game flat out assumes the player has access to a 4K display and accessories like the Switch 2 Camera, as, believe it or not, there are challenges and tech demos related to such items.

Again, this would be slightly less foul were Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour a free inclusion with the console. But as it stands, I would avoid purchasing it even at its modest price if you don’t have a contemporary gaming setup, as you simply won’t be able to enjoy all the content on offer.

Should you play Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility

Frustratingly, there is absolutely nothing in the way of options for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, let alone for accessibility. At the information kiosk in the game’s first area, you can talk to a non-player-character (NPC) there to invert camera controls, and that’s literally it. Nothing for audio, visuals, or alternative control schemes.

How I reviewed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

I played Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour for five hours on the Switch 2 system. As the game has strict requirements for which control schemes to use at any given time, I was limited to using the Joy-Con 2 controllers for things like HD Rumble, mouse controls, and more. As for display, I swapped between my LG CX OLED TV and played on the Switch 2 handheld when the game required it.

There are no reasons to consider picking up a copy of Tamagotchi Plaza, especially if you just got your hands on a Nintendo Switch 2.

It’s a basic collection of boring, uninspired minigames that all ultimately just boil down to hitting the same few buttons for minutes at a time. This is paired with a laughably tiny hub world, that’s conspicuously devoid of activities and an absolute nightmare to customize or upgrade.

It all feels like something that you would find in a free mobile phone game, not a $49.99 / £44.99 release for a brand new console.

Sure, the serviceable graphics and abundance of Tamagotchi characters might prove enough to entertain a very small child for an hour or two, but with games like Mario Kart World and recent Donkey Kong Bananza on the scene there’s no real reason not to spend your time and money more wisely and go for one of them instead.

Again and again

A spiritual successor to the Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop series on Nintendo DS, Tamagotchi Plaza is ostensibly about helping out in the various shops of a cute Tamagotchi town. This is accomplished through the completion of short minigames, of which there are 12 - one for each shop.

The first thing that you’ll notice is that none of them feature tutorials. You’re just expected to work out what you’re meant to do from the get-go, though this omission isn’t much of an impediment given just how simple the minigames are.

The first I tried involves cooking galettes (the flat, French pastry) by looking at an image of a customer’s desired order and mindlessly hitting buttons to bake the crust and fill it with the desired ingredients.

Accompanied by annoying sound effects which I later found can, mercifully, be turned off in the settings menu and protracted, overly slow animations, it becomes stale almost instantly.

The others are all a similar story: helping out in the personal gym, for example, involves spamming the shoulder buttons at a set pace, while the afternoon tea shop is simply dragging and dropping a few items on a table.

The only one that I find remotely entertaining was the dentist minigame, which has you drilling Tamagotchi teeth to weed out creepy little critters causing decay and even this just involved selecting options from a menu and hitting a button.

On the other end of the spectrum is the manga shop minigame, which is just nonsensical. You’re meant to design manga panels by dragging and dropping a few pre-made assets into position, but the scoring, measured on a scale of zero to three stars, doesn’t seem to correlate to anything other than how many characters you manage to cram on the screen.

If you keep grinding a particular minigame enough, you’re eventually offered the chance to upgrade it. This introduces some new options, which does break up the monotony somewhat, but takes quite a long time to appear and isn’t substantial enough to justify the effort.

Switch it up

There are three additional minigames exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game too. They’re unlocked after you’ve spent some time in the initial 12 and utilize the Joy-Con 2 mouse control features. These are the strongest of the bunch, with the likes of the shuriken shop which has you using the Joy-Con 2 to aim ninja stars providing a few minutes of fun.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to redeem the overall package and is nowhere near as interesting as some of the neat hardware tricks found in software like Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

Outside of minigames, there’s a small hub area to explore. Aside from the occasional conversation with another Tamagotchi, it’s empty and bland. You can upgrade it using currency earned from minigames, but progress is painfully slow and adding a few trees or the odd square here and there just isn’t worth the effort.

There’s also some light story content, centred around the protagonist being recruited to help improve the town so that it’s selected as the site of the Tamagotchi festival, but it’s basic and spread incredibly thin.

At the very least, I can say that Tamagotchi Plaza has no shortage of characters. There are more than a hundred Tamagotchis to discover, all with unique models that look quite nice. I just wish that this same amount of effort was put into literally every other facet of the game too.

Should I play Tamagotchi Plaza?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility

There are no accessibility features in Tamagotchi Plaza. In fact, there’s barely a settings menu at all. You can adjust the game’s volume (with separate settings for music, sound, and voices) and change the direction of the camera controls, but that’s it.

How I reviewed Tamagotchi Plaza

I subjected myself to more than four hours of Tamagotchi Plaza on Nintendo Switch 2, which is roughly four hours more than any reasonable person would play it for.

I tried every minigame in the package, and spent some time exploring the tiny world. I carefully evaluated the amount of fun that I was having at every juncture and compared my experience to my testing of other Nintendo Switch 2 games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.

First reviewed July 2025

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller: one-minute review

After around 15 hours with the Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller, I can safely recommend it if you’re looking for an authentic retro experience on the console. This is a pin-sharp, accurate recreation of the original pad, and thus is ideal if you’re planning to dive into those classic GameCube games as part of your Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.

It’s a faithful revision, but that doesn’t mean the purple wonder hasn’t been modernized in some ways. You’re getting wireless connectivity here - a key selling point of the original GameCube’s Wavebird controller back in the day. Battery life also seems to be incredibly impressive; after around 15 hours of play, its battery indicator on the Switch 2’s ‘Controllers’ menu appears about half full. As such, I estimate you’ll get around 25-30 hours of life before needing to charge it up again.

Still, ‘authentic’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘perfect’, and there are definitely some more improvements I’d like to have seen, even if purists would cry foul. The controller’s d-pad is still far and away its weakest element, being incredibly small and fairly mushy to the touch. And while I do enjoy those pressure-sensitive triggers, they certainly do feel clunky in comparison to the best Nintendo Switch controllers of today.

The only other real downside to talk about is availability. That’s because the Switch 2 GameCube controller is only available brand new via Nintendo’s online store, which requires a Nintendo account to log in and buy products.

On top of that, you’ll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to be eligible for purchase. This will be a hurdle to some, but if you’re planning on buying the controller for its intended purpose, then you’re likely to already be subscribed to Nintendo’s online service.

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller review: price and availability

• $64.99 / £58.99 / AU$89.95
• Available exclusively via Nintendo’s online store
• A Nintendo Switch Online-subbed account is required for purchase

The Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller released the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2 console (June 5, 2025), and is available to buy now for $64.99 / £58.99 / AU$89.95.

While this is a good deal cheaper than the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller ($84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95), keep in mind that the use case for the GameCube pad is more limited, as it’s primarily designed for the Switch 2’s GameCube Nintendo Classics library.

As mentioned above, there are some hoops to jump through in order to buy the GameCube controller for yourself. It’s only available through Nintendo’s online store, which you’ll need a Nintendo Account in order to make purchases from. On top of that, Nintendo is limiting purchases to those who have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

While that’s an annoying limitation, it does make some sense. The Switch 2’s library of GameCube titles can only be accessed through Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack tier. Thus, if you’re buying the controller for that reason, you’ll probably already have a subscription to the online service.

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller review: Specs

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller review: design and features

After the Sega Dreamcast, the Nintendo GameCube was my childhood system from that sixth generation of consoles (yes, I’m old, shut up). I spent those days playing hundreds of hours of amazing titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2, F-Zero GX, and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle. As a result, I’m deeply familiar with the original GameCube controller, and it’s one of my all-time favorite gamepads.

In my eyes, then, the Switch 2 version of the GameCube controller had a lot to live up to. And I’m happy to report that this is very much the same controller, albeit with some modernities to make it more usable as a contemporary pad. Aside from the obvious wireless connectivity, that includes the introduction of Home, Screenshot, and GameChat buttons, as well as a small ‘ZL’ button that sort of acts as a left trigger for regular Switch and Switch 2 games (in addition to accessing the quick menu for the GameCube Classics library).

Otherwise, this is practically identical to the original controller, sans the wired port being replaced with a USB-C port. The analog stick, C-stick, d-pad, and that iconic-yet-unorthodox face button layout are all exactly where they should be, and all feel very similar to that 2001 pad.

Nintendo has even gotten the smaller details right. Like how the face buttons feel ever so slightly loose in the places, not so much as to feel flimsy, but enough where they can rock around under your thumb. It’s a weirdly tactile feel that I’ve always enjoyed. Elsewhere, the left analog stick has all the right contours, bearing the same grippy feel as the OG version. Fear not if you were after authenticity, then this is a GameCube controller through and through.

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller review: Performance

With all that in mind, design-wise, it should come as no surprise that the Switch 2 GameCube controller feels as good now as it did back then, even with my larger adult hands. Its curved design is a blessing even among contemporary controllers, and during play, my hands still rest comfortably around its grips with index fingers wrapping snugly over the triggers.

I primarily tested the Switch 2 GameCube controller with its relevant Switch Online game collection. At the time of writing, that meant plenty of gameplay in F-Zero GX, Soul Calibur 2, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Super Mario Strikers. Aside from some slightly noticeable input lag in Wind Waker (which is a problem with the emulation, as I’ve experienced the same with the Switch 2 Pro Controller), the GameCube pad performed excellently through wireless play.

It is also worth noting that the controller is natively compatible with Switch and Switch 2 games. That means you can use it for some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6, and Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. But that doesn’t mean I’d recommend it.

There are two layers to my reasoning here. The first and rather obvious one is that the GameCube’s button layout is drastically at odds with the standard Switch format. On the GameCube controller, you have the A button in the middle, with B, X, and Y all orbiting it. If you’re dead set on using the GameCube controller for Switch 2 games, you’ll need to rely on in-game controller settings to form a more comfortable layout.

Additionally, the pad’s triggers register bumper inputs (L and R on Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Joy-Con 2), while the Z and ZL buttons are the triggers by default. That essentially means the placement has swapped around, which is more than a little awkward.

That’s where my second point comes in. The Switch 2 does not currently support GameCube controller button mapping from the Home dashboard, as it does for other official pads. This is a bit of a weird omission, and one I hope gets patched in somewhere down the line. Ultimately, though, I am happy that Nintendo at least offers GameCube controller compatibility as an option.

There are other control-related issues, but these are legacy problems at the very least. The triggers will definitely feel a little too clunky for some, and the d-pad is still far too small, rugged, and mushy-feeling. Would I have liked to have seen some improvements in these areas? Sure, but given my attachment to the original GameCube controller, I’m similarly hesitant to introduce any sweeping changes from a purist perspective.

Lastly, the controller at least seriously impresses in the realm of battery life. I tested the GameCube controller for around 15 hours, and while I didn’t fully drain the tank, I ended up using about half, according to the Switch 2’s controller menu. With that in mind, I’d estimate the pad houses anywhere between 25-30 hours of battery life, a similarly impressive number to that of the Switch 2 Pro Controller.

Should I buy the Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller review: Also consider

The Switch 2 GameCube controller is a pretty specific piece of kit, made for a very specific set of games. Here are some alternatives in case you’re having second thoughts.

How I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller

• Tested for approximately 15 hours
• Played a range of GameCube classics and Switch 2 games
• Compared to the Switch 2 Pro Controller in terms of feel, performance, and battery life

I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller for around 15 hours total, primarily using it for its intended purpose of playing with Nintendo Switch Online’s GameCube library. I also mixed in testing with some Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6, and Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Results were admittedly mixed here, as the GameCube controller’s button layout isn’t best suited for more modern titles.

I primarily played on my LG CX OLED TV, and compared its performance with GameCube games to that of the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Both are well-suited, though I did find myself having to tweak button settings for the latter to better suit the control schemes of titles like F-Zero GX and Soul Calibur 2. With the GameCube controller, I didn’t have to worry about this as the controls are all mapped as intended.

First reviewed July 2025

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