In The Switch 2’s First Year, Every Third-Party Port Tells A Story About The System

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In November 2017, Bethesda and Panic Button surprised many gamers by releasing Doom for the Nintendo Switch. Considering Doom’s fast action, detailed graphics, and demanding system requirements, it seemed unlikely to run well on the handheld console. While the Switch version had slightly blurry visuals and a lower frame rate, it still played remarkably well. Reviewer Peter Brown at TopMob gave it an 8/10, calling it an “impressive port that prioritizes gameplay over graphics.”

When the game Doom was successfully brought to the Nintendo Switch, players jokingly called it an “impossible port” – a term that quickly became popular whenever a demanding game from other platforms ran surprisingly well on the less powerful Switch. Over time, several other games defied expectations and made the jump, including Wolfenstein 2, Hellblade, The Witcher 3, No Man’s Sky, and Ace Combat 7. These large, visually impressive, and action-packed titles were all carefully adapted for the system, and it was always impressive – and a little magical – to see them running on a handheld console released in 2017, even if they weren’t perfect.

Before Nintendo released the Switch 2 this year, they kept most of the technical details under wraps, as they usually do. We knew the new 7.9-inch 1080p screen could display games at up to 120 frames per second and supported HDR. Nvidia confirmed the system’s chip would allow for DLSS, a technology that can improve image quality even at lower resolutions, and that the new console would be significantly more powerful than the original. However, after the first six months, many Switch 2 owners have been eager to discover its limits – what games it can handle, and how well those games compare to versions on other consoles.

When the system first launched, many players were more excited about Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition than Mario Kart World. This was a significantly improved version of a game originally released in 2020, and it was a title the original Switch couldn’t have handled at all. Cyberpunk 2077 famously caused problems for the PS4 and Xbox One, so its performance on this new system became a key test. If the Switch could run Cyberpunk 2077 smoothly, it suggested a lot of potential for other demanding games to be ported over in the future.

The Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 turned out to be a surprisingly good port. While some visual details were adjusted, the game ran smoothly and looked great on Nintendo’s console – a significant improvement over the already impressive Witcher 3 port on the older Switch. 2025 saw a number of current-generation games successfully ported to the Switch 2, including Street Fighter 6, several Yakuza titles, Cronos: The New Dawn, and Apex Legends. However, not all ports were created equal; EA FC and NBA 2K were limited to 30 frames per second, Persona 3 Reload suffered from noticeable stuttering, and the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition port was clearly downgraded compared to the original PlayStation 4 version from over a decade ago. These ports aren’t just individual games; they give us a good idea of what the Switch 2 is capable of and what kind of gaming experience we can expect in the future.

I’ve tested a lot of games on the new system, and it’s always fun to see how they run. Even simpler games like SpongeBob Squarepants and Two Point Museum look much better than they did on the original Switch. I was surprised by how much improved some games were – Ball X Pit especially benefited from the upgrade, and Fantasy Life i looks dramatically different. As someone who chose the Switch for indie games and less demanding titles, these improvements suggest I’m in for a great gaming experience over the next few years.

One of the most impressive launch titles for the Switch 2 – and a great showcase of its capabilities – is Star Wars Outlaws, developed by Ubisoft’s RedLynx team. The game came to the Switch 2 in 2024 alongside releases on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and has been continually improved with updates. It now performs remarkably well compared to other platforms – even significantly better than on the Steam Deck. While not flawless, the fact that Star Wars Outlaws ran so well on the Switch 2 right away is a promising sign. It makes you wonder what kinds of games developers will be able to successfully port to the system over the next few years as they become more familiar with its hardware.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows also looked promising, but I experienced several crashes and a noticeably blurry image when playing in handheld mode. It might need a few updates to be fully polished. Thankfully, like Star Wars and Cyberpunk before it, the game lets you continue your progress seamlessly between PlayStation 5 and Switch – a great feature that hopefully encourages more developers to release their games on both consoles, including the upcoming Switch 2.

We expect to hear about more impressive games coming to the new Switch in 2026, which will give us a better idea of its capabilities. I recently played a version of Elden Ring on the handheld device at PAX Australia, and despite initial concerns, it ran smoothly and looked great. Although the game’s release was postponed, it’s a promising sign. Several other big titles, including 007 First Light, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake, along with other major ports, will further demonstrate what the Switch 2 can do. For now, it’s exciting to imagine all the seemingly impossible games that might eventually appear on the system.

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2025-12-27 17:10