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To check whether a Nintendo Switch game works on Switch 2, search its exact title on Nintendo’s official compatibility checker and read the result’s notes—not just its headline status. Check again close to when you plan to buy or play: Nintendo says testing and updates may change which games are supported.

Search Nintendo’s compatibility checker

  1. Open Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility page.
  2. Enter the game’s exact title in the search box. If the game has several editions or similarly named entries, make sure the result matches the version you own or plan to buy.
  3. Read the result and any linked or accompanying notes for the title. Look for partial functionality, known in-game issues, and controller requirements.

Nintendo advises checking compatibility before purchasing a Switch game for use on Switch 2. The checker is more useful than a general assumption that a Switch game will behave identically on the newer console.

Understand what the result does—and does not—tell you

Playable does not always mean problem-free

Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games, but Nintendo warns that some titles may not be supported or may have partial functionality because the consoles use different hardware. Nintendo’s compatibility guidance distinguishes game playability from known issues. Its compatibility issue information includes examples such as slowdown, screen distortion, or behavior that differs from the Switch version.

Use the title-specific notes to decide whether a limitation matters to you. A game that launches may still have an issue affecting a particular feature or the way it looks or behaves.

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#1 Best Overall
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2)
  • Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
  • Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
  • Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
  • Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
  • Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam

A missing search result is inconclusive

Nintendo’s UK checker says that some games available only physically, or discontinued on Nintendo eShop, appear in its results only when testing found issues. As a result, no search result does not prove that a game is either compatible or incompatible. For a game published by a third party, Nintendo advises contacting that publisher for specific compatibility information.

Compatibility information can change

Nintendo says future testing and updates may increase the number of supported titles, while some games may take longer to become playable, have partial functionality issues, or remain unsupported. Check the live entry near the time of purchase or play instead of relying on an old list or an earlier search.

Rank #2
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2
  • Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
  • Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
  • A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
  • Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
  • Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls

Check controllers and game-specific accessories

Some Switch games cannot be played with the Joy-Con 2 controllers included with Switch 2. Nintendo identifies these cases in its compatibility information; original Nintendo Switch Joy-Con can be paired wirelessly for games that need them. Accessories can matter too: for example, Ring Fit Adventure and Nintendo Labo Robot Kit rely on associated equipment, and Joy-Con 2 cannot attach to those accessories. Check the game’s controller and accessory requirements before assuming the console alone is enough.

Know the difference between compatibility and a Switch 2 Edition

A compatible Nintendo Switch version is not the same thing as a Switch 2 Edition. Nintendo describes Switch 2 Editions as separate software editions that may add elements such as improved graphics or gameplay unique to Switch 2. Some eligible Switch games also have paid upgrade packs. If you want those added features, check whether the specific game offers an edition or upgrade; ordinary compatibility does not itself mean you receive them.

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Rank #3
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2)
  • Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
  • A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
  • Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
  • Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
  • Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
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Use the game you own on Switch 2

For a compatible physical copy, Switch 2 accepts Nintendo Switch game cards. For digital purchases, Nintendo uses virtual game cards that can be loaded or ejected across linked Switch and Switch 2 consoles. Compatibility concerns whether the game can be played; the applicable card or account setup determines how you access your copy.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2)
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2)
Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world; Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
$79.00
Bestseller No. 2
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2
Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion; Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
$59.00
Bestseller No. 3
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2)
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2)
Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!; A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
$69.00
Bestseller No. 4
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2
Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.; Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
$69.00
Rank #4
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2
  • Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
  • Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
  • Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
  • Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
  • Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.