I tried the Nintendo Switch 2 - Here's what I love and dislike about new Nintendo console

After months of making fans wait for information about the Switch 2, Nintendo held a where it , previewed some of the new features and unveiled lots of games. The console will launch on June 5, complete with brand new experiences like Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. That's on top of premium third-party releases such as Split Fiction, Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.

I was fortunate enough to go hands-on with the new device ahead of its June launch, spending an entire morning playing everything from Mario Kart World to Donkey Kong Bananza. Here's what I loved and a couple of things I (kind of) disliked about the .

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In terms of the console itself, the Switch 2 feels like a much meatier and sturdier piece of kit compared to the original.

The magnetic JoyCons are far superior to the OG controllers, attaching instantly to the console with a satisfying snap. It's much better and faster than the fiddly rail system used in the previous Switch.

The kickstand is much wider than the flimsy stand of old, and even more flexible than the OLED version, with the ability to move it from top to bottom and back again.

Couple this with the fact that the Switch 2 is bigger and more comfortable to hold, and you're left with a versatile system that's better suited for all kinds of gaming sessions.

Needless to say, the Switch 2 is also more powerful than the original, supporting 4K visuals at up to 60 frames-per-second and 1080p at upwards of 120 frames-per-second. This is absolutely huge, and likely to push me more towards docked mode, instead of playing almost exclusively in handheld like I do now.

I played Metroid Prime 4: Beyond at 120 frames-per-second and felt like it was almost too fast for the analogue sticks to keep up. Fortunately, this brings me to the thing I love most about the Switch 2.

PC users will almost certainly roll their eyes at the following proclamation, but the JoyCon mouse function is an absolute revelation.

You can enter mouse mode by holding a JoyCon sideways against a flat surface and sliding it like you would a mouse on PC. There's no need to fiddle around in the menu screen, just press it against a flat surface and you're instantly in mouse mode. In the case of Metroid Prime 4, you can use the mouse to aim, while pressing the buttons as normal to control many of Samus Aran's abilities. The other JoyCon is used to move like normal.

Remove it from the surface and you're instantly back to controlling Samus with dual analogue sticks - not that you'll want to.

The sideways button layout takes a little getting used to, but the precision aiming is so much better with a mouse than an analogue stick. Give it a few minutes, and you'll be taking down Space Pirates with no issues whatsoever.

Needless to say, the mouse function is put to good use in other games that support the feature, such as Super Mario Party Jamboree, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and Drag X Drive.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour has you dodging free-falling spikes by moving your mouse cursor, while Mario Party features a superb air hockey mini-game where you attempt to fire shells into the opposing goal.

I wasn't expecting it to be put to such good use in Drag X Drive, the 3v3 wheelchair basketball game that feels like Nintendo's answer to Rocket League.

Drag X Drive utilises a dual mouse system where you use each JoyCon to control one of the wheels on your wheelchair. Sliding both at the same time sees you charge forward, while lifting the JoyCon off the mat and flicking your wrists is how you shoot. Performing sharp turns takes a little getting used to, but you'll soon get the hang of it. I'm not sure if games with skilled players will be as speedy and spectacular as Rocket League, but smashing into an opponent and stealing the ball is extremely satisfying.

Outside of the mouse functionality, the highlight of the entire Switch 2 event was Mario Kart World, specifically the Knockout Tour mode.

While I'm planning to talk more about the games in a separate article, I can safely say that Knockout Tour was the gameplay experience I enjoyed the most.

I was a little sceptical about the idea of a new Mario Kart for the Switch 2 launch, because I wasn't sure how Nintendo could top Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its myriad of new and classic courses. After playing Knockout Tour (plus a few minutes in Free Roam), I believe Nintendo may have succeeded.

Knockout Tour is a truly epic elimination race featuring 24 players. It doesn't always feel fair (I was both a victim of and beneficiary of the infamous blue shell), but the unpredictability of the item system makes for a truly exhilarating experience.

Racing non-stop across multiple courses, Knockout Tour begins with 24 racers, and culminates with four players and just one winner. The length of the courses and regular item placement means that despite losing four racers at every checkpoint, the chaos never really subsides. You pretty much always feel like you're in with a chance of making the cut-off, even if you find yourself in last place with a few corners to go.

Knockout Tour and Free Roam also makes you appreciate how big the map is, and how much there is to discover.

I can't wait to play more.

There's not much I disliked about the Switch 2, and certainly nothing I outright hate. It does feel like the company is playing it safe with the new console, but that's not necessarily a bad thing when you look back at the whole Wii U debacle. While the Wii U felt like a hodgepodge of different ideas, the Switch 2 has a clearer identity - even if that identity primarily comes from the OG Switch.

While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, the Switch 2 is a big upgrade over the original console, and there are enough exciting new features to ensure fans feel compelled to make the switch (pun intended).

The lack of an OLED display is arguably the biggest letdown, although the screen is undoubtedly superior to the original. It's hard to truly gauge the differences between the Switch 2 and Switch OLED when playing in a sunny exhibition hall, but rest assured that games like Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition pop more on the new handheld compared to the OG Switch.

I also think Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour should 100% be available as a free download to really show off the device, similar to Nintendo Land for the Wii U and Astro's Playroom on the PS5.

I also don't see why Nintendo didn't use characters like Mario, Luigi, Bowser and Peach in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, as this would have given the game a bit more personality. I enjoyed what I played, but worry this will get lost in the launch day shuffle.

The £395 price tag is also a big ask, but with high-quality first-party exclusives from Nintendo, not to mention premium third-party games like Cyberpunk, Borderlands and The Duskbloods, I doubt the price is high enough to put off potential buyers.

Speaking of The Duskbloods, I'm gutted the FromSoftware exclusive wasn't playable at the Switch 2 preview event and absolutely cannot wait for it to make its debut in 2026... so maybe there is something I hate about the Switch 2, after all!