Nintendo Switch 2 comparison: how do Switch 1 games play on the new console?

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet plays much better now (The Pokémon Company/Metro)

Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is out, we’ve tested a handful of the Switch 1’s best games to see how they run on the more powerful hardware.

The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t even been out for a week now and since review units weren’t sent out more than a week before launch it’s taking a while for some information to trickle down, as everyone rushes to try out all the new games… and many of the old ones.

While the Switch 1 boasts an incredible library of games, it isn’t the most powerful console around and one of the big appeals of the Switch 2 is seeing how older games can benefit from running on its hardware.

Aside from the paid-for Switch 2 Editions of certain games, Nintendo has issued free updates to a small selection of Switch 1 games that are meant to improve performance and add new Switch 2 features.

To see if it’s worth revisiting old games on Switch 2, we’ve tested a number of these free updates, as well as some games that haven’t received dedicated patches.

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey already looks and runs great on Switch, so we weren’t sure how much of a glow up it would see on Switch 2. But while the update is pretty minor on the surface, you can quickly see a difference.

It still runs at 60 frames per second, but we noticed less stuttering, particularly around Mario’s shadow, and less lag on non-player characters, like the residents of New Donk City. Pop-in hasn’t been eliminated though, and it still uses that crosshatch effect that so many Switch games do, but that remains a very tiny blemish.

The colours in general seem much cleaner and pop more when in handheld mode, compared to the Switch 1. At first, this sounds strange when both consoles use LCD screens, but the Switch 2’s is higher resolution and better at reproducing bright colours.

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Given it took as long to boot up Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Switch 2 as it does on Switch 1, we suspected it wouldn’t enjoy any sort of benefits on stronger hardware. Turns out we were right.

We tested a fresh save file on both consoles, one after the other, and as far as we can tell, Luigi’s Mansion 3 looks and performs exactly the same. But that’s not surprising as it was already the best-looking Switch 1 game and didn’t really need an update. It does, however, make us want Luigi’s Mansion 4 on Switch 2 even more.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild’s performance upgrade is locked behind a paid Switch 2 Edition, but we were curious to see if the original game has any sort of enhancements if we just popped it into the console without the paid-for upgrade.

For the most part, the answer is no. The frame rate is still locked to 30fps and when we tried the Lost Woods section (the most infamous area for frame lag), things weren’t any better on Switch 2 compared to Switch 1. Although that area was improved with subsequent patches anyway.

One difference, is the load times. While they were never awful on Switch 1, they are noticeably much faster on Switch 2. Not instantaneous, so you’ve still got time to read through the on-screen hints, but you’ll definitely be spending less time in them.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

We wouldn’t be surprised if the Switch 2 saw an updated version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate instead of an entirely new sequel, but for the time being the Switch 2 is now the best place for Nintendo’s big crossover fighter.

While we didn’t notice any differences in performance and visuals, load times are definitely improved. We tested out eight player matches with the stage morph feature on and yet load times were practically instantaneous.

Same for the classic mode matches in single-player and loading alternate costumes for characters, which tend to take a while to appear on screen when selecting them on Switch 1.

Unfortunately, online doesn’t seem to have got any better. It took us forever to find even one other player to match against and although we didn’t spy any frame drops or input lag, we were unable to check how online play fares with four or more characters on screen at once.

Plus, our matches usually lacked items and busy stages, so things may be different during more chaotic matches. It has also been reported that there can be issues with online matches if the Mii Fighters are involved, but that’s a small problem that should be fixed eventually.

Bayonetta 3

At first, we were concerned Bayonetta 3 hadn’t seen any improvements when we booted it up on Switch 2, as it didn’t load any quicker than it does on Switch 1. However, once we got into the game proper, it was obvious even from the level select screen that the frame rate has been significantly increased.

Bayonetta 3 runs fine on the Switch 1, but its frame rate can get choppy at times, which isn’t ideal in a fast-paced action game. Fortunately, Bayonetta 3 now runs at a silky smooth 60fps on Switch 2, at least during gameplay. Cut scenes don’t seem to be affected but that’s hardly a deal breaker.

Astral Chain

While we’re on the subject of PlatinumGames, we had hoped that its 2019 Switch exclusive Astral Chain would enjoy as much of a glow-up on Switch 2 as Bayonetta 3 does.

Unfortunately, it appears there are no significant differences between running Astral Chain on Switch 2 compared to Switch 1. The frame rate is still capped to 30 and it doesn’t look like load times are improved either.

It’s a real shame, since Astral Chain is still fantastic, but it’s more difficult to recommend in a time where 60fps is normalised, particularly for action games.

The next best thing would be an Astral Chain 2 designed specifically for Switch 2, but while rumours say that such a project exists, it’s experiencing a very rough development cycle, not helped by the many staff departures at PlatinumGames.

The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Not the most obvious game to test for its technical performance but while this remake of the old Game Boy classic was purposefully low-fi in terms of visuals it is one of the few Nintendo published games infamous for its poor frame rate.

That always seemed odd considering the game’s simplistic graphics, to the point where some wondered if the choppy performance was on purpose, in some half-cocked attempt to channel the clunkiness of 8-bit gaming.

Playing it on Switch 2, it’s made plain that it wasn’t intentional, as it now runs at what seems to be a silky smooth 60fps. If you were put off buying it before, because of the issues, it works perfectly now and looks great on the Switch 2’s portable screen.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Out of everything from the Switch 1’s library, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet might have benefitted the most from the Switch 2. While we maintain it’s a much better game than Pokémon Sword & Shield (especially once the infamous bugs were ironed out), that’s very much in spite of how low-tech it is.

A trailer for how the game runs on Switch 2 already demonstrated how smoother everything is, but we had to witness it ourselves and the improved performance almost feels like witchcraft. Whether it was during battles, cut scenes, or when multiple Pokémon were on screen at once, we never noticed the frame rate dip at all.

Residents of Paldea stroll past at a consistent pace, instead of looking like they’re trapped in a zoetrope. To our amazement, even the online tera raids maintained a consistent 60 frames per second. If the Switch 2 can ensure this level of performance even during online play, it only makes us more excited for the potential of the next set of games.

It’s not a truly perfect redemption arc for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, however. The upgraded performance only makes the flat art style and graphics all the more obvious and there is still some very noticeable pop-in at times. But if you never played it on Switch 1, or dropped it because of its original performance, the Switch 2 really is the best place to experience it.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Thanks to Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’s dedicated Switch 2 upgrade, Pokémon Legends: Arceus only looks more technically inept than it did when it launched in 2022.

Considering it didn’t receive its own upgrade, we didn’t expect it to run that much better on Switch 2, but it’s still disappointing to be proven right. The frame rate is still locked to 30fps, pop-in is aplenty, and textures remain flat and very ugly when up close. We’ve heard some claim load times are faster but we honestly couldn’t tell.

At least its successor, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, not only appears to run better on Switch 1, based on early footage, but its separate Switch 2 version sports a much smoother frame rate, that makes everything look a lot cleaner.

It’s still not a particularly graphically impressive game but Pokemon Legends: Z-A already looks better than its predecessor (The Pokemon Company)

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