Topic: How Would You Rate the First Year of the Nintendo Switch 2?

Hello all, this marks the first year of the Switch 2 so I wanted to take the time to summarize it's major releases this year and give it my own rating like I did with the Switch 1.
Apologies if I miss some, feel free to add them in the comments if you notice.

June:
Fortnite
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch 2 Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
No Man's Sky - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Hogwarts Legacy
Split Fiction
NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION Awakening Complete Edition
Hitman World of Assassination - Signature Edition
Yakuza 0: Director's Cut
Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics
Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Deltarune
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Mario Kart World
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army

July
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4
Shadow Labyrinth - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
WWE 2K25
Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES
Wild Hearts S
Ys X: Proud Nordics

August:
Apex Legends
EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26
Drag x Drive
High On Life - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (NA)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

September:
Star Wars Outlaws
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
NBA 2K26
Cronos: The New Dawn
Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Hades II - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac
EA SPORTS FC 26
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
High On Life - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (UK)

October:
Yooka-Replaylee
Little Nightmares III
Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition
Disgaea 7 Complete
Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
PowerWash Simulator 2
Persona 3 Reload
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

November:
DAVE THE DIVER Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza Kiwami
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Kirby Air Riders
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

December:
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Octopath Traveler 0
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

So obviously for June there are a lot of games, since the console launched June 5th.
There are a lot of ports sure, but in my opinion a good variety of games to choose from and ports that would fit well on the Switch. There also some really heavy hitters being Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, Pokemon and Metroid.

All in all I would rate this a pretty solid launch and year for the Nintendo Switch 2, especially taking into account it released at the later half of the year.
I'd rank it an 7/10.

What do y'all think? Do you think this is a better launch year than the Switch 1?

It was a decent launch year with plenty of games. I would say worse than Switch 1 simply because there were fewer really big games and also because the hardware itself wasn't as unique feeling as Switch 1 which makes it a little less exciting.

Personally I have bought one exclusive Switch 2 game and 4 upgrade packs (2 for first party and 2 for third party). I bought more Switch 1 games than that this year but I did play many of the Switch 1 games on Switch 2.

There are around 60 Switch 2 games not on your list but I'm assuming you listed the ones you think are major games. Considering Switch 1 got well over 2,000 new games this year, it's fair to say that more doesn't mean better.

@FishyS Very true, seeing the Switch trailer for the first time felt like magic, it's really hard to replicate that when it's just more of the same but more 'refined'. I felt like a kid again when I saw the Switch reveal trailer.

I'm probably going to do the same thin you did when I eventually get my own Switch 2.
Just experience games that released on the Switch 1 at a playable state.

Yeah I was strictly talking major releases, probably some I missed, I usually just base them by lookign at the games section of this website which works most of the time.

If it weren't for Game Key Cards and the continued cancelation of Japanese game releases like Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth, I would give Switch 2's first year a 10/10. But with how the year went in real life, I give it a 7/10 and that's being generous, even though there are a decent amount of Switch 2 games that came out that look absolutely awesome. I'm not complaining about the games or the console. I'm just complaining about how the year went for the console. If the issues I mentioned don't get addressed, I will expect year scores like this throughout the entire console generation, as cool as the Switch 2 itself is 🙁.

Well, sitting back and just thinking about how much I’ve used it and how much I’ve enjoyed the games, I see no reason to not give it a 9 or 10. I mean, geez. 6 months and I’ve played Cyberpunk, Bananza, still playing MK World, Age of Imprisonment…. I love every one of those games. And even the S1/S2 splits like Rune Factory and Grand Bazaar gave me like 100 hours of playtime and were so much fun. And I haven’t even bought Prime 4 yet!

But you know me: the game key cards are dumb and the accessory pricing is getting out of hand (amiibos, camera, controllers, etc.). I’m fine with the game pricing, I get it, but this other stuff is nuts. I know they’re doing it to keep the price of the actual console stable, but still.

IF I factor that stuff in, I would say 8 or 9. Purely games and the hardware? 9 or 10

I'd say it's been a good first six months but very far from great. Lots of stupid, minor unforced errors that could've easily been avoided have added up to outweigh the good things NS2 brings to the table.

Rating for me is: "Meh". No magic. The waiting continues for the next 3d mario, main zelda entry, or next Spaltoon.

Digging & smashing in DK bananza just doesn't grab me, and also makes me feel claustrophobic, especially if you dig enough, it can get hard to get out. DK's gallup just isn't good for moving around like Mario. (just my opinion)

I think the only reason the MKW got bundled free for cyber monday sale in US at walmart and a couple other retailers is because the game has a weaker draw than MK8 did. Sales on bundles like that never happened with switch 1's first few years.

Mario Kart World looked great at first, but has been a big letdown for me, soured by the fact that it's not complete, drifting mostly doesn't help you win, and the game doesn't have 200cc, & cost $80 to buy physically. A flashy turd. I wish I liked it.

I'll, maybe metroid prime 4, but only because there's nothing else I want, and I'm desperate.

Where the heck are the xbox games? I was hoping (maybe in vain) for a Forza Horizon title, as long as it's Horizon 2 or newer. Never played 1.

This is more opinionated then actual what is released. What one thinks is good is not good for another. This question is basically mute here.

@larausjarod Pretty pointless reply, of course it's opinionated, that's why discussions like this exist.

On a kidding around note, you forgot to include all of the AI slop and "hentai" or "echhi" style jigsaw puzzle games

But in a serious note, I agree with you in the first 6 months being pretty strong in total number of games and variety if game genres.

Sadly many AAA level third party titles were prevented from the first 6 month release window due to AAA developers not getting dev kits early in switch 2 life cycle. But look at what's confirmed, expected, or rumored to be coming to switch 2 within the next year.

Elden ring, PGA tour (EA and 2K), borderlands 4, fallout 4, duskbloods, star wars fallen order and jedi survivor, Pokémon sky and wave, potential final fantasy 9 and chrino trigger remakes, and many others

I don't think there have been any switch 2 exclusive versions of those. I'm guessing those devs don't have a Switch 2 dev kit. Because of the dev kit situation there have mostly been relatively major Switch 2 games so far or at least ones with name recognition like arcade archives.

I'd think that it's high time for Nintendo to open the floodgates with Switch 2 dev kits for everyone who meets the criteria for Switch 1, rather than the seemingly invitation-only approach that they've been taking so far.

Keeping the library small and high quality at launch wasn't a bad idea but, now that it's been out for six months, it just feels like we're missing out on a lot of great games that probably would be heading its way if it were possible to port them.

It was alright. Definitely not as good as the switch’s first year, but still solid. Bananza alone was good enough to carry most of the year, and there were some solid first and third party releases, but not many I personally cared about. Definitely looking more forward to next year with Fire Emblem and Splatoon Raiders

Personally, it was fine. For me it was missing the one more thing of the year. Not because of game draughts or anything but like... I don't know. It felt like they didn't really have a big Switch 2 game for the holiday season.
Sure, Pokemon ZA was advertised a lot as a Switch 2 game and a big chunk of its sales are from there but it still is a Switch 1 game. Same with Metroid Prime 4. Also, don't know why Nintendo published Kirby Airriders so close to Mario Kart World.
It was not all negative tho. This year I had to be more selective with what games to buy and the quantity was still good so I still have plenty of Switch 2 games to try. Also, the Switch 2 Editions and backwards compatible upgrades were cool distractions to see the new hardware capabilities.