Nintendo Switch 2 Backwards Compatible
Image: Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, but many will be wondering whether they can straight up replace their trusty old Switch console with the successor, or whether they'll need to hold onto the first hybrid console to play their old games.

In this guide, we'll be covering the Nintendo Switch 2's backwards compatibility, with full lists of all Switch games with issues on Switch 2 as things currently stand. We'll also look at whether Nintendo Switch Online is available on the system, and how to play older games on the Switch 2.

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So, can the Switch 2 play Nintendo Switch games?

Yes, it can! You'll be able to play both physical and digital Switch 1 games on the new console. That's a relief, right? No one wants to lose their 600 hours of gameplay in Breath of the Wild.

Except not all Switch 1 games will be compatible with the new console. At the end of the debut trailer for the new console, official information stated that "Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2".

All Confirmed Nintendo Switch Backwards Compatible games

All playable Switch games on Switch 2
Image: via Mario Wiki / Nintendo

Over on the official Nintendo Switch 2 website, you'll see a rather fetching graphic with box art for multiple Switch games that are (likely) playable on the successor.

We've listed all of those games below, and we'll add to it as more Switch games are confirmed.

Switch Games Compatible with Switch 2
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Fire Emblem Engage
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Luigi's Mansion 3
Mario & Luigi Brothership
Mario Strikers: Battle League
Metroid Prime Remastered
Nintendo Switch Sports
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Pikmin 4
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Princess Peach: Showtime!
Splatoon 3
Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
WarioWare: Move It!
Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Switch Games With Start-Up Issues on Switch 2

Beyond the list of confirmed compatible titles, above, there is also this full list of games which are currently being tested and investigated for boot issues. There are quite a few! You can also check this list out on Nintendo's own site to ensure you've got the latest additions.

Switch Games With Compatibility Issues On Switch 2
112 Operator
a Boy and His Blob Retro Collection
Abyss Memory Fallen Angel and the Path of Magic
Aca Neogeo Art of Fighting 2
Aca Neogeo Samurai Shodown Ii
Ca Neogeo the King of Fighters '95
Aca Neogeo the King of Fighters '96
Airhead
Alchemy Garden
Another Crab'S Treasure
Arcade Archives Burger Time
Arcade Archives Crime City
Arcade Archives Dig Dug
Arcade Archives Gradius Iii
Arcade Archives New Rally-x
Arcade Archives Pac-land
Arcade Archives Xevious
Astral Flux
Baron: Fur Is Gonna Fly
Batman: the Enemy Within
Beyond the Ice Palace Ii
Boot Hill Bounties
Boot Hill Heroes
Botany Manor
Bus Simulator 2023: City Driver
Cats Hidden in Italy
Crazy Strike Bowling Ex
Dadish 2
Darksiders Genesis
Dead by Daylight
Death Coming
Doom: Eternal Bethesda
Eggy Party
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
Everdream Valley Untold Tales
Everspace
Fables Mosaic: Snow White
Felix the Cat
Final Fantasy Square Enix
Fitness Boxing
Floor Kids
Fortnite
Framed Collection
Gal Guardians: Demon Purge
Gang Beasts
Gas Guzzlers Extreme
Grid Autosport
Guns Gore and Cannoli
I Got Isekai'D Into a Shmup
Inferno 2
Island Flight Simulator
Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection
Kids Vs Parents
Kill La Kill - if
Korean Drone Flying Tour Jeju Island-1
Kosmokrats
Library of Ruina
Little Nightmares Complete Edition
Manticore - Galaxy on Fire
Mexican Train Dominoes Gold
Monster Loves You Too!
Model Debut #Nicola
Monster Energy Supercross - the Official Videogame
Musynx
Nascar Rivals
Nba 2k18
Nba 2k25
Nelly Cootalot: the Fowl Fleet
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
Nobody Saves the World
Nova-111
Oddworld: Stranger'S Wrath
Ok K.O.! Let S Play Heroes
Omg Police - Car Chase Tv Simulator
Onigo Hunter
Palia
Perseverance: Complete Edition
Pineview Drive
Pizza Tower
Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Raiden Iii X Mikado Maniax
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles
Rims Racing
River City Girls Zero
Rocket League
Roller Champions
Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited
Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-a-fide Edition
Slayin 2
Soul Dog Td
South of the Circle
South Park: the Fractured but Whole
Sportitions'24
Star Wars Episode I: Racer Aspyr
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster
Strania -the Stella Machina- Ex
Summer Pockets
Super Mega Baseball 3
Super Neptunia Rpg
Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival
Taito Milestones
the Cube
the Jackbox Party Pack
the Jackbox Party Pack 2
the Journey Down Trilogy
the Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition
Touhou Gouyoku Ibun  ~ Sunken Fossil World
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
Tricky Towers
Trip World Dx
Trove
Trover Saves the Universe
Tt Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3
Under Night In-birth Exe: Late[Cl-r]
Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi
V-rally 4 Nacon
Warface: Clutch
Warframe
Warp Shift Kyrkudden
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Wolfenstein Ii: the New Colossus
World of Tanks Blitz
Xtreme Sports
Victor Vran Overkill Edition
Senran Kagura Reflexions
Star Melody Yumemi Dreamer
Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon
Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute
Process of Elimination
Tokyo Xanadu Ex+

Switch Games With In-Game Compatibility Issues On Switch 2

Now, here's another big one, this time we've got a list of games that currently have been marked by Nintendo as having in-game issues.

Switch Games With In-Game Compatibility Issues On Switch 2

Alan Wake Remastered
Alien: Isolation
Arcade Archives Ordyne
Arcade Archives Phelios
Arcade Archives Tetris the Absolute the Grand Master 2 Plus
Arcade Archives Tetris the Grand Master
Asphalt Legends Unite
Dadish
Dex
Dust: an Elysian Tail
Elderand
Factorio
Fall Guys
Family Chess
Games Advent Calendar 25 Days 25 Surprises
Godlike Burger
Harvestella
Hitman 3 Cloud Version
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Just Dance 2019
Klondike Solitaire
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Matchpoint Tennis Championships
Mega Man Legacy Collection
Motogp 21
My Brother Rabbit
Noir Chronicles: City of Crime
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Pocoyo Party
Port Royale 4
Raiden Iv×mikado Remix
Real Car Driving Simulator & Parking 2022 Games
S.N.I.P.E.R. Hunter Scope
Saints Row Iv: Re Elected
Smilebasic 4
Steven Universe: Save the Light
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
Stumble Guys
Pilot Sports
Neptunia X Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars

Nintendo says that more details will be made available on its website "at a later date", so we can't be 100% certain which original Switch games won't be compatible with the new console at the time of writing. However, we can make some educated guesses.

Given the universal form factor of the Switch cartridges and past experience with Switch Lite and Switch OLED, it seems safe to assume that every original game will at least run on Switch 2, as in the software will boot up on the system.

The issue, however, comes with how certain games function alongside the original console's unique features and accessories, such as the Joy-Cons' IR sensor, certain Labo kits, and indeed, the Joy-Con themselves.

Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit won't work because Switch 2 is too big to fit in the VR accessory, and the same goes for the piano in Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit. Meanwhile, games that require the IR sensor include WarioWare: Move It! and Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, and it's unclear if the new Joy-Con have one.

Finally, Ring Fit Adventure requires a very specific additional accessory, and given the increase in size for the new Joy-Con controllers, this simply won't work as intended.

Now, a big caveat (excluding Labo VR and Piano) is whether or not the original Switch Joy-Con will work wirelessly with the new console. If they do, then we could likely pair an original Joy-Con with the Switch 2, and off we go. We'll update this guide when we get more information from Nintendo.

For now, here's a list of major games that may not be compatible with Switch 2:

Requires original Joy-Con and/or IR Sensor

Nintendo Labo VR Functionality

Some games such as Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey have optional modes with Labo VR functionality. We've listed them below due to that mode, but we're almost certain these big first-party games will be playable on Switch 2 - you just won't be able to enjoy these extra modes.

Can you transfer digital purchases to your Switch 2?

This hasn't been confirmed by Nintendo properly, but given that you'll be able to play your digital Switch 1 games on Switch 2, we think it's safe to say "yes".

We reckon it'll be the same process as when you transfer your data between consoles — all your digital games will be attached to your Nintendo Account, so when you link it to the new console, all your games will be ready and waiting to download on the eShop.

Is Nintendo Switch Online available on the new console?

Of course it is! Well, we say "of course", but you never can be too sure, right?

Fortunately, Nintendo has confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online is available on Switch 2. We don't know if the subscription prices will be the same, whether all the apps will be available, or if anything new is coming to the service yet. Hopefully we'll get a little added extra for Switch 2.

For now, here's a list of all of the games and platforms available on NSO.

Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility FAQs

Plays Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive games, as well as Nintendo Switch games
Image: Nintendo

Need to know more about backwards compatibility, including how to play games not available on the system? Here are some frequently asked questions on the matter.

How can I play retro Nintendo games?

Pretty easily, thank goodness!

Nintendo Switch Online is the quickest way to play older games, especially if you already have a subscription to the current Switch — assuming all the same games and services are transferred over.

Some retro games are also available via compilations, such as the Cowabunga Collection (for your TMNT-obsessed friends) or the various Castlevania collections you can pick up.

Do I need to keep my original Nintendo Switch to play older games?

Unfortunately, because some games won't be compatible with the Switch 2, you might want to hold on to your old Switch.

We don't know what those games are yet, of course — Nintendo will share more info later, but Nintendo Labo-related games are a safe bet. Anyway, the Switch is so little, why wouldn't you want to hold onto it? It doesn't take up much space!

Are there any ports/remakes/remasters of older Nintendo games on Switch 2?

None have been confirmed so far, but we'd be surprised if no new ports or remasters were announced for the new console.

Barring that, you can (presumably) play Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Live A Live, and a whole host of other remakes or rereleases from the Switch on the new console.


Not long to go now! If you're after more Nintendo Switch 2 advice, check out our Switch 2 guides for more useful info.