Nintendo Switch 2 Backward Compatibility Looks Better Than Expected

When Nintendo officially revealed the Switch 2 back in January, it confirmed long-standing rumors that the new handheld console would enjoy backward compatibility with the games from the original Switch—physically and digitally. Good news, but there was one disclaimer: “Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.”

That sent some players into, if not a panic, at least a period of confusion. Given that the original Switch launched in 2017, many have built sizable collections in that time, and the uncertainty over which among them would continue to be playable on the new generation of hardware was cause for concern. But things are looking better than expected, with the Switch 2 supporting some of the most niche titles in the Switch library, even those that required physical peripherals unique to the original hardware.

In an update posted to Nintendo’s official site, the company revealed that nearly 100 percent of first-party games remain compatible with Switch 2 hardware, with “no issues found during basic compatibility testing” for 122 games published by Nintendo. On a bar chart, a tiny sliver of red, indicating “not compatible,” amounts to just one game.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

That unfortunate outlier? Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit, Nintendo’s ambitious build-it-yourself virtual reality headset made of cardboard. The entire Labo line was aimed at kids, providing tactile experiences where you’d build steering wheels or robot suits, then play dedicated games built around the kit-bashed gadgets. The VR Kit took things to another level, providing the materials to build rudimentary goggles and a mock blaster. When constructed, the Switch tablet slotted into place while lenses split the onscreen image into a “My first VR”-level experience.

It’s that specific physical combination of console and cardboard that makes Labo VR Kit the only original Switch game incompatible with Switch 2. Nintendo explains that “the Nintendo Switch 2 console cannot be inserted into the Toy-Con VR Goggles accessory, so this game cannot be played.” That’s it. The Switch 2 simply doesn’t fit the headset, so VR Kit becomes the only first-party game jettisoned into the tides of gaming history.

Even other Labo games can be used on Switch 2, thanks to what may prove to be the new console’s secret weapon when it comes to backward compatibility—you can still use original Switch Joy-Cons on Switch 2. Nintendo says that if “you have Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers and connect them wirelessly to Nintendo Switch 2, you can play [select] games as you would on Nintendo Switch.” That’s great news, opening the doors for far more of the Switch’s software library to remain accessible than expected.

A Healthy Choice

Photograph: Julian Chokkatu

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Switch 2 will continue to support Ring Fit Adventure. When the new console was announced with that caveat about compatibility, I was sure Ring Fit would be cut from the roster, primarily because of hardware compatibility. The fitness role-playing game requires the right-hand Joy-Con controller to be physically slotted onto its Pilates-style ring peripheral, which uses a slide bracket that could not accommodate a new, magnetically connected Joy-Con 2 from the Switch 2.

Much to my delight, though, you can play Ring Fit on the Switch 2. You just need to keep a pair of original Switch Joy-Cons to hand (the left Joy-Con is still required to slot into Ring Fit’s leg strap to track lower body movement—Nintendo says that Joy-Con 2 won’t fit). Given that Joy-Cons can be charged using a Joy-Con charging grip or a stand-alone dock, I may not even have to keep my Switch OLED set up to keep them juiced. This is great, since it’s one of the games that helped me lose a lot of weight, and aside from the health benefits, it remains genuinely fun to play.

Several other first-party Nintendo games that wouldn’t work natively on Switch 2 because of technological differences of the Joy-Con 2s are saved by the continued support for the classic Joy-Cons. For example, the new controllers lack the infrared motion camera built into the right-hand grip on the preceding generation, which would block 1-2-Switch!, a mini-game collection and launch title for the original Switch. Instead, you’ll be able to continue to enjoy its dozens of quick-fire party games if that’s your jam.

For the 2023 sequel, Everybody 1-2-Switch!, it doesn’t appear you’ll even need the original Joy-Cons. The only compatibility warning Nintendo gives is that the volume of the haptic feedback is quieter on Joy-Con 2s, so it might make one specific mini-game a bit harder. Elsewhere, Nintendo Switch Sports, the successor to the global phenomenon Wii Sports, gets the same leg strap warning as Ring Fit Adventure (clearly a fitness game thing), while Game Builder Garage and WarioWare: Move It! require that IR reader.

Back, Back, Backward Compatibility

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The Switch 2’s solid backward compatibility support looks to extend to even older hardware as well. The GameCube adapter is still supported. Unlike the upcoming wireless recreation launching alongside Switch 2 to allow authentic playback of the digital GameCube games (if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online), these are hub-like accessories that allow up to four original, wired GameCube controllers to be connected to the Wii U, Switch, and now Switch 2.

Nintendo confirms that “this accessory can be used in TV mode by connecting via a USB Cable on the Nintendo Switch 2 dock.” I presume there’ll be a small extra step involved here, as most models use a USB-A connector, so you’d presumably need a USB-A to USB-C widget to bridge the gap, since there is no USB-A port on the dock.

It may be best to rein in the excitement here, though, at least for now. The GameCube adapter is only supported on the original Switch for very specific games, chiefly Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While classic GameCube games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online for the first time with the advent of Switch 2, starting with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II, and F-Zero GX, it’s unknown if using an adapter would allow players to use original GameCube controllers on those games. We’ll update as we hear more.

Unfortunately, things are not so rosy with third-party games. Nintendo has identified 141 games with startup issues on the Switch 2, meaning they may not launch reliably or at all, and 47 others that boot up on the new hardware, but “include some in-game compatibility issues.” In all cases, the company is still investigating the issue, and compatibility issues for these titles may be resolved by the June 5 launch date of the console. But it could also rise too—there are over 12,000 Switch games, so more issues could crop up, but the ratio is pretty good right now.