The year of 2025 was pretty eventful for Nintendo. Not only were there a variety of games released throughout the year, but their newest home console had finally arrived on store shelves. The Nintendo Switch 2 has since made waves in the video game industry by being a big hit with gamers, selling over 10 million units globally. And things are only looking better from here, as 2026 is coming up soon and there are more good things for the Switch 2 on the horizon.

But that wasn't always the outlook for Nintendo's latest console. Before its official release, there were many questions about whether the Nintendo Switch 2 would be a success, especially around its launch window. Luckily for everyone that loves playing Nintendo games, the Switch 2 managed to land with fun games to play and promises of more to come that made it stand out from the competition. And thus far, it appears to have lived up to those promises. Here's why 6 months in, the Nintendo Switch 2's launch couldn't have gone better for everyone.

Boost right from the start

A good bundle to begin with

Going into the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, many people were worried about Nintendo's console being a step towards evening out the playing field of the industry. The original Nintendo Switch had its fans, but struggled with game releases that looked and performed better on other platforms. Most third-party titles released for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were not released for the Switch because of this. So Nintendo's next console was expected to be a step towards being a place where those types of games could be available, and offer a different option to consumers.

However, the strength of Nintendo consoles always lies in the exclusive titles from Nintendo themselves. For decades, people have always purchased their consoles for franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and so many others that are only available on Nintendo platforms. Even with a severe lack of third party games that ran similar to their competition, the Nintendo Switch 2 was always going to be a console for fans that loved Nintendo games. And right from the start, the console was bundled with a game at launch that couldn't have been a better choice: Mario Kart World.

Not only was this a Mario game for launch, but one that took advantage of different aspects of the Switch 2's features. This includes compatibility with Switch Online, the new GameChat features, as well as the multiple styles of controls from the Joy-Con 2 controllers. But more importantly, this was a new Mario game that everyone could play with their new Nintendo console. It was the best case scenario for people who were interested in buying a new console from Nintendo, especially in preparation for the holidays that would happen months later. Nintendo Switch 2 was available alone for purchase, but it was hard for anyone to resist buying the new console with a brand-new Nintendo first-party title from one of their biggest franchises.

Many things to play with

Including everything from before

Even with Mario Kart World being the pack-in game at launch, the Switch 2 still had many games for everyone to play. New versions of big hits from the original Nintendo Switch like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom had more content and features to explore on the new hardware. But even those who already owned many games on the original Switch could still take advantage of updates to their games on Switch 2. It was a way of encouraging everyone to upgrade their console and still use their backlog of titles they owned, while also enticing newcomers to jump on board.

And yet, shortly after the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, the third-party titles that people were interested in seeing finally arrived. This gave even more games to pick up and play when getting a Switch 2, especially for anyone who wanted to take advantage of the console's portability. Big games like Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, and others provided experiences that were once locked on other platforms, were finally playable on a Nintendo console. These releases complimented other Nintendo first-party titles like Donkey Kong Bananza, and eventually Kirby Air Riders, that were still coming out at the same time. People had options before they even purchased a console, and the impression that this Nintendo console was going to be supported a lot more than before. And the list continues to grow as 2025 comes to a close.

Another aspect of this were the changes to Switch Online. The service was getting a lot of improvements and new additions by the time the Nintendo Switch 2 finally launched. Things like the Nintendo GameCube classics and other parts of the Switch Online Expansion Pass made a stronger case to justify subscribing to it. On Switch 2, players could take advantage of multiple features that weren't on the original Switch, even if they had a subscription to the service before. It made things feel more special when playing with the newer hardware, as well as more goodies that were promised to come in the months ahead of launch. Up to now, the amount of games to play available through Switch Online has grown exponentially, and even more classics are being added going into the next year.

More delivered promises

Nintendo games arriving for Switch 2

Whenever a new console launches, players want to have at least a few games to play on it. But they also want the promise of more games to enjoy in the months ahead. Without either of those things solidified, a console can't really have a successful launch. Up to six months after its initial release, the Nintendo Switch 2 has not only had plenty of games to play since day 1, but more incoming titles that lead into the end of the year, and the start of the next one.

One of the most anticipated releases over the past few years is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which is finally out for the Switch 2 in December 2025. This, along with other Nintendo titles like Kirby Air Riders, have finally been making their way into stores for Nintendo fans to pick up. This is important because within a short timeframe after its release, the library of games available for the Nintendo Switch 2 has grown significantly, and people have continued to support the platform. Players are buying games and sticking with the online service as newer titles release, showing that the strength of Nintendo's ecosystem after the launch has been stronger than ever.

When a good launch comes together

No matter how anyone can scrutinize it, the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 was pretty successful overall for Nintendo. It's hard to look at the status of the console six months later and not see just how well things had come together for the Switch 2 launch. There were lots of games to play, and many promises delivered for those who upgraded to the new console on release day. With over 10 million units sold globally and counting, there are probably a lot of very happy people working at Nintendo. And as 2025 comes to an end, and 2026 is set to start off very soon, things are looking very good for the future of the Nintendo Switch 2.