Nintendo Switch vs. Switch 2: Which Had the Better First Year?

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Which console had the stronger first year, the original Nintendo Switch released in March 2017 or the new Nintendo Switch 2 launched in June 2025? That’s why we’re here to answer that question. The original system has nostalgia on its side and a full year of releases, while the Switch 2 has only been out for six months. But when you look closely at games, third-party support, and performance, one console stands out.

The first Nintendo Switch made an incredible impact right from launch. It arrived with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a game that instantly became a hit. In the months that followed, Nintendo released other major titles such as Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Even the smaller releases, like Snipperclips and Fire Emblem Warriors, helped shape the console’s early identity.

The Switch 2, however, has managed to do even more in a much shorter time. It launched with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which expanded on the ideas of its predecessor. It also offered a wider range of games early on, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza, and big exclusives like Hades 2 and Pokémon Legends Z-A. While the original Switch may still hold two of the most beloved games of all time, the Switch 2 has delivered a stronger and more consistent lineup overall.

The Third-Party Game Changer

The biggest difference between the two systems is the huge jump in third-party support. The original Switch had an uneven first year. It received a few big games like Doom 2016 and Skyrim, and indie titles such as Stardew Valley and Sonic Mania were great, but many major releases skipped the platform. This made the system feel limited compared to its competitors.

The Switch 2 changed that entirely. It arrived with full support from major and smaller studios, bringing highly requested games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hollow Knight: Silk Song, Final Fantasy Tactics, Star Wars Outlaws, and Persona 3 Reload within its first months. This strong library puts it on equal ground with Xbox and PlayStation in a way the original Switch never achieved in its early days.

Hardware improvements also play a big role in making the Switch 2 feel like a much better system. The original Switch had performance problems, with some games struggling to run smoothly. Titles such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet became known for technical issues.

The Switch 2 fixes many of those weaknesses. Games now run at a stable 60 frames per second with clearer visuals, and older Switch titles look and play better on the new hardware. Even games that worked fine before, like Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 3, feel smoother thanks to improved performance. The Switch 2 also offers stable 60 fps gameplay in portable mode, something the original system often failed to provide.

Improved performance, a strong library of third-party titles, and significant hardware improvements make this console a clear success. However, the initial first-party release lineup has been underwhelming, and the console seems primarily aimed at consumers who did not own the original Switch.

Although the game releases have not been met with widespread enthusiasm, and despite ongoing criticism regarding Nintendo’s anti-consumer practices, the console remains exceptionally popular, becoming Nintendo’s fastest-selling system to date. Its long-term trajectory has yet to be determined.