Switch 2 Games That Justify the $500 Price

The open roads are uneven, but polished local and online multiplayer make Mario Kart World the machine's most dependable long-term reason to exist.

Pokopia finally lets Pokemon slow down and build a shared home, turning the creatures into neighbors rather than battle inventory.

Mewgenics' deep breeding and turn-based tactics suit a handheld, while Edmund McMillen's deliberately ugly-cute creatures give every run a distinct personality.

Long tactical battles and support conversations fit couch and portable play perfectly, making Fire Emblem a natural showcase for the system's hybrid design.

One of Atlus's best recent RPGs finally travels properly, with the stronger hardware reducing the compromises that made earlier portable ports less convincing.

Large-scale environmental destruction gives Donkey Kong's movement real force, making Bananza the clearest demonstration of what Nintendo's new hardware enables.

A proper single-player Splatoon spin-off can explore the series' strange world and movement systems without tying every good idea to competitive matches.

Prime 4's detailed alien spaces, smooth performance and precise aiming give the brighter screen and stronger hardware something immediately visible to do.

A careful Ocarina of Time remake could move hardware by itself if Nintendo modernizes the interface without sterilizing Hyrule's strange atmosphere.

Portable Elden Ring remains a remarkable convenience, provided the Tarnished Edition can preserve stable performance during its busiest fights.