In January, Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2, putting an end to longstanding speculation by confirming that the new handheld console would be backward compatible with games from the original Switch, both physically and digitally. However, Nintendo included a caveat, stating that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.”
This announcement led to some confusion among players. Since the original Switch’s launch in 2017, many users have amassed significant game collections, and there was concern regarding which games would remain playable on the new hardware. Fortunately, more titles than initially expected are compatible with the Switch 2, including some of the most niche games in the Switch library, even those that required unique physical peripherals.
According to an update on Nintendo’s official site, nearly all first-party games are compatible with the Switch 2 hardware. During basic compatibility testing, no issues were encountered with 122 games published by Nintendo, with the non-compatible category represented by only one game.
This outlier is the “Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit,” an innovative virtual reality headset made from cardboard. The Labo series, intended for children, provided hands-on experiences by allowing them to build steering wheels or robot suits and then play dedicated games created for these unique gadgets. The VR Kit offered materials for building simple goggles and a mock blaster, turning the Switch tablet into a “My first VR” experience by using lenses.
The specific combination of the original console with the cardboard construction is why the Labo VR Kit is incompatible with the Switch 2. Nintendo explained that the Switch 2 console cannot be inserted into the Toy-Con VR Goggles accessory, making the game unplayable. Consequently, the VR Kit is the only first-party game from the original Switch not compatible with the new console.
Other Labo games, however, can be played on the Switch 2, thanks to the device’s ability to use original Switch Joy-Con controllers. Nintendo stated that if players wirelessly connect Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers to the Switch 2, they can enjoy select games as they would on the original Switch. This opens up a larger portion of the Switch library for accessibility.
Furthermore, it was unexpected that Switch 2 would continue to support “Ring Fit Adventure.” Initially, there were doubts about the game’s compatibility due to hardware limitations, as it requires the right-hand Joy-Con controller to be attached to a Pilates-style ring peripheral. Despite this, the game remains supported on the new console, highlighting the Switch 2’s versatility in maintaining backward compatibility.