Review: Welcome Tour of the Nintendo Switch 2

Okay, so let’s dive into this whole Nintendo situation. It’s honestly—and I mean this in the most endearing way possible—just another chapter in their book of quirks. Seriously, they’ve been pulling these moves since forever. Remember when the NES carted in with Mario, or Game Boy’s Tetris addiction? And who could forget Wii Sports? It’s like they’ve got a knack for slipping in little surprises. Now they roll out this “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour,” and it’s… well, it’s all kinds of curious. Is it an instruction manual? A game? Maybe both. Maybe neither. Who knows, right?

So there I was, grappling with this new console, trying to figure out what’s new. My first thought? These guys want to showcase every single new thing they’ve crammed into this console. And Welcome Tour feels just like that—one big “here’s what we added” show-and-tell. You collect these stamps—don’t ask me why stamps, it just is what it is—from different parts of the console model. Buttons, fans, ports, the whole shebang. And each section, it’s like a treasure hunt; there are info nibbles, quizzes that have you scratching your head, and mini-games that flaunt the Switch 2’s bells and whistles. The HD Rumble is cooler than a polar bear’s toenails, and using the Joy-Con as a mouse? Surprisingly smooth, even though my recliner’s armrest might as well be a skating rink.

But here’s the kicker—some bits require extra gadgets. Yep, some mini-games need a USB camera or this new Pro Controller. It’s equal parts fair and frustrating, like when your favorite band puts out a limited edition album and you just have the regular one. Most of it, though, works fine without those extras. Plus, you can collect these medals—like scout badges—which let you unlock more stuff. It’s addictive in that “just one more try” way.

My takeaway? This Welcome Tour thing is surprisingly beefy. Like, I didn’t expect it to have this much going on. It’s a deep dive into the Switch 2’s upgrades. I keep circling back to it, picking away at more mini-games and quizzes, and it keeps me coming back for more. It doesn’t wear out its welcome, which is ironic given the name. Though, maybe it could have been a pack-in game, joining the legends. But now, with attention spans shorter than an internet video, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour slots in just right. I’ve walked away feeling like I actually understand this new console… and maybe my wallet doesn’t regret it quite as much.