Latest news with #Switch2
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Review: ‘Mario Kart World' a solid, safe offering for Switch 2's early adopters
TORONTO - When the hybrid Nintendo Switch console hit the market in 2017, the bold new system had a bold new game to match. 'Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' introduced an open world and non-linear structure to the hit franchise — radical departures from past 'Zelda' games — and the risk was rewarded with critical and commercial success. The Switch 2, released earlier this month, is not the game changer its predecessor was, instead making significant improvements to what already worked with the Switch. And that pragmatism over innovation is reflected in its major launch title, 'Mario Kart World.' The first brand new 'Mario Kart' game in over a decade features some new modes and improvements, but ultimately is a tried-and-true addition to the bestselling franchise. It's not going to dominate game-of-the-year chatter like 'Breath of the Wild' did eight years ago, but it's not hard to see why Nintendo tied the launch of the Switch 2 to the newest instalment of its smash-hit racing series. The previous game in the series, 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,' is by far the bestselling title for the Switch with more than 68 million units sold, and the ability to play online multiplayer lets Nintendo show off the Switch 2's 'GameChat' functionality that lets gamers start a chat session with friends with the push of a button. 'Mario Kart' games have always been ridiculous, chaotic events featuring some of the company's biggest stars, and the latest game doubles down on the pandemonium. With the improved capabilities of the Switch 2, races now feature 24 competitors. That's twice as many as 'Mario Kart 8.' Twenty-two characters make their debut as playable racers, including some deep cuts. Cow, the smiling bovine that has been a staple of 'Mario Kart' games as an obstacle, finally gets the chance to tear up the track. And on a more graphically capable system, 'Mario Kart World' shines. Mario, Luigi and their pals look great, and the 30 tracks on offer pop with charm and colour. The courses, either completely new or reimaginings of classic racetracks from games past, are full of twists, turns and secret routes waiting to be discovered by adventurous racers. A frequent criticism of 'Mario Kart' games, however, is that the playing field can too easily be levelled by potent weapons provided to struggling racers to punish the front-runners. 'Mario Kart World' is no different, with returning power-ups such as the blue shell that homes in on the character in first place before stunning its target on impact. And with more racers now on the grid it is possible for leaders to be hit by several attacks in a row and see their skilful navigation of the track upended. New to 'Mario Kart World' is the excellent 'Knockout Tour' race mode. Rather than run three laps of the same track like a standard 'Mario Kart' race, 'Knockout Tour' events are elimination races that string together stretches from several different courses into a giant endurance race. The stakes are high the moment the starting flag waves, as checkpoints along the way knock out the bottom four players. Less exciting is the free-roam mode that presumably gives 'Mario Kart World' its name. The concept is great; players can drive at their leisure across the Mushroom Kingdom, including all the courses and the open areas that connect them. But some parts of the map feel empty, particularly after competing in a thrilling 'Knockout Tour' race. There are some driving challenges to find along the way, but other than unlocking stickers that can be used to customize vehicles, there is little incentive to complete them. While it is not an unwelcome addition, free roam feels somewhat flat. The mode's existence isn't even readily apparent on the game's menu screen, with the option to select it buried in the bottom-right corner. It might not have been an afterthought, but it does at times feel like one. 'Mario Kart World' comes with an eye-popping price tag of around $110, though that comes down to about $70 when purchased in a bundle with a Switch 2 system. Regardless of the price, 'Mario Kart World' will be a must-have for early adopters of the Switch 2. Part of that is because it's currently the only first-party game developed exclusively for the console. But much like the new system it supports, 'Mario Kart World' takes what already works to new level. 'Mario Kart World' has an ESRB rating of 'E,' meaning it's suitable for gamers of all ages. A digital copy of 'Mario Kart World' was provided for review. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Every Nintendo Switch 2 launch game reviewed - all 25 games so far
Nintendo's new console already has two dozen games available, but reviews have been sparse, as GameCentral gives an overview of everything that's currently available. It's been over two weeks since the Nintendo Switch 2 came out and it's only now that we can bring our coverage of the launch to a conclusion. For no adequately explored reason, Nintendo didn't send out review units until the day before launch, so no outlet was able to prepare reviews beforehand and even now it's only the high-profile ones that have been covered in any detail. This has not pleased third party publishers, who have lost out on coverage they originally expected to help promote their games, and there's some launch titles that we're never going to get around to playing. What we've done though, is to try and draw a line under things and offer links to our full reviews, mini-reviews for ports we have played, and a brief description and Metacritic score for those we haven't. There are only four Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives games so far – two from Nintendo and two from third party publishers – but many of the other games do have some new Switch 2 features, like mouse support or new modes. None of that makes much difference but what is encouraging is that the majority of the third party ports so far have been very high quality, and surprisingly close to the PlayStation 5 versions. Nintendo – £74.99 (physical) or £66.99 (digital) Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The most high-profile launch game by such a degree that it has a staggering 95% attach rate in some regions. It's as clear an example of a console killer app as there's ever been but it's not the flawless creation that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was, with a strangely underutilised open world environment that doesn't spoil the experience but does make you wonder what else Nintendo has planned for the game, in terms of future DLC. Score: 9/10 (Mario Kart World Switch 2 review) Nintendo – £7.99 Not necessarily the worst game Nintendo has ever made but certainly the dullest. This well meaning interactive exhibit describes, in painstaking detail, what the Switch 2 can do and how it works. This can be quite interesting but the minimalist presentation and thoroughly un-entertaining mini-games make it a slog to get through, even if it is very cheap. Score: 3/10 (Welcome Tour Switch 2 review) Konami – £44.99 We're not even going to get into how Konami seems hellbent on rebooting every single franchise it owns except Castlevania, but we were actually quite excited to see the return of Survival Kids (aka Stranded Kids, aka Lost In Blue). The original was one of the very first survival games of any kind but sadly this new game is a highly repetitive co-op puzzle game, that's trying to channel some of the madcap fun of Overcooked! but doesn't really get close. Score: 5/10 (Survival Kids Switch 2 review) Shin'en – £13.49 The original F-Zero was a launch game for the SNES in Europe but while there still isn't a brand new game, the Switch 2 did get GameCube classic F-Zero GX, as well as this: the latest entry in the Fast series from tribute band Shin'en. They've been making F-Zero clones for over a decade now and while they still lack the nuance and finesse of Nintendo's games they're still a lot of fun and the graphics in Fast Fusion are very impressive for a budget-priced game. Score: 7/10 (Fast Fusion Switch 2 review) CD Projekt – £59.99 The most high-profile third party game for the Switch 2 is a port of Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion Phantom Liberty. CD Projekt Red has taken a lot of care over this one, utilising all the Switch 2's features, including optional motion controls, and putting out a version of the game with a superior performance to the PS4 Pro and in some cases even comparable to the PlayStation 5 edition. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition un-scored review EA – £44.99 Apart from being one of the best games of the year – and one of the best co-op games of all time – the Switch 2 version of Split Fiction is very instructive in terms of what should be expected of third party ports in general. For a start, it's the only current gen-only game available at launch. And while that's not a particularly good indication of the Switch 2's power, given that Split Fiction isn't a very graphically demanding game, it's still impressive that it works as well as it does. It's capped at 30fps when docked but it looks almost indistinguishable from the PlayStation 5 version. It's also notable for having the same online features as the other versions, including cross-play, and the ability to GameShare with the Switch 1. This is a strange feature, because the game isn't available on Switch 1, but Donkey Kong Bananza seems to have the same option. As you might expect, the Switch 1 version doesn't run nearly as well as on the Switch 2, but it is playable, and this is presumably going to become a relatively common feature for Switch 2 games. Score: 9/10 (Split Fiction PS5 review) Warner Bros. Games – £49.99 If the functional but compromised original Switch port for Hogwarts Legacy was miraculous for simply existing, this Switch 2 version is a notable, welcome upgrade. The improved visual detail and loading times, while naturally not comparable to the PlayStation 5 (here's our full review of that) and Xbox Series X, now look easily in the same league as the last gen versions – if not better. The main advantage of the Switch 2 version, if you casually ignore anyone who has played on a PC this century, is mouse controls. You can jump between the dual analogue setup and mouse functionality by flipping one Joy-Con on its side, and it transitions seamlessly between them whenever you want. There's a mouse sensitivity slider which you can attune to your speed and, after some adjustment in nailing down the spell configurations with the buttons twisted sideways, it quickly became our preferred way to play. The big question is whether that justifies the £49.99 price tag. Considering the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions can be picked up relatively cheap these days (around £20), we'd recommend going for those instead, for the most polished wizarding role-playing experience. If Nintendo systems are your only option though, this is a substantial improvement over the original Switch port in every way. Score: 8/10 (Hogwarts Legacy PS5 review) Capcom – £34.99 (Years 1-2 Fighters Edition: £49.99) Since it's also available on PlayStation 4, this isn't quite the miracle port it first seems but it's still hugely impressive. To a casual observer it looks almost identical to the PlayStation 5 version and while careful comparison shows it has less effects and the resolution is clearly being upscaled, the important thing is that multiplayer matches are all 60fps. That's a big achievement for a launch game, especially as it supports rollback netcode and cross-play. The latter is vitally important in terms of ensuring a steady supply of opponents and while Nintendo's online infrastructure won't be put to the test until there are more Switch 2 owners in the world, it seems to work fine right now. Switch 2 still seems the least appropriate console for a fighting game, given the Joy-Cons have no D-pad and we don't think there's a fighting stick for it yet, but beyond that this really has no drawbacks. There's the question of whether Capcom will give it exactly the same support as the other version but it's already got the current DLC available for it, so hopefully that means they're not just going to abandon it after launch. Score: 9/10 (Street Fighter 6 PS5 review) IO Interactive – £54.99 Another third party game that seems like the last thing you'd expect on a Nintendo console, but surprisingly this one runs worse than either Street Fighter 6 or Split Fiction. World Of Assassination is essentially all three modern Hitman games combined into one, so there's a ton of content available, as you try to take out your targets in as inventive a manner as possible. Hitman has long been one of the best examples of sandbox gameplay in a mainstream video game, where you learn to exploit every inch of a level, and the characters within it, to complete your mission in increasingly unlikely ways. There's no question that this is a great game, but the problem is that this is not the ideal way to experience it. The frame rate is uneven and while this isn't a straight action game there's a constant sense that it's only barely managing to work on the Switch 2. The occasionally blurry visuals are also less impressive than other launch ports and while some of that may be fixed with a patch, it's clear this is a fairly compromised port. Score: 7/10 (Hitman 3 PS5 review) Sega – £44.99 The Switch 1 version of Sonic X Shadow Generations is undeniably the worst one, if only for its locked frame rate of 30fps. Fortunately, the Switch 2 version is a solid revision that's almost on par with the PlayStation 5 version, which we reviewed here. Both the Sonic and Shadow portions run at a consistent 60fps and visually the graphics don't seem any worse than the PlayStation 5 version – although some textures, like Shadow's chest fur, look a bit blurry in places. The cut scenes also don't reach 60fps, even on performance mode, but that's the case for the PlayStation 5 version too. This also all applies to handheld mode, but everything looks a little blurrier for some reason, especially when boosting, making it the less ideal option compared to playing the game on the TV while docked. The biggest issue, is the fact that Sega isn't offering any sort of upgrade path for Switch 1 owners, meaning you've no choice but to pay full price for the Switch 2 version. Score: 8/10 (Sonic X Shadow Generations PS5 review) Sega – £44.99 Most of these third party games don't have any extra content, beyond maybe a few extra motion controls, but Yakuza 0 goes further by adding new cut scenes and a brand new online multiplayer mode. That sounds good in theory but it's easy to see why the cut scenes were deleted from the original version and the multiplayer mode adds up to very little. The game itself is still one of the best entries in the series though. Score: 7/10 (Yakuza 0 Director's Cut Switch 2 review) Capcom – £32.99 We were very frustrated by Path Of The Goddess when it was first released last year, as while we loved the unique art style and use of Japanese mythology, the promising mix of action and strategy was not all we hoped. You control a warrior named Soh as you fight demonic monsters emerging from portals all around the game world. To seal the main one in each map you need to escort a priestess to it, while organising villagers to protect her in what could generously be described as a real-time strategy. The problem is that the strategy elements are shallow and underplayed and while the game is fun and interestingly weird, it really doesn't add up to much. We were interested to see how the mouse controls work, but while they're fine on a technical level they're really not necessary, given how little of the map you can see at any one time. Score: 6/10 (Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess PS5 review) 8-4 – £20.99 The first two chapters of the follow-up to Undertale had been released before the Switch 2 launch but the third and fourth (out of a total of seven) were kept back until now – although they're also now available on PlayStation and PC. The NES style graphics don't look like much and, to be honest, the role-playing battles do get repetitive, but the storytelling is just as engaging and subversive as Undertale. We'll give the game a full review when all the chapters are out (the current four still only add up to about 14 hours) and we could easily see the score increasing by that point, but don't be put off by chapter 1 as it's easily the worst, especially in terms of repetition. It's not the plot that's important in Deltarune but the bizarre range of characters and the surreal situations you find yourself in. Although at the heart of it all is a very pacifist ideology, that celebrates the power of love and the need for empathy without ever seeming mawkish or patronising. And while also paying homage to old school Japanese role-players and having a cracking soundtrack. Score: 8/10 Sega – £34.99 Sega has been the most prolific supporter of the Switch 2 so far, with three launch titles, all of which have been reasonable efforts. We only reviewed the original crossover between puzzle games Puyo Puyo (better known to Mega Drive owners as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine) and Tetris but we're not too shocked to find that the sequel is pretty much the same. It's stacked full of options, including a story mode, the chance to play both games individually, and the all-important crossover mode. This mixes the rules from both games and since they're similar enough it works pretty well, as your screen becomes filled with tetriminos and… whatever Puyos are supposed to be. There are lots of other modes beyond just that, including one that adds minor role-playing elements, so it's perhaps no surprise that the only other thing they could think of for the Switch 2 version is a new 2v2 option. Apart from that, a resolution bump, and mouse controls (which don't work at all well) this is the exact same game that's already available on the Switch and, like Sonic X Shadow Generations, there's no upgrade option, if you already own the previous version. Score: 8/10 Hamster – £14.99 A new Ridge Racer used to great every new console release but while that tradition has lapsed in recent years (there hasn't been a proper new Ridge Racer in over a decade) we did get this port of the original arcade game for the Switch 2 launch – although it's also available one Switch 1, Xbox, and PlayStation. As simplistic and shallow as it is, the game is still as much fun as ever, with this version also adding a time attack mode and allowing for rewinds and VRR support. Score: 8/10 Nintendo – £66.99 (upgrade pack: £7.99) One of the best games ever made gets a mild remastering for the Switch 2, which ups the resolution and raises the frame rate to 60fps. There are no other graphical improvements, so some of the texture work is looking a bit long in the tooth, but the smoother gameplay does make a real difference. There's also a free mobile app that can help you locate any Korok or shrines you missed. Score: 10/10 (Breath Of The Wild Switch 2 review) Nintendo – £66.99 (upgrade pack: £7.99) The sequel to Breath Of The Wild gets the same treatment on Switch 2, with improved frame rate and visuals but no other significant changes. That's not a complaint though, especially as the upgrade for both remasters is surprisingly cheap, and completely free if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The mobile app also has an extra function for Tears Of The Kingdom, allowing you to share Ultrahand creations via a QR code. Score: 10/10 (Tears Of The Kingdom Switch 2 review) 2K – £59.99 (upgrade pack: £10.00) Take-Two didn't send out review copies for this game and given there's only two reviews on Metacritic we're guessing that was the same for everyone. It's a shame, because the PC-orientated design is perfect for showing off the Switch 2's mouse controls, but we've no idea how well it does or doesn't work. The Metacritic scores are 60 and 70 though, so that doesn't sound too promising. Mind you, the original PC version wasn't great either and while that will likely change over time here's our launch review. Koei Tecmo – £57.99 To be clear, these last few games we didn't chase up for review copies, because we knew they'd be low priority, and we didn't have time to look properly at them. Nobunaga's Ambition is a long (incredibly long – it started out on PC in 1983) running series of grand strategy games, most of which weren't released in the West until quite recently. We don't know how this one is but it has a Metacritic score of 81. Square Enix – £33.99 While Square Enix has already announced that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is coming to the Switch 2 their only launch game is this considerably lower profile remaster. The original was pretty good, and felt more like old school Final Fantasy games than any of the modern entries in the series, but it was a 3DS game so there's only so much this remaster can do; especially as it also has to battle with a terrible story and voiceovers, which prevented the original from becoming a true classic. The current Metacritic score is 84. Hello Games – £39.99 The frustrating thing about all this is that there's no master list of available titles for the Switch 2 and Nintendo has made no effort to highlight third party titles, so it's been difficult to even draw up a list of titles that were released on June 5. One of the last to be announced was this new version of space exploration game No Man's Sky, which we've not played but has proven very popular, if the eShop charts are anything to go by. There're only three scores on Metacritic so far (it takes four to get an aggregate), of 90, 90, and 100. Marvelous – £59.99 (upgrade pack: £10.00) Although this spin-off from the Harvest Moon/Story Of Seasons franchise was out for the Switch 2's launch it also released the same day on Switch 1 and PC. We haven't played it, but we've never been impressed with the series and its attempts to mix farming with dungeon crawling – so both aspects are usually very shallow and repetitive. Maybe Guardians Of Azuma is different though, as it has four reviews on Metacritic, adding up to a score of 80. Konami – £44.99 If nothing else, this wins the award for the longest game name this year, and the Switch 2 already has a number of contenders for that accolade. We've not played these particular remasters but we imagine they're identical to the ones released last year. Suikoden 2 in particular is an all-time classic and we've reviewed it many times before, as it's one of the best role-playing games of the PS1 era, with some interesting strategy elements. Level-5 – £52.03 More Trending Seriously, what is going on with the length of these game names? We haven't played Fantasy Life I, but it's from another franchise we've never been impressed by. A sort of cross between Final Fantasy and Animal Crossing, the idea is that you lead a relatively mundane life in a fantasy world, taking the role of not just mercenary and mage, but also a cook and woodcutter. Or at least that's how it was in the one we played. There are only three reviews on Metacritic, for 80, 90, and another 90. Epic Games Now this one we have played, for the obvious reason that it's free-to-play. Maybe it's just how the algorithm has us pegged but we've seen more advertising for Fortnite on Switch 2 than anything from Nintendo – and not without reason. The game runs extremely well on Nintendo's new console and the demographic for the two must match up exactly. It's not clear if player numbers will ever be revealed but we expect Fortnite to prove very popular on Nintendo's new format. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Metroid Prime 4 advert on London tube confuses everyone with 'out now' sticker MORE: Games Inbox: What is the hardest video of modern times? MORE: NetEase game Blood Message may have the best video game graphics ever
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Review: ‘Mario Kart World' a solid, safe offering for Switch 2's early adopters
TORONTO – When the hybrid Nintendo Switch console hit the market in 2017, the bold new system had a bold new game to match. 'Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' introduced an open world and non-linear structure to the hit franchise — radical departures from past 'Zelda' games — and the risk was rewarded with critical and commercial success. The Switch 2, released earlier this month, is not the game changer its predecessor was, instead making significant improvements to what already worked with the Switch. And that pragmatism over innovation is reflected in its major launch title, 'Mario Kart World.' The first brand new 'Mario Kart' game in over a decade features some new modes and improvements, but ultimately is a tried-and-true addition to the bestselling franchise. It's not going to dominate game-of-the-year chatter like 'Breath of the Wild' did eight years ago, but it's not hard to see why Nintendo tied the launch of the Switch 2 to the newest instalment of its smash-hit racing series. The previous game in the series, 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,' is by far the bestselling title for the Switch with more than 68 million units sold, and the ability to play online multiplayer lets Nintendo show off the Switch 2's 'GameChat' functionality that lets gamers start a chat session with friends with the push of a button. 'Mario Kart' games have always been ridiculous, chaotic events featuring some of the company's biggest stars, and the latest game doubles down on the pandemonium. With the improved capabilities of the Switch 2, races now feature 24 competitors. That's twice as many as 'Mario Kart 8.' Twenty-two characters make their debut as playable racers, including some deep cuts. Cow, the smiling bovine that has been a staple of 'Mario Kart' games as an obstacle, finally gets the chance to tear up the track. And on a more graphically capable system, 'Mario Kart World' shines. Mario, Luigi and their pals look great, and the 30 tracks on offer pop with charm and colour. The courses, either completely new or reimaginings of classic racetracks from games past, are full of twists, turns and secret routes waiting to be discovered by adventurous racers. A frequent criticism of 'Mario Kart' games, however, is that the playing field can too easily be levelled by potent weapons provided to struggling racers to punish the front-runners. 'Mario Kart World' is no different, with returning power-ups such as the blue shell that homes in on the character in first place before stunning its target on impact. And with more racers now on the grid it is possible for leaders to be hit by several attacks in a row and see their skilful navigation of the track upended. New to 'Mario Kart World' is the excellent 'Knockout Tour' race mode. Rather than run three laps of the same track like a standard 'Mario Kart' race, 'Knockout Tour' events are elimination races that string together stretches from several different courses into a giant endurance race. The stakes are high the moment the starting flag waves, as checkpoints along the way knock out the bottom four players. Less exciting is the free-roam mode that presumably gives 'Mario Kart World' its name. The concept is great; players can drive at their leisure across the Mushroom Kingdom, including all the courses and the open areas that connect them. But some parts of the map feel empty, particularly after competing in a thrilling 'Knockout Tour' race. There are some driving challenges to find along the way, but other than unlocking stickers that can be used to customize vehicles, there is little incentive to complete them. While it is not an unwelcome addition, free roam feels somewhat flat. The mode's existence isn't even readily apparent on the game's menu screen, with the option to select it buried in the bottom-right corner. It might not have been an afterthought, but it does at times feel like one. 'Mario Kart World' comes with an eye-popping price tag of around $110, though that comes down to about $70 when purchased in a bundle with a Switch 2 system. Regardless of the price, 'Mario Kart World' will be a must-have for early adopters of the Switch 2. Part of that is because it's currently the only first-party game developed exclusively for the console. But much like the new system it supports, 'Mario Kart World' takes what already works to new level. 'Mario Kart World' has an ESRB rating of 'E,' meaning it's suitable for gamers of all ages. A digital copy of 'Mario Kart World' was provided for review. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Engadget
3 hours ago
- Business
- Engadget
How to buy the Nintendo Switch 2: Latest stock updates at Best Buy, Walmart, Target and more
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than two weeks — but good luck finding one. The $450 console officially went up for sale on June 5, and several retailers have offered it both online and in-store in the days since. While millions of people have been able to snag the device, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores soon after launch and remains difficult to find today. Target and Best Buy restocked shortly after launch, but those didn't last long, and the latter required in-store pickup. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you're a member there. Otherwise, it's slim pickings as of our latest sweep. Broadly speaking, people had a bit more luck on launch week by venturing to a physical retail store. We can't guarantee you'll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it's worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. Either way, if you're still on the hunt, we've rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up. Walmart also began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are "available" via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn't recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world's largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location. Best Buy began selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn't sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET. That restock lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again. Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. It still looks to be fully sold out as we write this, but you should see if there's any stock at the stores closest to you just to be safe. GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a "Find a Store" page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World , a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it's no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway). You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam's Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it's out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ's early on June 5, but it's no longer live there. Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that's dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order. Amazon hasn't had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World . The company didn't take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it's unclear if and when it will sell the device. You can, however, find some Switch 2 games. Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it's given no indication as to when it'll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices. With all of these stores, we've seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2's biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing. Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can't hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don't expect it to bear fruit immediately — it's taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite. You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second. Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle: Where to buy Switch 2: Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom . Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza , won't be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now. As of Friday afternoon, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo's official Switch 2 carrying cases have bee the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away. Mario Kart World ($80) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Donkey Kong Bananza ($70) Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Costco (membership required) Additional Switch 2 games Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85) Switch 2 Camera ($55) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60) Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40) Nintendo (invite required) Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120) Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65) Nintendo (Switch Online required)
Yahoo
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Review: 'Mario Kart World' a solid, safe offering for Switch 2's early adopters
TORONTO — When the hybrid Nintendo Switch console hit the market in 2017, the bold new system had a bold new game to match. "Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" introduced an open world and non-linear structure to the hit franchise — radical departures from past "Zelda" games — and the risk was rewarded with critical and commercial success. The Switch 2, released earlier this month, is not the game changer its predecessor was, instead making significant improvements to what already worked with the Switch. And that pragmatism over innovation is reflected in its major launch title, "Mario Kart World." The first brand new "Mario Kart" game in over a decade features some new modes and improvements, but ultimately is a tried-and-true addition to the bestselling franchise. It's not going to dominate game-of-the-year chatter like "Breath of the Wild" did eight years ago, but it's not hard to see why Nintendo tied the launch of the Switch 2 to the newest instalment of its smash-hit racing series. The previous game in the series, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," is by far the bestselling title for the Switch with more than 68 million units sold, and the ability to play online multiplayer lets Nintendo show off the Switch 2's "GameChat" functionality that lets gamers start a chat session with friends with the push of a button. "Mario Kart" games have always been ridiculous, chaotic events featuring some of the company's biggest stars, and the latest game doubles down on the pandemonium. With the improved capabilities of the Switch 2, races now feature 24 competitors. That's twice as many as "Mario Kart 8." Twenty-two characters make their debut as playable racers, including some deep cuts. Cow, the smiling bovine that has been a staple of "Mario Kart" games as an obstacle, finally gets the chance to tear up the track. And on a more graphically capable system, "Mario Kart World" shines. Mario, Luigi and their pals look great, and the 30 tracks on offer pop with charm and colour. The courses, either completely new or reimaginings of classic racetracks from games past, are full of twists, turns and secret routes waiting to be discovered by adventurous racers. A frequent criticism of "Mario Kart" games, however, is that the playing field can too easily be levelled by potent weapons provided to struggling racers to punish the front-runners. "Mario Kart World" is no different, with returning power-ups such as the blue shell that homes in on the character in first place before stunning its target on impact. And with more racers now on the grid it is possible for leaders to be hit by several attacks in a row and see their skilful navigation of the track upended. New to "Mario Kart World" is the excellent "Knockout Tour" race mode. Rather than run three laps of the same track like a standard "Mario Kart" race, "Knockout Tour" events are elimination races that string together stretches from several different courses into a giant endurance race. The stakes are high the moment the starting flag waves, as checkpoints along the way knock out the bottom four players. Less exciting is the free-roam mode that presumably gives "Mario Kart World" its name. The concept is great; players can drive at their leisure across the Mushroom Kingdom, including all the courses and the open areas that connect them. But some parts of the map feel empty, particularly after competing in a thrilling "Knockout Tour" race. There are some driving challenges to find along the way, but other than unlocking stickers that can be used to customize vehicles, there is little incentive to complete them. While it is not an unwelcome addition, free roam feels somewhat flat. The mode's existence isn't even readily apparent on the game's menu screen, with the option to select it buried in the bottom-right corner. It might not have been an afterthought, but it does at times feel like one. "Mario Kart World" comes with an eye-popping price tag of around $110, though that comes down to about $70 when purchased in a bundle with a Switch 2 system. Regardless of the price, "Mario Kart World" will be a must-have for early adopters of the Switch 2. Part of that is because it's currently the only first-party game developed exclusively for the console. But much like the new system it supports, "Mario Kart World" takes what already works to new level. "Mario Kart World" has an ESRB rating of "E," meaning it's suitable for gamers of all ages. A digital copy of "Mario Kart World" was provided for review. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025. Curtis Withers, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
