Will the Switch 2 be backwards compatible?

By Jesse Lennox Updated April 2, 2025

Now that we’re at the end of the Switch’s lifecycle and there are almost no more upcoming Switch games to speak of, we’ve all amassed a huge library of the best Switch games. Almost every major Nintendo franchise has appeared on this console, from Zelda and Mario to Animal Crossing and Metroid. Now, Nintendo is finally ready to move on and give us the long-awaited Switch 2. This new console has the same winning formula of being a handheld and home console hybrid but with far more power under the hood. That will lead to even better games going forward, but will we need to hold onto our current Switches if we want to play anything we missed in the current library? If the Switch 2 is backwards compatible, you can safely sell or give away your old Switch and make a clean upgrade. Let’s see what the official word is now that we know the facts about this console.

Yes! Thankfully, Nintendo isn’t forcing us to rebuild our entire game collection from scratch once again. Almost all of your existing Switch cartridges and digital games can be played on the Switch 2. As long as you sign in with your same Nintendo account, you can access your digital library and download your games onto the new system, while physical game cards can simply be inserted as normal. That said, they will not receive any of the benefits of the new hardware. If you want to enhance your Switch games on the Switch 2, you will need the Switch 2 Edition.

What we do know, thanks to reading some fine print detailing the new Virtual Game Cards, is that “Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games can only be loaded on a Nintendo Switch 2 system.” This has led to a lot of speculation regarding what exactly a “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” game is. It is possible that this means that already owned Switch games can be upgraded to Switch 2 versions, similar to how some games got free PS4 to PS5 upgrades, or that Nintendo will sell new versions of Switch games for Switch 2 with some enhancements.

In either case, it does give hope that, one way or another, Switch games will get some benefit from running on the Switch 2 and not just be straight ports with no improvements.

While you can still pop in your Switch cartridge or download your owned games and play them on your Switch 2, you won’t see any improvements just for loading it onto the new hardware. Switch 2 Editions can either be purchased physically or digitally as a new purchase or upgraded if you own a copy of an eligible game. Only Switch 2 Edition games will see improvements like upgraded visuals, improved frame rates, HDR support, and even new features and content depending on the game. The current list of all Switch games getting Switch 2 Editions are: