Many players carry a growing list of games they meant to try but never did. For one longtime Nintendo observer, that backlog finally started shrinking after spending time with the Switch 2. The catalyst was Pikmin 4, a 2023 release that passed them by the first time around. After a few hours with the upgraded version on Nintendo's newer hardware, it became clear that this console may be the best current-generation option for revisiting older titles.

What Happened

Pikmin 4 originally launched on the original Switch in 2023. The new Switch 2 Edition is a $10 upgrade for existing owners and delivers sharper resolution, though the frame rate remains locked at 30 frames per second. It also adds microphone voice commands for Oatchi, the game's canine companion, plus a new challenge mode called Dandori Academy. The writer, who had never connected with the series before, found the lack of a strict time limit refreshing. Because the game was entirely new to them, the modest technical upgrades mattered less than simply having a reason to play it.

Why This Matters

Gaming is expensive, and keeping up with every new release is unrealistic for most people. The Switch 2 stands out because it can run most games from the previous Switch generation, including remakes, remasters, and re-releases spanning decades of history. Players can access mainline Final Fantasy entries, Resident Evil titles, Mega Man games, and oddities like Tail of the Sun and Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath. Through Nintendo Switch Online and its Expansion Pack, the system also offers libraries from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, Genesis, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube. By comparison, PlayStation 5 has limited support for pre-PS4 games, and Xbox has largely stopped adding older titles to its backward compatibility list. For players without a gaming PC, the Switch 2 offers one of the deepest catalogs of older games available on a modern console.

Key Takeaways

  • The Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition costs $10 for current owners and improves visual fidelity without raising the frame rate beyond 30 fps.
  • New features include microphone voice commands for Oatchi and a Dandori Academy challenge mode.
  • The absence of a time limit makes Pikmin 4 more approachable for players who dislike pressure-based mechanics.
  • Switch 2 supports most Switch 1 games, giving access to a massive back catalog of first-party and third-party titles.
  • Nintendo Switch Online adds classic libraries from NES through GameCube, depending on subscription tier.
  • Compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, the Switch 2 currently offers broader access to older games for players without a PC.

Conclusion

It may seem unusual to recommend a $500 console primarily for playing older games, but that is exactly where the Switch 2 shines. Between native backward compatibility, the Nintendo Classics collection, and occasional upgrades like the Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition, the system makes it easy to stop chasing new releases and finally work through a backlog. For anyone with a stack of unplayed titles, Nintendo's latest hardware is worth serious consideration.