Today, I’m adding more games to the list of games that have gotten a boost with new versions releasing on the Nintendo Switch. Let’s have a look!
- ARMS
- Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain
- Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
- Game Builder Garage
- Splatoon 3
ARMS
Genre: 3D Fighting Game
Players: 1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2 Competitive (Online)
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Review:
One of the initial batch of games to receive free updates on Nintendo Switch 2 when it launched in 2025, ARMS is a game that probably deserves a second shot, never having quite caught on in the way we’ve seen games like Splatoon and Ring Fit Adventure be embraced by Nintendo Switch players. However, what can even be done with this game? It already looks great and runs smoothly on Nintendo Switch. Well, except perhaps in 3- and 4-player split-screen, where the framerate is halved, but the game still looks great.
Not great enough, it seems! This free update on Nintendo Switch 2 bumps up the resolution and adds HDR support, but probably the most significant change is that it fixes the one minor graphical blemish on an otherwise-outstanding game, bringing the framerates up to par in 4-player split-screen to match the rest of the game, and indeed it looks great now.
As for the other stuff? Well, it looks good, but I felt like it already looked good. Still, it’s a free update so I’m not gonna’ say no.
Overall, a nice free update to a solid, underrated game.
tl;dr – ARMS is a wildly unique 3D Fighting Game that plays like nothing else out there, with players focusing less on skillful moves and more on position and timing as they try to land punches on each other using stretchy arms. It is a surprisingly fun experience, and one that looks great and plays great, including in its 4-Player split-screen mode and in online matches. If you want a great competitive game on your Switch and don’t mind something that’s weird and takes some time getting used to, this is a must-have.
Grade: A-
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Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain
Genre: Party Game / Minigame Collection
Players: 1-4 Competitive Split-Screen (Local / Online), Online Leaderboards, GameShare (Local Wireless / Online)
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Review:
One of the initial batch of games to receive free updates on Nintendo Switch 2 when it launched in 2025, Big Brain Academy is one of those games that Nintendo makes to appeal to “casual” audiences, but I feel that as a game, it’s sorely lacking. And as for a Nintendo Switch 2 update… what even is there to update? It’s not like this is a graphically-intensive or impressive game in any way.
Well, as it happens, this update isn’t concerned with graphics, but with expanding the multiplayer through GameShare, allowing up to four players to play locally or online. And, you know, that’s great for players who want to play “mental exercises”, but I personally don’t think this makes Big Brain Academy any more enjoyable.
As a free update, it’s not bad, but the game that’s being updates is still nothing special.
tl;dr – Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain is a Minigame Collection and Party game with numerous extremely simple games with a vaguely educational theme. However, the educational value of this game is dubious, and its enjoyment as a game is extremely limited by its simplicity. You may have some fun with this one for a short while, but you’ll get bored with it quickly.
Grade: C
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Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
Genre: Compilation / Card Games / Board Games / Sports / Misc.
Players: 1-2 Cooperative (Local, Local Wireless, Online), 2-4 Competitive (Local, Local Wireless, Online), GameShare (Local Wireless / Online)
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Review:
One of the initial batch of games to receive free updates on Nintendo Switch 2 when it launched in 2025, Clubhouse Games was the very first game shown to make use of the new GameShare feature on Nintendo Switch 2, even before any Nintendo Switch 2 games. And it’s hard to argue with that choice – this is a great way to introduce players to the concept, since this is a collection of multiplayer games that pretty much anyone can pick up and play right away.
Playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t unlock any other significant enhancements, but it doesn’t really have to – this is a nice, polished-looking game that isn’t technically-impressive, meaning a graphical upgrade will have negligible effect.
Overall, despite that this update only adds the one feature, it’s a wonderful addition that makes this game even better on Nintendo Switch 2.
tl;dr – Clubhouse Games is a family-friendly Compilation of 51 various games (plus a piano toy software) ranging from time-honored classic card and board games to simple sports and arcade games. While most of the individual games are pretty feature-poor, there is a massive amount of content here, and most of it plays well and is excellently-presented. There are even a few delightful surprises here as well. Add in good local competitive play and decent online play, and you have a superb game collection well worth owning.
Grade: B+
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Game Builder Garage
Genre: Content Creation Application
Players: 1-2 Co-Op / Competitive (Local), Online Content Sharing
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Review:
One of the initial batch of games to receive free updates on Nintendo Switch 2 when it launched in 2025, Game Builder Garage was a surprise addition to this lineup, not only because it was never a big smash hit, but also for the additions this free update adds – of all of the games included in this round of free game updates, Game Builder Garage is the only one to add mouse mode support on Nintendo Switch 2.
To be fair, the free update also improves the resolution on Nintendo Switch 2, though I honestly couldn’t see much difference myself. No, the main addition here is clearly the mouse support, which functions in menus and while you’re building out your creations. Sadly, this update doesn’t go the step farther to add the ability to design games that use mouse mode as well, but I suspect that doing so would force them to separate the game sharing so some games only work on Nintendo Switch 2, and I guess Nintendo didn’t want to go to the trouble to do that.
Still, this is a fine addition to a solid game that makes it even better on Nintendo Switch 2!
tl;dr – Game Builder Garage is a Content Creation Application that acts as a “simple” game design tool, though it’s debatable just how “simple” it is. It is extremely limited in multiple ways, and even with an extremely lengthy tutorial it could stand to do better ensuring players understand how to use the tools contained within. Still, for a mere $30 this is a fun application to play around with, albeit not as versatile or user-friendly as some others that have been released elsewhere.
Grade: B
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Splatoon 3
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Players: 1-8 Team Competitive (Local Wireless), 2-8 Team Competitive / Co-Op (Online)
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Review:
Splatoon 3 was already one of the best-looking games on Nintendo Switch, with an unflinchingly smooth framerate and an overall slick presentation, so it would be easy to wonder just what could be improved in a Nintendo Switch 2 update. Yet, we still received one, and only a week after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, no less!
The improvements here are pretty subtle. There’s a full list of the update’s changes here, but the gist of it is mainly improvements to overall resolution and some animations. It’s most noticeable in places like Inkopolis, where things looks smoother, with less aliasing and better-looking shadows, and with framerates closer to the rest of the game in these areas.
Not really sure what else to say here. The game looked great before, and still looks great. But even a minor graphical improvement is always appreciated!
tl;dr – Splatoon 3 is a multiplayer-focused team-based Third-Person Shooter that adds a bunch of new content, new features, and new improvements on top of what we saw in Splatoon 1 and 2, yet it still feels like much the same sort of experience. To be clear, that experience is an outstanding Third-Person Shooter that looks great, plays great, and is truly unique within the genre… except, well, that’s just it, it’s not completely unique – Splatoon 2 is right there, on the same platform. Still, even if it feels in many ways like “more of the same”, it’s more of the same of something great, and the improvements mean that this is the best Splatoon game yet. Just know that if you didn’t care for earlier games in the series, Splatoon 3 isn’t going to change your mind.
Grade: A
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I hope you enjoyed this latest batch of Nintendo Switch 2 Difference Mini-Reviews, and found them to be helpful! Want to see all Nintendo Switch 2 Difference comparisons? Check out this page for links to every article where I’ve included these comparisons!
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