Today, I’m adding more games to the list of games that have seen improvements when played on Nintendo Switch 2. Let’s have a look!
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SnowRunner (Nintendo Switch 2)
Genre: Open-World Driving Simulation
Players: 1-4 Co-Op (Local Wireless / Online)
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Review:
Believe it or not, when we got an idea of what to expect from Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, one of the franchises I really hoped we would see get Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases is the MudRunner/SnowRunner games. This is a franchise that’s super-niche, but graphically punches way above its weight on the Nintendo Switch, and I was eager to see just how improved these games could look on even more powerful Nintendo hardware. Well, over a year later in 2026, my wish was granted… sort of.
SnowRunner hasn’t actually received a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition release, but instead it has gotten a completely separate release on Nintendo Switch 2, which is discounted to free for anyone who owns a digital copy of the original game (sorry, physical owners, you’re left out again), with all DLC you purchased for the original game being downloadable for free in the Nintendo Switch 2 version as well.
This release also lets you transfer over your Nintendo Switch save, so you can pick up right where you left off in the Nintendo Switch version of the game on your Nintendo Switch 2. In practice, doing this is a tad tricky – you have to actually get the save file of the Nintendo Switch version onto your Nintendo Switch 2 first before the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game can recognize it and transition the save file over.
Okay, so with all that out of the way, what differences do we get in the different versions?
Well, first and foremost, a massive difference in file size – the Nintendo Switch version of the game is about 15GB big, while the Nintendo Switch 2 version is 44GB. Needless to say, if you’re pressed for space on your Nintendo Switch 2, this is a consideration. So what do you get for all that space?
The main difference, as you may be able to tell, is improvements to resolution and textures. The Nintendo Switch version of the game plays at a dynamic 720p docked and handheld resolution, while the Nintendo Switch 2 version is 1440p docked and 1080p in handheld mode, making it much clearer – going back to the Nintendo Switch version after this feels like playing with Vasoline smeared on the in-game camera lens. The improved textures aren’t always as easy to see, but they are there – notice the sign and the license plate. The developer also touts mirror reflections and enhanced visual effects, though I still think the resolution is the most noticeable difference here.
Like the Nintendo Switch version, the game runs at 30FPS, which is fine. There’s also still some pop-in, and in some places you’ll see a dithering effect (in particular, I noticed this in the water on the main menu screen).
Also, there’s another improvement that the developer hasn’t advertised – loading times. On Nintendo Switch, it took me 1 minute 18 seconds to load the game to the main menu, and another 1 minute 10 seconds to load the game save file. On Nintendo Switch 2, those times were cut down to 58 seconds and 48 seconds.
I should also note that the developer has stated that cross-play support is planned for Nintendo Switch 2 at a later time, but not currently available.
Whew! So, with all of that out of the way, is SnowRunner on Nintendo Switch 2 an improvement? Absolutely! Is it worth upgrading if you own the Nintendo Switch version? Wellllll… that depends. If you have the digital version of the game and you have 44GB of extra space on your Nintendo Switch 2, sure! The improvements to the resolution alone absolutely make it worth the upgrade. But if you don’t have the space, or you bought the physical release? Oof, that’s tougher. In that case, you really need to ask yourself whether it’s worth it to you to get a better version of the game in the first place – would you buy a bigger MicroSD Express card to fit it? Would you buy the game again, or pay for the digital version so you can get the free upgrade? At that point I’m really dubious it’s worth it. But in the end, that’s gonna’ have to be your call.
tl;dr – SnowRunner is an Open-World Simulation-style Driving Game that is a sequel to MudRunner, and improves on it quite a bit with its Open-World elements making the game’s punishing, slow-paced gameplay more rewarding. The Nintendo Switch 2 version is clearly improved over the Nintendo Switch version of the game, primarily with improved resolution, but it also takes up 3x as much storage space. Overall, SnowRunner is an extremely niche game that not everyone will enjoy, but those who this game speaks to will surely be delighted.
Grade: B-
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Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Genre: JRPG
Players: 1
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Review:
When Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition received a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, many wondered if the other games in the franchise would receive the same treatment. Well, it took over a year, but we finally have our answer: Yes, starting with the original Xenoblade Chronicles, with an upgrade for $10. So, what does that $10 get you? Let’s have a look.
Before getting to that though, full disclosure: I know plenty of other players had issues with the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Xenoblade Chronicles X that I simply didn’t encounter. So if you’re one of those folks, I guess you can take my opinion on this with a grain of salt. However, I can only report on what I see, so for better or worse, here goes…
Once again, the first immediate change that’s instantly noticeable is a massive difference in loading times – on Nintendo Switch, it took me 1 minute 25 seconds to load to the main menu screen, and another 24 seconds to load a save. On Nintendo Switch 2, those times are sliced down to 26 seconds and 8 seconds.
In addition, the change to framerate and resolution is extremely striking. The game’s page is boasting 4K resolution in docked mode and 1080p resolution in handheld mode, with both running at a smooth 60FPS, and the result is a much better overall visual experience. I should note that the improvements aren’t only to overall screen resolution either – the game’s dense foliage in its natural environments seems much higher-resolution as well, and there are improved textures throughout the game. Long story short, this version of the game looks absolutely outstanding.
It’s not perfect, though. The higher resolution does make it more apparent that the game’s 3D character models look a bit dated, and you’ll still see some pop-up in the distance. But overall, this is by far the best that Xenoblade Chronicles has ever looked.
There are multiple other improvements as well. This version of the game adds a new “Ether Jet” vehicle, first accessible in chapter 4 of the game, and it comes with its own minigame and equipment. The game’s “Heart-to-Heart” in-party character conversations are now fully voiced as well, which is a nice addition.
So do I think this Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade is worth the $10? Absolutely, yes. After seeing the game running this well, it would be hard to go back to the way it was before. Plus, the time you’ll save in loading times over the course of the game’s 50+ hour-long campaign will surely make it worth the upgrade as well.
tl;dr – Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition takes the epic, sprawling JRPG from 10 years ago and finally gives it the release it truly deserves, updating the visuals and music, adding in tons of great quality of life improvements, and adding a brand new 10 hour epilogue, with the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade massively improving the loading times, framerate, resolution, and adding in additional content and features as well. The result is the new best version of a spectacular JRPG that is a must-play entry in the genre.
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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