Review of the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Sure thing, let’s dive into this. So, Nintendo dropped this title called “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour” when the Switch 2 came out. Weird game if you ask me. It’s sorta like a hands-on guide to the console, with these mini-games and tech demos that show off what the Switch 2 can do. Sounds like a neat idea, right? But then, plot twist: it’s not free; it’s ten bucks. At that point, my enthusiasm? Pretty much nosedived. But hey, since it was one of the rare launch titles, I gave it a shot. Spoiler alert: I was let down, big time.

Picture this: you’re walking on these gigantic Joy-Con controllers, navigating the touchscreen like you’re in a theme park for Switch 2 gear. Reminds me a bit of Astro’s Playroom, which was a blast to play and totally free. But here, Nintendo did the opposite—turned a potentially fun tour into something mind-numbing and to top it off, they want you to pay a tenner.

Most of these mini-games, they’re even more basic than WarioWare’s microgames. They last, like, seconds, and then you’re on to the next. Sure, you can unlock more complex versions, but “complex” doesn’t mean “more fun.” Like, there’s this one game where you’re dodging spike balls as a UFO. Upgrade it, and you’re dodging and collecting stars. Woo.

Now, lots of these games are all about the Joy-Con 2’s mouse thing. There’s also a touchscreen game, and this one where you match your console’s angle to what’s onscreen. A couple of games force you to use extra gear, which is kinda ridiculous. The game is all about ticking boxes, but you literally can’t unless you buy a fancy controller and a camera. I mean, come on.

So, get this: there are some mini-games that block you out unless you have specific controllers or cameras. At least with the cameras, you can use others that have USB-C. But, when I tried the camera game, it was a whole 20-minute finger fight before it finally worked. Testing patience, anyone? Plus, there’s a game where it’s all about pushing buttons, but it was telling me I was pressing stuff I wasn’t even close to. What!?

Oh, and there’s this weird bit where you need a 4K TV for some content. Huh? Sometimes, when the mini-games decide to cooperate, they can be kinda fun. The tech demos shine a little brighter. There’s one where you turn Joy-Con 2s into bike handles, and you twist the throttle just like a real bike. HD Rumble 2 technology? Yeah, that could be something if folks use it right.

All said and done, after all the games and demos, you’re left with—you guessed it—quizzes. Yep, school’s back in session. Hit up those quiz booths scattered around, read facts, and do tests. Sure, some stuff is neat, but it gets yawningly dull fast. I just stopped bothering because it killed the vibe.

You’re supposed to find these “stamps” too, like little tour stops on the console. Collect enough, move to the next area, find more. Honestly, it’s not challenging or exciting in any way—it just drags out the game.

Now, should you drop ten bucks on this thing? Honestly, it feels more like a commercial for the Switch 2’s accessories than a game. Like, there’s a part where I meet an NPC longing to play with the Joy-Con wheel. Said something like, “Hope my kids want it so I can use it too!” Two games are locked unless you have these extra add-ons. Left a sour taste in my mouth, for real.

Look, if this were a freebie, it’d be a different story. But it’s not. They want you to shell out cash for a game that wants you to buy even more stuff. It’s a bit rich, don’t you think? I mean, it’s not all bad—there are some cool visuals with the giant Switch 2 hardware, and more things to do than I anticipated. For someone aiming for 100% completion, you’d need those accessories and some patience. For me? I’d rather wait for more exciting Switch 2 games to roll in.