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Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour makes a compelling case for itself as a guided introduction to the console—but also for why it should have come with one. Its interactive hardware exhibit is engaging and informative, yet the fact that some activities depend on accessories or display features you may not own makes the separate purchase harder to justify.
What is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour?
Welcome Tour is a digital, single-player interactive exhibit for Nintendo Switch 2, not a conventional story-driven game. Nintendo’s overview describes a giant Switch 2-shaped exhibition where you explore the console’s design, learn about its features, answer quizzes, and try minigames and technology demonstrations. The examples include controller rumble, the mouse sensor, super resolution, and the rounded edges of the dock.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle | $568.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $619.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The activities turn hardware explanations into things to try: Nintendo says minigames explore mouse controls and HD Rumble 2, while demonstrations include microphone noise reduction and 3D spatial sound. Nintendo Life reported 20 minigames and 14 tech demos in its coverage of Nintendo’s overview trailer; those counts are secondary reporting, not specifications repeated on the store listings. Nintendo Life’s overview gives the reported totals.
Nintendo’s Canadian listing describes a 1.7 GB download with TV, tabletop, and handheld play. The Canadian Nintendo listing identifies it as a Switch 2 title and single-player experience. The New Zealand eShop classifies it as education, simulation, and adventure, and lists multiple language options. The New Zealand listing provides the activity-specific compatibility details.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Is Welcome Tour worth it?
It depends on what you want from it. If you enjoy learning how a device is designed and like short, focused minigames, the exhibit has substance beyond a static tutorial. Nintendo Life reviewer Gavin Lane praised its interesting information, calming presentation, and fun minigames, awarding the European version 8/10 on June 8, 2025. But his verdict on the purchase model was blunt: “This should have been a pack-in.” Read Nintendo Life’s review.
That distinction is the heart of the review: the experience can be good while still feeling like something that belongs in the box with the console. GameSpot’s Steve Watts made a similar value critique on June 16, 2025, describing it as a primer for Switch 2 features whose introductory purpose made a free bundle seem more fitting. Watts disclosed receiving a publisher review code. He reported about four hours of play, collecting all stamps and playing most—not all—of the minigames and demonstrations; that is one reviewer’s experience, not a promised completion time. Read GameSpot’s review.
TechRadar likewise described the experience as lasting a handful of hours and noted that some activities assume access to hardware such as a 4K TV or Switch 2 Camera. That is one reviewer’s assessment of the experience; Nintendo’s listing is the more precise guide to which named activities have requirements. Read TechRadar’s review.
Rank #2
- The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***
Who is most likely to enjoy it?
- Buy it if you are curious about the Switch 2’s design and features, and short experiments and quizzes sound fun even without a larger game narrative.
- Wait or skip it if you mainly want a substantial standalone game, or expect a console introduction to be included with the hardware.
- Check the activity requirements first if you want to complete every minigame and demo: some need particular accessories or TV capabilities.
Should Welcome Tour have been a pack-in?
As a piece of software, Welcome Tour makes a natural first stop for a new console. It teaches through interaction, showing rather than merely listing features. As a separately purchased title, however, it asks buyers to pay for an experience whose clearest purpose is introducing the console they have already bought. That mismatch is why the pack-in argument is persuasive even for reviewers who liked the exhibit itself.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need extra accessories to play Welcome Tour?
No extra accessory is listed as a requirement to launch or generally play the game. Nintendo’s New Zealand listing names requirements for particular activities, though, so some content may be unavailable unless you have the relevant controller, camera, or TV capability.
Rank #3
- 【Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle – Ready to Play】Includes the complete Nintendo Switch 2 console and a full-game download of Mario Kart World, so you can start racing right out of the box. Perfect for gamers of all ages and playstyles.
- 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
- 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
- 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
- 【Powerful Storage & Joy‑Con 2 Controllers】Includes 256 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD), magnetic Joy‑Con 2 controllers, docking station, HDMI cable, AC adapter, grip, and straps — everything you need for the ultimate gaming setup.
| Activity | What Nintendo says is required or supported |
|---|---|
| Facial Impressions minigame | A compatible USB-C camera, such as Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. |
| Open the GL/GR Locks | Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip. |
| 4K Pixel Hunt and Super Mario Bros. 4K (1-1) tech demo | A 4K-capable TV. |
| HDR Fireworks | For TV mode, a TV supporting HDR. Nintendo says it can also be played on the console screen in handheld or tabletop mode. |
| Guess the Frame Rate | For TV mode, a 120Hz TV. The console screen can be used in handheld or tabletop mode. |
| VRR Slider | For TV mode, a VRR-capable TV. Nintendo says TV-mode VRR output was added in a system update released September 10, 2026, and also requires a Nintendo Switch 2 dock update. It can be played on the console screen in handheld or tabletop mode. |
Nintendo also notes that some minigames and tech demos can only be played with a Joy-Con 2 controller. These are requirements for the named activities, not a list of prerequisites for the whole game. If a specific feature is the reason you want to play, check the activity’s requirement before buying an accessory or planning to use a TV setup.
How much storage does Welcome Tour need?
Nintendo’s Canadian store listing gives the download size as 1.7 GB. If your console needs additional storage, Nintendo says Switch 2 supports microSD Express cards only. The Canadian listing states the game’s size, and Nintendo’s New Zealand listing identifies the supported card format. Extra storage is a general console option, not a requirement specific to Welcome Tour.
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