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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Nintendo’s May 29, 2025 announcement named 12 Nintendo Switch games receiving free enhancements for Nintendo Switch 2, with the updates scheduled to begin June 5, 2025. The changes vary by game: they include visual and frame-rate improvements, HDR, GameShare, and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. These are free software updates, not paid Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs.
Which 12 games are getting free Switch 2 updates?
Nintendo’s US announcement listed these games and set June 5, 2025 as the date their Switch 2 enhancements would begin:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Pokémon Scarlet
- Pokémon Violet
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
- Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
- ARMS
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
- Game Builder Garage
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Nintendo’s announcement names all 12 titles. The detailed feature descriptions below come from Nintendo UK; the announcement does not say that every game receives every type of enhancement.
What changes with each game?
Nintendo’s listed updates include a mix of visual, technical, and play features. Its UK page specifies the following changes for these titles:
#1 Best Overall
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
| Game | Enhancements Nintendo lists |
|---|---|
| ARMS | Visuals optimized for the Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs, frame-rate optimization, and HDR support. |
| Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | Improved visuals, HDR, and two-player GameShare. Nintendo describes local sharing with a Switch 2 or Switch, or online sharing with another Switch 2 through GameChat. |
| Game Builder Garage | Improved visuals and Joy-Con 2 mouse-control support. |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet | Improved visuals and frame rate. |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | Improved visuals and frame rate; HDR in Bowser’s Fury; GameShare for up to four players in Super Mario 3D World and two in Bowser’s Fury. |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Improved visuals, HDR, and two-player GameShare: one player controls Mario and the other controls Cappy. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Improved visuals and HDR. |
| Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Specific enhancements are not stated in Nintendo UK’s cited feature descriptions. |
HDR in TV mode requires an HDR-compatible display. For GameChat-based online sharing, Nintendo lists an internet connection, paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, and mobile phone number registration as requirements. Children also need parental approval through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. These conditions apply to the relevant features, not to downloading every free update.
How to download the free updates
- Connect your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet.
- Perform a system update on the console before downloading game updates, as Nintendo’s US instructions require.
- While online, launch an eligible game from the HOME Menu. When an update is available, the console prompts you to download it.
Nintendo describes the enhancements as free updates. If you already own a compatible physical or digital copy, the announcement does not require buying another copy or a separate paid upgrade pack to get these updates.
Rank #2
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
- A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
- Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
Are these paid Switch 2 Edition upgrades?
No. Nintendo’s announcement identifies these 12 titles as receiving free enhancements. Nintendo Support separately distinguishes free game updates from paid upgrades offered for some other games; the two should not be confused. Check the individual game’s update information for what it offers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Will every Nintendo Switch game work on Switch 2?
No universal compatibility guarantee is given. Nintendo Support says Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games, while warning that some software may not be supported or may not be fully compatible. The 12-game update announcement does not change that broader compatibility caveat. See Nintendo’s compatibility guidance for details.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Rank #3
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
Official Nintendo information
- Nintendo of America: announcement, game list, date, and download instructions
- Nintendo UK: title-specific enhancements and feature requirements
- Nintendo Support: Switch and Switch 2 compatibility
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
