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Yes. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a separate digital purchase from the Nintendo eShop, not a game Nintendo announced as bundled with the console. It launched on June 5, 2025, alongside Switch 2. You need the Switch 2 console to play it.
What is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour?
Nintendo describes Welcome Tour as a virtual exhibition that introduces the Switch 2 system. It uses tech demos, minigames and other interactive activities to help players learn about the console. Nintendo’s announcement does not specify a complete activity count.
| # | 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 |
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The game is an optional way to explore the hardware, not the console itself or a requirement for using Switch 2. Nintendo’s launch announcement described the title as available to buy from the eShop on launch day: Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch announcement.
Is Welcome Tour included with Switch 2?
No. Nintendo said Welcome Tour would be available to buy in the Nintendo eShop, which makes it a separate purchase rather than an included console pack-in. The official sources cited here do not establish a physical game edition.
#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
When did it launch?
Welcome Tour released on June 5, 2025, the same date Switch 2 launched. Nintendo’s investor presentation confirms the title’s release date: Nintendo investor presentation.
What do you need to play it?
You need a Nintendo Switch 2. Welcome Tour is presented as a Switch 2 experience, so anyone who already owns the console does not need to buy another system. If you do not own one, the console is the hardware purchase to consider; Nintendo of America announced a U.S. launch suggested retail price of $449.99 in 2025. That is the launch MSRP, not a current price quote. The system has 256 GB of internal storage and supports additional storage through microSD Express cards. Nintendo notes that Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Switch games, although some titles may not be supported or fully compatible. See Nintendo of America’s Switch 2 announcement.
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
What does Welcome Tour cost now?
The sources cited here establish that Welcome Tour is a paid eShop title, but they do not establish its current title-specific price. Nintendo’s U.S. pricing guidance says that, beginning in May 2026, new Nintendo-published digital games exclusive to Switch 2 have an MSRP different from their physical versions; retailers set their own prices. That policy does not give Welcome Tour’s current price. Check the Nintendo eShop listing for the price applicable to your region: Nintendo’s U.S. Switch 2 pricing guidance.
Is the paid tour worth considering?
Welcome Tour is for players who want an interactive introduction to Switch 2’s features, rather than only reading about them or trying the system’s built-in functions. Nintendo identifies tech demos, minigames and other interactions, but the cited official materials do not quantify how much extra value or play time they provide. Whether that format is worth a separate purchase depends on how much you want a guided, hands-on introduction.
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
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.
