It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t launch with a whole lot of big, first-party titles right off the jump. For most Switch 2 buyers, Mario Kart World is going to be doing the heavy lifting until we get to the launch of the next big Nintendo game, Donkey Kong Bananza, on July 17.
But in the meantime, there are still quite a few games you can play that aren’t Mario Kart, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Fast Fusion. I think that one of those other games may fly under the radar, though, and it really shouldn’t, because it’s great, and it’s only $10. It’s called Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and after playing through it, I think it’s a no-brainer buy for any new Switch 2 owners that are looking for other stuff to check out.
The basic concept of Switch 2 Welcome Tour is pretty much what it sounds like: You take a tour of the Nintendo Switch 2 console in the style of an interactive museum exhibit. The thing is, I mean that literally — in the game, you’ll walk through a gigantic version of the handheld, exploring everything from the Joy-Con controllers, to the display, to the Nintendo Switch 2 camera. You can even go under the hood, checking things out like each Joy-Con’s internal chip, cooling vents, and more.
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You literally go *inside* the Switch.
Credit: Nintendo
Welcome Tour is as fun as it is educational. In each area you venture into, you’ll be met with a series of interactive exhibits that are meant teach you about how the Switch 2 works. These activities can take the shape of minigames, tech demos, and quizzes, and delve deeply into features like HD Rumble, mouse controls, and lots more. To get to each area, you’re required to visit and check off each piece of the Switch in your Nintendo stamp book, and by the end, you’ll know your new console inside and out.
The minigames and demos are super quirky and fun.
Credit: Nintendo
It’s a blast to play, and I could see a lot of people skipping it because it costs money and isn’t being pushed by Nintendo as much as their other upcoming flagship games. Yes, I do think it should be free — PlayStation included Astro’s Playroom on every PS5, which was amazing and serves a similar purpose to Welcome Tour — but this is Nintendo, and slapping a price tag on something like this is a very Nintendo thing to do. It’s up to you if you’re willing to accept that, but my opinion is that even at $9.99, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is worth getting. There’s really no better introduction to the newest console on the block.
