Key Takeaways
- The Switch 2 plays the overwhelming majority of Switch 1 games, both physical cartridges and digital downloads, without any changes needed.
- A small list of games will not work on Switch 2 because they depend on hardware features the original Switch had that the new console removed or changed.
- Nintendo publishes an official list of incompatible games on its website, and you can check it before buying a Switch 2 or a game you want to play.
- Physical game cards from Switch 1 work the same way on Switch 2 as they do on the original console — just insert and play.
- Digital games you own on your Nintendo account transfer to Switch 2 when you log in, so you do not lose your library when you upgrade.
Which Games Do Not Work on Switch 2
Nintendo has identified a small number of Switch 1 games that are not compatible with Switch 2. The list includes titles like 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2023, Fitness Boxing, and a handful of others — fewer than 10 games in total. These games do not work because they were built to use features of the original Switch that no longer exist or function the same way on Switch 2.
The main reason for incompatibility is the Joy-Con controllers. The original Switch's Joy-Cons have specific motion-sensing and vibration hardware that some games relied on heavily. Switch 2's Joy-Cons are different, and games that depended on the exact behavior of the original controllers cannot run. Nintendo publishes the complete list of incompatible games on its official support website, and you can check it before you buy a Switch 2 or decide whether to keep playing those titles on your original Switch.
If you own one of the incompatible games, you still own it — it just will not launch on Switch 2. You can continue playing it on your original Switch, or you can sell or trade the game. There is no refund process for games that become incompatible when you upgrade.
How Physical Game Cards Transfer to Switch 2
Physical Switch 1 game cards work on Switch 2 exactly as they do on the original console. You take the cartridge, insert it into the game card slot on Switch 2, and the console reads it. There is no conversion, no download required, and no registration step — the game simply runs.
This means your entire physical library moves with you to Switch 2 without any action on your part. If you have 50 Switch 1 games on cartridges, all 50 will work on Switch 2 (except for the small incompatible list). You do not need to buy them again, and you do not need to do anything special to make them work.
How Digital Games Transfer to Switch 2
Digital games you own on your Nintendo account are tied to your account, not to your original Switch console. When you set up Switch 2 and log in with the same Nintendo account, your digital library becomes available on the new console. You can download and play any game you previously purchased, just as you could on Switch 1.
The transfer is automatic — you do not need to request it or pay anything. Your save files for digital games can also transfer if you use Nintendo Switch Online cloud backup, which stores your progress online. When you log into Switch 2 with your account, you can download those save files and pick up where you left off.
If you share your Nintendo account with family members on your original Switch, those arrangements do not automatically carry over to Switch 2. You will need to set up account sharing again on the new console if you want the same people to have access to your digital games.
What Happens to Your Save Files
Save files for most Switch 1 games will transfer to Switch 2 if you use Nintendo Switch Online, which is Nintendo's subscription service that includes cloud backup. When you enable cloud backup on Switch 1, your progress is stored online. On Switch 2, you log in with the same account, and you can download those save files to continue playing where you left off.
Games that do not support cloud backup — a small number of titles, mostly older games — will not transfer automatically. For those games, your save files stay on your original Switch. If you want to keep playing on Switch 2, you will start fresh. Nintendo does not offer a way to manually transfer these saves between consoles.
Checking Compatibility Before You Buy Switch 2
Nintendo maintains an official list of incompatible games on its support website. You can search for any game you own or plan to buy and see whether it will work on Switch 2. The list is short — fewer than 10 titles — but it is worth checking if you have a large library or if you are concerned about a specific game.
If you are buying a new game and you plan to upgrade to Switch 2 soon, you can check the list before you purchase. If the game is on the incompatible list and you care about playing it on Switch 2, you might choose a different title instead. For most games, this will not be a concern — the vast majority of the Switch library works on both consoles.
Performance and Graphics on Switch 2
Switch 1 games run on Switch 2, but they do not automatically look better or run faster. Switch 2 has more powerful hardware than Switch 1, but games built for the original console are not designed to take advantage of that extra power. A game that ran at 30 frames per second on Switch 1 will still run at 30 frames per second on Switch 2 — it will not jump to 60 frames per second just because the console is faster.
Some developers may release updates to their games that unlock higher frame rates or better graphics on Switch 2, but this is optional and not automatic. You will see these improvements only if the developer chooses to add them. For most games, you will get the exact same experience on Switch 2 as you had on Switch 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy my games again for Switch 2?
No. Physical game cards work on Switch 2 without any changes, and digital games you own are tied to your Nintendo account, so they transfer automatically when you log in on Switch 2. You do not need to repurchase anything.
What if I own one of the incompatible games?
You can continue playing it on your original Switch. There is no refund, and the game will not work on Switch 2. Nintendo's official list shows which games are incompatible, so you can check before you upgrade.
Will my save files move to Switch 2?
Yes, if you use Nintendo Switch Online cloud backup. Your progress is stored online and downloads automatically when you log into Switch 2 with the same account. Games without cloud backup support will not transfer saves.
Do Switch 1 games run better on Switch 2?
No. Games run at the same frame rate and graphics quality on Switch 2 as they did on Switch 1, unless the developer releases an update specifically for Switch 2. The new console is more powerful, but older games are not designed to use that extra power.
Can I play physical and digital games on Switch 2?
Yes. Switch 2 has a game card slot for physical cartridges and can download digital games from the Nintendo eShop. Both types work the same way they did on Switch 1.