Review of the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

So, here we are, looking at Nintendo’s history. They’ve got this knack for nailing it with games packed with their consoles. Remember Super Mario Bros on NES? Or Tetris with Game Boy? Classic! And don’t even get me started on Super Mario World with the Super Nintendo or that whole Wii Sports thing with the Wii. Anyway—what was I saying? Oh, yeah, now with the Switch’s win-song still playing, they’ve dropped the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. It’s this odd mix between a cute little oddity and, well, a fancy instruction manual.

How do you get people hyped about a new console when they can play their old games on it? Well, you start showing off what’s shiny and new, duh. That’s kinda what Welcome Tour is going for. You wander around this tiny model version of the console, collecting stamps from all over. Think controller buttons, console fans, dock ports—random, but it makes sense. Each area lets you dive deeper into the next console part or gadget. There’re little factoids to read, quizzes to keep you on your toes, and mini-games just to flaunt the Switch 2’s chops. Didn’t expect the HD Rumble to be so beefed up, but it is. Oh, speaking of surprises, using the Joy-Con like a mouse? It felt pretty smooth. Though, my recliner arm didn’t make the best desk. Go figure.

Now, here’s the kicker. You can’t play all the mini-games unless you’ve got this USB camera thing or the latest Pro Controller. Ugh, kinda annoying, but whatever. Most stuff works out of the box, so it’s not a total bummer. And for the completionists, there are medals up for grabs in these games, unlocking even more stuff to do. Some games are timed, just to add a little spice and let you chase those high scores. Because who doesn’t love a good score chase when they’re done poking around the console, right?

The big picture? Welcome Tour’s way more packed than I thought. It gives a solid, hands-on feel of what Nintendo Switch 2 can do. I’m itching to dip back in, little by little—there are tougher versions of games to conquer, and those quizzes? Gotta ace ’em, obviously. The tour’s pretty chill, like it sticks around just long enough. But you know what? It almost feels like it should’ve been a bundle with the console, just not quite as iconic as those other pack-ins. Yet, in our age of “please no manuals,” the Welcome Tour’s like this handy walkthrough. In the end, I’ve got a much better handle on what my new Switch can pull off—and yeah, that kind of eases the sting of that empty wallet.