Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $50 more in September 2026, which gives players a few months to buy the system at its current price of $450. That being said, rarely, if ever, do players purchase a brand-new console without getting any accessories or games for it. So ahead of the price bump in September, we’ve gathered up some of Nintendo Switch 2’s greatest must-have extras, add-ons, and games – along with links to each one.
Best Nintendo Switch 2 games
There are three kinds of games you can play on Nintendo Switch 2: standard Switch games that were playable on the previous hardware, upgraded games that run better on the new console, and straight-up Switch 2 games. If you’re just now getting a Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time and need help deciding on a game to buy along with it, here are some of the best ones you can go for at the moment.
- Mario Kart World is the latest long-awaited entry in the Mario Kart series, and it features a huge open world with 32 unique courses and hundreds of intermissions that connect them. It’s also the most skillful entry in the whole franchise: sure, items are still extremely powerful, but the new wall and rail riding mechanics create a high skill ceiling that pairs well with all of the game’s crazy shortcuts. Free Roam could use better unlockables, but it’s a good way to wind down between games or if you’re looking to take a breather. This is a great choice for multiplayer, and it’ll only become even better over time with DLC. At $80, though, the price is rather steep. Mario Kart World is currently available on Amazon.
- Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t the next big 3D Mario game, but it’s just about the next best thing. Donkey Kong hasn’t had his own 3D outing in decades, and Bananza is an excellent return to form. It’s got plenty of content and addictive terrain-smashing gameplay, and while it’s a bit on the easy side, it’s incredibly satisfying and well worth a look for anyone who loves 3D platformers. Donkey Kong Bananza is currently available on Amazon as well, and it retails for $70.
- Pokemon Pokopia is perhaps the most well-loved Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive at the moment. If you love Pokemon and Animal Crossing or Minecraft, Pokemon Pokopia was made for you. In this game, you play as a Ditto in a ruined world and create habitats for Pokemon, who appear and become your friends. You can place blocks just like Minecraft, build big structures, cook food, and fill out your Pokedex. This title offers hundreds of hours of content, and it’ll almost certainly receive DLC in the future thanks to its massive success. Pokemon Pokopia is available on Amazon, but it doesn’t have a true physical release. All it’s got are a digital download and a Game-Key Card, which is a cartridge you insert into your Switch 2 but requires you to download the full game anyway.
- Kirby Air Riders may not appeal to every kind of gamer, but if you love fast-paced action games, this one’s for you. This is technically a racing game, and the Air Ride mode sees you pick a character and machine and speed through a whole bunch of unique courses, including many from the original GameCube game. Kirby Air Riders’ real appeal is City Trial, however, which works like Smash Run from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. The game’s biggest flaw is probably its online, because it’s very difficult to consistently find real-life opponents who aren’t bots. If that’s not important to you, though, this is an easy recommendation. Kirby Air Riders is currently available on Amazon.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom both have Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades that bring them up to 4K resolution and a smooth 60 frames per second. If you never played these titles before, now’s the best time! They’re huge open world adventures that defined the Nintendo Switch generation, though we’d recommend playing Breath of the Wild first and then taking a break before Tears of the Kingdom to avoid burnout. If you’re interested, you can buy the physical version of Breath of the Wild here and the physical version of Tears of the Kingdom here.
Best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories
There are also plenty of great Nintendo Switch 2 accessories to choose from, especially if you play it on the go frequently. If you don’t know this already, the console does not support standard microSD cards, which means you can’t reuse an SD card from a Nintendo Switch. They only support the new microSD Express cards, which feature a much faster write speed and let Nintendo Switch 2 games run better on the console. Here are a bunch of accessories to consider for your new system, plus links to each one.
- Screen protectors are not optional for Nintendo Switch 2. Of all the accessories here, this one is a must-buy, and fortunately, they’re rather inexpensive. There have been reports of screen scratching if you dock and undock the Switch 2 too roughly, making a screen protector absolutely essential to… protect the screen. Both JSAUX and amFilm have solid screen protectors, and both are very affordable. Make sure you get one if you haven’t already!
- microSD Express cards are expensive due to the rising cost of computer components, so one of the best choices is the official Samsung 256 GB microSD Express card. That’ll bring your total storage to 512 GB, and you can save space by buying physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 games where applicable to hopefully make your storage last longer. If you’re looking for a 1 TB card, you’ll be dropping at least $300.
- Thumb grips make Nintendo Switch 2’s joysticks feel even better, especially if you’re using Joy-Con. The top of the sticks can wear out from repeated use, but a thumb grip completely fixes this while improving the feel of the controller. Savage Raven’s set serves as our top recommendation.
- Savage Raven FissionGrip is a fantastic Nintendo Switch 2 grip that improves the feel of the console, has interchangeable handles, and docks without having to remove the case. Plus, you can detach both Joy-Cons with the case still applied. Savage Raven’s equipment is fairly inexpensive as well as generally high quality, making it easy to recommend. You can check out the FissionGrip here.
- Satisfye ZenGrip 2 is a bit expensive, but it’s the best grip option for Nintendo Switch 2 if you have big hands. It does make the console rather heavy, but it’s extremely comfortable and you can still dock it with the case attached. You can’t detach the Joy-Con, however. But if you’re someone who plays almost exclusively in handheld mode, it’s definitely worth a look. You can check it out at the official Satisfye website. We also have a review of it here.
Even though Nintendo Switch 2’s price increases by $50 in September, the cost of these accessories and games should remain roughly the same. In fact, Nintendo has lowered the digital prices of their new games – more on that here.
Are there any games or accessories we missed that you’d highly recommend for your Switch 2? Let us know in the comments down below.
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