If you know me, then you know I love handheld gaming. The OG Switch is what brought me back to gaming because it so easily allowed me to play when and where it was convenient for me. It didn't hurt that Breath of the Wild was my first foray back into gaming either. What a masterpiece of a game. I eventually got a Steam Deck as well, but it never captured the same level of magic. Don't get me wrong, I've put tons of hours on it and would highly recommend it, but Nintendo's IP just hits different.

When the Switch 2 was announced, I thought the hardware looked great but I wasn't overly excited about the launch lineup of games. I wasn't planning on pre-ordering it. One fateful night when I couldn't sleep, at around 2 AM, someone posted they were back in stock at an online shop. I woke up the next day with an email confirming my order. I swear I blacked out and am sticking to that story.

I got my device on release day, a first for me, so it was quite a bit of fun to be part of all the hype. The hardware was exactly what I thought it was going to be: a bigger and better Switch. People complain that Nintendo didn't innovate much, but those same people probably complained that the OG Switch was too much of a risk. I love it though. It feels good to hold; even with the much larger display, it is still very portable, and docking it to the TV just feels more natural than it did on the Steam Deck.

Since then, I've put many hours into Mario Kart World (my Quick Take). I've also tried the new versions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Splatoon 3, No Man's Sky, and yes, even Fortnite. Every game ran amazingly well, without any of them seeming to give the Switch 2 a challenge. Despite my Steam Deck having a much larger library, it has been collecting dust since. There is something about the Switch form factor that just feels more at home for me, and this is coming from a born-and-raised PC gamer.

I highly recommend the device, especially for busy gamers. It still has that winning formula of the OG Switch that made getting in and out of a quick gaming session so easy and brought me back for more when life lets me. I will also recommend that if you get one, the new Pro Controller is hands down the best controller I have ever used. I can't even describe it; you have to feel it for yourself. I'm sure different hands will feel differently, but I've seen many people echoing my take. Overall, Nintendo has another hit console in my opinion, and as long as they pump out the first-party games we know and love, and we get improved third-party support as well, I don't see how that would change.

Happy Gaming!!