Switch 2 - Upgrade Pack
Image: Nintendo Life

Nintendo has been very bullish about making the transition from the Switch 1 to the Switch 2 as seamless as possible for current owners, so naturally, that means we're seeing a bunch of original Switch games updated for the new system to take advantage of that additional power.

We've got two types* of updates for Switch 1 games: Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, which boast huge performance boosts and exclusive content, and free updates, smaller patches that "improve playability" of select Switch games.

We'll go through every title in each category here, so if you have any that might be gathering dust, now might be time to dig them out.

*There's also a third category of improved games with unlocked frame rates that 'just run better' on Switch 2, without any specific patches or flagging. Batman: Arkham Knight, for instance, is now in a 'playable' state. Result!

Every Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Game And Upgrade Pack

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition titles come in two flavours — these can be bought as a complete physical edition with both the full game and upgrade pack included on one cartridge, or you can buy the Upgrade Pack separately via the Switch eShop. If you already own the game on Switch 1, then you only need to purchase the upgrade pack.

The upgrade packs for the two Zelda titles are available at no extra cost if you're a member of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

There are also several third-party games with a Switch 2 Edition upgrade.

Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Nintendo Switch 2: Every Free Switch 1 Performance Patch

The games listed here have been updated on Switch 2 to "improve playability" and add GameShare where applicable.

Nintendo has broken down what the updates entail:

It's also worth mentioning, by the way, that a number of games were updated for Switch 2's launch, including Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and more.

With the majority of these, Nintendo states that the patch is to simply "improve gameplay" on Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition And Performance Update FAQs

There's been a lot of confusion surrounding these updated versions of Switch 1 games, so we'll be clearing things up for you in this section.

Is the Upgrade Pack included on the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition physical cartridges?

Yes, at least for first-party games.

Third-party publishers and developers have the option to put the upgrade on the cartridge or make it a download code, but Nintendo sticks everything on the cartridge.

Marvelous also includes everything on the cart for games such as Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, too.

How much are Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Packs?

Here are confirmed prices for a handful of first- and third-party Switch 2 upgrade packs in some regions.

We'll list the upgrade pack price for the biggest games below:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - £7.99 / €9.99 / $9.99
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - £7.99 / €9.99 / $9.99
  • Super Mario Party Jamboree TV - £16.99 / €19.99 / $19.99
  • Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World - £16.99 / €19.99 / $19.99
  • Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - £10 / €10
  • Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar - £10 / €10
  • Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time: £2.04 / €2.27 / $2.59
  • Tamagotchi Plaza: £7.99 / €9.99 / $10

The prices tend to depend on the amount of added content in the new versions. The Zelda games focus more on performance enhancements, while Jamboree TV and Star Crossed World both feature extensive new content, with new Switch 2-specific levels and bespoke modes.

Games such as No Man's Sky and High On Life have free NS2 upgrades, too.

How large is the file size for upgrade pack downloads?

That very much depends on the game. The upgrade for Kirby and the Forgotten Land is around 10GB according to Nintendo, with the base game on Switch estimated at 5.8GB and the entire NS2 Edition weighing in at 16.7GB.

The upgrade pack for High on Life is listed as a piddly 3MB...yet the file sizes for the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions are listed as 9.7GB and a sizeable 28.1GB, respectively. So something doesn't quite add up there.

You're getting 265GB internal storage with the Switch 2, so you have some space to accommodate the upgrade pack titles. Be sure to check out our microSD Express guide for the best places to pick up more storage.

Will the free updates also be available on Switch 1?

No. The free updates appear to be leveraging the additional power of the Switch 2 specifically.

As for Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, this has been updated on Switch 2 to allow for GameShare. Games on Switch 1 cannot be shared to other consoles, but if you own a Switch 1, you'll be able to join a GameShare session with someone on Switch 2.

Are upgrade packs available for free on Nintendo Switch Online?

At the moment, only Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are being offered up for members of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Should Nintendo add any more games in the future, we'll be sure to let you know.

Do all Switch 1 games re-released on Switch 2 have upgrade packs?

Not every Switch 2 version of a Switch 1 game is called a 'Nintendo Switch 2 Edition' or has an upgrade path for people who already own the original.

For instance, Sonic X Shadow Generations is an entirely separate release on Switch 2 with no Upgrade Pack or path available. It's a case of buying the whole game again in that case, unfortunately.

Different publishers have different approaches, though. For example, anyone who owns Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 1 will get a discount on the Switch 2 version of the game on the eShop.

If I own a Switch 1 game from a different region, can I buy an Upgrade Pack from another region?

At present, it's unclear if you have to buy an Upgrade Pack from the same region as the base Switch game.

If you own a Japanese physical copy of, say, Tears of the Kingdom, can you buy a US Switch 2 Upgrade Pack? We've reached out to Nintendo for clarification, but at the time of writing, we don't know.

Nintendo's official stance during the Switch era has been "No, DLC will only work with games that are released for the same region as the DLC." However, we know from personal experience that DLC often does work across regions on Switch.

We'll keep you posted.

Will you be trying out any of the games listed above on Switch 2? Which are you most excited to revisit or play for the first time? Let us know, and be sure to check out our ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 guide for all of the resources you need.