Do Switch 1 games work on Switch 2? Backward compatibility explained
By Daniel del Moral Hernández · Updated October 7, 2026
Yes, almost all of them. Nintendo says that “Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital games released on the Nintendo Switch system”. Switch 1 cartridges go in the same slot as Switch 2 cartridges, and your digital library carries over.
The exceptions
Nintendo also warns that some games “may take longer to become playable, may experience partial functionality issues, or may not be supported”. Five titles are named as not usable on Switch 2:
- Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit, because the console does not fit the cardboard accessory
- Niconico
- ABEMA
- Hulu
- Crunchyroll
Some other games need the original Switch Joy-Con, because they rely on features the Joy-Con 2 do not replicate.
How to check a specific game
Every Switch game page on Nintendo’s website shows its compatibility with Switch 2, and Nintendo recommends checking it before buying a Switch 1 game to play on Switch 2. Nintendo has also been fixing individual games through updates, so a game with issues at launch may work fine now.
Some Switch 1 games get better on Switch 2
A group of Switch 1 games received a free Switch 2 update that improves frame rate, resolution or HDR. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, for example, usually run at 60 FPS on Switch 2 with it.
Other games have a paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade instead. The difference is explained in Switch 2 Edition, upgrade packs and free updates.
Storage
Switch 1 games you download take space on the Switch 2’s 256 GB storage just like Switch 2 games. The storage calculator includes the free-update games, so you can plan your whole library.
Free updates vs paid upgrades, in numbers
Not every Switch 1 game gets a Switch 2 improvement, but quite a few do. GameSpecsDB tracks 43 Switch 1 games with a Switch 2 update or Edition, and in October 2026 half of them (22) improve for free, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. The rest have a paid upgrade pack, from $2.49 to $19.99. The details are in Switch 2 Edition, upgrade packs and free updates.
The difference can be large. Link’s Awakening, for example, ran at 720p docked with an unstable 60 FPS on Switch 1. On Switch 2, with the free update, Digital Foundry measured 1620p on the TV and a locked 60 FPS.
Games without any update still run better
Even Switch 1 games with no specific update often benefit from the more powerful hardware: games that use a dynamic resolution or an unlocked frame rate can hit their targets more often. This depends on how each game was made, so the improvement is not guaranteed. A game that is locked to 30 FPS on Switch 1 stays at 30 FPS on Switch 2 unless it gets an update.
Physical Switch 1 games
Switch 1 cartridges hold the full game and work in the Switch 2 cartridge slot. That means:
- You do not need to download the game, only its updates.
- You can lend, sell or trade the cartridge as before.
- If the game has a paid Switch 2 upgrade, the pack works while the original cartridge is in the console.
Moving your digital library
Digital Switch 1 games are tied to your Nintendo Account, so you can download them again on a Switch 2 from the eShop without paying twice. Nintendo also offers a system transfer, which moves your games and save data from the old console to the new one in one go. Save data only moves with the system transfer or with Nintendo Switch Online cloud saves, so do one of the two before you reset or sell your old Switch.
Storage for Switch 1 games
Switch 1 games are usually small by Switch 2 standards. Of the Switch 1 games with free updates in our database, most need under 12 GB, and some, like Big Brain Academy (0.7 GB) or Captain Toad (1.6 GB), barely register. Paid Switch 2 Editions are the exception, because they often add higher-resolution assets: Kirby and the Forgotten Land grows from 5.8 GB to 16.7 GB.
Common questions
Do Switch 1 games need the internet on Switch 2? No. A Switch 1 cartridge plays offline, just like on the original console.
Can I use my old Joy-Con? Yes, the original Joy-Con work with the Switch 2, and a few games need them.
Do Switch 1 games go on a regular microSD card? No. On Switch 2, every game, including Switch 1 games, must be installed on the internal storage or a microSD Express card.
Source: Nintendo: Nintendo Switch game compatibility with Nintendo Switch 2.