Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Review

By Kevin Mitchell  |  Jun 12, 2025

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which essentially functions as a hands-on guide to the console, comes with a $10 price tag. This decision feels a bit odd, given that the software aims to teach users about the features they've just invested in. Despite this, it's a well-crafted experience that offers valuable insights into the Switch 2's potential.

Let me be clear: I don't hate Welcome Tour. In fact, I found myself genuinely enjoying large chunks of it. Welcome Tour acts as a digital exhibition, presenting numerous mini-games and demonstrations that highlight the Switch 2's new features. HD Rumble 2 delivers impressively precise vibrations. The magnetic Joy-Con 2s snap together with deeply satisfying clicks. The 120Hz display capabilities genuinely impress when you see them in action.

The mini-games surprised me with their depth. What starts as simple diversions gradually ramps up into legitimate challenges. Piloting a UFO through obstacles with the new Joy-Con mouse controls starts easy but becomes genuinely demanding. Successfully completing the mini-game where the strongest vibration is located, like finding the strongest rumble along a line, demands focused attention on the controller's feedback. Getting all the medals on some of these activities requires actual skill and practice.

Navigating a maze using the mouse controls presents a challenge requiring precision and speed, demonstrating the fine control offered by this new feature What's clever is how Welcome Tour teaches you that these mouse controls without needing a traditional desk setup. The included attachments let you use the Joy-Con as a mouse on whatever surface is handy. The innovative mouse control feature allows you to use the Joy-Con on a variety of surfaces, offering remarkable flexibility in gameplay. It functions decently enough for these mini-games, though I'm skeptical about playing a full-length title this way. These mini-games are more than just simple demos; they're thoughtfully crafted challenges designed to showcase the hardware's capabilities while offering genuine gameplay.

Even the educational aspects have their moments. Seeing World 1-1 from Super Mario Bros. displayed at true one-to-one pixel scale across an entire 4K screen is genuinely cool, though Nintendo inexplicably didn't include the full game. Learning about the dock's engineering proves fascinating. For instance, one rubber foot features a special plastic section designed to stay put normally but slide rather than topple if a cable gets yanked. These engineering insights make you appreciate Nintendo's attention to detail.

Not everything lands. Stamp collecting remains the worst offender. You hunt for hidden stamp locations that only appear when you're practically on top of them. Some celebrate exciting features like the magnetic connectors, while others discuss the various ports, buttons, and triggers. The mechanic tests patience more than it educates. The quizzes feel more like memory tests than actual learning opportunities, asking you to regurgitate facts you read moments earlier. There's a paint-themed activity that somehow makes using the touchscreen feel like a chore rather than a showcase.

During an extended session, I found myself surprisingly absorbed. I methodically worked through Welcome Tour's checklist, chasing three-star ratings and uncovering every secret. The completionist structure can be oddly satisfying when you dedicate focused time to it. Each medal earned and challenge completed feeds into that "just one more" mentality.

But this is fundamentally a one-time experience. Unlike proper games, nothing here warrants revisiting once you've seen everything. The activities that seemed engaging during that initial playthrough feel thin when competing with actual Switch 2 games for your attention.

The real issue isn't quality; it's principle. Sony bundled Astro's Playroom with every PS5, treating it as a celebration and thank-you to early adopters. Nintendo's decision to charge for Welcome Tour, especially given the Switch 2's high price point, feels like a missed opportunity for goodwill. This is exactly the kind of thing that should have been a "thanks for buying our new console" gesture.

Some content requires additional accessories. You'll need the camera for certain demos. Either a Pro Controller 2 or Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip unlocks other activities. While slightly annoying to see locked content, the approach makes sense. Why demonstrate features for hardware you don't own?

Simply Put

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is actually not bad. It's polished, occasionally challenging, and does an admirable job showcasing what makes the Switch 2 special. As interactive instruction manuals go, this is probably the gold standard. But that $10 price tag transforms what should have been a delightful bonus into a questionable purchase. After dropping $450 on the console itself, being asked to pay extra for the privilege of learning what it can do still stings.

For Nintendo diehards or anyone genuinely curious about their new hardware's capabilities, Welcome Tour delivers enough charm and substance to justify a few hours of your time. Everyone else should save their $10 for actual games, and that’s not a knock on the talented team that developed the package. Nintendo delivered a solid, enjoyable tech showcase. I can easily see this become an added bonus to either of the tiers of Nintendo Switch Online.