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[GoldenEye Samurai]

Yeah, so I finally got a Switch 2, but I had loaded up TMNT: Splintered Fate from my virtual game cards and it looked terrible. I have two physical Sonic Switch games, but now I'm afraid to open them because I don't understand if all Switch 1 games will look like that other than the Switch 2 Upgrade versions.

There's a lot of Switch 1 games I want, so could someone please help me with this? I mean, why did the new Demon Slayer game drop on Switch 1 instead of Switch 2? I want that, but I can't imagine it being visually bad.

 

[Baemono]

Thread 'Improved Switch 1 games on Switch 2'

Jun 9, 2025

As discussed in the OT, this thread is to gather all infos about Switch 1 games that run better on Switch 2.

As the system is out now, we can see that games that have dynamic resolution scaling and or unlocked framerate maxes usually their target resolution and framerate. Games that are supposed to run at a fixed resolution and/or framerate don't go beyond that.

It is also important to note that the games reproduce docked/handheld mode for Switch 2's dock/hanheld mode - the games don't run on docked configuration in Switch 2 handheld mode, lowering the target resolution and/or framerate...

• Baemono
• Replies: 304
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

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[Panajev2001a]

Thread 'Improved Switch 1 games on Switch 2'

Jun 9, 2025

As discussed in the OT, this thread is to gather all infos about Switch 1 games that run better on Switch 2.

As the system is out now, we can see that games that have dynamic resolution scaling and or unlocked framerate maxes usually their target resolution and framerate. Games that are supposed to run at a fixed resolution and/or framerate don't go beyond that.

It is also important to note that the games reproduce docked/handheld mode for Switch 2's dock/hanheld mode - the games don't run on docked configuration in Switch 2 handheld mode, lowering the target resolution and/or framerate...

• Baemono
• Replies: 304
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

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In handheld mode this means having the system upscale from 720p to 1080p (or worse depending on the native resolution of the game themselves).

 

[Salmon]

No. games does not look bad on SW2 compared to SW1 hardware.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

In handheld mode this means having the system upscale from 720p to 1080p (or worse depending on the native resolution of the game themselves).

Surely Switch 2 in handheld mode would be capable of running Switch 1 games in docked mode.

 

[Panajev2001a]

Surely Switch 2 in handheld mode would be capable of running Switch 1 games in docked mode.

It would, but it does not as Nintendo did not feel like it. They sell boatloads like this so we get what they feel like doing .

 

[howitis3]

All my switch 1 games run better on my switch 2. But look the same unless there is an upgrade. Some switch 1 games run really bad and the switch 2 made them much better

 

[PeteBull]

Yeah, so I finally got a Switch 2, but I had loaded up TMNT: Splintered Fate from my virtual game cards and it looked terrible. I have two physical Sonic Switch games, but now I'm afraid to open them because I don't understand if all Switch 1 games will look like that other than the Switch 2 Upgrade versions.

There's a lot of Switch 1 games I want, so could someone please help me with this? I mean, why did the new Demon Slayer game drop on Switch 1 instead of Switch 2? I want that, but I can't imagine it being visually bad.

Bro, u got youtube, simply check how those games look there, particulary switch1/2 versions before u make purchase, for higher fidelity games yt compression is pretty nasty and actually reduces graphic fidelity of those games if we compare yt vid vs actual footage when u play it on ur tv/monitor but switch1 and even most of switch2 games arent at that point yet.

 

[Robb]

I'm not sure what to tell you, it's a Switch (1) game so it'll look like a Switch (1) game.

 

[Onironauta]

Surely Switch 2 in handheld mode would be capable of running Switch 1 games in docked mode.

Nintendo would never do that as it can cause compatibility problems

Imagine if the Switch 1 game doesn't let you use the touch screen in docked mode, stuff like that

But if Switch 2 is hacked that would be implemented quickly

 

[Onironauta]

I'm not sure what to tell you, it's a Switch (1) game so it'll look like a Switch (1) game.

Some games would look worse than on Switch 1 due to non-integer scaling

 

[Robb]

Some games would look worse than on Switch 1 due to non-integer scaling

That'd only apply in handheld mode though, I'd assume?

 

[playbignbox]

In docked mode, they all run better, both in performance and visuals.

In handheld mode, they all run better in terms of performance (more stability). But visually, it depends on the game. Some with dynamic resolution run well, but others with locked low resolution look worse because the Switch 2's screen is larger.

 

[Panajev2001a]

That'd only apply in handheld mode though, I'd assume?

Yes and no. Depending on your TV and how good it is at upscaling vs Switch 2 doing it for you it could look a bit worse in docked mode too. I guess it will have to do also with your device output resolution when docked.

 

[Onironauta]

That'd only apply in handheld mode though, I'd assume?

Yep

 

[ItsGreat]

I read somewhere that if you start gamechat whilst playing a 720p game and select the medium game chat view the 720p scales perfectly.

 

[Harlock]

Is like playing DS games on 3DS. The new screen will not upscaling even, making 2D games blurrier.

 

[Codes 208]

I'm not sure what to tell you, it's a Switch (1) game so it'll look like a Switch (1) game.

This. From my experience, Smash bros is still 720ish in portable mode even on the 2

Games that are designed to run on the switch are still gonna look as such on the 2 (assuming they havent been updated to take advantage)

The only real differences youll get are the games that had frame issues (like hyrule warriors) or dynamic resolutions (which should max at their highest potential settings on the 2)

 

[duck_sauce]

Yeah, so I finally got a Switch 2, but I had loaded up TMNT: Splintered Fate from my virtual game cards and it looked terrible. I have two physical Sonic Switch games, but now I'm afraid to open them because I don't understand if all Switch 1 games will look like that other than the Switch 2 Upgrade versions.

There's a lot of Switch 1 games I want, so could someone please help me with this? I mean, why did the new Demon Slayer game drop on Switch 1 instead of Switch 2? I want that, but I can't imagine it being visually bad.

The screen size changed but the resolution did not (in most cases).
Flaws become more visible.

 

[Kataploom]

I think some games might look bad because they look less blurry now and show some jaggies and dithering and other artifacts that weren't visible before due to the low resolution and Max output of 1080p.

From the ones I remember myself:
- Smash looks slightly more jaggied, it was native 1080p so maybe the output resolution was upscaled and it showed a blurrier image? Idk.

- Spyro looks slightly sharper, which now makes the dithering of the motion blur more visible, I saw nothing of that before when I played on Switch 1 like a couple years ago, I remember it being blurry but that was it.

 

[Lokaum D+]

No, they run at 4k@120hz, Switch 2 is a beast

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Some of the VNs I bought for the Switch 1 look a bit blurry on the Switch 2 in portable mode because of the HW upscaling from 720p to 1080p, so I'm playing/reading them on the Switch OLED instead (glad I kept it!).

 

[BlackTron]

No, they run at 4k@120hz, Switch 2 is a beast

If I made a comment like "PS5 is a beast and runs Bloodborne at 120FPS...LOL!!!" I'd be see as clinically retarded but by all means, keep going.

 

[BacklashWave534]

Yeah, Xenoblade Chronicles X looks pretty bad on switch 2. The screen is bigger, and higher res which is going to make those lower res games look worse. Nintendo just needs to patch them.

 

[keefged4]

Nintendo cant be arsed editing the .ini files on Switch 1 games to increase the resolution and remove he 30fps lock, because why would they? They already have your money. They were extremely generous in providing the free patches they already have, I wouldn't expect more. They'll sell them to you further down the line.

 

[Kacho]

Depends on the game, but yeah it's a problem.

Dead Cells and Age of Calamity looks fookin' dreadful in portable mode. Muddy ass picture.

Less demanding games like shmups and picross look fine.

 

[Darkness_Arises]

Yeah, Xenoblade Chronicles X looks pretty bad on switch 2. The screen is bigger, and higher res which is going to make those lower res games look worse. Nintendo just needs to patch them.

All XC games look horrid in portable mode and barely tolerable on a big screen. Nintendo should have released upgrades for these games on release.