About Nintendo Critic

Short version: we check 518 Switch 2 games for what's actually in the box, whether your Switch 1 games still work, and what upgrades cost, and we show our sources on every page.

Who runs this site

Nintendo Critic is run by Mike Johnston. My day job is running the tech side of The Kitchen Magpie, a food blog. I built this site because the Switch 2 made buying a boxed game confusing: some cartridges hold the whole game and some are just a key to a download, and the box doesn't always make that clear.

The site is independent. It isn't affiliated with Nintendo or any publisher, and nobody pays for a verdict.

How a game gets checked

For each game I look at the publisher's announcements, the Nintendo eShop and retail listings, and press coverage, and record whether the boxed version is a full cartridge, a game-key card or a code in a box. Where that only comes from press reports so far, the page says so until a store listing confirms it. I use AI tools to help find and read those sources, and each game page links the sources behind it so you can check them yourself.

Reviews and verdicts

We don't copy review text or publish aggregate scores. The review roundup links each outlet's own review with a one-line summary in our own words, and links to Metacritic and OpenCritic if you want the averages. Our verdict is about whether the Switch 2 version is worth buying, especially if you already own the game on Switch 1.

Where the release data comes from

Release dates, publishers and the list of upcoming games come from IGDB and publisher announcements, re-checked every day. Dates for smaller games can move, so treat the coming-soon list as a guide.

How we make money

Buy buttons link to Amazon. If you buy through them we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change what we say about a game.

Corrections

Publishers change cartridge types between regions and print runs, and patches fix compatibility problems. If you spot something wrong, email hello@nintendocritic.com with a link or a photo of the box and we'll fix it.