Games the Switch 2 Rescued: Biggest Performance Jumps
From unplayable to unstoppable. These 12 games saw the most dramatic performance improvements when moving from Switch 1 to Switch 2.
Some games barely survived on the original Nintendo Switch. Frame rate drops, muddy visuals, and painful load times turned otherwise great titles into frustrating experiences. The Switch 2 changes everything. Thanks to its more powerful hardware, backward compatibility alone fixes many of these problems, and official patches push things even further.
We dug through the SwitchDB ratings to find games that jumped from Silver or Copper on Switch 1 to Diamond or Gold on Switch 2. These are the titles that saw the most dramatic transformations.
Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta 3 was one of the most technically ambitious games on the original Switch, and it showed. PlatinumGames' action spectacular frequently dipped below its 60fps target during intense combat sequences, often hovering around 50fps and dropping even lower during flashy special attacks. Audio desync issues would sometimes pop up during longer sessions.
On Switch 2, the game hits a locked 60fps during all gameplay moments. The audio desync bugs are gone, and load times are dramatically faster. This is the way Bayonetta 3 was always meant to be played.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen was one of the worst-performing games on the original Switch. Long loading screens, sluggish turn processing, and choppy frame rates made the tactical experience more painful than any alien invasion. Many players gave up on the Switch version entirely.
Switch 2 transforms it into the portable XCOM experience fans always wanted. Frame rates are dramatically improved, load times are cut down significantly, and the game finally feels responsive. It still has occasional crashes, but the core gameplay experience has been completely rescued.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
2K Games
Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row: The Third targeted 30fps on the original Switch and could not even maintain that consistently. Open-world chaos with explosions and vehicles sent the frame rate tumbling, making the chaotic sandbox gameplay feel sluggish rather than thrilling.
On Switch 2, the game runs at 60fps nearly all the time. With dynamic resolution enabled, visual quality stays sharp while the doubled frame rate makes the open-world mayhem feel completely different. It is one of the most impressive backward compatibility transformations on the system.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 pushed the original Switch to its absolute limits. The massive open environments struggled to maintain a stable 30fps, and the dynamic resolution scaling frequently dropped to preserve performance. Texture pop-in and long fast-travel loading times were constant companions throughout the 80+ hour adventure.
Switch 2 keeps the frame rate much closer to a stable 30fps, and the dynamic resolution stays at the higher end of its range. Monolith Soft also released a dedicated compatibility update (version 2.2.1) to further optimize the experience. The game still has room to grow with a full Switch 2 patch, but even the current improvements make a real difference.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds had one of the roughest Switch ports in the console's history. The resolution was so low that players joked about seeing the game through a blurry filter. Textures were muddy, character models were simplified, and pop-in was everywhere.
Switch 2 delivers massive loading time improvements. Title screen loads dropped from 55 seconds to 28 seconds, save file loads went from 79 seconds to 25 seconds, and fast travel times were cut by two-thirds. The visual quality issues from the original port still linger without a dedicated patch, but the speed improvements alone make revisiting Halcyon far less painful.
Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal was an impressive technical achievement on the original Switch thanks to Panic Button's port work, but compromises were unavoidable. The dynamic resolution scaled aggressively to maintain 30fps, and cutscenes ran at just 20fps. For a game built around split-second reactions and constant movement, every frame drop was felt.
On Switch 2, the game locks to a stable 30fps with the dynamic resolution staying at its maximum level at all times. Load times that used to take 20+ seconds now finish in just a couple of seconds. The Slayer's crusade finally feels as smooth as the soundtrack demands.
Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 launched on the original Switch with severely downgraded visuals that became an internet meme. The resolution was extremely low, character models were simplified, and menus crawled. For a fighting game where visual clarity and responsiveness matter, these issues were hard to overlook.
Running on Switch 2 via backward compatibility, the game looks dramatically better. Resolution is noticeably higher, the blur that plagued the original version is greatly reduced, and menus are far more responsive. A Definitive Edition with full Switch 2 optimization has also been announced, promising even further improvements.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was one of the first major RPGs to test the Switch's limits back in 2017. In handheld mode, the resolution could drop to shockingly low levels during combat, making it hard to read text or appreciate the detailed character designs. Frame rate instability during large battles was a recurring frustration.
Switch 2 hardware gives the game room to breathe. The dynamic resolution stays higher, frame rates are more stable, and the overall experience is noticeably smoother. For fans who bounced off the original due to performance issues, this is a great reason to return to Alrest.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ran respectably on the original Switch, but performance would dip in dense areas and during large battles. Bethesda went a step further with the Switch 2 by releasing update 1.2, which adds separate Performance and Visual Quality modes.
Performance Mode targets 60fps by adjusting resolution and level-of-detail settings. Visual Quality Mode maintains 30fps with higher resolution and better draw distances. The update also fixes several crash bugs. For a game that has been re-released on seemingly every platform, the Switch 2 version might finally be the definitive portable Skyrim.
Shin Megami Tensei V
Shin Megami Tensei V had noticeable performance problems on the original Switch, particularly in certain open areas like the Fairy Village where frame rates would tank. Menu scrolling could feel sluggish, and loading between areas took longer than expected for a JRPG.
On Switch 2, the game achieves a much more stable 30fps during both exploration and combat. Load times are significantly faster, and the frame rate drops that plagued specific areas are mostly eliminated. The overall experience feels more polished and responsive, even without a dedicated Switch 2 patch.
Bakeru
Bakeru is a charming 3D action platformer inspired by Japanese folklore. On the original Switch, it suffered from inconsistent frame rates that could make platforming sections feel imprecise, a real problem for a game where timing matters.
Switch 2 hardware eliminates these issues entirely, delivering a rock-solid experience that lets the colorful art style and tight level design shine. It is one of the hidden gems that benefits most from the hardware upgrade.
Bakeru
Good-Feel
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Pokemon Legends: Arceus was Game Freak's ambitious open-world experiment, and the original Switch struggled to keep up. The game targeted 30fps but constantly dropped below that during exploration, battles, and especially when traversing the larger open areas. Frame pacing issues made movement feel uneven.
On Switch 2, the game locks to a stable 30fps with no drops in docked mode. The stutters that were a constant presence on the original hardware are gone, and frame pacing is significantly improved. Visual limitations like pop-in and low draw distances still remain without a dedicated patch, but the smoother performance alone transforms how the game feels to play.
What Makes the Difference?
Most of these improvements happen automatically through backward compatibility. The Switch 2's more powerful processor and GPU allow games with dynamic resolution scaling or unlocked frame rates to hit their targets consistently. Games that targeted 30fps but frequently dropped now hold steady, while games with unlocked frame rates can push to 60fps.
Some developers have gone further with official Switch 2 patches. Bethesda added dedicated performance modes to Skyrim, and Monolith Soft released an optimization update for Xenoblade Chronicles 3. These patches show what is possible when developers actively take advantage of the new hardware.
If you have any of these games collecting digital dust in your library, it is worth revisiting them on Switch 2. The experience might surprise you.
