My Nintendo Switch 2 Experience
- Simply Jelly Jam
- May 13
- 7 min read
Reminiscing on a memorable experience at a fun event.
I attended the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in Dallas, Texas in April 2025. I had a blast playing different games, most of which I would never have tried if not for the event!
In case it's helpful, below are the main points covered in this post:
Before I Went
In early January 2025, I entered for my chance to be selected to attend the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in Dallas, Texas. I almost did not do so because I believed luck was against. My Dad encouraged me to enter because I had nothing to lose if nothing came of it.
Surprisingly, I received a confirmation email stating that my entry was selected!
There were six things I wanted to accomplish during the event:
Test the magnetic strength of the Joy-Con attachment to the screen.
Check to see if the kickstand was sturdy.
Decide if the Joy-Con charging grip was right for me.
Play Mario Kart World (like, duh).
Play a few new-to-me games to see if they were worth purchasing.
My Dad suggested a multi-day trip in Dallas so that I could meet up with a friend I have not seen in years. It was convenient to stay at a hotel close to the Embarcadero Building at Fair Park, the location of the event.
Queuing for the First Session
I arrived about an hour early at the event. The wannabe gamer in me felt stoked! The socially awkward introvert felt nervous. Fortunately, my desire to play video games I would never try otherwise gave me enough hype to get in line early.
Before I reached the queue line, I was stopped by people wanting to buy extra tickets for the session. They waved hundreds of dollars in cash before my eyes while begging me to take them up on their offer.
Maybe some people would have given up their ticket in exchange for cold, hard cash, but I am a weirdo who valued the experience more than money. I apologized, wished them luck, and headed to the line.
My social anxiety kicked in. A part of me wanted to take off and forget about the event. However, digital drawing and eavesdropping on other people's conversations helped me feel less anxious. I listened as people spoke about their favorite influencers (Arlo was name dropped many times), unsuccessful attempts to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2, and debates about the best Nintendo games ever.
We went through a security (bag check and metal detector) before queuing again indoors.
Seeing the Console In-Person
The first area attendees entered had jumbo screens playing Nintendo Switch 2 advertisements and glass cases that displayed the console, accessories, and product packaging for the console and console bundled with Mario Kart World.
Lines formed for a chance to hold an unpowered Nintendo Switch 2 in hand. The guy in front of me tried pulling the Joy-Cons from the screen. As several influencers said in their reviews, it took quite a bit of force to pull the Joy-Cons from the screen. It seemed like the magnets used were strong enough to keep the Joy-Cons in place with less wiggle than the current Nintendo Switch. (There is some wiggle, but barely noticeable.)
The kickstand's thinness and bendy flexibility did not convince me that it was sturdier than the one on the Nintendo Switch OLED. Unlike the kickstand on the Nintendo Switch V2, there is no chance for the screen to topple over when placed on a tabletop. I only hope the newer kickstand does not break easily.
The weight of the console pleasantly surprised. It was lightweight and felt good in my hands despite its larger size. I can imagine myself holding it comfortably for those times when I am unable to set the screen on a tabletop or have it docked to a TV.
Before moving on to the next area, we were told to partner up for Mario Kart World's Grand Prix.
Playing Mario Kart World
We started the experience with Mario Kart World's Grand Prix (100cc). My partner and I were able to play against one another twice using the Joy-Con charging grip. My partner gushed about how vibrant the colors were and how sharp the game's imagery appeared on the TV screen. I decided that the charging grip felt comfortable in my hands and worth buying eventually.
Playing Mario Kart World was fun! Of course, I may be a bit biased because I have played and enjoyed Mario Kart for decades. Grinding is a new feature I enjoyed testing out. I also enjoyed doing multiple air tricks and gliding when possible.
We also played a solo Grand Prix race (100cc) holding the console in hand. Despite the big security device attached to the console, it felt lightweight and comfortable to hold in my hands. The slightly larger screen size was noticeable, and the colors were more vibrant than the current console.
We moved to another area where we competed against other players in the Knockout Tour using the new Pro Controller. I did not expect to like the Pro Controller! It was lightweight and felt more comfortable to hold in hand than the charging grip. If I could only buy one accessory for the Nintendo Switch 2, it would be a carrying case. But if I could buy one more accessory, it would be the Pro Controller! Other game controllers are a bit too big for my hands, but the Pro Controller seemed just right.
I had a chance to free roam before the Knockout Tour started. I tested the new rewind feature and cruised the open waters for several minutes. As a mostly cozy gamer, I was excited to experience free roam. I think of it as a sandbox mode for when I want to determine my own objectives for gameplay or wander aimlessly because I can.
Knockout Tour (100cc) was a ton of chaotic fun with so many players in the race! I can imagine myself playing Knockout Tour so often until I eventually (hopefully) win first place.
Playing Donkey Kong Bananza
Because I have not played a Donkey Kong game in decades, I was not hyped to play Donkey Kong Bananza. Once I started, I quickly realized that I enjoyed smashing things and trying different button combinations to see what would happen.
A staff member tried to guide me, but I was so engrossed in doing what I wanted. Yes, there are objectives, but I can see how a player would treat some of the levels as a sandbox mode of sorts. It may turn out to be a great stress relief for some.
Before my allotted time with the game ended, I watched a cut scene that showed several characters that have not been announced by Nintendo. It seems that Donkey Kong has more important things to do besides collecting shiny bananas.
While I do not plan on purchasing the game this summer, I would not mind adding it to my game library in the future.
Playing Other Games
We were allowed to play six games. Our attendee badges were marked for each game we played. A clock displayed the amount of time we had to complete our six games.
I played the following games:
Drag x Drive using mouse controls.
Super Mario Party Jamboree using the camera.
Super Mario Party Jamboree using mouse controls.
Civilization VII using mouse controls.
Hogwarts Legacy using Joy-Cons.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land using the Joy-Cons and charging grip.
The camera did a great job identifying and 'following' four players. The guidelines on screen made it easy to determine where I needed to stand to play a mini game. I also did not have to stand so close to a stranger, but we were close enough that the guy to my right could have smacked me in the face if he chose to swing his arm out.
The mouse controls took me a while to get used to, but it worked well. The left or right sticks could be used as a scroll wheel which proved useful while playing Civilization VII. I can see myself using mouse controls for third-party games I would normally only play on PC, like Two Point Hospital.
I do not know the reason why, but our allotted time in the last area was repeatedly extended. A staff member informed me that selected games no longer required marking on our badges. Legend of Zelda's Tears of the Kingdom, Welcome Tour, and multiple GameCube games did not count towards our six. I guess there were so few people in attendance that our allotted play time and game count did not matter.
I did not play any of the 'bonus' games, but I did stick around to watch others play the games I did not initially select to play. I left after spending over three hours at the event.
My Takeaway
I physically got to take away a Nintendo Switch 2 backpack and sticker! The sticker resides in my journal/diary. The backpack will become my primary laptop bag for future travels.
I surprised myself by having a great time and a memory that will last forever (or until my mind decays)! The socially awkward introvert in me wanted to abandon the event before it started but realizing that I was surrounded by other dedicated Nintendo fans helped calm me and ease my mind.
Did the event convince me to get a Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day? Nope. As a longtime Nintendo fan, I already knew I wanted the console when it and the Mario Kart World bundle were officially announced. I did not need the event to convince me that I will (hopefully) have one in my possession on launch day! However, the event exposed me to a few accessories and games I may consider buying.
What's Next?
If you are interested in learning more about the Nintendo Switch 2, I highly recommend checking out what others have to say about their own Nintendo Switch 2 Experience... experience.
Comment below to share whether or not you plan on getting the Nintendo Switch 2 around launch day!
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Thanks, and have a great day!
~Simply Jelly Jam
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