Review of the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

When Nintendo threw out the announcement for the Switch 2 Welcome Tour – one of those launch titles for the new Switch 2, my curiosity was piqued. Picture this: a game that’s like a manual you can actually play, kind of like the IKEA instructions but with mini-games and quizzes inside, all set to show off the Switch 2 hardware. Wild concept, right? This only Nintendo could brew up. But then… they slapped a $10 price tag on it instead of bundling it for free. My hype took a nosedive. Still, it’s part of the exclusive launch lineup, so I decided to give it a fair shot. Spoiler: Even my low bars of expectation got disappointed.

So here we go. The Welcome Tour unfolds over blown-up versions of Switch 2 gear – like you’re walking over colossal Joy-Con 2 controllers and across giant touchscreen arenas. The whole thing kind of channels Astro’s Playroom vibes, remember that entertaining freebie with the PS5? But where Astro was a joyful romp, Welcome Tour felt more like a snooze-fest that has the audacity to charge you a tenner. Blasphemy, right?

The mini-games? Most of them barely scratch the surface, think simpler microgames than WarioWare’s antics. You’re done with one in the blink of an eye, jumping straight into the next. Unlocking more “advanced” versions doesn’t make them any more fun. One game where you dodge spike balls as a UFO – using Joy-Con 2’s mouse feature – does evolve, requiring star collection. Yay? It never really gets exciting, though.

Now through these games, you keep encountering Joy-Con 2’s mouse feature, sometimes switching up with touch controls or repositioning your console’s stand. Oh, and some games? Locked unless you’ve got extra accessories. Absurd, right? It’s like this checklist challenge but you can’t even complete it without splurging further. Yep, you might need an extra controller with GL/GR buttons and a camera. Nice move, Nintendo.

Speaking of which, some tasks need that Switch 2 Pro Controller or a Charging Grip, and there’s a camera requirement elsewhere. Sure, it could work with third-party USB-C cameras. In theory. Then there’s this camera game that was a headache to start, spent 20 minutes fiddling before it got going. And the Pro Controller game? It told me I was pressing buttons I wasn’t even near. Joy.

Sometimes, the mini-games throw a bone, offering a smidge of amusement when they actually function. But tech demos, though, steal the limelight. They insist they’re not games, but they’re genuinely creative drips in this sea of dull. A cool one makes you flip the Joy-Con 2 like motorcycle handlebars, and suddenly, you’re revving up the throttle. HD Rumble 2 tech is impressive here, lights a spark of real potential.

After navigating HD Rumble 2 brilliance, you dive into quizzes. Yep, it’s got quizzes every now and then to spice up life or rather kill enthusiasm. I started skipping them, which helped the flow. Quizzes beside the point, the main task is finding “stamps”, highlighting console parts and pushing you forward. Finding stamps isn’t exactly challenging or engaging, so no added fun there.

The main gripe? This Welcome Tour feels like a $10 ad for console accessories. Strolling through Joy-Con 2 Wheel Area, some NPC goes on about waiting for the kids to ask for it so they could use it. Uh, what? Coupled with the game blocking content behind accessories, let’s just say my appetite soured.

If Welcome Tour had just been free, swallowing all this would’ve been less painful. Instead, it demands more investment, literally, to access extra content, functioning as a premium-priced infomercial. Makes me want to roll my eyes into another dimension.

Found all stamps in about three hours, spend 20 minutes at war with the camera. There are some positives, regardless. Those giant-sized gadgets looked pretty cool, with more content on offer than I guessed. But full completion means grabbing extra gear and diving into those quizzes and mini-games. Not my cup of tea, but something to kill time while waiting for better Switch 2 titles to drop.

In summary: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is all show, no substance, but you might find it worth peeking at if you’ve nothing better to do on the Switch 2 front.