Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour isn’t a typical game, and I’m not quite sure if it actually is a game per say. You won’t find boss fights or power-ups. Instead, it’s a guided walkthrough of your new console, with stamp collecting, tech demos, and dozens of short minigames. You explore giant versions of the hardware, including the Joy-Con 2, dock, and accessories, all laid out like a museum exhibit.
It works as both a tutorial and a hands-on showcase. You’ll test HD Rumble 2, try the new mouse-style controls, and interact with audio, motion, and camera features that might otherwise go unnoticed. Even the interface and sound effects give a sense of what the hardware can do.
With that in mind, it’s hard not to feel like this should have come preloaded on the console. Astro’s Playroom was included with the PS5 and served a similar purpose. Welcome Tour feels like it belongs in the same category. You bought the system, so this kind of demo should probably be included.
Some minigames and demos are locked behind accessories like the Pro Controller or camera, which might frustrate completionists. But even with those limits, Welcome Tour does a good job introducing what the Nintendo Switch 2 can do. It’s not meant to blow you away. It’s here to help you get familiar with your console.
Stamping Through Hardware
Welcome Tour builds its structure around exploration. You move through oversized zones based on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, including the Joy-Con 2 controllers, dock, grip, and more. Each area is packed with small pedestals where you collect stamps. You need a set number of stamps to unlock the next zone, so you’re encouraged to check every button, port, or component along the way.
The layout feels like a convention floor. Tiny visitors wander the hardware, some offering tips, others just passing through. You run, jog, or fast-travel between points you’ve already unlocked. Progress slows if you miss a stamp, especially toward the end. A few stamps are tucked into tricky spots like the underside of ports, so it’s easy to miss one and end up circling the same section again.
You start on the left Joy-Con 2, then move through the rest of the system and optional accessories. Some areas, like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or Nintendo Switch 2 camera, appear even if you don’t own them. You can still explore them, but you won’t be able to fully interact with every feature unless the accessory is connected.
It all works as a guided loop. You see the hardware, interact with it, collect stamps, and unlock the next part. It’s simple but effective. I got stuck once trying to find a hidden stamp near the ZL button and spent way too long walking in circles. Even with that, the overall flow stayed relaxed and easy to follow.
Mini-Games and Medal Chases
Minigames are scattered across each zone and tied to Nintendo Switch 2 features. To unlock them, you need medals, which you earn by completing earlier challenges. Some games have multiple tiers, with harder versions unlocking as you progress. Others stand alone but still give you a quick look at what the hardware can do.
One early minigame has you dodging falling spike balls using the Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode. Another uses rumble to help you find the strongest vibration point on a line. These aren’t long or deep, but they’re built around showing you how each feature feels in action. Some, like the speed maze or touchscreen challenges, offer more of a high-score push, especially in later versions.
The mouse controls worked surprisingly well once I had the Joy-Con 2 on a flat surface. I tried playing one game using the arm of my couch, and it worked pretty well. Switching to a table made it feel much better. That kind of physical interaction adds to the experience, but also means setup matters.
Some activities are locked behind accessories like the camera, Pro Controller, or Charging Grip. You can still explore those zones, but the games remain unavailable. Full access isn’t required to finish the main content, but completionists may feel limited.
There’s enough variety to keep things interesting while exploring. Some games are better than others, but the system works. You try, earn medals, and move on. You’re not likely to replay most of them, but they do their job.
Tech Demos and Insight Quizzes
Alongside minigames, each zone features a set of interactive tech demos. These are short experiences that show off specific hardware features, often with no scoring system or challenge. You’ll test things like 3D audio, mic noise reduction, and even how sound effects can play through the Joy-Con 2 itself. The Super Mario Bros. 4K demo is one of the more notable ones, letting you run through World 1 in crisp resolution with full-screen support.
Most of these demos are simple but clear. The HD Rumble 2 test has you use the Joy-Con 2 like a sensor to locate where the vibration feels strongest. The 3D sound helicopter demo circles audio around you as you move the camera. One demo shows how the mic filters noise, while another lets you speak into it with robotic voice effects. Not every feature is exciting, but together they give you a better sense of what the system supports.
Spread throughout the map are info desks with quiz stations. When you reach one, you’re asked to read several nearby Insight boards, then take a multiple-choice test based on what you just read. The format is simple, and most questions have one obviously correct answer. If you miss one, the board is flagged so you can review and try again.
The quizzes aren’t required to finish the game, but they do play a role in completion and unlock tracking. They’re also a way to slow things down between demos and minigames. The information itself is straightforward, usually covering design decisions like button placement, battery management, or cooling systems.
Together, the demos and quizzes round out the experience. You’re not just testing the hardware. You’re also learning what’s inside the Nintendo Switch 2.
Presentation and Accessibility
Welcome Tour presents the Nintendo Switch 2 as a massive, clean showroom. You run across detailed versions of each component, from buttons and vents to docks and straps. The environment have a sterile, polished look. With shiny ports, clean textures, and crisp text. Small NPCs wander the area, adding some life without distracting from the hardware focus.
Each area is clearly labeled, and the fast-travel menu makes it easy to jump between completed zones. Sound design matches the clean look. Menus have soft clicks, and some demos play custom audio through the Joy-Con 2. The touch screen, mic, and camera all get their own moment, depending on what accessories you have connected.
The experience is smooth, but not everything is accessible by default. A few minigames and demos need specific accessories like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller with GL/GR buttons, or a 4K TV. You can still visit those areas and collect some stamps, but you’ll see locked content you can’t complete without extra gear.
Even with those limits, progression isn’t blocked. Most features can be tested with the console alone. The accessory-based content feels more like optional detours than required steps. It’s enough to remind you those peripherals exist, but not enough to prevent you from finishing the main experience.
The overall design is simple, direct, and easy to follow. There are moments where it feels more like a showroom than a game, but the layout supports the goal. Welcome Tour makes it easy to explore each feature without getting overwhelmed or lost.
Good for What It Is, but the Missed Potential Still Shows
By the end, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour delivers exactly what it promises. A clear, hands-on intro to the Switch 2’s features, without overwhelming you. You explore oversized versions of the console’s hardware, collect stamps to unlock new areas, try short minigames, and test out features you might have otherwise overlooked. It’s equal parts tutorial, tech demo, and interactive hardware museum.
There are times when it starts to feel repetitive. Some stamps are hidden in awkward places and can slow down progress. A few of the quizzes feel like filler, especially when they ask you to revisit the same information boards. The minigames have limited replay value, and some are locked behind accessories like the camera or Pro Controller. That might be frustrating if you were hoping to complete everything. Even so, for the asking price, there’s more here than expected.
As I mentioned earlier, it reminds me of Astro’s Playroom on PS5. That game was included for free and helped show off the hardware. Welcome Tour fills a similar role but asks for an extra payment. Considering it’s focused entirely on helping you get to know your system, it feels like something that should have come preloaded.
If you’re the kind of person who likes exploring your gear and seeing what it can really do, Welcome Tour is worth a look. For what it is, and at its low price, it offers a decent and well-structured experience. If that doesn’t interest you, you’re probably better off skipping straight to a full game.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Summary
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour gives you a hands-on look at the Nintendo Switch 2 with guided exploration, feature demos, and minigames. While some content is locked behind accessories and the quiz format can drag, it’s still a useful and well-organized introduction. At its low price, it’s a decent option for anyone curious about what the Nintendo Switch 2 can do.
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