Nintendo Switch 2 Preview Event Recap – January 2026

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I braved the frigid weather and snowy streets of Manhattan on January 29th to get a hands-on preview of the latest Nintendo games. Even a recent snowstorm and cold weather warning couldn’t keep me from checking out what Mario and his friends are up to!

When we arrived at the event hall for our scheduled Nintendo session, we first watched a short introductory video. Then, we were divided into smaller groups, each with a host who guided us to the different game stations.

I had the chance to try out several games and a new headset, including Pokémon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, the new Virtual Boy, Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Nintendo Switch 2 (along with its Bellabel Park feature), and Mario Tennis Fever.

Leaving aside my personal passions for Nintendo and amazing New York pizza (especially from Lucia’s!), I was eager to fairly evaluate whether Nintendo’s plans for early 2026 are truly something to look forward to.

I tried out everything at the event, which took about four hours, and I was really impressed with all of it. Here’s a rundown of what happened.

Poking Around in Pokopia

Our group had about an hour to check out the new Pokémon game, Pokopia. Unlike the rest of the event, which was held on the main floor, Pokopia had its own private area set up in the basement.

I had a chance to play through the tutorial by myself, customize my in-game character, and learn the basics of Pokopia. Then, I joined three other journalists to test how well the game works with multiple players.

I’m really excited about Pokopia – I think it’s going to be a massive hit. Even after playing for a full hour, it feels like I’ve only seen a small part of what the game has to offer.

My full thoughts on Pokémon Pokopia can be found in my preview below:

– Pokémon Pokopia Preview

Capcom Corner

After that, my group got to pick what we wanted to try next. We could choose between playing the new Virtual Boy, the updated version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Switch 2, or two new games from Capcom: Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata.

I opted for Capcom first, starting with RE9.

I didn’t review Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Switch 2 either. TopMob has already published a complete review, and you can find it HERE if you’d like to learn more.

Resident Evil Requiem

So, I’d actually already gotten a sneak peek at Resident Evil Requiem over at TopMob. The bit I played at the Nintendo event was the same part – you know, where Grace wakes up all strapped to a gurney and hanging upside down? It’s pretty wild, and honestly, you can find videos of that exact section online if you want to check it out yourself.

I finally got to play RE9 myself, and I really enjoyed it! It runs flawlessly and looks fantastic on the Switch 2. While this particular part felt a bit typical for the series, I can definitely see where they’re going with it, and I’m eager to play more in the near future.

Here’s our previously written preview of this same section of gameplay:

– Resident Evil Requiem Preview

I was really impressed while playing Requiem in Handheld Mode on the Switch 2. It ran surprisingly smoothly, and the graphics looked fantastic even on the smaller screen.

You can find my detailed thoughts on Resident Evil 9, especially how it plays in Handheld Mode, in the section below.

– Resident Evil Requiem Handheld Mode Thoughts

Just so you know, I also showcased the limited edition Resident Evil Switch 2 Pro Controller in my demo. The design isn’t flashy, but I really liked it.

Pragmata

Capcom then showed off Pragmata, and it really highlighted how much they seem to be investing in the Switch 2. Simply put, I think it looks fantastic.

I was worried when the trailer showed Diana doing hacking puzzles during Hugh’s action scenes – it seemed like a strange mix. But surprisingly, it works really well, and it’s actually fantastic!

I think Pragmata absolutely rules.

I’ve had a chance to try the Sketchbook demo, which is currently available on platforms other than Nintendo (and will be coming to the Switch 2 soon). We actually got an early look at it during a TopMob preview, and you can find that preview linked below.

– Pragmata Preview

Similar to the RE9 demo, this was our first chance to actually play the Switch 2 version of the game, and I was incredibly impressed. Honestly, Pragmata might be the best-looking game I’ve seen on the Switch 2 so far. Here are some additional thoughts about it:

– Pragmata Switch 2 Thoughts

We also got a better view of the Diana Amiibo figures that will be released with the Pragmata game. While it’s currently unclear what these figures do in the game, they certainly look impressive.

Heading Back to the ’90s with the Virtual Boy

Next, I checked out the Virtual Boy demo station, which had four headsets displayed on individual red cubes. As someone who grew up in the ’90s and loves Nintendo, I’d always wanted to try the Virtual Boy, and I still hadn’t had the chance after all these years.

I immediately knew, within about ten seconds of putting on the headset, that I would have absolutely loved this as a child, and it’s still incredibly fun to play in 2026. I wasn’t expecting to be so impressed with the Virtual Boy, but it really surprised me. It feels well-made, all seven of the games I tried were enjoyable, and I was disappointed when my time with it ended.

If you want my full experience with the Virtual Boy, click below:

– Virtual Boy Preview

Snack Break (Very Important)

After finishing Pragmata, I grabbed a quick bite to eat. It doesn’t really matter for this story, but I wanted to say that the woman serving the pretzels was amazing – she was a real lifesaver!

The Jalapeno-Cheddar Pretzel with Beer Mustard was a solid 9.5/10, and I miss it already.

Moving on!

Wonderful Mario Multiplayer Madness in Bellabel Park

Once the initial presentations were over, it was our group’s turn for the multiplayer games. We started with Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park. The title is admittedly quite a mouthful, but Nintendo really delivered another fun gaming experience with this one.

The Switch 2 update of Wonder includes some new single-player content, but the biggest additions are in Bellabel Park. This new area offers a wide variety of fun multiplayer activities, both cooperative and competitive.

I tried out a few of these with two friends and a Nintendo representative, who showed us the parts of the game the development team was most excited about.

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I genuinely had the most fun with this group of people at the event. We immediately connected – laughing, celebrating, and playfully teasing each other. It really showed me how amazing Bellabel Park will be once it’s open to everyone.

Here are my full thoughts on my preview of this title:

– Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park Preview

We also got an early look at three new Amiibo figures that will be released alongside the Switch 2 game, Wonder. These include Elephant Mario, Poplin and Prince Florian, and Captain Toad with a Talking Flower.

Nintendo also showed off the upcoming Talking Flower Figurine, which is packed with funny little sayings. I thought it was really cute! You can see and hear it in the video above.

Catching the Mario Tennis Fever

Lastly, my team got a chance to play Mario Tennis Fever, the newest game in a series I’ve always enjoyed, though I’ve had some issues with past installments. I was really interested to see how this latest version, Fever, was coming along before its release.

We had a quick lesson to start, and then my group and I jumped into five matches of doubles – it was seriously a lot of fun! These new Fever Rackets really change things up in a great way, and I’m already thinking this Mario Tennis game could be the best one yet. It just feels so good to play – really balanced, smooth, and there’s tons to unlock with all the characters, courts, and of course, those awesome rackets!

My team had a perfect 5-0 record at the Nintendo preview event, which was a fantastic way to end my time there. The game Fever was a particularly great finale.

My full Mario Tennis Fever thoughts are linked below:

– Mario Tennis Fever Preview

The New Joycons

Just one more thing – I had a chance to see the new Joy-Con controllers that are coming out soon. They’re officially called “Light Purple/Light Green,” but the green is actually more of a teal, cyan, or mint color. I personally like that, as teal is one of my favorites!

Okay, I’ve been checking out the new Joy-Cons for the Switch 2, and honestly, I’ve seen some people saying the colors aren’t a huge leap forward. But seeing them in person? They look really good – super clean and polished. I definitely prefer these over the standard ones that came with the console. I’m a fan, for sure.

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2026-02-11 17:11