TL;DR: Yes, it works. You can play a Switch 2 Edition game on a Switch 1 today, and if you upgrade to a Switch 2, the enhanced version will be there waiting for you.

The Switch 2 is here, but not everyone has made the jump yet. If you’re still playing on an original Switch and somehow ended up with a Switch 2 Edition game, whether you accidentally bought it yourself or received it as a gift, your first instinct might be to return it. And while that’s totally reasonable (Switch 2 Editions are more expensive), you might be surprised to learn that you can pop that cartridge into your Switch 1 and the game will still run just fine.

You can play it today on your current Switch, and if you eventually upgrade to a Switch 2, the enhanced version of the game will be waiting for you.

How Switch 2 Edition games differ from Switch 2 exclusives

Switch 2 Edition games are different from full Switch 2 exclusives. Instead of being locked to new hardware, these cartridges include both the original Switch version of the game and a Switch 2–specific upgrade on the same card. When you insert the cartridge, the console simply reads the version it knows how to run. On a Switch 1, that means you get the base Switch experience.

Pop that same cartridge into a Switch 2, though, and the system installs the enhanced version. That can mean higher resolution, improved performance, faster load times, or other system-level upgrades made possible by the newer hardware.

Because of this, there’s less risk in buying the “wrong” version of a game than you might think. While you won’t be able to take full advantage of the Switch 2 enhancements on older hardware, a Switch 2 Edition still lets you play the game now and carry it forward when you eventually upgrade. If you don’t plan on getting a Switch 2 at all, though, the Switch 1 version is clearly the smarter (and cheaper) choice.

And it works both ways - accidentally buying a Switch 1 version of a game for your Switch 2 doesn’t necessarily mean an immediate run back to the store either. In most cases, you can simply download the Switch 2 upgrade separately from the eShop and play the full Switch 2 version of the game, modern enhancements and all.

Hopefully this clears up some of the confusion around Switch 2 Edition games. Whether you’re sticking with your current Switch for now or planning to upgrade later, the important thing is knowing what you’re buying and how it’ll work on your hardware today and in the future. At Genki, we know this stuff can get confusing, especially when new hardware enters the mix.

If you’re planning to upgrade, check out our accessories for Switch 2 for an elevated gaming experience.