These Fast Cash: Tip Tap’s Coin Spree, where players must collect as many coins as possible while traversing courses; Knock ’em Back: Bubble Blaster, which involves knocking opponents into lava with bubble guns; and Run, Hide! Phanto Tag, a Prop Hunt meets hot potato-style challenge where players seek each out and pass on the cursed Phanto mask from Super Mario Bros. 2.

Thankfully, that’s not all, as Nintendo teased other new content like the return of the Koopalings, new levels with a focus on Captain Toad, and Bellabel Flowers to collect. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. As with other enhanced Switch 1 titles on Switch 2, a paid Upgrade Pack will be available for current owners.

For more on Super Mario Bros. Wonder, one of the best side-scrolling platformers available now, check out our review.

Some of the games getting these updates are The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (version 1.4.0), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (version 1.8.0), Pikmin 3 Deluxe (version 1.1.2), Super Mario Bros. Wonder (version 1.0.2), Kirby’s Dream Buffet (version 1.0.0a), Kirby Star Allies (version 4.0.0a), Super Mario 3D All-Stars (version 1.1.2), Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (version 2.2.1), Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (version 1.2.0), and ARMS (version 5.51), among others.

All of these updates revolve around giving these games improved performance for the new console over how they ran on the original Switch. Along with performance boosts, quite a few games are also getting access to new features, including GameShare and even support for HDR displays.

The Switch 2 will be hitting store shelves on June 5.

Patch notes for Nintendo Switch games to run on Switch 2:

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, the voice content will use the language you select in the in-game options.
• Added support for the Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju amiibo.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, the voice content will use the language you select in the in-game options.
• Added support for the Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju amiibo.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Version 1.8.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, if you select the Match System Settings option in the game, the voice content will use English.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, if you select the Match System Settings option in the game, the voice content will use English.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe – Version 1.1.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Partially alleviated an issue that occurs when playing on Nintendo Switch 2 where the entire screen flickers during some scenes in the game, such as when a day starts and ends.
• We will be releasing an update in the near feature to fix this completely.
• Note: An update addressing the problem above has not been distributed for “Pikmin 3 Deluxe Demo ver.” However, we plan to perform the same fix as the full game in a future update.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Version 1.0.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.

Kirby’s Dream Buffet – Version 1.0.0a

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The version number in the lower right of the software title screen is still Ver. 1.0.0. The version number displayed in the software menu on the HOME Screen will display 1.0.0a if the update is applied.

Kirby Star Allies – Version 4.0.0a

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The version number in the lower right of the software title screen is still Ver. 4.0.0. The version number displayed in the software menu on the HOME Screen will display 4.0.0a if the update is applied.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars – Version 1.1.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The software update is required to play on Nintendo Switch 2.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Version 2.2.1

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.

ARMS – Version 5.51

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Frame rate: Optimized for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with 3 or more players). Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• *Compatible with Ver. 5.4.1 for “local communication” and “LAN play”. Not compatible with Ver. 5.4.0 or earlier for “local communication” and “LAN play”. Please be aware of the versions of each other’s update data.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for GameShare.
• Party Mode content can be played with up to 4 users.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “GameShare” on the mode selection screen after launching the software. They can then choose to use GameShare with Local Users or with GameChat members.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• Two people can play all the courses, and each person can have their own unique display that is easier to see.
• The person sharing can press the – button on the title screen or course select screen or go to “Partner Adventure” in the pause menu and select “GameShare + Local Play” or “GameShare + GameChat.”

Club House Games: 51 Worldwide Classics – Version 2.0.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added Korean as a supported language.
• Added support for GameShare:
• You can play 34 kinds of games with up to 4 players.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “GameShare” from the main menu, then “Via GameChat” or “Play With Local Users”.
  The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added Korean as a supported language.
• Several other adjustments and revisions have been made to improve the gameplay experience.
• Note: Update data with the above content will also be distributed for the demo “Clubhouse Games: Guest Pass” as Ver. 2.0.0d.

Game Builder Garage – Version 1.1.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Added support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. Up to 8 Joy-Con 2 can be used. (As up to now, 1 USB mouse can be used, as well.)
• As a result of improved processing speed, there may be some changes in behavior in games that were made previously on Nintendo Switch.
• Note: An update is also available for the Game Builder Garage Demo version to support the content above (Ver. 1.1.0).

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Frame rate: Optimized for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser’s Fury).
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness (Bowser’s Fury only). Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• You can play “Super Mario 3D World” with up to four people. Press R on the course select screen for “Local/Online,” and then choose “GameShare + Local Users” or “GameShare + GameChat.”
• In “Bowser’s Fury,” two players can play, with one controlling Mario while the other controls Bowser Jr. Once you can control Mario, press the + button to open “Menu,” and then choose “Local/Online,” and then choose “GameShare + Local Users” or “GameShare + GameChat.”
• Note: Does have local user compatibility with Ver. 1.1.0. Does not have local user compatibility with Ver. 1.0.0. Please be careful of the update version on each player’s system.

Super Mario Odyssey – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• Two players can play, with one controlling Mario while the other controls Cappy.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “Resume 2P” on the title screen or “Two Players” on the Pause menu, then select “GameShare + Local Play” or “GameShare + GameChat”.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening – Version 1.1.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Re-writing the rulebook of its already wildly creative, ultra-successful predecessor Breath of the Wild was no easy task for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom but this sequel is proof that lightning can strike twice. A vertically expanded Hyrule, deeper combat, and bold additions in the shape of the new Zonai devices gave fresh power to twist and mould practically any object which takes Link’s fancy. A towering achievement on Nintendo’s aging console.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

It’s safe to say that Nintendo knocked it out of the park with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, knitting together a complex web of intertwining systems with mechanics that let you express your creativity to the fullest resulting in an experience like no other. It takes everything that worked in the original, and amps it up to eleven – be it Link’s powers, the size of the open world, or the many options for tackling a dungeon or boss fight. Despite a few technical hiccups owing to the hardware limitations, Tears of the Kingdom is easily one of the best games that you can experience on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld.

Resident Evil 2 (2019)

Like the original, the time required to beat the Resident Evil 2 remake can be deceptive for first-time players. You can easily breeze through a single character’s story in ten hours, six if you’re good enough. However, getting the entire story requires playing as Leon and Claire, complete with exploring both routes. Still, if you want an incredible survival horror with great gunplay and visuals, this is more than a given.

Signalis

Known for its cryptic story-telling, Signalis from rose-engine is a survival horror throwback, with players investigating a strange facility for answers. Despite the overhead perspective, it has manual aiming, plenty of back-tracking and a retro aesthetic that’s gorgeous to behold. Perhaps best of all, you can finish it in less than 10 hours, though there are some additional extras and endings.

Sunset Overdrive

Before Insomniac Games became the Marvel’s Spider-Man game studio, it released Sunset Overdrive. The bombastic art style, the approach to movement and style over straightforward third-person shooting, and best of all, the enjoyable setting all made for an incredible experience. You’ll want to complete the story for its set pieces and boss fights, but there are tons of optional challenges, side quests, and collectibles in Sunset City.

Cuphead

Studio MDHR’s Cuphead is the perfect mix of challenging and run ‘n’ gun action, replete with memorable bosses. Each has unique hooks and mechanics, whether you’re fighting Grim Matchstick through the skies or experiencing Sally Stageplay’s lethal drama. It’s all brought to life by the rubber hose-style visuals rife with details and an incredible old-timey soundtrack. Even if you ignore all the secrets and Expert Mode, it’s a tough but worthwhile action platforming journey.

Mafia Definitive Edition

The Mafia series faced scrutiny when 2K Games released Definitive Editions for the second and third games, effectively introducing new bugs and worse performance. However, Mafia Definitive Edition is a proper remake that added motorcycles, a rebalanced difficulty (and Classic for those who wanted it closer to the original), and Free Ride Mode. Don’t go into this expecting a Grand Theft Auto-scale adventure, and the narrative should more than carry you through.

Metro: Last Light Redux

Before Metro Exodus offered bigger levels with crafting on the go, Metro: Last Light Redux built on what the first game did best: A post-apocalyptic setting with tout pacing, terrifying mutants and excellent gunplay. As Artyom, players are caught up in a civil war weeping the metro and must sneak, assassinate and slay their way to survival. Be careful, though, as a morality system will influence the ending.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

MachineGames’ sequel to Wolfenstein: The New Order has some nagging concerns with its level design, but the story-telling, characterization and gunplay are fantastic. The campaign sees B.J. Blazkowicz on a journey, once more, to battle the Nazis by unloading copious amounts of bullets into their foot soldiers (whether you play stealthy or not). From Manhattan to Venus, there’s much to see in this epic campaign. Perhaps the only real downer is that it’s followed by Wolfenstein: Youngblood.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

You can complete Nintendo’s acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Wonder within 10 hours or so, and that’s very much intentional. The side-scrolling platformer is rife with incredibly designed levels and excellent new power-ups like Elephant Form and the Drill Hat, while the Wonder Flowers dramatically change levels in trippy and exciting ways. Still, those who want more can collect all the Flower Coins, Wonder Seeds, and more while experimenting with different Badges.

Gears of War 3

Gears of War 2 was beloved but came dangerously close to jumping the shark at many points. Gears of War 3 brought things back on track while introducing new mechanics, weapons, enemies and impressive set-pieces to set up the potential end of the world. If you’re only in it for the story-telling, there’s more than enough great content. However, the revamped Horde Mode and its tower defense-like mechanics also provided plenty of reason to stick around.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

From a confused project under Kojima Productions to one of the most beloved hack-and-slash titles under PlatinumGames, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is unmatched in many ways. The boss battles, the characters, the story, the memes, the parry mechanics and Blade Mode allowing players to dismember enemies – it all came together so well. Its length was criticized, but those who want more nowadays can pick it up with all the DLC and armor sets for even more fun.

Dishonored

Dishonored is Arkane Studios at its finest. An imaginative setting with astounding visuals rife with political intrigue and betrayal, not to mention a plague threatening to overtake it all – perfect for a supernatural assassin. As Corvo, the framed bodyguard to the slain Queen of Dunwall, players were tasked with discovering the truth. It meant lots of sneaking and slaying, but you could get creative with your approach, acting chaotically or bypassing missions without ever being seen. It’s an essential title for stealth fans that’s as tightly paced as they come.

Ori and the Blind Forest

As beloved as games like Hollow Knight can be, it’s nice to have options that don’t demand around 30 hours to experience the story, like Ori and the Blind Forest. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that the aesthetics and music are simply awe-inspiring or that the level design is meticulous and the controls responsive. Whether on a mission to restore the forest or going out of your way to unearth all its secrets, Ori and the Blind Forest is a tight-knit journey.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

With Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 being about as long as the first game and promising a focused narrative, it’s easy to forget just how great Senua’s Sacrifice is. Roughly six years later, it still boasts cutting-edge visuals and facial expressions with an emotional narrative centred on Senua’s tortured state. Hellblade is precise, unforgettable and powerful, telling its story without overstaying its welcome.

Batman: The Enemy Within

Before its bankruptcy and eventual reformation, Telltale Games’ titles varied in quality. Batman: The Enemy Within is a standout though, improving on the first season’s writing, narrative and decision-making. Its take on the Joker is surprisingly refreshing as he works with Batman as a vigilante, depending on the player’s choices or against him. The gameplay may still feel more rigid compared to some more contemporary narrative adventures, but Batman: The Enemy Within is still worth playing.

Quantum Break

Will a standard playthrough of Quantum Break offer all the answers for its time-bending adventure? Probably not, but it’s an enjoyable journey regardless, backed by Remedy Entertainment’s penchant for gorgeous graphics and an immaculate presentation. Opinions are mixed on the TV side of the story, yet the third-person combat and abilities are on point. It’s not Remedy’s finest work, but it still provides an intriguing narrative with some solid performances by Aiden Gillen and Shawn Ashmore.

Obviously, the one game that the game was probably in most direct competition with was fellow megaton sidescrolling platformer Super Mario Bros. Wonder, launching just three days apart- and that close proximity of releases has impacted Sonic’s sales, according to Sega.

Sega recently published an official English translation of its most recent quarterly Q&A with investors (caught by VGC), where, upon being asked about Sonic Superstars’ lower-than-expected sales, the company pointed to how close its launch was to “competing titles in the same genre”.

“Although Sonic Superstars has generally been well received by those who have played it, the timing of the launch coincided with competing titles in the same genre, and it has been short of the initial forecast,” Sega said. “The strategic expansion of Sonic IP is progressing well, and we will continue to work to increase repeat sales of this title.”

There was a significant gap in the critical reception for Sonic Superstars and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which is likely to have contributed to the disparate commercial performances of both games, with the former sitting at a Metacritic score of 73, and the latter at 92.

As of December 31, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has sold nearly 12 million copies worldwide. It is the fastest-selling Super Mario-related title to date.

Later this year, Sega is set to release another Sonic game in the form of Sonic X Shadow Generations, an expanded remaster of 2011’s Sonic Generations that will include an entirely new, standalone campaign focused on Shadow the Hedgehog.

As of December 31, 2023, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has sold 11.96 million units worldwide, having been on the market for less than three months at the time. Nintendo announced in November that the game had sold 4.3 million units in its first two weeks, becoming the fastest-selling Super Mario-related title to date, and clearly, it’s kept on selling at an impressive rate since then.

Updated sales numbers have also been announced for other recent Switch releases like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario RPG.

In our review of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, we awarded it a score of 10/10, saying, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder lives up to its name and delivers one of the most joyous and inventive 2D titles the Mario series has ever had.” Read the full review through here.

Those promotions also benefited Mortal Kombat 1, as it re-entered the charts in third place. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate remained fourth, even with sales dropping by 27 percent. Another interesting re-entry is It Takes Two at 10th, thanks to a 52 percent sales increase.

As for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, it fell to fifth place with sales down by 36 percent. Other noteworthy re-entries include Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and Red Dead Redemption 2, though they only reached 21st and 22nd place instead of breaking into the top ten.

Check out Gfk’s top ten best-selling physical titles in the UK for the week ending January 13th below.

On the software front, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was the best-selling game of the year in Japan, with over 1.9 million copies sold. Other fellow new Nintendo releases also performed well, with Super Mario Bros. Wonder taking the No. 2 spot (over 1.5 million units sold), Pikmin 4 coming in at No. 3 (over 1.1 million units sold), Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe sitting at No. 7 (over 514,000 units sold), and Super Mario RPG bringing up the rear at No. 10 (over 447,000 units sold).

Square Enix’s Dragon Quest: The Dark Prince also performed quite well, selling over 510,000 units over the course of the year for a No. 5 finish in the annual charts. Notably, however, fellow Square Enix title Final Fantasy 16 failed to make it into the top 10.

On the hardware front, meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch was, unsurprisingly, the best-selling console of the year in Japan, having sold over 4 million units. It’s followed in second place by the PS5, and the two are separated by quite some margin, with the PS5 having sold over 2.5 million units- which was still a notable increase over what it managed in 2022 (more than double, in fact), owing to its supply constraints finally easing up this year. Xbox Series X/S performed poorly in Japan once again, selling just 141,000 units throughout the entire year.

In total, hardware spending in Japan in 2023 stood at 267.49 billion yen (up from 209.78 billion yen in 2022), while software spending stood at 136.38 billion yen (down from 165.04 billion yen in 2022). Overall, the gaming market’s spending in Japan in 2023 was 403.88 billion yen (up from 374.82 billion yen in 2022).

You can check out Japan’s full software and hardware charts for 2023 below.

2023 software sales (followed by lifetime sales):

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 1,929,603 (1,929,603)
2. Super Mario Bros. Wonder – 1,549,401 (1,549,401)
3. Pikmin 4 – 1,119,027 (1,119,027)
4. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – 907,432 (5,246,363)
5. Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru! – 795,681 (795,681)
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 617,223 (5,631,598)
7. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe – 514,581 (514,581)
8. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince – 510,477 (510,477)
9. Splatoon 3 – 503,312 (4,191,126)
10. Super Mario RPG – 447,687 (447,687)

2023 hardware sales (followed by lifetime sales):

• Nintendo Switch – 4,062,609 (31,786,656)
• PS5 – 2,587,468 (4,964,857)
• Xbox Series X/S – 141,712 (540,107)

Pikmin 4 comes in at No. 3 with over 78,000 copies sold, followed by Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince in fourth place with over 77,000 units sold, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at No. 5, having moved over 53,000 copies over the course of the tracking period.

On the hardware front, unsurprisingly, the Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in the region for the two-week period, selling over 168,000 units. PS5 followed behind in second place, but it trails by quite a margin, with its sales less than half of what the Switch managed, at over 81,000 units.

You can check out the full hardware and physical software sales charts for the two-week period ending December 31 below.

Software sales (followed by lifetime sales):

1. [NSW] Super Mario Bros. Wonder – 221,738 (1,549,401)
2. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru! – 192,620 (795,681)
3. [NSW] Pikmin 4 – 78,589 (1,119,027)
4. [NSW] Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince – 77,035 (510,477)
5. [PS5] Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – 53,238 (166,731)
6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 46,452 (5,631,598)
7. [NSW] Minecraft – 38,472 (3,394,222)
8. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 38,005 (5,400,275)
9. [NSW] WarioWare: Move It! – 37,147 (141,554)
10. [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – 35,679 (5,246,363)

Hardware sales (followed by previous week’s sales):

• Nintendo Switch – 168,866 (94,643)
• PS5 – 81,943 (42,316)
• Xbox Series X/S – 1,159 (2,430)