Skip to main content GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love Search GamesRadar+ View Profile Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Tabletop Gaming Toys & Collectibles Retro Gamer Newsletters Total Film Gaming Magazines Why subscribe? Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99Subscribe now SDCC 2025 schedule The Fantastic Four: First Steps Switch 2 Starter Pack Recommended reading Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't have Switch 2's latest firmware on the cart, which means there's still no way to play backwards compatible Switch 1 games without an internet connection Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility explained Switch 2 owners using Mig Flash cartridges say Nintendo is bricking their new consoles, even if they're only using the carts for their own ROMs rather than pirated games Despite Switch 2's controversial game-key cards, Nintendo president says "physical games are still a key part of our business" Nintendo Switch 2 One week of Switch 2 backwards compatibility: The good, the bad, and the bilinear-filtered ugly Asked about concerns Switch 2 game-key cards could turn off players and third-party publishers, Nintendo president says the controversial cards were introduced since file sizes have gone up Nintendo Switch's new Steam Families-like digital game loaning feature is here, but some are unhappy as functionality for an old sharing method has seemingly been ruined Platforming Games Super Mario Super Mario Bros. Wonder "This is another attack on physical media": Watchdog group finds that Super Mario Bros Wonder is suddenly unplayable on Switch 2 without an online update Dustin Bailey 24 July 2025 "Nintendo crossed a line" When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Nintendo) Physical media enthusiasts have been closely eyeing the Switch 2 as they try to figure out how viable the platform is as an entirely offline machine, and thus how easy it'll be to keep using it in not just the years, but the decades to come. The latest Switch 2 firmware has a worrying caveat, as it's completely disabled access to Super Mario Bros. Wonder without an additional patch. "Can confirm that Nintendo disabled offline playability on SW 2 for Super Mario Bros. Wonder's card between firmware 20.1.1 and the current 20.2.0," according to physical media watchdog DoesItPlay? on Bluesky. "Updated one of our European Switches and now the EU card of Wonder won't start either. Tested several other 1st party titles. No change there." I can confirm the same thing happens on an NA Switch 2 with the latest firmware installed. I turned off my internet connection, popped my Mario Wonder cart in, and upon trying to launch the game I was hit with an unskippable update prompt. You may like Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't have Switch 2's latest firmware on the cart, which means there's still no way to play backwards compatible Switch 1 games without an internet connection Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility explained Switch 2 owners using Mig Flash cartridges say Nintendo is bricking their new consoles, even if they're only using the carts for their own ROMs rather than pirated games Switch 1 backwards compatibility has been the biggest roadblock to offline Switch 2 players, since the feature required a firmware update which up until this week, you would've had to download. Donkey Kong Bananza didn't include that firmware update on-cart, but it turns out that the newly released Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree does, offering a way to get backwards compatibility without going online. Unfortunately, it also breaks the option to play Mario Wonder offline. "Nintendo crossed a line," DoesItPlay? says in a follow-up post. "Our findings show, they have the power to retroactively block legally bought physical games from working without updates AND THEY DID SO! Multiple times. Following the introduction of Trojan Horse 'game-key card', this is another attack on physical media." Today, this issue won't matter for the vast majority of Switch 2 players - it's not that hard to find a wi-fi hotspot in 2025, after all. But these kinds of little compatibility issues are starting to become a nightmare on decades-old consoles with online features, and someday when the Switch 2 is itself a retro console, it's going to be a lot harder to access all its features than you might like. Here are the upcoming Switch 2 games for 2025 and beyond you need to know about. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. See more Nintendo Switch 2 News Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Dustin Bailey Social Links Navigation Staff Writer Dustin Bailey joined the GamesRadar team as a Staff Writer in May 2022, and is currently based in Missouri. He's been covering games (with occasional dalliances in the worlds of anime and pro wrestling) since 2015, first as a freelancer, then as a news writer at PCGamesN for nearly five years. His love for games was sparked somewhere between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Knights of the Old Republic, and these days you can usually find him splitting his entertainment time between retro gaming, the latest big action-adventure title, or a long haul in American Truck Simulator. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't have Switch 2's latest firmware on the cart, which means there's still no way to play backwards compatible Switch 1 games without an internet connection Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility explained Switch 2 owners using Mig Flash cartridges say Nintendo is bricking their new consoles, even if they're only using the carts for their own ROMs rather than pirated games Despite Switch 2's controversial game-key cards, Nintendo president says "physical games are still a key part of our business" One week of Switch 2 backwards compatibility: The good, the bad, and the bilinear-filtered ugly Asked about concerns Switch 2 game-key cards could turn off players and third-party publishers, Nintendo president says the controversial cards were introduced since file sizes have gone up Latest in Super Mario Like Link and Zelda, Nintendo insists Mario and Peach are just “good friends” and anything else is just Mushroom Kingdom gossip, so I guess 30 years of kissing means nothing to you New Princess Peach actor revealed, weeks after Nintendo got heat for breaking the recasting news to her old actor of 17 years on Mario Kart World's launch date "After months and months of chokes," speedrun legend achieves fastest blindfolded Super Mario 64 run of all time, but only after RNG ended a near-perfect run that would've killed the category "forever" Mario Kart World's staff would "go skateboarding or ride their bikes" during lunch breaks, which explains the wild movement in the Switch 2 racer Super Mario 3D All-Stars just got a new update to "improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2," so it sure is a shame you can't actually buy it anymore A Super Mario lore specialist issues an important correction: "Mario does not 'die and go to hell' - he is sent there directly while still alive" Latest in News Alien: Earth is reportedly hoped to be the next Game of Thrones or The Last of Us-scale event show, and may have cost more than $250m to make Invincible writer confirms The Americans star's mystery character with an exciting first look – and no, he's not voicing Thragg MMO adds a giant crab that does nothing, players say "hell yeah" and all but worship it while coming up with cute crab names like Gemma: "Been smacking this crab all day while working, good update 10/10" "Is she naked?": Fantastic 4 Invisible Woman actor Vanessa Kirby reacts to Marvel Rivals skins, threatens film audience with a good time and says "watch out for the sequel" Pathfinder and Warhammer CRPG studio declares support for Stop Killing Games: "Every player deserves lasting access to what they've paid for" Black Panther joins forces with the Hulks as the Skrull Empire incites a war against the entire Marvel Universe GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS Wheel World review: "By merging Burnout Paradise and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with pedal power, Wheel World arrives somewhere unusual and worth visiting" Wuchang: Fallen Feathers review: "Flashy combos are impressive, but boss battle frustrations get in the way of me actually using them" Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years" Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans" College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf” The Fantastic Four: First Steps review: "An occasionally thrilling heroic adventure that sits safely within a B-tier MCU range" Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU" Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber" M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion" 28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy” Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever" Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era" Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date" Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling" Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Contact Future's experts Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us Review guidelines Write for us Accessibility Statement Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Please login or signup to comment Please wait...