Again in August, we posed 64 gaming-related inquiries to Nintendo Life readers in our Swap 2 Summer season Survey. Matters included gaming habits, ideas on Swap 2 and its software program lineup, how you purchase video games in 2026, and different questions overlaying the way you get your each day dose of Nintendo goodness on this right here web site and past.
We did the identical in 2024 to get a greater thought of the state of all issues Nintendo, however having now spent properly over a 12 months with Nintendo’s latest {hardware}, we needed to get your ideas on Swap 2 and your hopes for the long run.
The survey is now closed, in order we transfer into autumn (or ‘fall’ as you name it throughout the pond, or ‘spring’ as you name it south of the equator), it is time to crunch these numbers and dip into the outcomes.
As a reminder, each query was nameless and non-obligatory (so you would skip something you did not wish to reply), with the bulk getting between 4,000 and 12,000 distinctive responses. An enormous thanks to everybody who participated!
Let’s crack on, lets?
You & Your Gaming Habits
your distribution throughout the globe, issues stay fairly much like final time, with round 21% of respondees within the UK, simply over 45% within the US, and the remaining third residing in different corners of Planet Earth.
Practically 39% have a minimum of one little one residing underneath their roof. Simply over 5% are Nintendo-only avid gamers, however 14% complement their Swap with a gaming PC. As for different non-Nintendo platforms, PS5 and PS4 had been the following hottest (13% and 11% respectively).
36% of respondees full 1-5 video games per 12 months, with 31% managing 6-10, and slightly below 5% placing 31 or extra video games to mattress each one year. Spectacular work!
And as regards to the dreaded gaming backlog, 40% have greater than 30 video games sitting unplayed, with simply 4% of you residing your Nintendo life with a clear slate and 0 backlog.
You & Swap 2
Transferring on to the most recent Nintendo console, 91% of respondees have upgraded to Swap 2, with practically 83% nonetheless having a Swap 1 in the home, too. Solely 3% of Swap 2 homeowners by no means had an unique Swap.
Mario Kart World is the most-played sport for 17% of you, adopted by Donkey Kong Bananza (16%) and Pokémon Pokopia (11%).
As to your favorite first-party-published Swap 2 exclusives, it is these three video games once more, with Mario Kart and DK swapping locations, adopted by Splatoon Raiders in 4th. 7% of respondees mentioned they have not performed any of Nintendo’s Swap 2 exclusives by any means.
How usually do you play the Nintendo Swap On-line traditional video games apps? (5,316 votes)
- A number of occasions per week
- As soon as every week
- A few times a month
- Lower than as soon as a month
- By no means
On the subject of favorite options on the console, 4K decision (37%) and GameCube NSO entry (20%) are hottest. GameChat is the least-used Swap 2-exclusive function (55%), adopted by Mouse Mode (19%). 47% mentioned that they had by no means used Mouse Mode in any respect – not as soon as!
42% of respondees play largely docked, with 28% preferring handheld, and 29% going 50/50. 37% of you handle between 6-10 hours of Swap 2 gaming per week, with 6% cramming in additional than 25 hours each seven days.
28% of respondees play single-player video games solely, with 59% enjoying “largely single-player”.
Within the realm of additional storage, over a 3rd do not personal a Micro SD Specific Card of any dimension. 256GB is the preferred choice (29%), adopted by 512GB (20%) – slightly below 10% have opted for a dear 1TB card.
Drilling down on the {hardware} itself, 4 out of 5 respondees describe Swap 2’s battery life as “good” or “common” (near-even break up), and slightly below 2% have needed to ship the console to Nintendo for restore. Movement blur and unfastened Pleasure-Con had been the largest points (slightly below 3% of respondees cited stick drift as an issue), and virtually 87% have skilled no {hardware} points to this point.
What’s your opinion on Swap 2 Recreation-Key Playing cards? (4,729 votes)
- Strongly like
- Like
- Impartial
- Dislike
- Strongly dislike
The Swap 2 Professional Controller is your most popular enter methodology (50%), with the usual Pleasure-Con 2 and the Swap 1 Professional Controller mentioning the rear (29% and 15% respectively).
And on the contentious matter of the eShop, 49% of respondees price the looking expertise on Swap 2 as “good” (26% =”wonderful”, 21% “enough”).
As to your “worst buy”, the $80 Mario Kart World — additionally the most-played sport — topped the desk, with Welcome Tour and Metroid Prime 4: Past shut behind. Simply 13% do not subscribe to Nintendo Swap On-line in any kind, with 37% paying for the best Growth Pack. 69% of respondees “agree” or “strongly agree” that NSO represents good worth.
Trying to the (then-)future, Hearth Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (which launched on seventeenth September – good sport!) was probably the most anticipated title on the time of the survey, with 2027’s Pokémon Winds & Waves and Xenoblade Genesis coming behind.
And on the subject of a hypothetical Swap 2 {hardware} revision, 29% would need higher battery life whereas 24% would favor an OLED display.
You & Nintendo (Life)
Simply because it was two years in the past, the most recent information, critiques, and previews — in that order — are the highest three causes you come to nintendolife.com, with our Options shut behind. We did not put ‘dynamite taglines’ within the choices, sadly, however who does not love a pun?
Talking of our critiques, 24% mentioned that they “Typically” affect shopping for choices, with 49% choosing “Typically”. As with our earlier survey, 8% of you might be “By no means” persuaded in some way by our takes, whereas 3% “all the time” anticipate the NL verdict earlier than splashing money.
Our mates over at Digital Foundry prime the rankings of different websites you frequent underneath the Hookshot-affiliated umbrella (though Steam Hype has joined the household because the survey went out – examine them out if you happen to’re a type of NLifers who’s additionally rocking a gaming PC or Steam Deck).
On the subject of Nintendo Life’s pretty YouTube channel, 30% of you might be website-only, and 21% are video-only (properly, besides if you’ve kindly come to the location to fill out a survey). Of all our movies, it is our evaluation diversifications and gameplay footage that seize your consideration most.
And heading right down to the feedback, 46% of you learn and write (if solely often) feedback. Conversely, 27% are read-only, and one other 27% channel their most interesting Don Draper and do not have a look at the feedback in any respect.
You, Nintendo, & Shopping for Video games
Transferring again to Nintendo on the whole, this is your all-time prime 10 Nintendo collection:
- Zelda (40%)
- Tremendous Mario (13%)
- Pokémon (10%)
- Xenoblade Chronicles (7%)
- Metroid (5%)
- Hearth Emblem (5%)
- Mario Kart (4%)
- Tremendous Smash Bros. (3%)
- Animal Crossing (2%)
- Splatoon (2%)
Aww, no Pikmin love? (Really, Olimar made it in at #11.) And of practically 5,000 respondees, a complete of 28 clever, handsome connoisseurs of the medium selected Rhythm Heaven. *raises glass*
Child Icarus received 30% of the vote for collection you’d prefer to see return, adopted by Wario Land (24%) and Wave Race (10%).
What number of Swap 2 video games do you personal? (digital vs. bodily) (7,544 votes)
- Digital video games (eShop)
- Bodily video games (boxed copies)
- None 0.2%
On the subject of shopping for Swap video games, 52% of you buy 1-5 full-price (as in not discounted) video games yearly, with 25% shopping for 6-10. 5% “all the time” purchase video games at launch, in comparison with 2% who “by no means” purchase video games Day One.
The first components for figuring out whether or not you purchase bodily variations of Swap video games are having a tough copy that may’t be delisted and pricing, and 76% of respondees have pre-ordered Swap 2 video games previously.
And Lastly…
And in any case that huge knowledge, lastly, the massive query: When will the following 3D Mario platformer arrive?
63% imagine that Mario will return in 2027, with 30% hedging their bets on 2028.
On the different finish of the spectrum, 2% (properly, 1.67% to be exact) proclaimed that any new 3D Mario is in one other timeline and “Nintendo won’t ever make one other 3D Mario platformer.” Useless collection, going nowhere. Disgrace.
