Improved Performance of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo Switch 2

Ah, the Nintendo Switch 2. What a beast. I mean, everyone’s talking about it. You’d think it was the second coming or something. Anyway, it’s not just a beefed-up version of the original Switch. No, no. It might actually be hands down the ultimate way to dive back into those epic games we thought couldn’t get better, like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. And boy, those games already had us hooked, didn’t they? I remember my first time hopping into Hyrule—it was like discovering a secret world you never want to leave. So whether it’s your debut adventure or your hundredth, experiencing it all over again on the Switch 2—what a trip.

The original games, for all their glory, did have their hiccups. Low resolutions, sluggish frame rates, and don’t get me started on those loading times. But, surprise! The Switch 2 decides to wave a magic wand over these issues, especially tackling the loading times. Bam—significant improvement! Like, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of fast.

We set out to test this because, well, why not? Running through five tests—five times each because nothing says thorough like repetition, right? We had our trusty Switch OLED for the originals and then the Switch 2 for, you guessed it, the new editions.

We dove into everything from hopping into the game from the home screen, to loading saves, fast traveling across vast landscapes, and entering shrines. So many shrines. Thought these actions were crucial because, let’s be honest, you do them a lot. And yes, added together, loading times can become a real buzzkill.

And lo and behold, the Switch 2 doesn’t just improve load times — it obliterates them. Almost halves them! In some cases, even more. Especially with Tears of the Kingdom, it’s like the game took a spa day and came back refreshed, ready to dazzle.

But here’s the kicker: while you can technically pop the original versions into this bad boy (theoretically, we didn’t check yet—lazy, I know), the real magic lies in the Switch 2 editions. They just feel… smoother? More alive? Anyway, it’s a totally different beast. So if you haven’t plunged into Hyrule in its latest rendition, what are you waiting for? Of course, there’s a catch—it’ll cost you an extra $10 per game. Or hey, if you’re into subscriptions, maybe a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion membership might just do it.

Bottom line: If you’re ready to fall in love all over again with Zelda and its magical world, and can swing for the Switch 2, go for it. It’s an adventure awaiting.