Nintendo Switch 2 boost mode doesn't work with Pikmin series, other major games

The latest Nintendo Switch firmware update (rolled out across both Switch and Switch 2) has been met with a lot of justified praise thanks to its addition of Boost Mode for Switch 2, which enables Switch 1 games to be run in Docked Mode (up to 1080p) on the newer handheld. This update gave an immediate, dramatic improvement for the backward compatibility of the entire Switch library on Switch 2 consoles, even for games that previously would have relied on a dedicated Switch 2 patch or Switch 2 version to reap its benefits. Of Boost Mode's exemptions, those are the most reasonable: if your Switch 1 game has already been patched, Boost Mode is not supported and won't be used since it's not needed and would arguably be a downgrade.

However, Boost Mode is not without fault, and some of its omissions are far more avoidable than others. For example, the entirety of the Pikmin series from Pikmin to Pikmin 4 does not support the Switch 2's Boost Mode despite being perfectly suited to handheld play on the original Switch. This is because the Boost Mode is an override that forces the original Switch 1 game to run in a simulated Docked mode—a Docked mode that may have a hard requirement for full-motion or touch inputs not supported when the system is Docked.

is aThlso means that a number of other major titles, like the Super Mario 3D All Stars compilation, Super Mario Maker 2, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, The World Ends With You: Final Remix, and both Let's Go Pokemon games are unsupported. Some games are also more dubiously supported, with Okami HD, Ring Fit Adventure, and Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition all remaining playable. However, modes that require touch or detached Joy-Con motion controls remain unplayable in the Switch 2 Boost Mode, even if the rest of the game is playable.

It's an unfortunate sour note, but a fair downside considering the required development costs of manually patching the entire Switch 1 library to properly support the new Switch 2 handheld. For the overwhelming majority of games, the difference is transformative and a welcome use of the Switch 2's higher-end display. Unfortunately, this also isn't the only downside of the latest Switch 2 firmware update, with expandable storage problems also being well-documented. More on that below.