Summary
InNintendo’s big reveal for the Switch 2, many were surprised to see the system’s new Joycons (or whatever their new name will be) appear to glide on a surface not unlike a computer mouse, complete with an attachment. Many others who had read the countless leaks from months prior were decidedly less surprised.
The reveal didn’t directly confirm or deny this, but it very much does seem that the Nintendo Switch 2 will allow players to move their controllers like computer mice. It’s unknown how this function will theoretically be used. But given the ever-increasing popularity of PC gaming, the possibilities are endless, and there are tons of games that would benefit greatly from it.
Splatoon remains among the most beloved of Nintendo’s more recent new series, and aside from it being one ofNintendo’s only recent series that stuck around, it’s not difficult to see why. It’s a good shooter with endless charm and style that refuses to give parents a reason to be mad at it.
As well as some shooters control with a gamepad, it’s just a fact of life that a mouse will always be more precise. While the games include gyro controls for more sensitive aiming, there’s still a bit of a learning curve. Meanwhile, everyone knows how to use a mouse, so Splatoon on the Switch 2 would undoubtedly work with both its gameplay and making those player banners even easier to draw.
Super Mario Galaxy’s regular gameplay, while a bit wonky with its gravity, is relatively straightforward. But it and its sequel include a motion-controlled pointer function meant to help you collect star bits and interact with the game world in other ways.
Giving players the option to use the mouse function in favor of motion controls for the pointer is such a simple but effective idea. It not only wouldn’t require much reprogramming, but it would also be an excuse to keep the pointer while making the Wii’s signature ‘waggle’ optional. Plus, it’s a good reason for Nintendo tofinally re-release Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
Shooters are one thing, but don’t forget how helpful a mouse is onCRPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3. Some games of this sort may play well enough with a controller, but having access to a cursor enhances the entire experience exponentially.
The Switch never got Baldur’s Gate 3, so here’s Nintendo’s second chance to make it happen for this masterpiece of an RPG. The Switch 2’s mouse controls would be perfect for the game, allowing precise selection of characters and abilities, and also precise selection of the option to reveal your crush on Karlach.
Visual novels are one genre of games that can work pretty well no matter the control scheme, whether it be mouse, gamepad, or even touch. But the Ace Attorney series includes certain investigation and mini-game segments that, frankly, don’t quite agree with controllers in many cases.
Enter the Switch 2. When you get to those chapters that really require you to scour a room for clues, no longer will you have to wait as your controller cursor slowly traverses the screen. With a mouse, one quick flick and you’re there. Phoenix has been doing this a while, so you’d think he’d be quicker about it anyway.
You remember the Super Mario Maker craze, right? It was so popular for a time that everyone forgotit was on the Wii U. Being able to precisely drag and place items around your custom level made designing a breeze, and gave the more sadistic among the player base a relatively healthy outlet.
Super Mario Maker 2 on the Switch was an improvement in almost every way, but the loss of the touch controls made it a little clunkier. So the obvious solution is releasing a port or complete sequel on the Switch 2 with the mouse controls recapturing that precision for the best of both worlds. Give masochistic YouTubers a second wind.
The Sid Meier’s Civilization series games have released on consoles, sure. But these are big, robust 4X strategy games. You’re going to lose something when your controls are exclusive to a gamepad. Placing units and selecting regions just doesn’t hit the same with a thumbstick.
Civilization, and indeed any strategy game, would be a welcome guest on the Switch 2 with mouse controls. As a potential hybrid of mouse and controller, players could ideally even pick and choose how much of both control schemes they wish to use, giving them more power and making those nukes from Ghandi feel all the more significant.
Nintendo would be missing a huge opportunity with their older fans (welcome to the club) if they don’t release a new Mario Paint or at least a port of the original on their console with a built-in mouse. The SNES version of this game is the entire reason most of the world knew that console even had a mouse.
From the coloring and drawing games to the music maker and, of course, the fly swatting minigame, Mario Paint could easily be a showcase for the Switch 2 mouse the same way Astro Bot’s Playroom was for the PS5’s Dualsense controller. Though maybe without the rumble. Not exactly ideal on a mouse.
Might as well keep the train running, right? Or at least the prisoner cart. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim was already many years old when the Switch teased it as an upcoming release in the console’s initial reveal. But even today, this sprawling open world fantasy epic remains one of the most well-known games out there.
It’s one thing to play Skyrim with a gamepad on a plane or elsewhere out in public. But it’s another to be able to do so while enjoying the same snappy controls PC players have hadsince its 2011 release. If nothing else, releasing Skyrim on as many new consoles as possible is a really good bit.
