Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Spurs New Third-Party Multiplayer Survival Game

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch features a relatively light first-party game lineup, with only two Nintendo titles: Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour. Third-party developers are stepping in to fill the gap, notably with Konami's Survival Kids, a family-friendly four-player co-op survival adventure and the most prominent third-party exclusive at launch. Survival Kids revives an old franchise from the Game Boy Color era, focusing on resource gathering, crafting, and exploration without the harsh survival penalties typical of the genre. A key feature of the Switch 2 is GameShare, which allows multiple players to join a game without owning or downloading it, enhancing local multiplayer experiences. Although the game’s visuals are simple and somewhat childish, it offers engaging puzzles and cooperative gameplay that could make it a hidden gem for the new console. Despite some launch excitement, there remains criticism about the abundance of ports and remasters rather than fresh first-party content.