The Nintendo Switch 2 Appears to be a Dream Come True for Racing Game Enthusiasts

      Nintendo, The Drive

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      On Wednesday, Nintendo finally addressed many of the pressing questions surrounding the Switch 2. Some revelations were a bit underwhelming—particularly the news that Mario Kart World will cost $80—but overall, the hardware appears promising, and there are software offerings to be excited about. Notably, if you're a racing game enthusiast, a few surprising announcements have made it tempting to consider a $500 pre-order.

      Of course, there's Mario Kart World. When Nintendo first unveiled the game in January, fans quickly picked up on hints that this beloved kart racer—one of the best-selling video games of all time—would be going open-world. To add to the excitement, players will race through dynamic weather and day/night cycles, reminiscent of SSX 3 from earlier days. This level of scale and interconnectedness exceeds anything we’ve ever seen or expected from Mario Kart. After the perfection of MK8, fans wondered what direction the franchise could take, and now we have our answer. If MK8 was the franchise's Burnout 3, then World seems to be its Burnout Paradise.

      However, what truly excites me about the Switch 2's launch for racing game fans is the announcement of two legendary titles making their debut on the console since their original releases. Nintendo revealed that GameCube games will be added to the Switch Online service on the new platform, starting with F-Zero GX—the last full-scale, 3D entry in this cult-favorite series.

      F-Zero GX is particularly special. Released 22 years ago, it came during a time when Nintendo was forming partnerships with established developers like Namco and Sega to create experiences they couldn't achieve alone. For GX, Nintendo entrusted Sega’s Amusement Vision, led by Toshihiro Nagoshi—the mastermind behind Super Monkey Ball and the highly successful Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, as well as Daytona USA.

      This collaboration was a match made in gaming heaven. The original F-Zero on the Super Nintendo inspired Daytona several years later, making Nagoshi's involvement with this anti-gravity racer especially fitting. The game was fantastic, despite what Shigeru Miyamoto has said. Unfortunately, due to its lesser status in Nintendo's library, it hadn't seen a rerelease or remaster in over two decades, while many other GameCube and Wii titles had.

      F-Zero GX had an arcade counterpart, named F-Zero AX, which allowed players to transfer data between it and their home GameCube with a memory card.

      Finally, that situation is changing. I would have preferred it to change without the need for a recurring subscription, but at least there's now a way to play it officially again. F-Zero GX features exhilarating speed, flawless 60 frames per second gameplay that dazzled in 480p progressive scan on the GameCube, and an outstanding soundtrack. It doesn’t require enhancements—it simply needs to be available once more. (Though the addition of online multiplayer is certainly a welcome feature.)

      If F-Zero GX excites you, make sure to check out FAST Fusion, which is arguably the indie spiritual successor from Shin’en Multimedia. Their last game, FAST RMX, was among the best exclusives for the original Switch, and this new title looks equally appealing.

      However, F-Zero wasn’t the only iconic classic racer to receive much-deserved attention during Nintendo’s showcase. The original Ridge Racer is being added to the Switch 2 via Hamster’s Arcade Archives collection. This is significant because Ridge Racer was ported to the PlayStation during its 1995 launch, but the arcade version has never been released on home consoles. Previously, emulating it through MAME was the only option, which often led to a less than ideal experience.

      Ridge Racer represents a pivotal moment in gaming history, as one of the first games to utilize texture mapping, alongside Daytona USA, which debuted in arcades around late 1993. Together, these titles redefined virtual driving experiences. The series became one of Namco’s cornerstones through Sony’s first two PlayStation generations, but as simulation-style games like Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport gained popularity, Ridge Racer's arcade charm faded from favor.

      The great news about Hamster’s release, set to coincide with the Switch 2 launch on June 5, is that Arcade Archives games are not typically exclusive to Nintendo consoles. Thus, Ridge Racer will likely be available on PS4 and PS5 in the future. Moreover, if Ridge Racer is coming, it’s reasonable to speculate that its arcade-only sequel, Rave Racer, might also get similar treatment—and that one is quite special.

      Finally, you can’t discuss racing games on the Switch 2 without mentioning the largest surprise: Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, is developing a new game—a sequel to Kirby Air Ride for the GameCube, titled Kirby Air Riders. If you