Fan Expo Canada takes over downtown Toronto every summer, turning the Metro Toronto Convention Centre into a pop culture hotspot. It’s the biggest event of its kind in Canada, packed with fans celebrating comics, anime, movies, and of course, video games. Between the panels, cosplay, and hands-on demos, the whole show floor felt electric. For me, the highlight was seing Nintendo Switch 2 at Fan Expo Canada 2025, where fans lined up to play the newest games.
This year, the Nintendo booth was one of the busiest stops on the show floor. Fans could play recently released titles like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition, while also getting an early look at upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World, Hades II, Borderlands 4, and Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition.
I made sure to spend time with three of the most talked-about demos: Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades II, and Borderlands 4. Each offered a unique experience, but what impressed me most was how smooth they felt running on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2
Getting to play Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 at Fan Expo Canada 2025 was surreal. This is a game known for its massive scale, challenging combat, and demanding performance, so playing it on Nintendo’s new hardware felt like a real milestone. My demo ran in docked mode, and the performance was smooth throughout my twenty minutes.
The session began in the opening cave, where I chose the Heavy Knight class. Each swing of the weapon carried weight, and blocking against early enemies felt responsive. The first boss punished me when I mistimed, but that challenge is exactly what makes Elden Ring stand out. Even in the darker areas of the cave, armour detail and lighting effects came through clearly, setting the right tone from the start.
Stepping into Limgrave showed me how well the Nintendo Switch 2 handles scale. The rolling fields stretched out with distant castles holding their form, rather than blurring into the horizon. Combat stayed reliable as I fought smaller groups of enemies and even tested myself against tougher opponents. Camera control, dodging, and blocking all felt natural, with no stutters breaking the flow.
It’s worth noting that reports from Gamescom 2025 mentioned handheld performance issues, but during my docked demo in Toronto the build held steady. That consistency gave me confidence in how Nintendo Switch 2 can handle a game this ambitious.
Tarnished Edition includes the original game, the massive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, new armour sets, extra weapons, and customization options for Torrent. Having everything bundled together makes this a complete package for Nintendo Switch 2 owners. Seeing it run smoothly on Nintendo Switch 2 at Fan Expo Canada 2025 was one of my highlights from the show floor.
Hades II on Nintendo Switch 2
After exploring the world of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, I shifted to something faster paced with Hades II. Supergiant Games’ roguelike action RPG has been in early access on PC since May 2024, but this demo gave me my first chance to try it on Nintendo Switch 2. It ran smoothly, played sharp, and instantly reminded me why the first game was so hard to put down.
I played as Melinoë, the new protagonist and sister of Zagreus. Her style blended quick attacks, dodges, and powerful spells fueled by a mana bar. Light and heavy strikes responded instantly, and dodging felt fast and fluid. Holding the dodge turned into a sprint, which made weaving around enemies natural. Casting was a highlight of the demo. Melinoë dropped a bubble trap to freeze enemies in place, then detonated it for a burst of damage. It was satisfying to set traps, bait enemies, and explode them in a single smooth sequence.
The mana bar kept me thinking about when to cast and when to hold back. I learned quickly that casting too often left me vulnerable when I needed abilities most. Boons made each run unpredictable, just like the first game. I picked up effects like freeze, scorch, and snare, and stacking them together turned combat into complete chaos. Watching enemies burn, freeze, and lock down all at once gave fights an exciting rhythm.
Environmental hazards also came into play. Knocking enemies into objects cleared rooms faster, which kept encounters varied. When my run ended, I returned to the Crossroads hub to spend ash on upgrades like faster movement and post-room healing. Even with limited time, trying Hades II on Nintendo Switch 2 at Fan Expo Canada 2025 pulled me in right away. It felt smooth, responsive, and left me wanting another run.
Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2
The last game I tried at the Nintendo booth was Borderlands 4, and it quickly showed me how well the Nintendo Switch 2 handles fast-paced action. Known for its chaotic firefights and over-the-top characters, the series depends on responsive gunplay. During my demo, the hardware kept up every step of the way.
I picked Amon for my run, and his tank role felt like a good fit. Switching from rifles to pistols to heavier gear was quick and easy. Shots connected cleanly, enemies staggered, and the combat just felt good in my hands. Amon’s weaponized drones worked exactly as I hoped. They set up bursts of pressure against enemies and gave me space to regroup when the arena started to crowd.
Abilities felt easy to use, and the Nintendo Switch 2 handled them without slowdown. Amon’s Forgeskills, paired with his drones, made fights flexible. I could push forward, regroup, and then dive back into the fray, and nothing about the demo ever felt sluggish or unstable. Movement added to the flow as well. Short sprints and slides worked smoothly, and mantling let me climb and reposition whenever I needed a better angle.
The user interface was simple to parse, and gear pop-ups never pulled me out of the action. Performance stayed steady throughout my entire 20 minutes, even as fights became more chaotic. By the end of my demo, I found myself wishing I had more time to play. It was a great showcase of how well the Switch 2 can keep up with fast, frantic action. Based on what I played, Borderlands 4 feels like the full experience will translate well to the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 stole the show at Fan Expo Canada 2025
Leaving the Nintendo booth at Fan Expo Canada 2025, I have to say I was impressed with how well the Nintendo Switch 2 handled three very different games. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition showed that the system can keep a massive world running smoothly. Hades II brought fast-paced action that stayed steady even when the screen filled with enemies. And Borderlands 4 proved the gunplay feels just as good here as it does anywhere else.
Each game showed something different, and the Nintendo Switch 2 kept pace every time. For me, that was the real surprise. I could explore Limgrave, sprint through dungeons, or dive into firefights without the system falling behind. Looking ahead, there are plenty of big releases still coming, and it feels like the Nintendo Switch 2 is ready for them. I came away from the show wanting more time with all three games, and after seeing them in action, I am even more curious about what else is on the way.
Which of these three games are you most excited to play on Nintendo Switch 2? Let me know in the comments below.
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