Nintendo Switch 2 Compatibility Fixes For Chrono Cross, NecroDancer And More

9 December 2025
Nintendo Switch 2Nintendo Switch
11 min.
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Nintendo Switch 2 Compatibility Fixes For Chrono Cross, NecroDancer And More

Summary:

Nintendo is quietly doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes to make sure that the leap from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2 feels as smooth as possible for players who already own a library of games. The new system is more powerful and built differently under the hood, which means not every older release behaves exactly as expected. A small slice of games either refused to run correctly or showed odd behavior when tested on Nintendo Switch 2, so Nintendo and its partners have started rolling out targeted patches and system side tweaks to bring them back in line.

Recently, that work reached a fresh milestone. Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition has now been confirmed as fixed on Nintendo Switch 2, just like Mega Mall Story and Crypt of the NecroDancer, which had stumbled after a firmware change. On the other side of the fence, Streets of Rage 4 and Hazel Sky are still causing trouble, either forcing the software to close when the player chooses certain options or displaying visual glitches in specific locations.

We walk through what has been fixed, what still needs attention, and how anyone can quickly check whether a favorite release is safe to play on Nintendo Switch 2. At the same time, we look at why a tiny group of titles struggle on new hardware in the first place, and what Nintendo’s communication around this situation tells us about the company’s long term support plans for the system.

Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility in plain language

Backward compatibility sounds technical, but at heart it is very simple: players want to take the games they already own on Nintendo Switch and play them without fuss on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo designed the successor so that it accepts original Switch cards and recognizes digital purchases, making it possible to carry a library across with no extra purchases. The catch is that the new system uses updated chips and slightly different features, which means older releases must be checked and sometimes adjusted so they behave properly. Nintendo has acknowledged that a very small percentage of games have issues on Nintendo Switch 2 and has committed to testing, cataloguing and improving them over time rather than leaving fans guessing.

Why Nintendo is patching older Switch games for Switch 2

When a new console arrives, most players focus on flashy launch releases and big exclusives, but a huge part of the value comes from how well it treats the previous generation. Nintendo knows that many households have built up years of purchases on the original Switch, so every incompatible title chips away at trust. Even if only a handful of games fail in basic testing, those failures can become loud talking points on social media and in communities. By working directly with publishers and developers, rolling out updates, and publishing clear lists of known problems, Nintendo signals that it sees backward compatibility as an ongoing project rather than a one time checkbox. That approach also spreads the load across system updates and individual game patches, which makes it easier to target specific bugs without risking new ones somewhere else in the library.

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition now running properly

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is one of the more high profile games that initially struggled on Nintendo Switch 2, which naturally worried fans of classic role playing adventures. The updated version of the game already had a mixed reception on the original Switch due to performance and visual quirks, so hearing that it was not behaving on brand new hardware made some players fear the worst. Nintendo has now confirmed that the issues on Nintendo Switch 2 have been resolved following an update, with the game’s compatibility status shifting to a clean bill of health. In practical terms that means owners can move their save files across, continue their journeys, and enjoy the extra power of the new system without worrying that a random crash or glitch will cut their progress short.

What changed for Chrono Cross on Switch 2

While Nintendo and Square Enix have not published a full technical breakdown, the pattern points toward a combination of system side adjustments and a dedicated game patch. Nintendo Switch 2 uses different clock speeds, memory behavior and graphics features compared to the original hardware, so anything from timing sensitive code to old middleware can react badly. Once those edge cases are discovered during testing, engineers can tune how the system handles that title, while the developer tweaks its own logic to avoid assumptions that no longer hold true. From the player’s point of view, the important detail is that Chrono Cross no longer sits in the grey area of “runs, but with issues” on Switch 2. Instead, it behaves as a regular supported release, which is exactly what fans of a story driven, slow burning adventure need before they commit dozens of hours to it.

Crypt of the NecroDancer bounces back after a rough patch

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a rhythm based roguelike where timing means everything, so any compatibility problem feels especially painful. In this case, the trouble started when a Nintendo Switch 2 system update unexpectedly broke the game, leaving players unable to enjoy it on the newer console for a time. The developers at Brace Yourself Games publicly acknowledged the issue and worked with Nintendo to deliver a fix. According to the studio, once the latest patch is installed, Crypt of the NecroDancer now runs correctly again on Nintendo Switch 2, putting the beat driven dungeon crawler back on the playlist for owners of the hybrid system’s successor.

How the NecroDancer fix rolled out

The way Crypt of the NecroDancer returned is a good example of how this compatibility effort plays out in real time. First, players noticed that something was wrong after a firmware update and began reporting problems online. The developer confirmed that the latest Nintendo Switch 2 update had caused a conflict, reassured players that a solution was being investigated, and eventually directed them to install a fresh patch once it became available. On Nintendo’s side, the official compatibility status pages were updated to reflect that the game had moved from “issues present” to “fixed,” which brings everything in line. The whole loop shows that communication from both Nintendo and partners is crucial, because it turns a confusing failure into a clear story: something broke, it was acknowledged, and now it has been fixed.

Mega Mall Story and other quiet success stories

Mega Mall Story is not as famous as Chrono Cross or Crypt of the NecroDancer, but it matters just as much to the people who love simulation games. Nintendo has confirmed that Mega Mall Story has been fixed on Nintendo Switch 2, joining the growing list of titles that had early trouble and are now safe to play. The interesting part is how many of these improvements happen almost quietly, with short notes on compatibility lists rather than big marketing pushes. For fans who enjoy digging through their backlog, these small updates add up to something important. Every time a niche favorite moves from the problem column to the fixed column, it reinforces the idea that Nintendo cares about the long tail of its library, not only the big names that grab headlines.

Streets of Rage 4: why selecting Extra can crash your session

Not every story has a tidy resolution yet. Streets of Rage 4, a widely praised revival of the classic side scrolling brawler, still has a known issue on Nintendo Switch 2. At the moment, Nintendo warns that choosing the Extra option from the main menu can force the software to close on the newer console. That kind of crash can be jarring, especially for players who associate the game with couch co-op sessions and quick drop in bouts of action. Crucially, the problem is specific rather than random. The base gameplay remains available, which means players can still punch through story mode and regular modes without the system falling over. Even so, seeing a beloved game on the compatibility issues list is a reminder that backward compatibility is a live process, not a magic switch that works perfectly on day one.

Tips to avoid problems in Streets of Rage 4 on Switch 2

Until a fix arrives, the simplest way to protect a Streets of Rage 4 session on Nintendo Switch 2 is to avoid the Extra menu entirely. That might sound obvious, but it is easy to forget when you are poking around options with friends or experimenting with unlockables. Treat the Extra button as off limits for now, and focus on the main story, arcade runs and versus play that sit outside that path. It is also worth saving progress frequently when possible and keeping auto updates turned on, so any new patch that addresses the crash is applied as soon as it rolls out. Taking a few seconds to warn regular co-op partners about the bug can save a lot of frustration, especially if younger players are likely to mash buttons on the main menu without reading warnings.

Hazel Sky graphics issues and what players are seeing

Hazel Sky lands in a different category of problem. Instead of hard crashes or game breaking bugs, Nintendo reports that certain areas in the game show graphics issues when played on Nintendo Switch 2. That might mean flickering textures, odd lighting, or other visual hiccups that take the player out of the experience, even if they do not stop progress outright. For a story driven game built around atmosphere and exploration, that kind of disruption can still sting. At the same time, it is helpful that Nintendo clearly labels the issue as graphics related, so players know what to expect before they buy or boot up the game on the newer system. That transparency lets someone decide whether occasional visual quirks are acceptable in exchange for playing on a hybrid handheld they already use for everything else.

When visual hiccups matter and when they do not

Everyone has a different tolerance for this sort of imperfection. Some players barely notice a texture that pops in late or a shadow that behaves strangely for a second. Others see those mistakes immediately and feel their enjoyment dip, especially in slower paced games where the mood depends heavily on presentation. The key is that information reduces frustration. If you know Hazel Sky has specific graphics issues on Nintendo Switch 2, you can weigh that against factors like price, portability, and whether you might prefer another platform for a more polished picture. As patches continue to roll out, checking the compatibility list every so often can reveal whether those glitches have been softened or removed, turning a “maybe later” into a comfortable yes.

How to check compatibility for every Switch game

Because there are thousands of Nintendo Switch games, no summary list can realistically cover every single case. Nintendo’s solution is a dedicated compatibility section on its official website, paired with a search page that lets players type in the name of a game and instantly see whether it is supported on Nintendo Switch 2. The status might read supported, has issues, or cannot be used, with extra notes where needed. That means anyone thinking about buying Nintendo Switch 2, or already holding one, can perform a quick check before purchasing a new game or moving over a digital library. There are separate notes for apps and services such as streaming platforms that do not work on the newer device at all, reinforcing that this is not just about games, but the full ecosystem.

Using Nintendo’s official compatibility and search tools

The search tools are designed to be straightforward, even for players who rarely dig into system settings or support pages. You visit the official Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility site, type the name of a game into the search bar, and the page reveals its current status. Each entry links out to a more detailed game page that includes information on features, controllers, and other platform notes, which makes it easier to understand how a particular release behaves on both Switch systems. Nintendo has stated that compatibility information is based on testing and may change over time as new issues are discovered or fixed, so the status is not frozen forever. Checking again after a big system update or a patch can sometimes turn a game that was previously marked as problematic into a clean recommendation.

Practical checklist before launching a Switch game on Switch 2

In practical terms, a simple mental checklist can save a lot of confusion. Before launching a Switch game on Nintendo Switch 2, ask whether it relies on special accessories, unusual controller features, or specific network functions. Then, grab the compatibility search page and confirm the current status for that title. If the game is marked as supported, you are good to go. If it shows issues, read the notes carefully so you know what to avoid, as in the case of Streets of Rage 4’s Extra menu. If the game is not supported at all, consider keeping it on an original Switch or looking at other platforms. This small habit turns compatibility from a guessing game into a quick routine, which is especially helpful for families managing a shared library across both generations of hardware.

What this tells us about Nintendo’s long term support plans

Looking at the bigger picture, these compatibility updates paint a reassuring story about how Nintendo views Nintendo Switch 2. Instead of treating backward compatibility as a static promise, the company is treating it as a living responsibility, with regular checks, public lists, and collaboration with partners. Games like Chrono Cross, Crypt of the NecroDancer, and Mega Mall Story moving into the fixed column show that quiet persistence pays off. At the same time, known problems in Streets of Rage 4 and Hazel Sky remain clearly labeled, which respects players’ time and money even before solutions are ready. In a market where digital libraries and long running services matter more every year, that kind of ongoing care can make the difference between a console you tentatively adopt and one you trust to carry your favorite experiences forward for an entire generation.

Conclusion

Nintendo Switch 2’s backward compatibility story is still being written, but the latest batch of fixes and clear communication paint a hopeful picture. We see older favorites like Chrono Cross, Crypt of the NecroDancer, and Mega Mall Story moving into a safe zone where owners can simply relax and play, while titles such as Streets of Rage 4 and Hazel Sky sit in a flagged category that invites extra care. The key lesson is that players are not powerless spectators. By using Nintendo’s compatibility tools, staying informed about patches, and adjusting habits slightly, anyone can reduce surprises and keep frustrations low. Nintendo, for its part, appears committed to shrinking the list of problem games over time, which supports the idea that buying into Nintendo Switch 2 is not just about new releases, but about giving an existing library fresh life on improved hardware.

FAQs
  • Which of the recently tested Switch games are now fixed on Nintendo Switch 2?
    • The latest wave of updates confirms that Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, Crypt of the NecroDancer and Mega Mall Story now run correctly on Nintendo Switch 2. These games previously had issues ranging from general instability to problems introduced by a system firmware update, but patches and system side changes have brought them back into a fully playable state on the newer console.
  • What problems still affect Streets of Rage 4 on Nintendo Switch 2?
    • Streets of Rage 4 currently has a specific problem tied to its main menu on Nintendo Switch 2. Selecting the Extra option can force the software to close, abruptly ending the session. Regular gameplay modes remain available, so players can still enjoy most of the fighting, but they should avoid the Extra menu until a future patch or compatibility update resolves the crash.
  • What kind of issues does Hazel Sky have on Nintendo Switch 2?
    • Hazel Sky is listed as having graphics issues in certain areas when played on Nintendo Switch 2. That can cover things like flickering assets, odd lighting behavior or other visual glitches that do not necessarily block progress but can reduce immersion. Players who are sensitive to presentation problems may want to wait for further updates, while others might decide that the convenience of playing on the hybrid system outweighs the occasional visual distraction.
  • How can I check if a specific Switch game works on Nintendo Switch 2?
    • The easiest way is to use Nintendo’s official compatibility and search pages for Nintendo Switch 2. You type the name of the game into the search bar and the site shows whether it is supported, has issues or cannot be used, often with extra notes about what to expect. Checking this status before buying a game or moving a save across helps you avoid surprises and pick the best platform for each release in your library.
  • Why do some Switch games fail basic compatibility tests on Switch 2 at all?
    • Even though Nintendo Switch 2 is designed to support most original Switch games, the hardware and system software are not identical. Differences in performance, timing and features can expose hidden assumptions in older code or middleware, especially in games that push the original console in unusual ways. When those cases appear in testing or after an update, Nintendo and the developers need time to adjust both system behavior and game logic, which is why a small number of titles show problems before they are patched.
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