14 November 2025

Ball x Pit is My New Roguelite Obsession, and It Just Got Even Better on Switch 2

By newsgame

A lot of fantastic roguelites have been released in 2025, from Hades 2 to Absolum to Cloverpit. Each creates that feeling of “one more run” in their own unique way, but the one that has its hooks in me lately is Ball x Pit. On the surface, Ball x Pit looks like a simple game – some might even mistakenly think it is a riff on Brick Breaker – but there is so much more going on in developer Kenny Sun’s title, from base and economy management to unique character-based strategies, that make it something special. And best of all, if you play Ball x Pit on Nintendo Switch 2, the game just got even better.

This week, Ball x Pit released a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game that owners of the Switch 1 version can upgrade to for free. If you already own Ball x Pit on Nintendo Switch, all you need to do is head to the Nintendo eShop and download the upgrade. It will take over your existing version of the game, with all your progress intact.

What’s New for Ball x Pit on Nintendo Switch 2?

Improved frame rate (up to 90fps) and resolution (1080p)
Saves carry over
Free update on Nintendo eShop

Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades have been a key part of selling the new console/handheld hybrid system, offering “new” versions of existing games with higher frame rates, higher resolutions, and even added visual panache. For Ball x Pit, the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade is targeted at the handheld experience, bumping the resolution up to 1080p and the frame rate up to 60 FPS.

I have been playing Ball x Pit in both handheld and docked mode, and so far, I haven’t noticed much of a change in the docked experience. In handheld mode, however, the game runs a lot smoother and cleaner. Granted, the game has a retro aesthetic already, so the visual leap might not be seen as significant compared to something like Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Nintendo Switch 2 edition, but it’s still a nice upgrade for those who spend more time playing in handheld mode. And Ball x Pit is a fantastic on-the-go experience.

Ball x Pit Feels Like This Year’s Balatro – An Addictive Roguelite

Playing as The Repentant in the Snowy X Shores level in Ball X Pit

Screenshots and even trailers don’t do the Ball x Pit experience justice. Those first few runs might be complete failures, and you might not get the game’s appeal at first, but once you start unlocking upgrades and building new structures for your home base, things will gradually start to click. New characters, and new Ball x Pit ball evolutions continue to throw new wrinkles into the gameplay, leading you to new tactics and new sources of fun. Each run is rarely longer than 15 minutes, which means that you can jump into a game, make some quick progress, and then get back to what you are doing.

There’s also something supremely satisfying about watching a build come together. Very few runs feel like lost causes, like they can in other roguelites. Seeing the numbers go higher, watching your special balls ping pong between enemies and clear massive chunks further adds to the instant gratification that Ball x Pit can deliver. Even as you go through the same level over and over again, the game rarely feels repetitive because you can always have mini goals to chase.

Ball x Pit is also a great game to have going in the background while you are doing something else, like watching the longest World Series game ever. The moment-to-moment gameplay doesn’t require too much from you outside of moving your character around the battlefield.

But once you get into the real meat of Ball x Pit, the addictive nature becomes apparent. One more run can be in pursuit of numerous goals. The overall progression is focused on unlocking new levels, but there are so many different sub-objectives you can set for a particular run. Maybe you just want to move time along to harvest more resources. Maybe you want to work on leveling up a new character to see what passive upgrades they unlock at higher levels. Maybe you want to unlock new blueprints and make your builds even stronger.

Because runs are so short, the time investment doesn’t seem like as much of an ask. Which inevitably results in you squeezing in even more runs than you intend.

Ball x Pit is the Perfect Handheld Game and a Match Made in Heaven for Switch 2

Everything that makes Ball x Pit great is made even better when you can take it on-the-go. I’m sure that a mobile version is in the works, but right now, if you have a PC gaming handheld like the new Xbox ROG Ally X or a Switch or Switch 2, Ball x Pit is a great time killer (complementary). I’ve been able to get through flights, car rides, appointment waiting rooms, and more with Ball x Pit as my go-to game. In fact, most times the thing I’m trying to get through is over before I’m ready to be done with Ball x Pit, and I end up itching for that next opportunity to jump back into the game.

Like Game of the Year winner Balatro last year, I think Ball x Pit is a game that looks simple on the surface, and maybe even unappealing. But if you give it a try, you will see how complex the game can get, and it won’t be long before you are addicted.

Nintendo Switch 2 was my platform of choice when the game first released because it seemed like it might have that on-the-go hook, and I’m glad I went that way, even before the Switch 2 upgrade released. But now that you can experience Ball x Pit at a higher frame rate and resolution in handheld mode, an already-excellent game just got even better.