Tail time is back. Sorta.
If you grew up in the 90s, you remember Gex. He was the wise-cracking, channel-surfing gecko who basically lived on a diet of pop culture references and platforming tropes. For years, the franchise was effectively dead, buried under the weight of more "modern" mascots. Then Limited Run Games dropped the bombshell: the Gex Trilogy is coming back. But while everyone was focused on the initial announcement for current-gen hardware, the conversation has shifted toward the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 and what that actually looks like for Nintendo's next-generation handheld.
The reality of retro collections on Nintendo hardware is usually a mix of pure nostalgia and technical "how did they mess this up?" moments. Fans aren't just looking for a port; they’re looking for a definitive way to play these games without digging a CRT out of the attic.
The Carbon Engine Factor
The big news here is the tech. Limited Run Games is using their "Carbon Engine" to bring these three titles—Gex, Gex: Enter the Gecko, and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko—to modern platforms. This isn't just a basic ROM dump. It's a development tool that allows legacy content to run natively on modern systems.
Why does this matter for the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 version specifically?
Nintendo’s next hardware, widely referred to as the Switch 2, is expected to have significantly more overhead than the current Tegra X1 chip. While the original Gex games aren't exactly Cyberpunk 2077 in terms of demand, the Carbon Engine benefits heavily from better hardware for features like CRT filters, save states, and rewind functionality. On the current Switch, some Carbon Engine releases have seen minor stutters in UI overlays. On the Switch 2, those kinks are expected to be non-existent.
Honestly, the excitement isn't about the graphics. It's about the speed. Imagine jumping into a 3D platformer from 1998 with zero load times. That’s the promise here.
What’s Actually in the Box?
You’re getting three games. It’s a complete package.
First, there’s the original 2D Gex. It’s a tough-as-nails side-scroller that originally hit the 3DO before moving to PlayStation and Saturn. It’s weird. It’s distinct. It feels like a fever dream of mid-90s television.
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Then you have the jump to 3D. Gex: Enter the Gecko was Crystal Dynamics' answer to Super Mario 64. It didn't have the same precision as Mario, but it had way more personality. You’re exploring levels based on horror movies, cartoons, and sci-fi tropes. Finally, Deep Cover Gecko rounded out the trilogy, leaning even harder into the James Bond parody.
For the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 release, the hope is that we see the best versions of these games. In the past, different consoles had different levels. The N64 version of Enter the Gecko, for example, was missing some of the FMV (Full Motion Video) cutscenes found on the PlayStation because of cartridge space. This collection is expected to be based on the PlayStation versions, ensuring we get all that glorious, compressed 90s video footage in its full, cringe-worthy beauty.
The Switch 2 Hardware Advantage
Let’s talk specs for a second. We know the Switch 2 is targeting a much higher performance profile.
While the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 version won't suddenly look like a 4K remake, the extra RAM and improved GPU architecture will likely allow for better internal resolution scaling. Playing Enter the Gecko at a crisp 1080p or even 4K in docked mode makes a massive difference for 3D games from that era. Early 3D was notorious for "pixel crawl" and blurry textures.
Higher resolution helps stabilize the image. It makes those old-school polygons look intentional rather than messy.
There's also the matter of the screen. If the Switch 2 rumors about a larger, more vibrant display hold true, playing these colorful, TV-themed levels in handheld mode is going to feel significantly more "premium" than the original experience on a handheld like the Game Boy Color (which had its own, very different Gex ports).
Why Gex Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why anyone cares about a gecko in a tuxedo.
It’s about the era of the "Mascot Platformer." We went through a decade where every studio needed a talking animal with an attitude. Most of them were terrible. Gex survived because the level design was actually competent. Crystal Dynamics, the same studio that eventually gave us Legacy of Kain and the modern Tomb Raider reboots, knew how to build a world.
The humor is dated. Let’s be real. A lot of the jokes in the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 version will probably fly over the heads of anyone under the age of 30. He references Boy Meets World, The X-Files, and 70s kung-fu movies. It’s a time capsule.
But that’s the charm. It’s a piece of gaming history that wasn't accessible for a long time unless you dealt with the soaring prices of the retro market.
Navigating the Controversy of Voice Lines
Dana Gould is the voice of Gex. Period.
One of the biggest concerns with any "remaster" or collection of a game heavily reliant on licensed parodies and voice-overs is whether everything stays intact. Music rights and celebrity impressions can be a legal nightmare. However, Limited Run has been pretty vocal about preserving the original experience.
When you boot up the Gex Trilogy Switch 2, you want to hear those specific, annoying, wonderful one-liners. "Note to self: don't drink the tap water at Jerry Garcia's house." If those are gone, the soul of the game is gone. Current indications suggest the team is working to keep the original audio files as they were, which is a massive win for preservationists.
Technical Hurdles and Emulation
Running 90s games on modern hardware isn't as easy as hitting "copy and paste."
The Carbon Engine works by creating a translation layer. It’s basically teaching the Switch 2 how to think like a PlayStation 1. The challenge is the "jank." Old games had specific glitches that players actually liked. If you fix too many bugs, the game feels "off." If you don't fix enough, it feels broken.
For the Gex Trilogy Switch 2, the goal is a "warts and all" approach with quality-of-life improvements. Think of it like this: the game plays exactly like you remember, but it doesn't take three minutes to load a level, and you can save your progress anywhere.
The Physical vs. Digital Divide
Since Limited Run Games is at the helm, the physical release is a big deal.
They usually do several tiers. You’ll likely see a standard edition, but the "Collector's Editions" are where they go wild. Expect things like a Gex plush, maybe a replica of his remote, and definitely some stickers.
For the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 owners, physical media is a point of contention. Will the Switch 2 cartridges be backwards compatible? Yes, according to most industry reports. This means if you buy the physical version of the trilogy now, it should work seamlessly on your new hardware. However, a dedicated Switch 2 SKU might offer faster loading or "enhanced" features baked into the cartridge itself.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're looking to jump back into the Media Dimension, you shouldn't just sit and wait for a release date that might shift. Here is how you actually prepare for the Gex Trilogy Switch 2 launch.
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First, check your current Nintendo account. Digital purchases on the current eShop are widely expected to carry over to the Switch 2 library. If you buy the trilogy on the current Switch, you're likely securing your copy for the next generation.
Second, keep an eye on the Limited Run Games shipping windows. They aren't known for being fast. If you want a physical copy to be there when you unbox your Switch 2, you need to pre-order the moment the window opens. These aren't "print to demand" forever; once the window closes, you're looking at eBay prices.
Third, manage your expectations on the "remaster" side. This is a collection, not a remake. Don't expect Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart levels of detail. Expect 1998, but smoother.
Finally, if you've never played a Gex game, maybe look up a "Longplay" of the first level of Enter the Gecko. The humor is an acquired taste. You’ll either find it hilariously nostalgic or incredibly grating. It’s better to know which camp you fall into before you drop forty or fifty bucks on a collection of three games.
The return of Gex is a weird, wonderful symptom of the current gaming climate. We’re in an era where everything old is new again, and even the most obscure mascots are getting a second chance. The Gex Trilogy Switch 2 version represents the best possible way to experience that specific brand of 90s weirdness. Just remember to bring your remote. And maybe some bug spray.