Elden Ring is objectively one of the greatest games of all time. Few would disagree, even if the difficulty barrier and Fromsoftware storytelling kept them from exploring one of the most intriguing open worlds ever created. I played Elden Ring for 100 hours in 2022 on the PS5 at launch, therefore my time with the Switch 2 version was more about performance than the many breathtaking moments and discoveries in that original playthrough. Still, I did not review Elden Ring in 2022 for a very specific reason – my previous attempts at souls games ended with a level of frustration that did not transfer well to the review process. Elden Ring changed everything, becoming my gateway into the genre and one of the most refreshing open world experiences in some time. I have since reviewed and beaten countless soulslike games, understanding the genre and the ‘die to improve’ mantra. The Switch 2 version – Tarnished Edition – comes packed with all the extras (including the fantastic Shadow of the Erdtree DLC). It is full of more features than the original release, but the question on everyone’s mind is this – how does it perform on Nintendo’s latest console?
Before I answer the core question, it is best to set the scene for newcomers. Elden Ring is an action/adventure game set in the Lands Between. Your goal is to become the Elden Lord by repairing the Elden Ring, yet you are a maiden-less tarnished (a banished warrior). Your ancestors were stripped of the Erdtree’s guiding light, and the game ensures it is known that you are very much at the bottom of the barrel. To say more would include me mentioning names, relationships and age-old battles that are best discovered in-game. The narrative is a challenge to piece together – you’ll meet a random NPC, they’ll ask you to do something or tell you their tale, and then you’ll continue on without any markers or clue to how to help them. 20 hours later, something or someone triggers a memory of this chat and a thread may start to form. The overarching narrative of defeating demigods to become the Elden Lord is fairly clear, but all else is draped in shadow and it takes lengthy YouTube vids to decipher the tale. Still, the mystery is welcomed in a medium that is all too quick to tell us everything. A second playthrough removes many of the strengths as you know what’s around most corners, yet there is depth in builds that prolongs the experience.
When I play souls games, I generally go with the sword and board (shield) approach as magic and other more niche approaches require in-depth knowledge of builds. As you are gaining levels and needing to choose which of many attributes to increase, you really need a plan in how you want your character to play. Are they all out attack up close, are they causing bleed, are they shooting spells from distance? Choosing a build is your best way to master the challenges ahead, otherwise you are peppering the stats with a scattergun that only makes bosses harder. On this occasion, I went with a samurai that also dabbled in sorcery. The samurai class uses katanas, precision, bleed and positioning to succeed. By adding a staff in my second hand, I now had spells as a projectile rather than the bow (you can swap around with countless weapons, which is half the fun). This allowed my playthrough 4 years later to be distinct, engaging with features that I didn’t really bother with in 2022. It shows the depth involved, as the game is already a colossus in its best aspect: the open world.
As we know with open world games, they are only as good as their sense of exploration and discovery. If we know there’s a point of interest around the bend, is the journey as good as the destination? Rarely. Elden Ring is best in class as there are so many naturally found secrets across an ever-expanding world. Every player will tell you about the first time they discovered a certain lift down to another world, or when they stumbled out of one massive area only to see an equally massive area reveal itself upon a hill. Many aspects of the map will never be seen by players, which makes discovering them and exploring them rewarding – even if the loot found isn’t making you any more powerful. Finding a site of grace (save point and opportunity to enhance level) is the way to plot out the map, all the way to extremely difficult boss fights and dungeons. Finding a site of grace after half an hour of collecting and fighting brings a sense of relief almost unmatched in gaming. Enemy variety is strong despite some re-used mini-bosses, biomes are diverse and unique, and there are insane moments of lore despite not presenting in a traditional sense. All of this combines to create an open world experience for the ages.
Now, onto performance. I put equal time into docked and handheld on the Switch 2. While a game requiring precision movement and skill is better operated through a general controller, the handheld version here appeared to have better framerates and textures. Elden Ring was never a graphical masterpiece, instead thriving off brilliant art design and lighting. It is clear that the Switch 2 makes some sacrifices to see availability for such a demanding title, but the game plays and looks very good overall as a port. There is some slowdown during boss fights and the distances can pop in a little at times, but I was left impressed (especially handheld) on how well it ran overall. I found this to be stronger in presentation than Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth (the closest comparison in game world and action pace) which may in part be due to the darker tone. Either way, if you are a fan of the game or have always been intrigued this is a great purchase on the Switch 2.
Elden Ring is a juggernaut that will forever be reference in the greatest game of all time discussions. With a movie on the way, the IP will continue to be in the spotlight – now available for gamers on all systems. While Nintendo is not renowned for darker games, 2026 has provided excellent ports to bridge the gap for gamers keen to dabble in both first party and third party offerings. Never has there been a better time to journey through the Lands Between.
Pros
- It’s Elden Ring…
- Handheld mode is very well optimised
- It’s Elden Ring…with DLC
Cons
- Docked has some sacrifices
