Elden Ring on Switch 2. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Five years on from its original launch in 2021, Elden Ring has finally made its way to a Nintendo console in the form of the Tarnished Edition. Despite some initial concerns that the Switch 2’s portable hardware might not be quite up to the task of running this open world epic, my hands on time with the game this last week has shown that FromSoftware has put in some heavy lifting to get it running smoothly.
The result is impressive. It might not be the ideal way to play if you want the best graphics and frame rate, but if the Switch 2 is your only console, it’s far from the worst way to experience the Lands Between.
What’s included in Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition?
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is essentially the ultimate version of the game, including all previously released updates and DLC. That goes for Shadow of the Erdtree too, a massive expansion that can almost be classed as a whole game in its own right.
Also included are some new skins for your horse, Torrent, as well as some new armour. These cosmetics are a neat touch, but not something that I found myself blown away with compared to the original release.
What I did appreciate was the inclusion of two new starting classes, which give existing players a reason to come back to the game for a second playthrough. Both the Heavy Knight and Idus Knight have new sets of armour, weapons, and starting stats.
I chose the Idus Knight for my playthrough, and found its dexterity-focused build to be excellent for those of us slightly less skilled at combat.
It has low vigour to start, which can be corrected with a few early levelling points poured into the stat. Once that’s done, I found myself regaining my confidence pretty quickly with Elden Ring’s combat, which shines just as well here on Switch 2 as it always did on Xbox and PlayStation.
Elden Ring on Switch 2. (Image: Bandai Namco)
How does Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition run on Switch 2?
While I don’t have the specialist technology to measure the exact frame rate, frame time and resolution that Elden Ring Tarnished Edition runs at on Switch 2, I can say from my extensive testing that the game looks and feels excellent in both handheld and docked mode.
The game appears to be targeting a 1080p resolution in both docked and handheld, which is helped along with a healthy use of DLSS upscaling. That upscaling is noticeable in the visuals, with a few jagged edges here and there – especially on the character’s hair.
You’ll also notice a significant downgrade to some of the visuals, particularly to draw distances and vegetation density. However, these are necessary caveats to achieve the mostly stable frame rate, and Elden Ring thankfully manages to maintain a positive experience in this department, too.
From my testing, I found that Elden Ring managed to maintain a pretty consistent 30fps in both docked and handheld modes. This was even when entering dense areas that typically cause my PC to stutter, as well as boss fights with lots of fire and alpha effects on-screen.
Overall, I found the balance of graphical fidelity and frame rate to be just right here. Those used to playing at 60fps might feel the difference, but I never felt like it was holding me back in the many intense fights Elden Ring throws at you.
Elden Ring on Switch 2. (Image: Bandai Namco)
What’s it like to play in handheld mode?
Truthfully, playing Elden Ring in the Switch 2’s handheld mode is a dream come true – especially given the sometimes frustrating nature of its gameplay loop.
At least when playing in the offline mode, putting the Switch 2 console to sleep doesn’t interrupt the gameplay. You can boot the console back up and your character will be waiting right where you left him.
This might be different if you play online as the PlayStation and Xbox versions often ran into issues when waking from sleep mode here. However, I found the offline mode to be perfect for handheld play where picking it up for short 5-10 minute intervals was the chosen playstyle of choice.
Of course, the online mode is available if you want all the usual summoning features and messages from other players. However, you’ll need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to take advantage of these features.
Elden Ring on Switch 2. (Image: Bandai Namco)
The Verdict
Overall, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is a worthwhile version for both returning fans and new players alike. Its new classes are a great way to spice up new playthroughs while also serving as excellent jumping off points for those getting to grips with this tricky game’s mechanics.
The Lands Between shine on Nintendo’s portable hardware with FromSoftware finding a great balance between visual fidelity and smooth framerate.
It’s not quite the visual stunner that the Xbox and PlayStation versions can provide, but it was never going to be that. With the asking price including the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, it’s a fantastic way to play one of the best RPGs of this generation.
4.5/5
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2. Code provided by PR for review purposes.
