One port on the Switch 2 has been long-awaited after its initial reveal left many worried. Bandai Namco and FromSoftware’s Elden Ring arrives via the Tarnished Edition, and it’s surprisingly great.
In the hundreds of hours I’ve spent exploring The Lands Between over the last few years, nothing compares to a fresh save with only the most basic equipment to reinvigorate you. I initially wanted to test out the port for the Switch 2, but I couldn’t put the game down.
Elden Ring Plays Nice On Switch 2
For those unaware, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition includes two new starting classes, currently called Knight of Ides and Heavy Knight. You can also customize Torrent with this bundle. This bundle launched for console alongside the Switch 2 launch, so players on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC gain access to these classes, too.
The game features the dark fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, and George R.R. Martin finally landing on the Switch 2 just months after the console’s first anniversary. The bundle includes the base game and the expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, which launched in 2024 and added substantial content.
How does Elden Ring handle on the Switch 2, though? Well, you won’t catch me disappointed, as it’s a surprisingly great port with clearly a lot going on under the hood to run on the hardware. I’ve played it extensively on the go over the last few weeks, and it plays just as well as it did on the Steam Deck and the Switch 2.
Return To The Lands Between
There are some caveats I’ll discuss, and I know not everyone will agree with what I say, but a game like this can get away with concessions. The major one I’ll mention is that Elden Ring plays at 30 frames on the Switch 2. The framerate drops at times, but it isn’t unplayable. I’m more impressed that the experience has landed on the hardware than how good it looks – that’s why I adore the hardware, and the technical concessions are perfectly acceptable.
You play as a ‘Tarnished’ human; your place here is to stand up against the Demigods and become an Elden Lord in your own right. I’m noticing that the more I play, the less R.R. Martin’s influence I find in the Lands Between — everything feels FromSoftware, from the lore to the land.
That isn’t a knock against the famed author of A Song of Ice and Fire, but a testament to how similar Hidetaka Miyazaki’s work is when developing a new game. Much of the fun when a new game from this developer launches is figuring out how the lore pieces together and understanding the bigger picture.
The Switch 2 port introduces the Idus Knight and Heavy Knight to the mix. You also have access to new weapons and cosmetics, and you can choose these classes when making your character at the start of the game. It’ll take a while to acclimate to these new classes if you choose them. After spending a few hours with each class, I’m not sure they’re any better than the existing class. The Heavy Knight is fine, with great defence, and works well for a pure melee build, while Idus is better for those leaning into a dex/faith build.
Your choice is essential, depending on how comfortable you are with overcoming obstacles that may require repeating sections. Attribute points will bolster your choice from the start, so selecting the right upgrades is imperative. As a Vagabond, I primarily focused on improving my Strength, Dexterity, and Endurance. It never hurts to improve your health pool either, so sinking points into Vigour won’t hurt, and the right keepsake lets you start with a larger pool.
Verdict
As far as ports go, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is good. It’s clear some concessions were needed to get the entire experience working on the Switch 2, but FromSoftware clearly got it right. I can sacrifice some frames for a steady 30 FPS for most of the campaign. That said, the base game and expansion are here and offer hundreds of hours of content that I’m still finding hard to replicate in any other game. Having The Lands Between on the go is a huge reason to celebrate.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: Switch 2
