Nintendo Life has reviewed Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, a new Switch 2 release from FromSoftware that bundles the acclaimed 2022 open-world action RPG with its major expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. The port serves as a showcase for the Switch 2's hardware capabilities ahead of FromSoftware's next major project, the PvP-focused Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods, and the review concludes it is well worth playing, particularly for those who have not experienced the game on other platforms.

The review highlights Elden Ring's deliberately fragmented storytelling, delivered through NPC dialogue and item descriptions rather than direct narrative, which it argues suits the game's non-linear structure. It praises the open world for offering players near-total freedom to explore, fight and gather resources in any order, citing the early encounter with boss character Margit, the Fell Omen, as an example of how players can retreat, level up and return better equipped, making the game notably approachable within the demanding Soulslike genre.