Elden Ring on the Switch 2 isn’t tarnished
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
The Verge’s review finds that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition brings FromSoftware’s acclaimed 2022 open-world action RPG, including the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, to Nintendo Switch 2 without compromising the core experience. Although it is not the most visually advanced version, the reviewer considers the hybrid console’s portable and television play options especially well suited to the game’s mix of short exploratory sessions and longer adventures.
After about 10 hours with the Switch 2 port, following dozens of hours on PS5, the reviewer reports no noticeable stuttering or frame-rate drops in either handheld or docked play. Character detail and some textures are reduced or washed out, and loading can occasionally be lengthy, but these shortcomings are described as superficial rather than disruptive. The port is presented as a demanding but successful test of Switch 2 hardware ahead of FromSoftware’s forthcoming Switch 2 title, The Duskbloods.
- Elden Ring runs reliably on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Visual compromises do not undermine the experience.
- Portable play makes the vast game easier to fit into daily life.
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Elden Ring is a widely acclaimed open-world action role-playing game made by Japanese studio FromSoftware, first released in 2022 and later expanded with the Shadow of the Erdtree add-on. It has since been ported to Nintendo's new Switch 2 console under the name "Tarnished Edition", bringing the game to a hybrid handheld-and-TV device for the first time. The Switch 2, launched in 2025, lets people play games either on the go or docked to a television, and is generally less powerful than rival consoles and gaming PCs.
The key question around any such port is whether a demanding game like Elden Ring, known for fast, punishing combat where a dropped frame or blurry visual can cost a player their progress, can run well on less powerful hardware. Gaming outlet The Verge tested the Switch 2 version extensively to answer that question, comparing it with their prior experience playing on Sony's PlayStation 5.
This matters because it signals how well FromSoftware's biggest game translates to Nintendo's newest system, and comes shortly before the same studio releases The Duskbloods, a new game made specifically for the Switch 2, later this year.
More coverage
- GameSpot — Elden Ring On Switch 2 Is A Compromise, But It’s A Surprisingly Good One
- Nintendo Life — Round Up: The Reviews For Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition On Switch 2 Are In