On August 28, 2026, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition hits shelves for the Nintendo Switch 2 – and the first review scores are already rolling in. The consensus from almost all reviews: FromSoft's open-world epic runs surprisingly well on Nintendo's new console.
How well has Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition been reviewed on Switch 2?
Nintendo Life awards a solid 9 out of 10 points, calling the port one of the best games currently available in the Switch 2 library. Nintendo Insider also landed at 9 out of 10, while Universo Nintendo went even further with 9.5 out of 10. The unanimous opinion: FromSoftware's massive open-world adventure runs astonishingly smoothly on the new console – despite the immense technical demands the game already places on PC and PS5.
How does the game perform technically – are there compromises in handheld mode?
In TV mode, the Switch 2 version targets a stable 30 frames per second. In handheld mode, the game automatically reduces shadow distance, fog density, object detail, lighting, and resolution to maintain the framerate – though during particularly action-packed boss fights, the framerate can still briefly drop below 30 fps, according to several reviews. Included alongside the 2022 base game is the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, as well as new customization options for your mount, Torrent. Pricewise, Bandai Namco is asking for $79.99 USD in the US, with a separate Tarnished Pack available for an additional $4.99, featuring two new starting classes and extra equipment.
Why was the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring long considered a risk?
This is the really interesting part of the story: After the initial public presentation, many observers were critical of the performance, with reports of noticeable stuttering and an overall unpolished implementation. FromSoftware and Bandai Namco reacted at the time by delaying the release date to gain more time for optimization. The current review scores show: The additional development time has paid off. From our perspective, this is a good sign that delays for technically demanding ports on Nintendo's new console can pay off, even if fans have to wait longer.
Source: Nintendo Life
Will you be picking up Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for the Switch 2, or sticking with your PC or PS5 version? Let us know in the comments!
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