When it’s all said and done, it won’t surprise me if Elden Ring is still the most talked-about game of the decade besides Grand Theft Auto VI. It is a game known by everyone in the medium, whether hardcore or casual, so it should be no surprise that Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was one of the most anticipated games for Nintendo Switch 2 when it was announced at the initial reveal presentation. Unfortunately, this port somewhat disappeared after poor reception at Gamescom 2025, and it was eventually delayed into 2026 despite its intent to launch in 2025. After some silence, though, Tarnished Edition released this August for the console, finally bringing the 2022 Game of the Year to Nintendo consoles.
I’ll admit I was intrigued to see how this port would shake out after its troubling public showings, but all things considered, I’m pretty happy with what we got. If you’re a newcomer who never had the chance to check out Elden Ring despite its immense popularity, the Nintendo Switch 2 port is a completely serviceable way to do so.
Rise, Tarnished
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition packs together the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion into one collection. This is everything released for Elden Ring all in one, plus new content as part of the Tarnished Edition. The new content brings new classes and a few other things, but honestly, nothing here really changes much. It’s nice to see, but I did find it a little underwhelming, personally.
Of course, though, most players understand what you’re getting with Elden Ring. With the expansion included here, I would guess you can easily get over 150 hours of playtime out of this package. What most are curious about with a port like this is the performance, and rightfully so.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is pretty interesting when it comes to performance. This is essentially the PS4 version of the game with some enhancements that put it somewhere between the PS4 and PS5 releases. Visually, the game holds up surprisingly well on Switch 2, although there are some clear compromises. Environmental detail, foliage density, and shadows are all noticeably worse than on PS5. Still, I was very impressed with how the game looks, as it ended up being a little sharper than I thought it would be.
Frame Rate Woes
The biggest knock on the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring lies with the inconsistent frame rate. Personally, I would have preferred a 30 FPS option or at least the option to cap the frame rate. The current 40FPS cap is fine, but it’s a little strange since this port basically never hits that. The game is constantly moving and hovering between the low 30s and mid 30s at all times. I even encountered some drops that felt closer to the 20s. Timing is everything in combat in any soulslike, and the variability on display here can be a little frustrating.
That said, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is far, far away from being considered unplayable. This is a game that has had performance issues on every single piece of hardware it has ever been released on, so none of this should be a surprise for those familiar with FromSoftware. I do wish the game ran steadier in certain areas, but it’s still plenty enjoyable in either handheld or docked modes. Loading times are actually faster on Switch 2 than PlayStation 4, funny enough, which is a welcome improvement for a game that you expect to die in quite a lot.
Portability is, of course, the selling point here, so I think most double-dippers and even first-time players are willing to accept some graphical and performance compromises. Tarnished Edition makes a ton of sense if you want to play Elden Ring on the go. Docked mode is fine, but I struggle more to recommend the game to PC or PS5 owners who want to play primarily on the TV, as generally, the experience there will be better. But the portability option is why you should want this port, and it delivers there for the most part.
Plenty Good Enough for Portable Play
In many ways, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is a great and surprising port. It’s the complete game and expansion, all playable on the Switch 2, and for the most part, things are great. For playing handheld, I really do not think you can beat this. Yes, you’ve got an inconsistent frame rate, but it is plenty playable and Elden Ring on the go. The magic of exploration, grinding bosses, and discovering lore in The Lands Between is so beloved for a reason, and that experience has been captured here on Nintendo Switch 2.
If you are looking for a way to play Elden Ring portably, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is an easy recommendation. You’re getting both Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree on the go, which can easily keep you entertained for months. I do think the $79.99 asking price is high, and I’m not a fan of the choice to go with a Game-Key Card for the physical. Still, Elden Ring is finally out on the Switch 2, and it’s much better than I expected it to be. It may not be the definitive way to experience FromSoftware’s masterpiece, but it’s a great way to play one of the best games of the past decade.
Disclaimer: Bandai Namco provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition for review purposes.
