Elden Ring Switch 2 Scores 91 on Metacritic, But Reviews Are Split

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition saw its Switch 2 review embargo lift on August 26, 2026, and the early Metacritic sheet is almost suspiciously clean. The port opened at 91, with 21 reviews logged, 21 positive, 0 mixed, and 0 negative. TechRadar Gaming gave it 100/100, Nintenduo 93, The Outerhaven 80, and TheSixthAxis 80.

This isn't a trimmed-down PS5 or PC port. FromSoftware rebuilt it as a Switch 2-specific package: the base Elden Ring campaign, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, new armor and features, plus two Switch 2-exclusive classes.

In handheld mode the game runs well enough overall, though distant scenery suffers from pop-in and enemy animations occasionally stutter. The bigger problem is presentation: the port has no brightness slider, no font-size setting, and less visual polish than its console and PC counterparts. If you're used to PS5 performance mode or a high-end PC, expect to recalibrate.

Nintenduo gave it 93 and called it "a handheld miracle from FromSoftware," noting that despite frame-rate fluctuations the Switch 2 release is "excellent overall" and the most versatile version of the game. TechRadar Gaming scored it 100, calling it "a near-perfect port." The two 80s are more cautious: The Outerhaven and TheSixthAxis flag the same brightness and font-size issues, and warn that the graphical downgrade is a hard sell for anyone who already cleared it elsewhere.

For newcomers, the bundle delivers the whole Lands Between and makes the map digestible in short handheld sessions. For veterans who have already platinumed it on PS5 or PC, the technical trade-offs make a second purchase harder to justify.

Against the Switch 2 launch lineup, 91 with zero negative reviews is a strong showing. Measured against every other platform, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is best understood as a portable ticket into the Lands Between, not the definitive edition.