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The Nintendo Switch 2 has a new worst accessory in the Virtual Boy — the best place for it is on your shelf

2:30 am | March 12, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo Software Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality | Tags: Nintendo Switch, VR | Comments: Off

It’s often said that if at first you don’t succeed, you should try again. With Nintendo’s Virtual Boy rerelease for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, I wonder if it maybe should have ignored that advice.

On the one hand, the Virtual Boy accessory for the Switch and Switch 2 is the ultimate novelty. The plastic recreation oozes an iconic 90s energy that somehow infected even me — someone born years after the Virtual Boy was discontinued — with a synthetic nostalgia that had me falling in love with its outer design. And as a VR fanatic, it’s a delight to experience one of VR’s earliest consumer interpretations.

On the other hand, Nintendo’s dedication to its history means it has left the headset and its games practically unchanged — which isn’t a good thing here. The Virtual Boy’s game library is as small and terrible as ever, and comfort very much feels like an afterthought.

So the question you have to ask yourself is this: do you want to spend $99.99 / £66.99 / AU$139.95 on a 10-minute novelty that will spend a lot more time on your shelf as a sculpture than on your face?

I firmly believe the answer is an emphatic 'No.'

Nintendo Virtual Boy: Price

The proper Virtual Boy accessory will cost you $99.99 / £66.99 / AU$139.95, though if you simply want to experience the Nintendo Classics collection and don’t want to waste too much money, there’s also a cardboard version that costs $24.99 / £16.99 / AU$29.95. You can pick up either from Nintendo's online store.

While this review isn’t generally positive about the Nintendo headset, if you are going to get one of the accessories, I believe you should at least get the proper non-cardboard version. I don’t believe you should get either for what it’s worth, but the properly recreated model looks rad and could be repurposed as shelf decoration when you’ve finished playing with it after a few short sessions.

The Virtual Boy on a gray sofa — (Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector)

Value score: 1/5

Nintendo Virtual Boy: Design

When Nintendo debuted this VR headset back in 1995, it promised the Virtual Boy would “totally immerse players into their own private universe." It certainly achieved this, though I do prefer my universes with a lot less red and a lot less nauseating.

It turns out plenty of other folks didn’t like what the Virtual Boy was delivering either. Despite predicting millions of global sales by the end of 1995, Nintendo shipped a mere 350,000 units in the US that year, and only around 770,000 globally by the time it was discontinued in 1996.

One of the big issues with the headset was, and still is with this Switch recreation, its design.

Too bulky to even attempt to wear on your head like a Meta Quest 3 — especially if you’re a kid, Nintendo’s typical target audience — Nintendo opted to have the original Virtual Boy rest on a stand. Despite being a lot lighter, the Switch accessory version can also only be perched on a roughly foot-tall stand at its max height. A design decision that created its own comfort conundrum.

Screenshot from the Nintendo Virtual Boy Nintendo Direct video — (Image credit: Nintendo)

After you’ve struggled to search for an appropriately tall table and/or a stack of books to place the headset on top of, you then have to hunch over to press your face into the console so you can peer into its stereoscopic worlds. This is not a comfortable way to sit for very long, and there’s no other alternative.

Here’s where you brush up against the next poor design decision: the red displays.

To act as a cost-cutting and processing power-saving method, the Virtual Boy’s screens were entirely red, and to mimic this, the Switch accessory uses two planes of red plastic — one for each eye. Opening up the headset, you slot your Switch or Switch 2 with the Virtual Boy software open to play games through this red filter to mimic the classic’s ruby hue.

If you think VR is nauseating at the best of times, just imagine what it would be like if your entire vision were merely shades of red.

Let’s just say my play sessions maxed out at 10 minutes before I needed a lie down — and I can usually stomach hours-long VR gaming if using other headsets.

Though I will say the Switch’s Virtual Boy add-on isn’t a total design flop.

As I mentioned in the intro, the classic Nintendo headset feels definitively like a gadget of the 90s, and half of that is how it looks — something this model recreates perfectly. Unboxing it in our office, even as someone who grew up in the 00s, I did feel like I was living out one of those grainy home videos of a kid ripping open their Christmas gifts.

There’s something magical about the Virtual Boy’s appearance, even if it’s not the most practically useful, though that’s where my praise ends.

Design score: 2/5

Virtual Boy: Software

The original saw 22 games released before it was canned entirely, but for now, the Nintendo Switch version only has seven: 3D Tetris, Galactic Pinball, Golf, Red Alarm, Teleroboxer, The Mansion of Innsmouth, and Virtual Boy Wario Land. With the March catalogue update for Mario Day, they’ll be joined by two more: Mario Tennis and Mario Clash.

All of these titles are accessed via the Nintendo Classics software included with your Switch Online + Expansion Pass membership, which will cost you $49.99 / £34.99 / AU$59.95 for 12 months.

The smallish collection size isn’t ideal, but it could be overlooked if there were a definite must-play or two amongst the selection. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything exciting enough to make me want to push through the discomfort of using the system.

Wario Land is fun if you’re a fan of Mario’s doppelganger, and I liked Galactic Pinball well enough, but titles I had hopes would be fun — Tetris and Red Alarm — lacked not only entertainment but made me want to hurl. It turns out a spinning red teris board just isn’t the best way to play the game if you like keeping your lunch in your stomach.

You can extract maybe 5 to 10 minutes of novelty from each title, and you might return to a handful when you want to subject your friends to this hardware, but none of them sell this accessory as a bona fide gaming machine.

Software score: 1/5

Nintendo Virtual Boy: scorecard

Attribute	Comment	Score
Design	From a usability perspective the Virtual Boy gets a very low score for its discomfort and red plastic displays, but the design does at least look wonderfully 90s so It gets some marks back.	2/5
Software	The Virtual Boy's library is small and none of its titles are all that enjoyable, especially given the nausea they can induce.	1/5
Value	The Virtual Boy is a complete novelty, and when there are so many other better things for you to spend your money on this terrible Switch accessory isn't worth it.	1/5

Should you buy the Nintendo Virtual Boy?

Buy it if…

You can accept it’s a novelty
If you have plenty of spare cash and can happily accept there’s maybe an hour or so worth of enjoyment to extract from this hardware at the absolute max (over a few sessions), then maybe you could consider getting the Virtual Boy for your Switch or Switch 2.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re on a tight gaming budget
There are way better things to buy for with Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 — be they accessories or software — than this Virtual Boy clone. Almost any other game or add-on would be better.

You’re new to VR
If this will be your first VR experience it will likely put you off it entirely. This isn’t the best way to experience immersive 3D gameplay, but could be a novelty for existing fans of the medium.

You don’t own a Switch or Switch 2
This Virtual Boy recreation is a Switch accessory, not its own machine. If you don’t own either of Nintendo’s handheld hybrids, this headset is another level of useless.

How I tested the Nintendo Virtual Boy

I used the Virtual Boy for two weeks for this review, though my sessions admittedly didn’t last too long, as it kept making me feel ill. I relied on my Nintendo Switch 2 and its base Joy-Cons to experience this add-on’s VR experiences and used it in our office, at home, and even took it on a flight — it’s even more awful in the air, terrible VR and turbulence don’t mix.

First reviewed March 2026

Let’s Go

Remakes of the original Red and Green, which kicked off the series, FireRed and LeafGreen follow the same classic beats of the Kanto region that players first experienced in 1996.

You begin in Pallet Town where in Professor Oak’s Lab you choose one of Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle to be your starting companion before heading off on your adventure to catch and train more Pocket Monsters (aka Pokémon), and defeat eight powerful Gym Leaders, the Elite Four, and Kanto’s champion — while also foiling the plans of the evil Team Rocket, and collecting 150 Kanto ‘mons for your PokéDex (Mew isn’t available in the Switch version for now).

There’s a sense of exploration to Kanto that isn’t so present in later titles. While there are hints you can learn by talking to non-player characters (NPCs), there’s not often a clear ‘Go here next’ sign to follow — especially in the middle section of the story, post gym three, where you are much freer to explore the remainder of the map.

Trainers wanting to battle near Bill's house — (Image credit: Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.)

This imbues FireRed and LeafGreen with a sense that this is a proper adventure rather than a pre-defined story you’re wandering through the beats of.

There’s something tough about the battles, too, that presents a more engaging challenge than the most recent generations. EXP isn’t shared amongst your whole team in these classics, keeping your party at a more balanced level to your foes, and there isn’t an abundance of Pokémon to choose from to build a perfect team early on, like you can in later entries.

I’m playing through the game as a Nuzlocke — a fan-made challenge based on the Pokémon: Hard Mode web comic by Nick Franco which imposes a few extra rules limiting how many ‘mons you can catch, and forcing you to release any that are defeated in battle — and after Nuzlocking later generations, where the concept of losing two companions to a Rattata in a single fight is inconceivable, I haven’t been entirely respectful of the difficulties LeafGreen can present and faced the consequences.

Snorlax sleeping — (Image credit: Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.)

Hunting for something shiny

You can tell I adore LeafGreen and FireRed as much now as I did the original Game Boy games, but as I’m sitting playing them on my Nintendo Switch 2, I am left wanting more.

Unlike other Game Boy Advance ports on the Switch consoles, these aren’t part of the GBA catalogue you can access via the Switch Online + Expansion Pass membership, which costs $49.99 / £34.99 / AU$59.95 for 12 months. Instead, the games cost $19.99 / £16.99 / AU$30 each.

Best bit

The grassy safari zone — (Image credit: Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.)

The chiptune music is everything. The eeriness of Lavender Town, the tension of Gym Battles, the bombastic adventure exploring the routes between towns, it always perfectly captures the mood and is easily my favorite thing about these games.

There are some advantages to keeping these games separate from the emulator, such as indefinite offline play and Pokémon Home integration, and some of the Nintendo Classics emulator’s tools (like rewind) could enable exploits the series tends to avoid (though that didn’t stop the return of arbitrary code execution with these Switch ports).

However, if Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are asking us to pay a premium for these entries compared to other GBA games on the Switch system, I would have liked something a little more than a simple rerelease (though I do appreciate the inclusion of event tickets, which you can unlock after defeating the Elite Four).

I’m not asking for much. Maybe a new small area to help with filling out the National Dex, challenge mode options like a randomizer or releasing them as a double pack with Ruby and Sapphire.

The fossils in Mt Moon — (Image credit: Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.)

Perhaps I’m just spoiled by still having both of the original cartridges in a box under my bed alongside my aged Game Boy Advance, so I can play the originals whenever I want, but given this is the series 30th birthday, an extra splash of special to these launches would have been a cherry on top of what is otherwise a superb return to Kanto.

Should you play Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed?

Play it if...

You want the best Kanto experience
Whether you're a newcomer or a long-time Pokémon fan these games are the best way to enjoy the series' first region and its story.

You have a second Switch in your home
If you live with family or friends and there's a few Switches in your home these are excellent pickups as you can enjoy multipl;ayer battling and trading like you're back in 2006.

Don't buy it if...

You hate Pokémon
These games define what it means to be a classic Pokémon, in both good and bad ways. If you don't love the typical formula then you won't enjoy these remakes.

A traded Farfetch'd — (Image credit: Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.)

Accessibility

Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed don't have any specific in-built accessibility features, but they don't need them to be accessible.

The game's turn-based battles and simpler exploration allow you to play completely at your own pace in a way that should be approachable to almost everyone. You only ever need to be able to press one button at a time, so if you can do that, you can enjoy Pokémon LeafGreen.

How I tested Pokémon LeafGreen / FireRed

I have mostly played Pokémon LeafGreen for this review, and I have been enjoying it on my Nintendo Switch 2. To best mimic my classic GBA experience, I’ve played a lot of this game in handheld mode, though I did also play a lot in docked mode — especially during longer sessions where my Switch’s battery life became a concern.

On my Amazon Fire QLED TV, the classic game actually looked pretty good. I was expecting a blurry mess, but the sprites maintained their handheld charm.

My docked controller of choice is usually my 8BitDo Ultimate 2, though I did use my Joy-Cons a lot in my testing, so I could play a little more lazily on my couch.

First reviewed February-March 2026.

Pokémon Pokopia is my favorite Nintendo game in years, but its ‘narcissistic’ Pokémon are too polite for my liking

4:00 pm | March 2, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Comments: Off

Pokémon Pokopia has been somewhat of a mystery since its first announcement; it was evidently set to be a cozy game, but of what variety few could tell. Well, the answer is here; it’s part life sim, part town-building sim, part sandbox, and 100% great fun.

Nintendo passing the reins to Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force for this proved wise; their experience in making Dragon Quest Builders 2 proved invaluable in balancing Pokopia’s Animal Crossing-like cuteness and coziness with a solid storyline and satisfying gameplay loop. It's most certainly one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 5, 2025

As you’d expect, there’s always at least a little room for improvement, but overall, I am solidly impressed with the results; I found Pokopia incredibly hard to put down, and considering I’ve been working on a deadline to write up my review, that’s proved problematic!

Some prospective fans might be surprised to find that Pokopia is pretty story-driven; there’s ample side-questing, construction work, and resource collection to be enjoyed, too, but you’ll need to progress through the main quest lines to unlock new powers, areas, and Pokémon. While I love a sandbox game, the story focus of Pokopia really helps draw out the experience; had I not been working to a deadline, I could have comfortably enjoyed the first chapter (which I completed in roughly eight hours) for thrice as long.

I’m willing to hedge my bets that this will be a hugely popular title for the Nintendo Switch 2, and perhaps even a system seller; limited perhaps only by the fact that non-Pokémon fans might assume you’d need to love the monster-collecting role-playing games to enjoy Pokopia. Sure, you might miss out on a few references here and there, but I’d point any cozy game lover in the direction of Pokopia in a heartbeat.

Screenshots from Pokémon Pokopia — (Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

Kanto region as you’ve never seen it before

In Pokopia, you play as a Ditto who awakens to a post-apocalyptic and alarmingly underpopulated world. It’s your mission to restore the land to its former glory, entice back the missing Pokémon, and perhaps, even, the humans that seem to have completely vanished without a trace. It’s a great concept with some surprisingly dark undertones, though no more sinister than movies like WALL-E, which broach similar topics.

For the uninitiated, the Ditto species has the ability to transform into other creatures; it’s relatively rare that the ability is used to transform into humans, but this particular Ditto, longing for its long-lost trainer, can maintain their former partner’s human form. Even more unusually, it’s able to concurrently mimic other Pokémon’s abilities, and it’s with these powers you’ll terraform the land around you. By all accounts, it seems like we’re in the Kanto region; in-game clues hint as much, though I’ve not reached a point in the main storyline where there’s absolute confirmation on that.

There’s a solid variety of really useful skills on offer, from Bulbasaur’s grass-growing Leafage to the power to glide acquired later in the game. These scale with you as your adventure progresses in a really satisfying way, speeding up the rate at which you can improve the environment and travel around the world. They do come with limitations; you’ve got a PP meter that refills each day, however, it’s pretty easy to refuel.

To learn these abilities, Ditto needs to see them in action, so the first call to order is creating habitats that missing Pokémon can live in. As you explore the various locations in the game, you’ll find hints for different habitats, which use a combination of natural objects like rocks, trees, flowers, and tall grass, environmental factors like height, as well as man-made furnishings to lure home different species.

Many are relatively easy to form, but some will require you to find or build items. I’d wager that despite powering through the storyline, I’m only about halfway through both the Pokédex and Habitat dex; there’s a lot of content to enjoy here.

It takes a village

The rarity of the Pokémon dictates how quickly it will appear, but after some waiting, different species will arrive and offer their support to Ditto as it works to improve the local towns. Each Pokémon has abilities to help these efforts; some can refine items like bricks and ingots, others can join your party to help as you quest around town, and some just know how to bring a great vibe to any function with abilities like Hype. Each have their own likes and dislikes, too, when it comes to decor.

Much like in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there are archetypes for characters and dialogue, and while there are lots of different topics, there’s a fair amount of duplication in line delivery when you stop to chat with Pokémon. It’s somewhat understandable given just how many species there are, but it’s frustratingly close to nailing it. The first time you meet a Pokémon, there’s a unique interaction that gives you a good idea of the wide-ranging personalities of these species, only to be quickly traded for more generic interactions. Conversations between other Pokémon are pretty consistently charming, at least, and show off their unique qualities much better.

Plus, there’s a distinct lack of sass here, too; you’re told Pokémon like Dartrix are “narcissistic” in the Pokédex, and yet he’s sweet as pie most of the time when you interact. Given there are so many mischievous, egotistical, and even downright aggressive Pokémon species, this feels like another missed opportunity from Nintendo to bring back some bite to its characters.

Best bit

Listening in as Kricketot helped Diglett find his groove in an impromptu jam sesh. So. Darn. CUTE. I also love the photo opportunities to capture various Pokémon hanging out in the wild.

Still, I love that the Pokémon walk around your town, interacting with furnishings and decor you’ve placed as well as eachother. Sometimes they’ll bound over to you for a chat, to make a request or even to play a minigame like hide and seek – while these are pretty easy, it’s nice to break away and build your relationships. The world feels really lively, and I wasn’t convinced it would from early game footage nor my demo experience last month; I’m always glad to be wrong in moments like this.

Some smaller details like this do get lost in the mix; for example, sometimes, you might struggle to find a specific Pokémon you need. Presumably to offload the weight of having lots of Pokémon in one area at once, sometimes the game will remove residents from the world – but they also can just have strayed far from home. I happened to notice that it was possible to use the Pokédex to search for them around the map, and it’s only through an item description that I learned you could use honey on a habitat to summon its resident back into the world. Missing these tips meant I spent a good few hours earlier in my gameplay running in circles, ironically, trying to find Far’fetchd.

Broadly, though, the game handles these quality-of-life features and attention to detail incredibly well, and feels like Nintendo learned a lot of huge lessons from the early versions of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, even if I can still foresee an impatient younger player missing a trick or two and facing some frustration off the back of it.

Make a house a home

The centrepiece of each town is its Pokémon center, which you’ll need to rebuild; thankfully, the PC stationed nearby grants access to the Poké Life app, where you’ll find daily challenges and shop items to help on your journey as well as launch multiplayer modes and claim rewards.

Broadly, you progress through the game by improving the town’s environment level, which can also be tracked on the PC. You accomplish this by improving the habitats of your new pals; each day, they’ll request everything from decor to environmental changes, and meeting their demands will help you level up. You might find that these satisfaction levels even change for the worse if, for example, it starts raining and your fire Pokémon doesn’t have shelter, so it’s well worth checking in every day to see how things are changing for your Poképals.

If a Pokémon’s natural habitat just isn’t working out, that’s fine too; you can build everything from quick and space-efficient shanty huts for smaller species to grander block houses that multiple Pokémon can call home. Making your own structures and placing blocks can be a teensy bit fiddly at times, especially if you’re repairing pathways or dealing with larger-scale buildings, but you can use mouse mode, which allows for a little more fine motor control. Personally, I didn’t get on with this control system; however, I have dyspraxia, so I struggle with mouse mode at the best of times. I can see some players finding it useful, though.

There are also ample opportunities for customization, especially when it comes to building. I think players are going to have a lot of fun with this feature, which will be massively appreciated when it comes to the multiplayer experience, where players can show off their home islands.

Plus, some great tech mechanics make building much more than a cosmetic exercise, some of which I’ve barely scratched the surface of; from minecarts to electricity circuits and beyond, it will take a lot to recreate the world as humans left it. Thankfully, Drifloon can whisk you away to a different dream island every day, where you can gather more resources if you’re running dry.

Strafing difficulty levels

Overall, the game is quite well balanced in terms of difficulty, but there are a lot of shortcuts you can figure out to speed your way through questlines and unlock more powerful moves more quickly.

The real-time element of the game is great for pacing, but it does have its quirks. Certain tasks like teams of Pokémon taking on construction work or processing materials, make you wait for the results, but in both cases, you can still make use of the Pokémon for other tasks at the same time, unless they’re operating machinery. And anyway, it’s actually pretty easy to build multi-resident houses yourself in Pokopia; all you really need is a one-block high wall, a doorway, three pieces of furniture, and voila, you can move in a few Pokémon and more quickly improve their satisfaction levels.

Plus, ome Pokémon abilities are pretty busted. You can bring most plant-type Pokémon along with you to any vegetable gardens you’ve planted and use their abilities to speed up crop growth – sure, they might run out of energy, but a quick Leppa berry sees them hop straight back to work. I’d have preferred it if, like with furnaces and other workstations, farming had been an assignable task, as its current setup somewhat flies in the face of the real-time cycle.

These kinds of min/maxing workarounds are often tantalizing, but it’s up to you as the player to moderate yourself and choose to enjoy the non-demanding pace Pokopia offers. Perhaps the game could have a few more guardrails, but it doesn’t make it any worse to play unless you’re looking for reasons to rush through.

Besides, there’s just so much to do in Pokopia. You want to build a museum and proudly display your collectibles? You got it. Want to focus on rebuilding all that which the humans left behind? There’s plenty of ruins to go around. Want to shirk off Ditto’s mission and just create 3D models of Pokémon out of dirt blocks? You do you, boo boo.

Most of my issues with this game have been surface-level, really; the attention to detail here is fantastic, it’s consistently great fun to play, and brimming with evident care for the now-30-year-old franchise.

Every aspect of Pokopia feels like a warm hug; the graphics are super cute, the interfaces are clean, the music is bright and comforting, and it’s full of life. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a spin-off that adds so much to the already-teeming world of Pokémon, and I, for one, am incredibly excited to see how players design their own cities and islands.

Should you play Pokémon Pokopia?

Play it if...

You love a peaceful adventure
Part life-sim, part sandbox, part town-building sim, there’s a lot to love about Pokémon Pokopia and very little to raise your blood pressure.

You’re craving some self-expression
From character design to furnishings to building materials and beyond, you can really make the world of Pokémon feel like your own with very few restrictions.

You want an environmental feast
Pokopia is so darn cute to look at. Cutesy pastel hues, animated and vibrant Pokémon, and a great stripped-back soothing soundtrack make it a wonderful and immersive cozy experience.

Don't play it if...

You want Pokémon battles
While even I hoped for some semblance of classic Pokémon fighting, in a trainer-less world, it makes little sense to include any fighting mechanics.

You have poor self-control
The worst thing about this game, really, is that it’s easy to work around a lot of its real-time restrictions. If, like me, you’ve got poor impulse control and crave the dopamine hit of completed tasks, you might struggle to enjoy the slow pace – but there’s still plenty to enjoy.

Accessibility features

There are many of the standard expected accessibility features: text speed, customizable controls, camera speed and distance controls, as well as auto-adjust/follow.

However, outside of these, there’s little on offer; I’d expect and hope at the very least for font size adjustments, control sensitivity, UI settings, and closed captions for in-game sound effects, which would drastically improve the experience for a wide range of prospective players. I really hope these come in a future update.

How I reviewed Pokémon Pokopia

I spent 40 hours playing Pokémon Pokopia on my Nintendo Switch 2, working my way through as much of the main quest as possible in that time while also working towards rebuilding the various towns to my taste. I completed most of the early-game side quests, gathered a sizeable chunk of collectibles, and created a wide variety of habitats for my Pokémon.

I mostly played in docked mode, playing with my Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller and using standard settings on my Sony KD-49XH8096 TV, using Logitech Multimedia Z200 speakers or my Corsair Void MAX Wireless v2, but I also spent around 6 hours in handheld mode and tried mouse mode for easier block placement.

I compared my experience with Pokémon Pokopia to some of my favorite cozy, sandbox, and town-building games, from titles like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Terraria to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and games from the Two Point tycoon series.

I tested Turtle Beach’s Mario-infused Nintendo Switch 2 controller, and its combination of a flashy design with TMR thumbsticks won me over — even if it does omit a few too many features

5:00 am | February 28, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: Nintendo Switch | Comments: Off

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: one-minute review

Fancy a Rematch? That’s right, Turtle Beach is back with the Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, which comes equipped with an all-new design, trusty C button, and a few other technical touch-ups.

There’s a lot to love about the Rematch, whether that be its drift-resistant TMR (tunnel magnoresistance) thumbsticks, its eye-catching semi-translucent design – which even features Super Mario himself, or its customizable GL and GR buttons. It’s also a pretty comfortable controller to use, with responsive triggers and face buttons, and incredibly seamless pairing.

I was also delighted with the controller’s generous 40-hour battery life, which competes with top controllers in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. Despite that, though, the Rematch certainly isn’t without its flaws.

One of the most glaring drawbacks is the controller’s omission of rumble technology. This can be crucial for certain in-game segments, and is generally a vital instrument to immerse players more deeply in their gaming experiences. I was also sad to see NFC tech left out, which lets you scan Amiibo in titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond or Kirby Air Riders.

When you combine those things with the Rematch’s lack of a 3.5mm port and its inability to wake your Nintendo Switch 2 console from sleep, I think it’s fair to say it's missing a few crucial features. And yes, although this model costs a fair bit less than the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, it's not exactly cheap. At more than $60 / £50 / AU$90, I’d hope for more expansive functionality.

All of that’s not to say that I disliked the Rematch – far from it. It’s a solid model overall that feels comfortable and effective in use, and the TMR tech is something that Nintendo’s official Switch 2 pro controller doesn’t have. And even with some missing features, it does support motion controls, which worked well in my experience.

Ultimately, I’d probably recommend waiting for a sale for this model. It’s a trustworthy, appealing controller that gets a lot of the fundamentals right, and it will almost certainly serve you well. At full price, though, I just feel that it’s a bit too thin on features.

Man holding the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 and playing Mario Kart World — (Image credit: Future)

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price and release date

List price of $64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99
Which is $20 / £20 / AU$20 less than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller
Launched in October 2025

The Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 was released in October 2025, a few months after Nintendo’s latest system came to market. This Nintendo-licensed controller will typically set you back $64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99 – that’s about $20 / £20 / AU$20 less than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller. You can purchase it with the Mario design – pictured throughout this review – or in a more basic Charcoal Black colorway.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: specs

Price	$64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99
Weight	0.8lbs / 0.4kg
Dimensions	6.3 x 5.3 x 2.6in / 160 x 135 x 65mm
Compatibility	Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Connection type	Wireless
Battery life	40 hours

USB-C port on the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: design and features

Beautiful semi-translucent design
Remappable GL/GR buttons plus C button
No NFC support, no 3.5mm port

Looks-wise, I’m a big fan of the Rematch controller for Switch 2. It has a semi-translucent design and is adorned with the Super Mario logo, as well as the Italian plumber himself. It's beautiful, fun, and a bit more charismatic than the swathe of plain black controllers that dominate the market. Red details really cement the fact that this is a Mario-themed, Nintendo-licensed model too, which is a nice touch.

As nice as it looks, though, I would argue that the controller feels a touch cheaper than its price tag may suggest. It's got quite a plasticky build, and some components, like the D-pad for instance, just lack that premium finish you’ll get from Nintendo’s official Pro Controller.

That’s fairly understandable, given that the Pro Controller is $20 / £20 / AU$20 more expensive, but that cheaper build isn’t the only sacrifice you’ll make if you do indeed opt for the Rematch instead.

For instance, this model doesn’t have NFC technology built in, which means that you can’t make use of Amiibos in games like Donkey Kong Bananza or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I understand that this won’t upset most players as much as me, but as an avid amiibo collector, this felt like a significant miss. Pair that with the lack of a 3.5mm port for a wired headset, and the omission of rumble (which I’ll discuss more down below), and you’re not getting the most feature-rich model on the market.

However, the Rematch controller does still have some commendable aspects, like its GL and GR buttons – these can be mapped to different controls for different games, and can come in handy for item management in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for instance.

The C button in the center of the controller is also a big help if you want quick access to GameChat capabilities, something that you won’t find on a lot of third-party models.

Buttons on the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: performance

TMR thumbsticks feel pretty good
A whole lotta battery life
Lack of rumble and can’t wake the console

The Rematch is an ergonomic, well-sized model with a pleasing weight to it, and it’s a very solid controller performance-wise.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of picking this controller over Nintendo’s official rival is that you’re getting TMR thumbsticks. This ensures strong responsiveness and precision, while also making stick drift less likely. More generally, the textured thumbsticks feel pretty good, and I experienced no issues with them across hours and hours of play.

In fact, most of the buttons feel pretty pleasing to use, whether that be the main face buttons, plus and minus controls, or the triggers. I especially appreciated the form of the ZL and ZR buttons, which slope upwards and are satisfying to press. The aforementioned GL/GR buttons are a welcome addition to boot.

My only real complaint when it comes to the buttons is some of the placements. For some reason, the home and plus buttons, as well as the minus and screenshot buttons, have been swapped around. To begin with, I found myself continually pressing the home button instead of the plus one, just out of sheer muscle memory. When playing with friends, I found that they would do the same, so this change felt more bothersome than anything.

Back to the good stuff, though, and I’m pleased to report that this controller delivers plenty of playtime. Turtle Beach says you get 40 hours from the Rematch, and from my time playing, I’d report that as accurate. That’s the same amount of time you’d expect to get out of the official Switch 2 controller, and competitive against other third-party controller manufacturers.

This model also supports motion controls, which I found to be surprisingly accurate. During my playthrough of Super Mario Galaxy, it was nice ‘n’ easy to grab star bits and navigate through menus – I still find the Joy-Con 2 controllers to be superior for motion-controlled games, however.

Having said that, Turtle Beach did leave a few functions out that could’ve put this controller's performance on par with the best of the best. For instance, there’s no rumble here, which is crucial for certain in-game mechanics and delivering a more immersive experience overall. You also cannot wake the console with the home button – something I love about my go-to controller, the Mobapad N1 HD.

Man holding the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for more advanced thumbstick tech
The Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 packs in TMR thumbsticks – one of its best assets for sure. This means that your controller will be less prone to drift than a controller using more traditional tech, like the official Switch 2 Pro Controller.

You want standout looks
I really like the semi-translucent design of this controller, and having Super Mario himself at the front and center feels like a nice touch. As I stated earlier, the market is filled with one-note, plain black models, so it’s nice to find something with a bit of pizzazz.

Don't buy it if...

You want the most feature-rich controller
Despite its nifty thumbsticks and swell design, the Rematch omits some fairly major features. For instance, there’s no rumble here, which can be crucial for immersing players in their gaming experiences. There’s also no NFC tech for amiibo, and you can’t wake the console from sleep mode, which is a shame.

You’re looking for something with a premium feel
As much as I like this controller’s look, I wouldn’t say it's the most sturdily or luxuriously built model. The Rematch has quite a plasticky feel, and for the price you pay, you may expect something a little more premium.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: also consider

	Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2	Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller	8BitDo Ultimate 2
Price	$64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99	$84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95	$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$90
Weight	0.8lbs / 360g	0.5lbs / 235g	0.5lbs / 246g
Dimensions	6.3 x 5.3 x 2.6in / 160 x 135 x 65mm	5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 148 x 105 x 60mm	5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm
Compatibility	Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch	Nintendo Switch 2	Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
Connection type	Wireless	Wireless	Wireless
Battery life	40 hours	40 hours	15 hours

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Although it doesn’t have TMR or Hall effect, we still love the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Its luxurious build quality, excellent battery life, smooth thumbsticks, and ergonomic comfort just keep us coming back for more. Its inclusion of NFC and rumble tech gives it a bit of a leg up over this Turtle Beach model, although it will cost you a little more.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review.

8BitDo Ultimate 2
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is filled to the brim with high-tech features, be that TMR sticks, Hall effect triggers, or remappable L4/R4 bumpers. OK, its battery life really isn’t that great, especially if you’re using the flashy RGB lights, but there’s still a lot to love about this model.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review.

How I tested the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2

Tested across multiple weeks
Compared against other wireless controllers
Played a range of Nintendo Switch 2, original Switch, and retro titles

I spent weeks testing the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, during which time I played various games, exhausted its many features, and compared it against a handful of rivals.

In order to assess the controller’s capabilities in full, I played classic titles via Nintendo Switch Online, such as Chibi-Robo!, as well as games with motion controls like Super Mario Galaxy, and Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World. Most of the time, I used the controller while my Nintendo Switch 2 was docked, and connected up to my Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.

More generally, I’ve tested a bunch of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories – not only controllers, but also cameras like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, screen protectors including the Genki Aegis Shield, and cases such as the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case.

First reviewed: February 2026
Read more about how we test

This Nintendo Switch 2 case may not be the most stylish, but its storage space and low price impressed me

7:00 am | January 31, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories Nintendo | Tags: Nintendo Switch | Comments: Off

Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2: review

Looking to protect your precious new Nintendo system? Then the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 could be worth checking out. This soft case is licensed by Nintendo itself, and has a range of compartments to help you organize your gaming gear – so is it worth picking up?

Well, if you’re not a massive fan of hard cases, it may tempt you. Yes, this is a pretty soft model, although it does still have a solid amount of padding to keep your console safe. You’ll find said padding on either side of the console compartment, which will soak up any impact in the event that you drop the case.

However, there are two other compartments – one in the center of the case, and a net in the front. These aren’t protected by much padding at all. So if you’re housing accessories in there, they may not be as well protected as they’d be in tougher models like the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case, which is in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

Still, there’s plenty of room to house the power cable and adapter and a couple of other gadgets, like the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, for example. As a mid-sized case, this one’s not really big enough for your dock – I was able to cram it in, but it was a bit of a tight fit. Other than the three main compartments, there are also six slots for Nintendo Switch 2 or original Switch games, which isn't the most I’ve ever seen, but plenty if you’re going on a short trip.

Person opening up the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

When it comes to this case’s design, I have fairly mixed feelings. One thing I do like is the handle, which adapts in length when you lift it up – as seen on the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2. The handle also flows around the edge of the case, meaning you can pick the case up by its side if you'd prefer. On top of that, the zip is secure, and a hook and loop fastener inside the case keeps your console in place effectively.

However, I’m not a huge fan of how this thing looks. It reminds me of a purse – and not a particularly stylish one. The square-patterned design, the soft feel, the puffed-out appearance… it just doesn’t do it for me. Another thing worth noting is that the fabric exterior is very prone to picking up dust and fibers, which isn’t an issue I face with the official Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector.

In spite of that, this is still a pretty well-priced case overall. The Puff Pouch comes in with a list price of $29.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95, but I’ve seen it going for less in some territories – it’s going for as little as £17.50 with some retailers in the UK. Is it the most durable or stylish case I’ve tested? No. But the Hori Puff Pouch should still keep your console nice and safe, and provides a very decent amount of storage – soft case lovers should at least consider it at this price.

Person grabbing the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & specs

Price	$29.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95
Dimensions	12.3 x 7 x 3.9in / 313 x 178 x 100mm
Weight	0.4lbs / 186g
Number of game card slots	6
Compartments	3
Handle	Yes
Color	Black

Person grabbing handle on Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Not the sleekest or sturdiest, prone to picking up dust, but decent padding and handle.	3/5
Storage	Well-sized compartments with six game slots, not really large enough for dock.	4/5
Value	Not the most secure or stylish, but moderately priced.	3.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a cost-efficient option
The Puff Pouch has a list price of $29.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95, but I’ve already seen it going on sale for less. It offers a good deal of quality for the price you pay, so it’s worth checking out if you’re on a budget.

You’re not a lover of the hard cases
If you’re not a huge fan of hard cases, then the Puff Pouch is a nice option. It’s soft, but well-padded, meaning that it’ll still protect your console effectively.

Don’t buy it if…

You need a case that will house your dock
Although you could potentially cram your dock into the Hori Puff Pouch, it would be a real tight fit, and not particularly secure. If you need a true all-in-one option, I’d suggest checking out the Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2, or Nintendo’s official alternative – I’ve listed the latter in the ‘Also consider’ section if you want more details.

You’re looking for something super stylish
I’m not a huge lover of the Puff Pouch’s design. It looks a little like a purse to me, and not a particularly beautiful one. If you want something a little sleeker, my top recommendation would be the official Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector.

Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2: also consider

Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case
This is the case I use for my Nintendo Switch 2 day in, day out, and it should definitely be on your radar if you need some protection for your console. Nintendo’s official all-in-one case has individual compartments for your system, your dock, Joy-Con 2, a Pro Controller, cables… you name it. It’s spacious, highly protective, and offers top build quality. It’s expensive, and I wish the handle were wider, but for an all-in-one storage solution, it’s about as good as it gets. Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case review.

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2
If you’re after a similarly sized option to the Puff Pouch, then I’d recommend checking out the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2. You can carry this case traditionally with a handle, or switch things up a bit and use it as a cross-body bag. It’s pretty sturdy, has enough room for a handful of accessories, and doesn’t cost all too much either. Read our full Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 review.

How I tested the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2

Tested over the course of multiple days
Took with me to the office and on walks
Trialed by a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and life-long gamer

I tested the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 over the course of a couple of days, using it as the primary mode of transport for my system. I also tried slotting a couple of accessories into the case, including the Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 and a couple of third-party controllers.

To test the case’s durability, I made sure to drop it from a variety of distances and give the exterior a good scratching. Following this, I had a look for any wear and tear, to check if the model was as sturdy as advertised on Nintendo’s online store. I also compared this case to rivals on aspects like storage space and looks.

More generally, I’m a day-one Nintendo Switch 2 owner, a lifelong gamer, and an experienced tech reviewer. I’ve reviewed a whole lot of Switch 2 accessories too – I’m talking everything from cases through to screen protectors like the DBrand Prism 2.0 and cameras like the Hori USB Camera.

Read more about how we test
First reviewed: January 2026

The Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Switch 2 version is better than I expected — it isn’t flawless, but the game is still absolutely brilliant

3:20 pm | January 21, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: Final Fantasy, Nintendo Switch | Comments: Off

Ever since I first played it on the PS5 a few years ago, I’ve been certain Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a gaming masterpiece – the inarguable best way to play the role-playing game (RPG) classic that is Final Fantasy VII. But now that it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, is the game still as excellent?

TL;DR, yes, but I’m left feeling like the Switch 2 edition is only the second best way to play the best way to play Final Fantasy VII.

I’m not the only person who loves Final Fantasy VII Remake. Former TechRadar Computing Hardware expert Jackie Thomas gave it five stars out of five back when it released on the PS4 almost six years ago, and the story, music, and general beauty of the game haven’t changed with this port.

But as you’d expect, going from a home console to a handheld hybrid, some technical downgrades are to be expected – with both texture quality, framerate, and fidelity dips noticeable, though playing in Docked mode does give it a noticeable visual bump.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot of Yuffie — (Image credit: Square Enix)

That said, are you playing on the Switch 2 for graphical superiority? If you are you might want to rethink your console choice, as the true beauty of the Nintendo hybrid is its ability to game on the go, and for an tens-of-hours-long RPG – that’ll hold your attention between 30 and 90 hours based on whether you want to focus on the story, complete a few side quests along the way, or seriously devour every piece of additional content across both the main campaign and bonus Intermission downloadable content (DLC) episode – is essential for more time-strapped gamers.

Finding time to play all of that at home can be tough, especially if you share your TV. Taking Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the go as part of your morning commute, on trips if you travel regularly, or simply enjoying it in portable mode on the couch while someone else uses the main screen in your home entertainment setup makes finding the time much more manageable – meaning you can actually start enjoying the games you buy, and not just stare at them in your ever-growing digital library.

If this convenience is what you crave, you’ll love Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Nintendo Switch 2. For everyone else, this game is still required reading, but you’d be better served by its PlayStation 5 edition (provided you have access to the console).

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot showing Cloud and Barrett — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is part one of Square Enix’s recreation of the 1997 RPG, Final Fantasy 7. While it is, in some ways, simply a third of a game, the care and attention put into every inch of this title doesn’t leave you feeling shortchanged.

As I mentioned in the intro you can easily spend close to 90 hours playing Remake if you sink your teeth into every challenge the game has to offer, including finishing every side mission, earning the high score in every minigame, completing the game on Hard mode (which requires a whole replay), and besting the greatest foes in Shinra’s virtual battle zone.

I can say, as someone who has done exactly this, you won’t regret the time you spend in Midgar, but even if you simply focus on the main quest-focused story (including the Intermission story featuring Yuffie), then you’ll still be savouring Final Fantasy VII for around 30 to 40 hours.

Even if you’ve played the 1997 version, there’s plenty to enjoy here too.

The Remake expands on the story in a way that better fleshes out each character, the relationships between the key players, and (if I’m honest) makes the experience much more engaging rather than what could at times feel like a slog.

There are a few new twists and turns to discover as well, but every single one feels like a worthy addition to the mythos and the core story FFVII is telling – rather than fluff that would detract from its message.

Combat ready!

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot of Cloud, Tifa and Barrett — (Image credit: Square Enix)

The gameplay has had a tune-up, too.

I enjoy turn-based battling, but Final Fantasy VII’s approach to combat is undeniably more active and approachable to a wider audience. At the same time, I appreciate the “Classic” difficulty mode the game introduces, which helps to return some of the accessibility offered by turn-based combat if you want it.

If playing regularly, you must actively attack and block with your character to charge ATB so you can perform more powerful skills and spells. In Classic mode, the characters all fight and guard automatically, letting you simply focus on which enemy to target and when you want to use those more powerful moves.

It’s not a substitute for the slower pace of turn-based fights, but feels closer to it if you require a slightly calmer pace.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot showing Cloud on a bike — (Image credit: Square Enix)

In any case, with this more active approach to combat comes complexity where lots can be happening at once – especially in bigger fights that have Cloud, Tifa, and Barrett slashing, punching, and firing away at a small army of Shinra guards and bots returning fire – but the Switch 2 did its best to keep things flowing smoothly.

There’s no in-system way to track framerate, but the gameplay did seem to hold steady at 30 frames per second (fps) as Square has promised. If you’re used to higher rates, you’ll notice some frameyness to the game in handheld mode, but honestly, it doesn’t detract from the experience – especially since this isn’t a game like a shooter where 60fps-afforded precision is essential.

There are also a few noticeable texture and model downgrades compared to the PlayStation version, which are even more apparent if, like me, you’re used to the PS5 rendition rather than the PS4 edition of Remake. When you dock your Switch 2, however, things do start to look a lot better, and even in handheld mode, there is an undeniable beauty to Final Fantasy VII Remake that persists even if the overall quality has taken a hit.

Again, as I mentioned in my intro, it’s also not like you’re choosing the Switch 2 for its graphical fidelity. Quality is the price we pay for handheld convenience, and I’ll hold firm to the fact that this port does look great, even if not quite as great as the PlayStation edition. It just comes down to what you value more.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot showing Sephiroth — (Image credit: Square Enix)

The only other point I’ll make on the Switch 2 vs PlayStation comparisons is cost.

At launch, the Switch 2 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will cost you $39.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.95. It’s a reasonable price of entry in my mind, but you should note that a twin pack of Remake and its part 2 Rebirth on PS5 will set you back $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$159.95 (it’s not such a great deal based in Australia at full-price, though I’ve seen it on sale for much less in each of these regions meaning it’s a better deal than these numbers make it look).

Two games for effectively the price of one-and-a-half (or even for the price of one if you get the twin pack with a discount) is clearly a good deal. So if you have access to both consoles, and won’t appreciate the convenience of handheld mode, or would appreciate the better value proposition, then you might want to consider your options for how to experience Final Fantasy VII.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot showing materia — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Should you play Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2?

Play it if…

You want to experience one of the greatest RPGs ever made again
FFVII is beloved for a reason, and the remake is simply the best way to experience the story in 2026.

You care about portable gaming
The game runs really well on the Switch 2 in handheld mode. Sure, it isn’t graphically perfect, but that’s not what the Switch 2 is for.

You like games with lots of content
You can easily spend over 50 hours playing this title if you devote yourself to its bonus content and DLC in addition to its main story, you might even stretch to closer to 90 hours if you want to complete hard mode too. So if you like long games this is a solid pick up.

Don’t play it if…

You have a PS5
The Nintendo Switch 2 version is good, but for the most cost-effective and best quality way to experience FFVII on console, you should play the PS5 version if you can.

You want high quality and performance
This title still looks beautiful on the Switch 2, but it does look more framey and overall looks lower quality than non-handheld versions.

You want turn-based action
The appeal of classic RPGs is turn-based combat, and while this remake maintains elements of that style of gameplay it’s a very different experience.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Switch 2 screenshot showing Aerith praying — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Accessibility

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade has several difficulty controls to help with accessibility.

There’s Classic mode if you’d prefer a simpler battle system, but also the ability to always have max HP, a full ATB gauge, and constantly deal max damage (among other effects) that can make the game more approachable.

Beyond this, there are subtitles for all cutscenes, and there isn’t a built-in colorblind mode, which can unfortunately make a couple of fights and minigames a little tougher if you are colorblind.

How I reviewed Final Fantasy VII Remake on Nintendo Switch 2

I’ve already put over 80-hours into Final Fantasy VII Remake and its DLC episode on my PS5 – as I mentioned in my review, I enjoyed it so much I went out of my way to get every trophy – so I already knew my thoughts on its mechanics and its story before booting this title up, and had a great point of reference for the Switch 2 version.

The focus of this review was to test how well the Nintendo Switch 2 can handle the game I love. To test this, I played the title over many, many hours in both docked and handheld mode, made sure to explore both the main story, side quests, and minigames, and made notes about its technical capabilities.

I reviewed this game using a standard Nintendo Switch 2 when in handheld mode, and on a Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED with a Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar, and an 8BitDo Ultimate 2 controller in docked mode.

This Nintendo Switch 2 case doubles up as a cross-body bag, and I kinda love it

2:30 am | January 16, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories Nintendo | Tags: Nintendo Switch | Comments: Off

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2: review

It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch 2 is an expensive piece of kit, so if you recently got your hands on one, it’s crucial to keep it protected. So, in steps the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 – a sturdy cross-body case that’s licensed by Nintendo itself.

This model is a little different from others I’ve tested, due to its versatile design. It can be held like a typical case, thanks to a built-in handle, which adjusts automatically as you lift it up. But there’s also a strap that enables you to wear the Adventure Pack like a cross-body bag. You can change the tightness of the fit to suit you, and it works pretty well. Personally, I don’t think this looks all too stylish, but if you need free hands, the strap is a welcome option. When you don’t want to use said strap, it can easily slot into a mesh fabric pouch on the reverse side of the case, ensuring that it looks tidy at all times.

A big positive of the Hori Adventure Pack is its generous storage space. It’s a little too small to hold your console, dock, and all the wires – well, you could cram them all in, but it’s going to be a very tight squeeze. Still, there’s plenty of room for your console inside, and the case’s outer pocket is large enough to house some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

Woman opening the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

There’s a specific pouch to hold your Nintendo Switch 2 console with the Joy-Con 2 controllers attached. It’s a touch narrow, so you’ll have to carefully place your system inside, but there is a velcro strap to keep it secure. You’ll also find six game cartridge slots inside the case – not the highest amount I’ve seen, but enough for a short trip away, for example.

Looks-wise, the Hori Adventure Pack is decent. It has a rubber-like handle and upper half, which looks fairly stylish, but is susceptible to picking up dust and marks. The rest of the case is made up of a scratch-resistant fabric and a net to conceal the carry strap. It comes in all black and isn’t anything flashy, but it will suit those who prefer an understated aesthetic.

Is this the most sturdy case I’ve tested? Well, perhaps not – it doesn’t have the tough exterior of the Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2, say. But it’s still a pretty resilient model. It has a padded, robust feel to it, and when I dropped the case from waist height, there weren’t any signs of damage.

Strap on the reverse side of the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Let’s finish things off by talking about value. This case is typically priced at $34.99 / £26.99 / AU$54.95, which is reasonable given the amount of storage space on offer and the versatility of its design. I’ve also seen Hori's Adventure Pack go on sale in some territories, with its price dropping as low as £18.89 on My Nintendo Store in the UK.

Considering that the official Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case will set you back $39.99 / £20.99 / AU$39.95 – a stylish choice, but one that has a lot less storage space – I think you’re getting good bang for your buck from the Adventure Pack. All things considered, then, this is a strong case from Hori, and its combination of a unique design with a modest price tag ensures that it's well worth considering.

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & specs

Price	$34.99 / £26.99 / AU$54.95
Dimensions	12.6 x 5.7 x 3.9 inches / 320 x 146 x 100mm
Weight	0.7lbs / 300g
Number of game card slots	6
Compartments	4
Handle	Yes
Color	Black

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 on table — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Versatile build, sturdy feel, solid look, but not the most flashy and can pick up marks.	4/5
Storage	Plenty for console and accessories, OK amount of game slots, not enough room to house dock.	4/5
Value	Comes at a modest price considering its robust build and generous storage.	4/5

Buy it if…

You want a bag-style case
Perhaps the most enticing aspect of the Hori Adventure Pack is its ability to double up as a traditional case with a handle, while also serving as a cross-body bag. That versatility makes it incredibly practical when taking your Switch 2 on the go.

You want to store your accessories too
Unlike the official Nintendo Switch 2 case, there’s plenty of room in the Hori Adventure Pack to store a few accessories, such as the Hori USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2.

Don’t buy it if…

You need room for your Switch 2 dock
Although you can pack a few accessories into this case, it’s not really ideal for housing your dock. I tried inserting mine, and although it just about fit inside, the fit was realistically too tight. If you want a case that does it all, your best option is the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case.

You’re looking for something flashy
This case isn’t the most eye-catching or premium-looking, although it’s certainly very practical. If you want something sleek and colorful, then I’d suggest checking out the Belkin Charging Case for Nintendo Switch 2.

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2: also consider

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector
This slim and stylish case is still one of my favorites, and my go-to if I’m not taking my dock on the go. It doesn’t have as much storage space as this Hori model, but it’s lightweight and sturdy, and even comes with a basic screen protector.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector review.

Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2
This one’s not available in the US or Australia, but if you’re in the UK, it’s a top-tier option. With a sturdy build, enough room for your dock and system, and plenty of game card slots, it really is the full package. It’s very cheap for the amount of storage space available, which helped to earn it a stellar four-and-a-half-star review.

Read our full Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2 review.

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 review: how I tested

Reverse side of the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 — (Image credit: Future)

Tested over the course of multiple days
Took it with me to the office and on walks
Trialled by a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and life-long gamer

I took my Switch 2 on the go inside the Hori Adventure Pack for multiple days in a row. During this time, I also packed in a couple of accessories and made sure to try out both the handle and strap carrying methods.

In order to get a measure of this case’s durability, I dropped it from various distances and also gave the exterior a good scratch. After this, I checked for any wear and tear to ensure the model was as sturdy as advertised. I also compared this case to rivals on aspects like storage space and looks.

More generally, I’m a day-one Nintendo Switch 2 owner, a lifelong gamer, and an experienced tech reviewer with a ton of experience with Switch 2 accessories. I’ve trialled a range of products, including cases, but also screen protectors like the DBrand Prism 2.0, and cameras, like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2.

I find your lack of faith… disturbing

A screenshot of Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. — (Image credit: Ubisoft)

Everything we loved in our original Star Wars Outlaws review rings true for this newer version.

If you’re a fan of the Star Wars universe, then you’re going to love the peerless faithfulness of this adaptation. As an intergalactic rogue forced to go on the run after a heist gone wrong, you explore a series of large open-world planets as you gradually put together a crew and navigate relationships with some of the galaxy’s most notorious criminal clans.

Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi films, familiar locations like the desert plains of Tatooine are wonderfully represented and seamlessly presented alongside new additions like the sandy Toshara Moon or dense jungle world of Akiva.

Best bit

The five planets of Star Wars Outlaws are all a fan’s dream. It includes the perfect mix of nostalgic favorites like Tatooine alongside some more interesting and beautiful inclusions like the snowy world of Kijimi.

Everywhere you explore looks superb on Nintendo Switch 2, especially in handheld mode. On the console’s 1080p screen, it appears delightfully crisp and, although the quality of 3D models does take a small hit, the overall experience feels about on par with that of an Xbox Series S, which is a very impressive result.

In some regards, it actually looks better here than on the Series S, with improved ray-tracing effects in interior environments. Wandering around the densely populated city of Mirogana early in the game, the lighting effects appear rich and complex. Locations are crafted with a high level of detail throughout the game, and I’m glad that the enjoyment of occasionally stopping to soak it all in and pore over every small element of a space hasn’t been lost in the jump over to less talented hardware.

Things do fare a little worse when the system is docked, though. Playing on a 4K TV, I noticed upscaling was used very liberally, which lends certain areas quite a blurry look. Anywhere with lots of plants, for example, tends to look rather fuzzy, and Kay’s hair suffers from some noticeable aliasing. The pop-in in the open world becomes more noticeable in docked mode, too. When you’re zooming around on your speeder, you’ll regularly see little bushes or shadows appearing in the distance - but you get used to this very quickly.

More powerful than you could possibly imagine

If you’ve experienced Star Wars Outlaws on another platform, then you’ll also need to acclimatize to the frame rate when jumping over to the Nintendo Switch 2 version. It's locked to 30fps here, a change that was especially noticeable as I compared the game with its PS5 port side by side.

When you’re actually playing, it is less apparent, though, and developers Massive Entertainment do deserve some serious credit when it comes to just how well Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition maintains that frame rate target.

Stutters are extremely rare, and I only noticed them starting to crop up in moments of very intense action with multiple explosions, many enemies on screen, moving vehicles, and the like, all at once. Importantly, the experience is never rendered unplayable, and I think the odd hiccup is a worthwhile trade-off for the opportunity to dip in and out of this game on the go.

I’ve been playing Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition sporadically since it launched back in September, and I did initially experience a few unexpected crashes in longer play sessions. With time, these seem to have been remedied through various patches, though, so those jumping in today can expect a relatively flawless experience.

With all of this said, Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition nets an easy recommendation as one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games. If you’ve played it before, it’s a joy to re-experience in handheld mode with all the new DLC included. If you’re a newcomer, then you don’t need to worry about suffering a compromised experience due to your choice of hardware.

Should I play Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2?

Play it if...

You want a huge open-world experience on the go
Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition offers tens of hours of content that’s wonderful to dip into on the go. With all major DLC included, this is an experience that you’re going to keep coming back to.

You’re a big Star Wars fan
Fans of the Star Wars universe will love the attention to detail of Star Wars Outlaws, all of which has been preserved wonderfully in this brilliant port.

Don't play it if...

You’re sick of open-world games
I enjoy Star Wars Outlaws, but it certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel in terms of Ubisoft open-world games. If you want a more novel experience, pick up something else from the Nintendo Switch 2’s expansive library, like Mario Kart World.

Accessibility features

Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition has a dedicated accessibility menu on Nintendo Switch 2 with a number of useful settings and presets.

By default, the HUD has been scaled up to 150% in handheld mode, with large text size enabled.

There are also four menus designed to address gameplay, cognitive, color, vision, and hearing needs. Color settings can be fully customized, and there is a range of difficulty options.

How I reviewed Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2

I played nearly 15 hours of Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, constantly comparing my experience of the game with that of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S versions.

I primarily played in the console’s handheld mode, but also endeavored to spend a few hours in docked mode in order to assess its performance.

Of the two modes, handheld mode is definitely the strongest as the smaller screen does a good job of smoothing over many of the visual cutbacks. While playing in docked mode, I relied on the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.

First reviewed January 2026

I can’t stop playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 now it no longer crashes all the time

5:30 pm | January 10, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: Nintendo Switch | Comments: Off

Assassin's Creed Shadows is hands-down one of the best Assassins Creed games of the last decade, but does it run well on the Nintendo Switch 2?

The short answer is "Yes, but...", because it's hard to call this particular port an all-round win. At launch, my answer would have been "No", as I was plagued by hard crashes and constant frame rate fluctuation that made the game near unplayable.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: December 2, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2)

Thankfully, Ubisoft has bucked the trend in more ways than one with Assassin's Creed Shadows. Not only did the Switch 2 port land mere months after the game's console release, but a major patch arrived just two weeks later, fixing a vast majority of the game-breaking issues. I'm reviewing the (now broadly) fixed port, so I won't languish on those early problems too much.

We reviewed the game itself earlier this year, scoring it an impressive 4.5/5 for its rich combat system, ample content, and dual-protagonist system, and all of these highlights naturally carry across to the Switch port.

The story pacing is a little slow in places, and as Managing Editor Rob Dwiar noted, it peters out the further you get along in Naoe and Yasuke's journey, but broadly speaking, it's a brilliant game worth picking up. If you want our full thoughts on the game's story, combat system and beyond, check out our original review.

Performance, on the other hand, is naturally very different on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld console, and concerns over whether the Switch 2 could handle such a meaty game – especially in handheld mode – were clearly justified. Still, I'm impressed.

No man left behind

Assassin's Creed Shadows — (Image credit: Ubisoft)

Shadows is the first Assassin's Creed game to really capture my interest since Black Flag. However, being a Nintendo fan can spell disappointment when it comes to ports; not only do you have to wait longer for a well-optimized version, but the optimization process can also involve removing some content.

With this Switch 2 port, however, you get full access to the game in its entirety (barring, as of writing, the DLC) as well as cross-save, meaning you can pick up where you left off on your PS5, Xbox, or gaming PC.

You do benefit from a few further features fit for the Switch 2's form factor - and, contain your excitement, that means touchscreen menus. Of course, the real benefit is being able to crack your way through the game's many side quests and explorable regions without being glued to your TV or desktop.

Best bit

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a massive game with plenty to explore and do. This makes it a great fit for playing on the go, as it's perfect to dip in and out of.

More than this, though, some elements of the game have been revamped to suit the Switch 2, and the game makes great use of the console's hardware. Switching from docked to handheld mode is seamless, with automatic UI adjustments for easy transitions, for example.

Impressively, the Nintendo Switch 2 can convincingly render 16th-century Feudal Japan in great detail despite the obvious hardware limitations, achieving this feat with clever optimizations for both handheld and docked modes. In fact, having experienced how bad it could be pre-patch, I can appreciate all the more the ways Ubisoft has crammed this massive, sprawling game into such a small package.

A downgrade, but no downer

In part, that's thanks to Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology, which works to upscale lower resolution images in the background. Although capped at 30fps, the game remains highly immersive and visually stunning, especially now that this framerate is more stable post-patch.

Where pre-patch, dense areas and busy combat could lead to huge stutters and even forced ejection to the menu, the game now runs impressively smoothly, though I wouldn't quite go as far as to call it buttery. You'll still occasionally find loading into a new area a bit choppy, and loading screens themselves can be quite intensive on the system.

You're obviously not getting the fidelity of a more powerful console like the PS5 Pro's Ray Tracing tech, but all things considered, the world is rich and immersive. When you hone in on the finer details, you'll notice the cracks more; the lack of light and shade and textures like water look a little cartoonish, crowds of NPCs are thinner, the level of detail in distant objects is lower, and the movements of clothing and facial expressions all suffer a little, but it isn't enough to prevent you from enjoying the game overall.

Docked and handheld mode respectively.

There are more glaring issues that break immersion, like the occasional pop-in and anti-aliasing shimmer. In docked mode, these feel more offensive, but Assassin's Creed Shadows really shines in handheld mode, where the smaller screen can compensate for the game's overall quality, plus a dedicated algorithm keeps variable refresh rate (VRR) enabled even at 30 FPS, according to developers.

Despite this, and that I preferred playing in handheld mode overall, the game can be almost blurry at times, and you'll most certainly notice the difference in the level of detail.

Fundamentally, all the moments that really matter in an Assassin's Creed game stick the landing in the post-patch version of the game; combat is snappy and rewarding, unlocking vantage points oozes grandeur and marvel, and naturally, the world is a delight to explore on foot, too.

If you're coming across from a more powerful console, prepare for an adjustment period, but if it's your first time playing Assassin's Creed Shadows, you may come away thinking that's how the game was always meant to play, and that's a real testament to a well-made port.

Should you play Assassin's Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2?

Play it if...

You want a huge open-world AC game to sink hours into
Shadows is the next big Assassin’s Creed game and if you’ve been after another experience like that of Odyssey or Valhalla then Shadows will not disappoint with its large world and the amount of things to do.

You’ve been pining for a Feudal Japan setting for Assassin’s Creed
The wait for Assassin’s Creed to take the adventure to Feudal Japan has been absolutely worth it. The landscapes, characters, and history of the place are perfect for the series and Shadows capitalizes on that well.

You enjoy different combat playstyles
If you’re an action-adventure fan who likes to constantly mix things up in combat or have multiplayer playstyle options, then those offered by Naoe and Yasuke could scratch quite the itch.

You want an open-world game with rewarding exploration
Shadows shakes up the series’ traditional exploration and offers something far more nuanced, immersive, and rewarding. Nothing is fed to you, and areas aren’t suddenly filled after reaching viewpoints; the world entices you to explore it and the satisfaction of doing it is excellent.

Don't play it if...

You prefer the smaller Assassin’s Creed adventures
Assassin’s Creed Mirage this is not, and if you prefer the more focused, small-scale adventures that the series has been known for in the past, then Shadows might be a bit overwhelming.

You don’t want to devote hours to resource-gathering and location completing
While there’s so much to do across Shadows’ landscapes, you’ll need to spend a good while gathering resources to get the most out of the hideout mode and complete a lot of minigames and locations to unlock the top skills.

Accessibility

Ubisoft’s modern suite of strong accessibility options is available in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. There are multiple difficulty levels (all of which are described in full) that affect combat and stealth, and you can also change the game to have one-hit assassinations. If you want to make exploration easier, you can turn on guidance for that to make discovery more straightforward.

There are options to change or turn off graphic effects such as blood, as well as alter the camera, and change inputs for actions. There are also plenty of options for subtitles, text size, background color for text, and language options. The game also features modes to cater to Red-Green and Blue-Yellow colorblindness.

How I reviewed Assassin's Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2

I've spent 20 hours in Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2, comparing my experience against that of our original reviewer and Xbox Series X performance to assess how well optimized the game is for the console.

In that time, I explored vast swathes of feudal Japan, engaged in plenty of combat sequences, developed my hideout and progressed through the storyline to make my comparisons.

I reviewed Assassin’s Creed Shadows on my Nintendo Switch 2 in both handheld and docked mode using a Corsair Void Max Wireless v2 headset and through the Switch 2 speakers.

First reviewed January 2026

Octopath Traveler 0 is yet another fantastic RPG for the series, but it’s less Octopath than ever

2:00 pm | December 3, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: Final Fantasy, Nintendo Switch, RPG | Comments: Off

Octopath Traveler 0 is a different kind of Octopath game.

It still features the series’ distinctive HD-2D aesthetics, the tried and tested break and boost battle system, and even returning characters and locations. It also mixes things up from the now well-understood formula.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: December 4, 2025

The plot, for example, doesn’t feature the namesake eight-character storylines – the octo paths, as it were. Instead, your adventure focuses on your own player-created character for the first time, who is on a quest of retribution against the villains that destroyed their home town – each embodying the vices of Wealth, Power, and Fame.

You are still joined by other adventurers – over 30 in fact, though I haven’t unlocked them all yet – however, they are along for your ride rather than you following each of their distinct journeys like we would in the other series entries.

The eight-person theme isn’t wholly lost, thankfully, with combat being redesigned to feature eight-person parties – a team of four in the front, and four in the back. I’ll go into more details on why I love this change below, but know that it provides a lot more depth and customisation possibilities to party composition without making fights feel too trivially easy.

Octopath Traveler 0 two villains on a balcony — Something wicked this way comes (Image credit: Square Enix)

Both of these changes make sense; however, when you remember Octopath Traveler 0 isn’t a new game. It’s adapted from the Octopath: Champions of the Continent mobile gacha game. A free-to-play system necessitates a wide array of characters to unlock, can’t have its story focus too much on your party because you might not own those travelers, and would want to allow for bigger teams so you can use more of the cool units you’ve invested in financially.

Now, Octopath Traveler 0 isn’t a gacha game. I’m just saying you can feel remnants of the game it’s based on from what’s presented, and it can feel a little jarring at first because it isn’t Octopath as we’ve known it – in fact, you could convince me it's a lost 2D Final Fantasy at times.

Stick with this adventure, however, and you’ll see it has plenty to offer on an engaging adventure that will keep you entertained for tens and tens of hours – no additional purchases necessary.

Revenge and reconstruction

Octopath Traveler 0 wandering through a craggy town — (Image credit: Square Enix)

As I mentioned in the intro, in terms of its story, Octopath Traveler 0 doesn’t feel very ‘Octopath’ at all. Rather than following eight plots for eight distinct adventurers which coalesce into a finale, you instead follow your own adventure – and can recruit over 30 different heroes to your party.

You create your own custom character for this game and then must face stories focused on the corrupting influences of Wealth, Power, and Fame – where you'll find the meat of the plot.

This focus on a linear story with a more limited opportunity to explore branched tracks is very different from Octopaths that have come before, but it’s not a wholly negative change. My gripe is simply that the less free-form plot feels better suited to a classic Final Fantasy 2D entry rather than an Octopath adventure.

It's not a bad adventure, though, in fact, it's a very compelling one with proper villains you can’t help but hate – a real classic RPG story. I simply found the change of pace a little jarring for this series specifically.

Octopath Traveler 0 looking at a destroyed town — Time to rebuild (Image credit: Square Enix)

There's also the Rekindling the Flame plot, which has the protagonist reconstruct their old home town by finding its surviving residents and rebuilding the long destroyed features that made it a home.

It's not as in-depth as a true cosy town simulator, but it is a delightful change of pace from the action-focused adventure. Plus, channelling your retribution into something more constructive can yield useful benefits – including the ability to power up your allies. So it's worth pursuing even if vengeance is your only goal.

To battle!

While the plot might not feel very Octopath, the turn-based combat feels more Octo than ever. That’s because your group now consists of eight fighters – a four-person front row and a four-person back row – which allows for a much more diverse team composition than the series’ usual four-person limit.

Only the characters in the front row can take actions, but each hero can swap with their partner behind them so that they can take a turn, and there are unlockable skills that allow your back row to support the folks in front of them without needing to take an action, or allow your front row to use a skill and tag out in a single move.

Octopath Traveler 0 battle against crabs on a beach — (Image credit: Square Enix)

For example, in my currently build I’ve paired up a cleric who can automatically heal the person in front of them with my squishy spell caster as their health can run low very quickly without support, and my tank who can provoke attacks is paired with an ally who has a skill that lets her fire her bow and instantly tag out – so she can swap in for a quick damage burst and then let my tank keep taking the hits.

Best Bit

Octopath Traveller 0 looking at a battle arena — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Combat feels like such a step up from the previous game, thanks to the bigger party allowing for more personalization of your team than ever, and setting off an Ultimate Technique never gets old.

The other big change is that your created character has unlocked a special skill called an Ultimate Technique. As the name implies, this charged ability (you can’t just spam it all the time) allows the protagonist to perform a big burst – you can unlock options like performing a mass heal or dealing a powerful strike, among others – that can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

As you improve your town, you'll rebuild the training grounds so other party members can unlock their techniques too – I told you there’s a reason to play house even if your only goal is violence.

None of this is to say fights are trivial thanks to your ultimate moves and larger team. Boss battles and higher-level bouts can still present a challenge if you don’t prepare yourself. You can push your luck into higher-level locations to some extent, but for main quests, you'll find even adventures three or four levels above where you currently are can prove trickier than expected if you aren’t careful.

Octopath Traveler 0 fighting a monsterous witch — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Octopath or not, it's still delightful

Octopath Traveler 0 is a really enjoyable RPG experience, whether it feels truly Octopath to me or not.

Because all of the changes still work. The cohesive, more solo story is an awesome adventure that feels like the fantasy epic that RPGs have taken players on for decades, and the combat is compelling and with some many team members allows for some really creative and personal party composition.

There’s also been a simplification of path actions, which is a lot easier to follow than the confusing web of abilities offered in Octopath Traveler 2 – even if it strips away the identity of each character further than their lack of a unique plot already does.

If you love the Octopath series, a new adventure through Osterra will appeal, while fans of more typical RPGs may find this entry to be more accessible than ever, given that it follows a more standard story structure.

I’ve had a delightful time on my adventure, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

Octopath Traveler 0 adventuring through a forest — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Should you play Octopath Traveler 0?

Play it if…

You want a classic RPG
Octopath Traveler 0 feels like a classic RPG. You've got a meaty plot and robust turn-based combat system to sink your teeth into.

You like to choose your own adventure
While not quite as free and open as Octopath usually is, this entry does feature a branching plot and a wide variety of characters to customize your team around.

You crave 2D beauty
I don't care how many times I see HD 2D aesthetics; they'll always be beautiful, and Octopath Traveler 0 is as pretty as a picture.

Don't play it if…

You want a cozy town builder
While rebuilding your home is a core plot of this story is still mostly focused on combat and adventure than cozy vibes.

You want proper Octopath
If Octopath‘s distinct brand of RPG is what you crave, then you won't hate this title; it just might not quite hit the spot for you.

You hate turn-based tactical combat
Turn-based combat isn’t for everyone, and while Octopath's break and boost system does some things to liven up the combat, it won't make turn-based action everyone's bag.

Acessibility

In terms of accessibility as a turn-based RPG, Octopath Traveler 0 has the advantage that players can take combat at their own pace – you can take 5 seconds or 5 minutes to make a move if you need.

The cutscenes are also played out as text dialogue that you can have play automatically, one message at a time, or at a faster auto speed if you want to rush through. Again, allowing you to enjoy the game at your own pace.

Most major cutscenes are also voiced, making it even easier to follow the plot if you hate excessive reading (as someone who’s dyslexic, voice acting is always a massive help for me).

How I reviewed Octopath Traveler 0

I played Octopath Traveler 0 on my Nintendo Switch 2, mostly playing undocked, but I did make sure to load the game up on my TV too to get a sense of the grander scale it has on a 55-inch QLED screen.

During my playthrough, I tried not just to follow the mainline quest but also to explore the sidequests and other adventuring opportunities to get a feel of the whole experience Octopath Traveler 0 offers.

First reviewed November-December 2025

Nintendo Virtual Boy: Price

Nintendo Virtual Boy: Design

Virtual Boy: Software

Nintendo Virtual Boy: scorecard

Should you buy the Nintendo Virtual Boy?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How I tested the Nintendo Virtual Boy

Let’s Go

Hunting for something shiny

Should you play Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed?

Play it if...

Don't buy it if...

Accessibility

How I tested Pokémon LeafGreen / FireRed

Kanto region as you’ve never seen it before

It takes a village

Make a house a home

Strafing difficulty levels

Should you play Pokémon Pokopia?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

How I reviewed Pokémon Pokopia

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Should I buy the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: also consider

How I tested the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2

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Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & specs

Should I buy the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2: also consider

How I tested the Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2

Combat ready!

Should you play Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility

How I reviewed Final Fantasy VII Remake on Nintendo Switch 2

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Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & specs

Should you buy the Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2: also consider

Hori Adventure Pack for Nintendo Switch 2 review: how I tested

I find your lack of faith… disturbing

More powerful than you could possibly imagine

Should I play Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

How I reviewed Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2

No man left behind

A downgrade, but no downer

Should you play Assassin's Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility

How I reviewed Assassin's Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2

Revenge and reconstruction

To battle!

Octopath or not, it's still delightful

Should you play Octopath Traveler 0?

Play it if…

Don't play it if…

Acessibility

How I reviewed Octopath Traveler 0

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