Cyberpunk 2077 Review on Switch 2: Who Knew Portable Gaming has come so far?
Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2: Who Knew Portable Gaming has come so far?
Publisher: CD PROJEKT
Developer: CD PROJEKT
Genre:
PEGI: 18
Comments:
Who knew that in 2020, the idea of playing Cyberpunk 2077 on a handheld felt about as realistic as becoming a cybernetically enhanced samurai overnight. The game was enormous, ambitious, and barely ran on last-gen consoles at launch. We all remember how Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough start, and the game had to undergo many updates and hot fixes, especially with the 2.0 update, which included extra story content, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
Welcome to 2025, with the Global release of the new Switch 2 console and the release date for Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, developed and published by CD PROJEKT. And the biggest news is that it is available to purchase physically and digitally. Who knew that a game that huge could be playable on a portable gaming console? But ever more unbelievable, a Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge? So the big question is, how is it? Is it worth checking it out? We will briefly break this down from audio to visual.
Is the backstory the same, or did it change?Â
If you have already played the game on PC or other systems such as Xbox or PlayStation, the story is the same; nothing is cut off or added, and it’s just a game that is finally portable. However, if you haven’t played it yet and were waiting well, here is the story: You are playing as V, a merc in the massive, neon-soaked Night City, stuck with a biochip thatâs slowly merging your mind with Johnny Silverhand (who is voiced by Keanu Reeves). Itâs a wild, gritty RPG full of choices, cyberware upgrades, hacking, and combats from melee and shooting.
Do you think it looks great? Let’s find out.
Cyberpunk 2077 looks great, especially on PC or other platforms. So, how does it compare with the Switch 2 version? It looks great, even in handheld mode, it still looks terrific. The Resolution is dynamic, usually hovering around 720p handheld and 900p docked. The frame rate is also capped around 30 fps; surprisingly, it has been stable around that number. Remember that Night City has so much going on, from all the lights to crowds and the rain system in the game. The rain-drenched streets still look cool, the lighting still pops out, and Night City is living up to its name as it is the city that glows. Even though the texture is softer, and the crowds of in-game NPCs are thinner, you can still feel the vibrant game atmosphere.
The game is impressive, with a steady 30 fps even during combat. And let’s talk about the load times. The Nintendo Switch 2 now comes with SSD internal storage, so the loading time is much faster, between 5-10 seconds at the latest. With this speed and performance, you can go all around the night city and speed down the streets with your new ride, going through all around the city fighting gangs and the authority.
Controls: Feels Good in Your Hands
Let’s have some fun. Playing with both Joy-Cons is excellent, even in Dock mode on the Switch 2. Connect your Pro Controller, even if it is the Switch 1 version or Switch 2, it will still do its job. At the same time, shooting and aiming work well, especially with gyro aiming turned on (optional but highly recommended). You can also fine-tune the sensitivity and remap buttons to fit your playstyle. So with that in mind, this is a switch 2 so in handheld mode, the touchscreen helps with menus and even though the screen is much smaller, the interface scale fits perfectly, especially when there is so much things going around with the UI system. Let’s say how cool it feels to play a massive open-world RPG on the couch, in bed, or while commuting. What’s even more fun is who doesn’t want to commit cybercrimes or fight gangs during your lunch break?
Sound and Voice Acting
Let’s talk about the sound of the game. It is vibrant and alive. The quality is top-notch, and the music gets you in the groove while you listen to the city speaking to you daily. And the voice acting is perfect, especially when listening to Keanu Reeves, who played Johnny Silverhand; he sounds the same. So if you want to get that immersive feeling and be part of a world, grab your headphones and plug them in while you enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 in bed before you sleep.
What can I say? Is it good or bad?Â
Cyberpunk 2077 on the Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the most impressive handheld ports ever. Even though it is imperfect, it is still remarkable, as this could be the beginning of a new age of portable gaming. The most important factors about this are whether the game is worth your time, whether it runs well, and whether the core experience is still there. If you ever had that urge to keep playing a game and don’t want to be locked at your desk or television and want to enjoy Night City on the go, well, this is the moment. With the switch to improved audio output, Night City sounds good as it looks. Enjoy the music and sounds of the game with your headphones, and of course, if you want to continue playing in dock mode, the experience will become dynamic and feel the same. It is an immersive world, even though it may have been scaled down for the Switch 2 version, everything is still there, from the Pedestrian routines, traffic flow, and NCPD responses are all present. Both during Day/night cycles and dynamic weather, NPCs still react dynamically in combat and conversation, and you will still be part of a world that is alive, even though it is condensed on a portable gaming device.
So, should you play it?Â
If youâve always wanted to try Cyberpunk 2077 but didnât have a big gaming PC or next-gen console, this is your moment. If you have already played it but want to replay it just because you are a fan, then you can enjoy it anytime and anywhere with no restriction. So grab the game, download it and experience the world of Cyberpunk 2077 from your bed, couch or park. And also if you are a collector like me, well you should pick up the physical version for your switch 2.