Review: Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 is a solid port, but not the best place to play

Since its initial messy launch back in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 has become an incredible RPG, thanks to large updates and the addition of Phantom Liberty, and an overhaul of the progression system. Now, that complete package is now available on the Nintendo Switch 2, and while having another place to play this generational RPG is great, the Switch 2 probably shouldn't be your first choice. That said, it works quite well on the new console, especially in handheld mode, and new features like gryo aiming and mouse controls make this a fully-featured console port.

While docked, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition runs around 40 FPS, and is mostly stable outside a few instances. It seems to run at a similar frame rate but at a slightly lower resolution as on handheld and tabletop. If you have a current-gen console or powerful PC, playing in docked mode will be a worse experience, but if you are looking for a way to play handheld, Switch 2 is perfect for that. As for the content of the game, both the base Cyberpunk 2077 and the Phantom Liberty expansion are excellent games worth your time.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for Switch 2 pricing and availability

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is available on Switch 2 both digitally and physically, with the physical cartridge is a real cart with the game on it, and not a Game Key Card. It's also available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, but that's not new.

• Standard Edition: $70

A new journey in Night City

With a fresh save, I explored Night City for the second time

To experience the Switch 2 version, I opted to make a fresh save, although Cyberpunk 2077 does have a system for transferring saves between platforms. Running from the beginning, let me acclimate the performance of the Switch 2, in addition to letting me try out all the optional control schemes. I started with both the Pro Controller 2 and the Joy-Con 2, just using them as normal controllers. Both are improvements over their Switch 1 versions, but neither feel particularly great for a first-person-shooter. The triggers feel a tad mushy for shooting, but that has more to do with the Switch 2 hardware than it does Cyberpunk 2077. Both of those controllers also have gyro aiming, which is a neat feature, but not how most people would want to play, including me.

Using detached Joy-Con 2s allows you to either use small motion control features, like dashing to the side by flicking the controllers, but the mouse controls are the highlight.

If you don't have a PC to play Cyberpunk 2077 on, the mouse controls on Switch 2 feel great. I used a small table, my bed, and my legs in joggers, and the controls felt responsive and precise on all three surfaces. It feels much smoother than aiming with the sticks, and you don't feel the weak triggers when shooting. The only downside is that you still have to use the buttons on the Joy-Con you are using as a mouse, which feels pretty cumbersome.

A relatively smooth Cyberpunk 2077 experience

Worse than my time on Xbox Series X, but much better than on Xbox One

Exploring Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 is an interesting experience. Unsurprisingly, it looks and runs better than it did on Xbox One, but nowhere near as well as my time on Xbox Series X, which is about what I expected. In practice, I found that the game moves between looking better than I expected and a bit worse, depending on the area. Scripted dialogue scenes run the best, almost well enough to trick someone into thinking they are moving at 60 FPS, but during gameplay it is much closer to the expected 40 FPS. The times I felt the frame rate drop were only in a few brief instances, none of which were combat. Instead, standing on elevated areas where I could see a larger amount of the city at once seemed to ding the performance, as it tried to have more than usually rendered on screen.

While dropping frames even in limited circumstances is a bummer, having the game maintain its frame rate during combat made it feel like a premium experience. If you intend on playing Cyberpunk 2077 docked, if you have another system that's the better option for playing this game, but if you want to play handheld, the Switch 2 is perfect.

Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 handheld is special

It could go toe-to-toe with the Steam Deck

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is at its best on Switch 2 while playing handheld. The smaller, high-quality LCD screen makes it so that even though it runs at a lower resolution, it looks better, thanks to the smaller screen. It maintains its frame rate, even in some of the more chaotic action moments, so I never felt like I was having a lesser experience. I only have two complaints about playing on a handheld: the controls are a bit more demanding than feels comfortable on the Joy-Cons while attached to the screen, and you can at most get about two hours of play time without charging, which isn't that bad, but could be better.

A serviceable experience docked and a great one handheld

If the Nintendo Switch 2 is the only way you can play Cyberpunk 2077, it's a solid way to experience the game, although if you have a more powerful console, that might be preferable for a docked gaming experience. However, handheld Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 feels great, and the mouse controls feel precise, making them far better than the usual Switch 2 controllers. You don't need me to tell you that this package contains a phenomenal RPG and a great expansion for it, but if you had any concerns about performance on Switch 2, it runs better than you might expect.