No, Skyrims Switch 2 port isnt that bad but theres room for improvement

Date:
Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Skyrims Switch 2 port is a decent way to enjoy the sprawling RPG, though its held back by some irksome issues.

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The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim isnt exactly a game that needs an introduction. Its broad appeal and astonishing staying power have seen it come to practically every single console since its late 2011 release, and it remains as impressively accessible and playable now as it was all those years ago. Review information Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, watches, your grandma's washer dryer
Release date: December 9, 2025

Enter the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Skyrim Anniversary Edition, which
packs the full game and all of its official expansions and Creation Club content into one portable package. This includes a whole heap of quests, housing, armaments, and entire systems like fishing and a survival mode on
top of the already massive base game.

It sounds like a pretty sweet deal, and in many ways it is. I was especially impressed by the ports incredibly crisp image quality - offering clarity and broad draw distance not dissimilar to versions of Skyrim on other
contemporary platforms like PS5 and Xbox Series X . Its also a winner in handheld mode, with visuals and performance that are broadly comparable to docked play on TV.

You might be aware that this port has had some teething issues, though some
of which have thankfully been addressed since launch. Its initial horrendous input latency has been cleaned up, allowing for a more responsive play experience overall.

Some issues do remain, however. Distant objects like trees and rocks can take on a weird blue hue, and reflections on bodies of water can jitter as you
move the camera. Im also not a fan of the complete lack of visual or accessibility settings. This has always been an issue outside of the PC version, but Skyrim is a game that desperately needs a field-of-view slider accessible in its settings menu and not hidden within console commands on PC.

Otherwise, Skyrims Switch 2 port is a perfectly playable version of the monstrously popular role-playing game. I think the 30fps lock for exterior environments is disappointing - especially when we see other Switch 2 ports like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition offer VRR-supported 40fps modes for smoother play in handheld mode. That said, it is a stable 30fps, and youll rarely, if ever, run into bouts of chunky performance drops. New dog, old tricks (Image credit: Bethesda)

Skyrims gotten its fair share of criticisms over the years - many of which are fair. The main story isnt much to write home about, combat is pretty rock-em-sock-em-robots at the best of times, and role-playing elements have been sanded down to offer a more action-focused experience compared to Morrowind and Oblivion . Best bit (Image credit: Bethesda) Ive particularly enjoyed playing Skyrim in portable mode on Nintendo Switch 2. It runs great
on the handheld and retains the clear image quality of docked play. Ive done all of these quests so many times over the years, but having it in a compact, portable package is a novelty worth experiencing.

And yet for all its perceived issues, Skyrim remains one of the most impressively replayable games ever. Yes, even without mods (which arent supported on Switch 2 as they are on PS5 and Xbox, though Im not going to criticize Bethesda for that one).

I still find much to enjoy in Skyrim to this day. Creating new characters to try a wide variety of builds is delightful - whether that be a warhammer-wielding Orc or a dainty Breton that specializes in conjuring everything from swords and skeletons, to zombies and atronachs. Ive always liked the enchantment system, too; grabbing some nonchalant piece of jewelry and turning it into a fount of endless magicka regeneration is always such a satisfying feeling.

In this Switch 2 port, though, Im checking out Skyrims curated Creation Club content for the first time. Its a bit of a mixed bag. Some additions are brilliant, like entirely new player houses that are wonderfully decorated. Others, like a smattering of just-okay sidequests, I can really take or
leave.

I really wouldve liked an option for an alternate start though. Skyrims lengthy, unskippable intro is still a slog when setting up new characters
(you can load up an autosave that skips to character creation, but you still need to play through the tutorial in Helgen). Perhaps that would be veering too close to modding territory, and above and beyond what this simple port is trying to achieve, but it certainly would help the pacing on repeat playthroughs.

What Im even less of a fan of is Bethesdas insistence on not offering
anything in the way of quality-of-life updates. Skyrim, by default, has a
very narrow field of view, and there is no option to change this on any of
its console ports, including on Switch 2. While not so bad on the consoles handheld display, it makes for pretty uncomfortable play sessions on larger
TV screens. A fiery port? (Image credit: Bethesda)

This latest port of Skyrim does have some Switch 2-centric features to speak of. Both gyro aiming and mouse controls are fully supported, which are nice additions on paper. However, I didnt find the latter to be a particularly
good fit for this port and its 30fps lock. This lower framerate makes aiming and tilting the camera with mouse controls feel quite sluggish, even after a patch that improved the input latency issues. I quickly found myself going back to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller after testing out the feature
for a little while.

On the topic of performance, I feel theres room for improvement. While Im happy that overall performance is largely stable, the 30fps lock for the overworld is underwhelming for a nearly 15-year-old game. At the very least,
a performance mode option that raises the framerate would have been nice to see here.

Elsewhere, there are a handful of visual oddities to make note of. Distant objects - particularly foliage - often take on a strange blue hue. While
quite subtle at first, its one of those things youll notice every time after seeing it happen just once. Meanwhile, bodies of water have a weird visual
bug that causes reflections to jitter when moving the camera. Its not as egregious as the blue trees, but worth mentioning all the same.

Performance while exploring interiors like dungeons, houses, and inns can
vary wildly. Many indoor locations actually uncap the games framerate,
meaning performance can appear to go as high as 60fps. Its a bit jarring to have this gap in performance between indoor and outdoor areas, honestly, but
a smoother framerate in the more mazelike interiors is certainly welcome. Should I play Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch 2? Play it if...

You want Skyrim on the go
I was very impressed with Skyrims performance on Switch 2 in handheld mode. I dont mind the 30fps compromise as much here, especially as it helps maintain
a sharp image quality. Outside of Steam Deck, this is the best way to enjoy Skyrim in portable fashion.

You want all official content in one place
Skyrim Anniversary Edition houses the Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn expansions in addition to the base game and a wealth of curated Creation Club additions. Thats hundreds of hours of Skyrim in one portable package. Don't play it if...

You were hoping for better performance
The Switch 2 ports 30fps lock in exterior environs is definitely disappointing, and I expect more from a 15-year-old title. While overall performance is stable, play can feel quite sluggish.

You want more options
No FoV slider and a general lack of accessibility options lend the impression that Skyrims Switch 2 port is fairly low effort in some areas. Accessibility

Skyrims options on Switch 2 arent much different from what youll get on
other platforms. You can choose to enable or disable various Switch
2-specific options like gyro aiming, mouse controls, and gesture-based attacks, but thats really about it. Dont expect things like a field of view slider or colorblind options here. How I reviewed Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch 2

I played Skyrim on Nintendo Switch 2 for around 30 hours, completing the main story (again) and a handful of guild questlines. I also played through a good portion of the games expansion content and Creation Club additions.

I went back and forth between handheld and docked play, finding that both offer great image quality and largely stable performance. When playing on TV, I used the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, as well as the Joy-Con 2 , for trying out the ports new mouse controls. My display of choice is the ever-reliable LG CX OLED TV .

First reviewed December 2025-January 2026.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim-anniversary-editio n-nintendo-switch-2-review


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