Valheim Switch 2 Review

Valheim is one of the best survival-crafting action-adventure games where you can put in thousands of hours and still not get bored. Although it came out five years ago in early access, it surprised the majority of players with its style, progression, combat, and survival mechanics. Today, you can find a lot of new survival-crafting games, reminiscent of Valheim, but no one comes close to the feeling that Valheim offers. After five years in early access, Valheim 1.0 is finally out, even on Nintendo Switch 2. I have played Valheim a lot on PC, but Switch 2 sounded exciting. Now, after trying Valheim on the Switch 2 console, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is our review of Valheim from Iron Gate Studio on Nintendo Switch 2.

NOTE: The product key for Valheim was provided by the Devs for review purposes.

Plot

Valheim takes place in the tenth world of Yggdrasil, where Odin served from the World Tree to imprison his enemies. You play as a fallen Viking warrior, carried by a Valkyrie to prove your worth. It is your goal to survive and defeat the Forsaken bosses in Valheim to become worthy of Valhalla. Right as you begin the game, a cinematic overview of the story plot fills you in on the scenario, which is a great touch to a survival-crafting adventure.

Gameplay

At the beginning, Valheim plays like any crafting-building video game. You collect wood, stone, fiber, and other natural resources to craft crucial tools, weapons, and put together walls for a base. However, it is not only that; when it comes to survival and progression, Valheim can be challenging. The world in Valheim is procedurally generated, so biomes and their layout are different for everyone. However, the progression remains the same. It requires you to hunt down a Forsaken boss in every biome to unlock the next biome.

Every biome is unique with its own resources, materials, and threats. You might challenge a giant in one biome and deadly creatures in another. Whatever the case, gear preparation is important in Valheim. You can have different tools, like the new Grappling Hook, to reach new heights and explore biomes in a new way. Initially, you discover the new biomes by sailing on a boat. After that, you can make use of teleportation to fast travel between the locations.

In addition to crafting, building, and progression, survival plays a crucial role in Valheim. There are numerous food recipes that boost max health and stamina. For your journey, it is crucial to have food on you to replenish and increase maximum health. Stamina is a resource that you use on every action, especially during combat. Running out of Stamina in an encounter can endanger your run, so you must manage it carefully.

Performance

Valheim performs very well on the Switch 2 console. It has three graphic modes, including Quality (30 FPS), Balanced (40 FPS), and Performance (60 FPS). For general play, Balanced Mode is the best, keeping good visuals and smoothness. The Switch 2 console handles the game well and stable performance on all modes. However, there are some occasional stutter, especially upon entering new areas.

Sound & Visuals

The sound design of Valheim is good. It offers ambient Viking-inspired music. The environmental cues of wind, storms, and enemies enhance immersion. Visually, the game’s art style is Polygonal, deliberately retro, but it is atmospheric. However, the details on Nintendo Switch 2 are not up to par with the PC version.

Verdict 9/10

Valheim is an excellent survival, crafting, action-adventure video game that delivers an atmospheric world with coziness and challenges. It is one of the perfect survival adventures to experience with your friends. Whether you are trying to delve into the depths of the building system for a Viking base or hunting down the Forsaken bosses for challenges, Valheim excels in all.

Valheim 1.0 is now available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.