Apex Legends Nintendo Switch 2 review – The best handheld Apex experience

Apex Legends is still one of the most dominant – and possibly best – battle royale games, and a good version of the game playable on a handheld device feels like the impossible dream. Yes, the Steam Deck did support Apex for a bit, but it doesn’t anymore. Yes, there was Apex Legends Mobile, but it wasn’t the true battle royale experience. You could always install Windows on the Steam Deck, or opt for a more expensive Windows handheld, but one is awkward, and the other is a luxury. That’s where the new Nintendo Switch 2 version of Apex Legends comes in, and finally realizes the dream.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a pure gaming console that’s more affordable than most of the competition in the rapidly-growing handheld space, and if it can run Apex Legends at a steady 60 fps – unlike the Switch 1’s atrocious turnout – then it’s hard not to recommend. The good news is that, on the whole, Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch 2 is everything you want it to be: (mostly) 60 fps gameplay, on a handheld, in the full-fat battle royale, with decent graphical quality.

When dropping onto the battle royale map from above the frame rate can definitely dip – an issue that is mostly solved by the handheld’s VRR screen, though VRR is not supported for docked play – but once you’re on the ground, the frame rate holds steady and the action is mostly very good. You’ll probably need to jump in and adjust your control sensitivity – and perhaps disable motion controls – but once you’ve found a set up that works, Apex Legends is great on Switch 2. It’s also the first game where I’m properly using the Pro Controller’s new GL and GR rear buttons to jump and slide through maps.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though, and there are a few obvious tweaks that can still be made to make Apex Legends a better experience on Switch 2. For one, I’m unsure if 120Hz is supported during handheld play, but it’s not an option for docked play. Even if the console is incapable of achieving 120 fps, outputting at 120Hz results in lower input latency. A nice addition is support for the Joy-Con 2 mouse, but that mouse support comes with wildly overtuned sensitivity by default, and finding a comfortable middle ground will require a lot of adjustment. Motion controls are a similar issue; they’re enabled by default, but can make your aim feel unsteady if you haven’t tuned sensitivity.

It won’t feel ideal out of the box, especially not if you’re used to playing on another platform, but if we compare the experience on Switch 2 to the Switch 1 version, then it’s a true revelation. The original version worked, sure, but it felt like it was held together with string and prayers — the Switch 2 version of Apex Legends feels like a true handheld adaptation of its current-gen big brother.

If you’re brand new to Apex Legends, or you’ve been out of the loop for a while, then there’s a lot to get you started with the game’s mechanics. You can take part in Bot Royale Trios with friends or CPU allies to fight CPU opponents to ease you into the game gently, and the new 6v6 Team Deathmatch gives you the thrill of the fight without worrying about losing your one life. These modes are perfect to test out weapons, movement, and strategies, and make it easier than ever to bring your inexperienced friends in for the first time. 

Apex Legends now is a very different game to when it first launched in 2019 – we certainly didn’t envision being able to play it on a handheld then – but that means if it didn’t appeal to you before, there’s a good chance that the game now offers something you might like. This is still one of the best battle royale games you can play, and the Nintendo Switch 2 version is incredibly solid. If you’re looking for a fast-paced FPS to play on Nintendo Switch 2, look no further than Apex Legends.