When the remake of Resident Evil 4launched in 2023, it was met with universal acclaim, even netting a Game of the Year nomination. And that came as no surprise to me. This is a brilliant entry in Capcom’s legendary series, packing in spectacular survival horror gameplay, a massively engaging story, and a memorable cast of characters.
Platform reviewed:Nintendo Switch 2
Available on:PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC, iOS
Release date:October 16, 2026 (Switch 2 edition)
And now, Resident Evil 4 (Gold Edition)has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2. I’ve put about 20 hours into the game, during which time I’ve played through a good chunk of the main story and completed many a request. So how does this game hold up on Nintendo’s hybrid platform? Here’s everything you need to know.
Let me start by saying that the core Resident Evil 4remake experience is incredible. Leon is a charming and likeable protagonist, the gunplay is excellent with a fantastic suite of weapons to choose from, and the narrative is top-class too. Sure, this entry perhaps lacks the chilling, claustrophobic atmosphere of its predecessors, but there’s plenty of high-octane action segments, fun puzzles, and big scares to experience. So if you haven’t played this game just yet, I highly recommend it.
A remake that’s great on the go…but has a few graphical gremlins
How exactly does this title perform on Switch 2, though? Well, between this game and the other two entries recently ported to Nintendo Switch 2 — Resident Evil 2and Resident Evil 3 — Resident Evil 4is the one that has the highest amount of performance issues. This is totally understandable — it’s a newer release than the other two entries and carries a higher technical demand — but this isn’t quite the definitive way to play through Leon’s adventure.
So, let’s take a look at some of the blemishes I noticed on this port. The largest of these relates to texture pop-in. Whether I was playing in handheld or docked mode, some visual elements — such as trees or cliffs — would appear lower in resolution from a distance, and suddenly appear more detailed and intricate as I drew closer to them. Is this a major issue? Not really. It had no impact on my ability to vanquish my foes. But it’s something I did encounter regularly, and it could sometimes make the experience a little less immersive.
In addition, I encountered a few frame drops throughout my playthrough. When I ventured into a cave with a purple flickering flame, the game appeared to run less smoothly. This only lasted for a second or two, but it happened a good handful of times during my time with the game. Like the Resident Evil 2 Switch 2 port, and the Resi3Switch 2 port, the motion of some distant enemies appeared shaky, with some noticeable frame drops. With that said, combat was generally very smooth, and I rarely found said frame drops to give me a disadvantage in skirmishes.
Another thing worth noting is that this version of the game supports motion controls, something I was really hoping to see in the recent ports of the game’s predecessors. This is a most welcome inclusion, giving fans of gyro aiming another way to play…but it could’ve been implemented more effectively. While vertical aiming feels precise and responsive, horizontal movement is sluggish by comparison. Still, traditional controls work like a dream, and there are a number of schemes you can choose from in the Options menu to suit your personal preferences.
When I rescued the friendly dog (wolf?) in the village, I felt like I’d done my good deed for the day. And what do you know, when it was time to face off against a towering giant, the trusty pooch came to my aid, distracting my towering foe as I blasted him repeatedly with my rifle. Talk about good karma.
I want to be clear: this game doesn’t perform badly, not by any means.
For the most part, Resident Evil 4plays nicely on the Switch 2, with largely smooth performance and solid graphical fidelity, especially in docked mode. Of course, some textures look a bit less refined in handheld mode, but the dark and dismal environments still translate over nicely. The game also has HDR support for enhanced contrast, and character models look pretty sharp too. And all in all, I found the port to be totally serviceable — just expect an experience closer to the PS4version than the PS5 one.
In the end, the Nintendo Switch 2 port of the Resident Evil 4remake is decent. A lot of the issues, like pop-in and occasional frame drops, feel relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, though I wish motion controls felt more precise. Still, you get generally smooth performance, good visual fidelity, and all of the major DLC bundled in, including the excellent Separate Ways.
Is this the definitive way to play through Leon Kennedy’s journey? Perhaps not. But if you want to experience Resident Evil 4on the go, this Switch 2 port is a perfectly fine option.
Should you play Resident Evil 4 for Nintendo Switch 2?
Play it if…
You want to experience Leon’s adventure on the go
As is the case with any Switch 2 port, the system’s hybrid capabilities are a huge plus. The game runs relatively well, even in handheld mode, so if you want to take Leon on the go, the Switch 2 version is a serviceable way of doing so.
You’re yet to experience the RE4 remake
If you missed the Resident Evil 4 remake, now is the time to play it. The Switch 2 version is the Gold Edition, meaning you get the base game along with the major DLC like Separate Ways.
Don’t play it if…
You want best-in-class performance
While Resident Evil 4runs fairly well on Switch 2, there are some clear blemishes. The most obvious is texture pop-in, which means that some parts of the environment, like trees and cliffs, switch from a lower to a higher resolution as you approach them. There are also a few frame drops here and there, which isn’t overly problematic, but still something you’re less likely to experience on PS5, for instance.
You’re new to Resident Evil
The story beats of Resident Evil 4won’t hit as hard for you if you’ve not played some previous entries in the series, mainly Resident Evil 2. I highly recommend playing that title first, and believe me it’s well-worth it.
Accessibility features
The options menu allows you to make a few changes to your experience, with a range of camera options, a number of control schemes including motion aiming, toggle or hold run modes, and a range of voice and text languages available. What’s more, you can change the color of the reticle, laser dot sight, and biosensor scope, alter HUD opacity, and tone down damage display if you’d prefer.
How I reviewed Resident Evil 4 for Nintendo Switch 2
I put more than 20 hours into the Resident Evil 4remake on Nintendo Switch 2, during which time I played through the main story and completed as many requests as possible while playing in both docked and handheld mode.
The vast majority of the time, I played the game docked, with my Switch 2 connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. I also dabbled in handheld gameplay now and then, though, and used my JBL Live Beam 4 earbuds to experience the game’s virtual spatial sound.
More generally, I’m an experienced gaming hardware and software reviewer, and have been testing all kinds of games and accessories at TechRadar for years now, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed all sorts of Nintendo Switch 2 titles, from major first-party releases like Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weaveto ports like Yakuza Kiwami. I’ve also played a number of Resident Evil games, including the Switch 2 ports of the Resident Evil 2and 3remakes.
