REVIEW: ‘Final Fantasy XIV’ Is Dangerously Good On Switch 2

Final Fantasy XIV, the incredibly successful and long-running MMORPG from Square Enix, has finally landed on the Nintendo Switch 2. While it’s totally playable on other handheld PCs like the Steam Deck, the Switch 2 is the first time the game has been available as a dedicated portable version.

This is dangerous. Final Fantasy XIV is already a totally engrossing experience, one that’s now hundreds upon hundreds of hours’ worth of content. Having that experience released from the confines of the PC and TV, especially with a port that’s as good as this one, means that it’s way too easy to fall down the Final Fantasy XIV rabbit hole.

Final Fantasy XIV has been around since 2010, but really came into popularity with “A Realm Reborn” in 2013. A Realm Reborn fundamentally reworked the experience, launching it to incredible heights. Every major expansion since has continued a high bar of quality, with tight gameplay, a massive amount of classes and side activities, and one of the best stories across all of Final Fantasy. 

The Switch 2 is the perfect home for Final Fantasy XIV.

Now, for the first time, Final Fantasy XIV lands on a Nintendo platform. The Switch 2 is the perfect home for it, offering both the docked TV experience and handheld, letting you knock out duties from the comfort of your bed. The port here is fantastic, with great visuals and performance, along with a number of Switch 2 enhancements that combine the best of every other version of the game. 

On Switch 2, Final Fantasy XIV runs at 1080p across both handheld and docked. It looks sharp and clear most of the time, but the visual quality can drop a bit when playing handheld. It’s not bad, but it can get a bit grainy with some shimmering on environmental objects like trees. Aside from that, it looks fantastic with plenty of particle effects popping off, beautiful cinematics, and detailed character models. 

Performance is also good, with an uncapped frame rate that fluctuates between 30 and 60 fps depending on where you are. Some more NPC- and player-intensive cities like Limsa Lominsa can drop to that 30fps range, but it never drops below that.

The Switch 2 features give Final Fantasy XIV some unique ways to play.

The variable frame rate can be a bit noticeable, but Final Fantasy XIV also lets you lock the frame rate to 30fps for rock-solid gameplay. Both the image quality and performance are great and similar to other platforms, meaning that the port on Switch 2 is a fantastic way to play.

Load times are also great, comparable to other platforms, with quick loads into the game and traveling between cities. Some people are experiencing load-time bugs on Switch 2, but I haven’t had any issues. Square Enix is aware of the potential issue and is working on a solution, so hopefully that’ll be solved for all soon. 

The Switch 2 features also give Final Fantasy XIV some unique ways to play. Touchscreen functionality is fully enabled, meaning you can use the touchscreen to interact with menus. The best part is using it to cast spells off the hot bar, letting you quickly tap the requisite spell to pop it off. Those who are already used to controllers may not use it much, but for those just starting out, it could be a great way to learn the game and works well as an alternative to the double hot bar. 

Hitting duties and running quests from the comfort of your bed is a dangerous new proposition.

You can also pop off the Joy-Cons and use one in mouse mode. It’s a fantastic way to interact with menus and inventory, recreating mouse controls from the PC version. It can be a bit finicky, so relying on it for full play can be hit or miss, but as a way to manage your character, it’s a great option to have. 

The only major issue with the Switch 2 port is the extra membership cost, which is a larger issue for current players. If you have an active membership on other platforms, you’ll also need an extra membership to play on Switch 2, though having multiple active nets you a 50% on one. It’s an unfortunate extra cost that feels forced. For new players, the free trial is totally the way to go, offering tons of content at no cost with some easily managed limitations. 

Overall, Final Fantasy XIV is right at home on the Switch 2. With solid visuals and performance across both handheld and docked, it’s an amazing way to have one of the best MMOs ever made on the go. While the extra membership is unfortunate for current players, it’s at least discounted, and the free trial remains the best option for new players venturing in. Being able to hit duties and run quests from the comfort of your own bed is a dangerous proposition, with Final Fantasy XIV on Switch 2 being a fantastic way to do just that. 

Final Fantasy XIV is out now on the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.