There is a very specific kind of magic created when a game seamlessly merges deep RPG progression with pure, adrenaline-fueled arcade action. When Everspace 2 originally launched on PC and home consoles, Rockfish Games made a bold, defining pivot by shedding the punishment-heavy roguelike loop of the 2017 original in favour of an expansive, handcrafted, narrative-driven space ARPG—essentially Diablo in zero gravity.
While original Switch owners were left in the cold due to hardware constraints, the arrival of Nintendo’s successor has finally brought the star system of Cluster 34 to a Nintendo hybrid. Packing in the base campaign alongside the colossal Titans and Wrath of the Ancients expansions, EVERSPACE 2 Galactic Edition isn’t just a late port—it’s one of the most impressive technical showcases on the Nintendo Switch 2 to date.
Welcome to Cluster 34
You step into the flight boots of Adam Roslin, a military clone trying to scrape together a quiet life on the lawless edges of space. Naturally, peaceful retirement doesn’t last long, and before you know it, you’re dragged into a sprawling narrative involving rogue outlaws, corporate conspiracies, ancient alien threats and a ragtag crew operating out of a hidden asteroid base.
While the overarching storyline hits familiar sci-fi beats, the sheer variety of handcrafted star systems keeps momentum high. You aren’t just flying in empty, pitch-black voids; one moment you’re navigating high-stakes dogfights inside the cramped, metallic intestine of a derelict mining super-structure; the next, you’re breaking atmospheric entry to skim across toxic planetary oceans or weave through neon-lit orbital trade hubs.
Six Degrees of Pure Thrill
Where Everspace 2 truly sings is its moment-to-moment combat. Utilising a true six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) flight model, controls are responsive, sharp, and intensely gratifying. On the Switch 2 Joy-Cons—or preferably the Pro Controller—boosting, strafing, and flipping 180 degrees to unleash a salvo of homing missiles feels surprisingly natural, though those unfamiliar with similar titles may prefer the alternate control style offered in the menu.
The game manages to strike a strong balance between high-speed dogfighting and tactical ability management. Across nine distinct ship classes—ranging from nimble Scouts to heavily armoured Gunships—every vessel feels wildly unique. You’re constantly tweaking equipment loadouts: swapping out pulse lasers to chew through shields, changing to railguns to snipe engine blocks from a distance, or firing off EMP blasts to freeze swarmers in their tracks.
It’s satisfying to slowly build up your arsenal and test out new ships and weapons, though a wider variety of weapon types wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Despite this, the loot spiral is addicting. Defeated elite ships and hidden environmental puzzles reward you with higher-tier gear, blueprints, and resources. The loop of returning to base, dismantling duplicate gear, upgrading perks, and fine-tuning ship cosmetics is immensely satisfying.
Switch 2 Performance: Visual Magic on the Go
The critical question for any major port on Nintendo’s new handheld hardware is always performance. Everspace 2 was famously built on Unreal Engine, featuring dense asteroid fields, complex lighting, and explosive particle effects. I am delighted to report that the Switch 2 handles Cluster 34 with remarkable grace, targeting 60fps in both handheld and docked and running at a native 1080p resolution.
I’ve got no complaints about stability or image quality; simply put it’s a well built port. The sometimes spotty HDR support of the Switch 2 is surprisingly good here, and makes laser fire, shields breaking, and exploding capital engines pop off the handheld screen with stunning clarity. Text legibility—often a nightmare for deep RPGs ported to portable devices—is sharp, and inventory menus are easy to navigate on the move.
This port also bundles in the Titans DLC and the Wrath of the Ancients expansions right out of the box. Facing off against screen-filling boss encounters like the massive Leviathans pushes the hardware, but frame rates remain impressively stable throughout. There’s a decent amount of content here and the majority of it is a joy to experience; with a few minor exceptions.
Minor Turbulence
No voyage through space is without a few bumps in the asteroid bel, and whilst the core loop is brilliant, the campaign pacing can occasionally grind to a halt. Certain main-story missions mandate level-gating that forces you to pause narrative momentum to complete repetitive side activities or trade runs. It’s often hard to find a compromise in these kinds of title, but unfortunately that balance often feels a little off here.
Furthermore, while environmental puzzles inside derelict ships add variety between dogfights, a few of them rely on tedious mechanics—like hauling energy spheres across long distances before a timer expires—which can feel a bit sluggish compared to the fast combat. I’m glad they tried to vary things by including these sections, but I would have liked to see a bit more variety within them.
The Verdict
EVERSPACE 2 Galactic Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is, overall, a triumph. Rockfish Games has delivered a massive, feature-complete space ARPG that compromises almost nothing in its transition to portable hardware. With thrilling 6DOF combat, deep customization, a vibrant and believable universe and mostly smooth performance, it stands as a solid addition to any Switch 2 library; if you’re willing to contend with the occasional pacing hiccup.
EVERSPACE 2 Galactic Edition Trailer
This review was based off a Nintendo Switch 2 playthrough.
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The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
Review Summary
What is EVERSPACE 2: Galactic Edition?
EVERSPACE 2: Galactic Edition is a space-based action RPG from Rockfish Games that combines fast-paced six-degrees-of-freedom space combat with deep RPG progression, exploration, loot, ship customization and a narrative-driven campaign. The Nintendo Switch 2 version includes the base game alongside the Titans and Wrath of the Ancients expansions.
What does EVERSPACE 2: Galactic Edition add?
The Galactic Edition includes the complete EVERSPACE 2 experience, including the main campaign, nine different ship classes, extensive weapon and equipment customization, handcrafted star systems, environmental puzzles, Titans and Wrath of the Ancients expansion content.
How does EVERSPACE 2 perform on Nintendo Switch 2?
The Nintendo Switch 2 version performs impressively, targeting 60fps in both handheld and docked modes at a native 1080p resolution. Image quality is strong, HDR works well, and text and menus remain clear and easy to use on the handheld screen.
What is the combat like?
Combat uses a six-degrees-of-freedom flight system that allows players to boost, strafe and perform complex manoeuvres during battles. Different ship classes and weapons provide plenty of opportunities to customise how you approach combat.
What are the problems with EVERSPACE 2?
The biggest issues are occasional campaign pacing problems and some repetitive environmental puzzles. Level-gated missions can interrupt the story by forcing players into side activities, while certain puzzles feel slower and less enjoyable than the game’s fast-paced combat.
Is EVERSPACE 2: Galactic Edition worth playing?
Yes. EVERSPACE 2: Galactic Edition is a substantial and technically impressive space RPG on Nintendo Switch 2. Its combination of thrilling combat, deep customization, exploration and a large amount of included content makes it a strong addition to the platform, despite some pacing and puzzle issues.
