This feature was originally written for TheNintendoVillage.com, a website I founded and ran from 2018 to 2021.

***We didn’t notice any slowdown, even in well-populated areas.***

First there was Skyrim. Then came Doom and Wolfenstein. And now, the list of seemingly impossible ports that are arriving on Switch has expanded to include CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Admittedly there was a lot more trepidation with this one than there had been with the previous big-name ports. That stemmed largely from the less-than-impressive trailer we got at E3 earlier this year when the game was originally revealed.

Putting a game like The Witcher on Switch requires some fairly major sacrifices, and there was no doubt those had been made. I’m happy to report though that despite those initial misgivings, The Witcher 3 plays great on Nintendo’s hybrid system.

The Ol’ Switcher-oo

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. The Witcher 3 does not look as good on the Switch as it does on Xbox One or PS4. There’s a drop in resolution, with the game running at a dynamic 720p, but more noticeable is the simpler textures. At times, they can look almost Gamecube-like, and at first glance it can be a little bit jarring.

That said, there have been improvements made since what we saw at E3 back in June. The ambient occlusion that was omitted in that initial look has now been included, albeit a version of it tailored to Switch. It’s resulted in a big improvement in the lighting.

Wandering around the wilderness at sunset was genuinely stunning, and even the way candle light shimmies and dances within taverns was impressive.

For a proper technical rundown I’d recommend viewing the Digital Foundry breakdown, but from a layman’s perspective, it’s looking ok, if not fantastic.

Despite the graphical limitations, The Witcher 3 on Switch is shaping up to be an impressive port. — *Despite the graphical limitations,* The Witcher 3 on Switch is shaping up to be an impressive port.

Don’t Think, Feeeel

The graphical shortcomings can be forgiven though, because the game plays like a dream. Not only does it hold up rather well in terms of frame-rate - I didn’t notice any stuttering during my playthrough, even in well populated areas - but the controls and combat are as fluid as ever.

Wielding Geralt’s sword as he mows down enemies is as satisfying as ever, and dancing around outside a watering hole as you beat up a couple of ruffians resulted in some satisfying clouts. Basically everything that made the game great in the first place is present and correct.

And that’s pretty much the point of it. Sure the visuals might not be what they are elsewhere, but that generation-topping gameplay absolutely is. And for Nintendo fans who have never had the opportunity to play the game - or for anyone who wants to replay it when they’re out and about - this should be more than satisfying.

One For The Road

Ultimately, whether or not you think there’s value in The Witcher 3 will come down to where you’re likely to play it. If you’ve never experienced the game, and only own Nintendo systems, then you’re going to really enjoy what’s here. Likewise, if you’re looking to replay the game but can only cram in sessions on your lunchbreak at work, then the Switch version is shaping up to do that job nicely.

We only played in handheld mode at Gamescom, and the graphical shortcomings were less offensive as a result. I’ve got a feeling they might seem even more basic on a big screen. If that turns out to be the case, then it will probably turn out to be advisable you play The Witcher 3 on another system if you’ve got one to hand.

But for Geralt on-the-go? This is shaping up to be a masterful port of a masterful game.

For more from Gamescom, take a look at our first impressions of Link’s Awakening and read why Luigi’s Mansion 3 was our game of the show.