While many people keep focusing on Panic Button when it comes to big Nintendo Switch ports, I think Feral Interactive has been doing the most impressive ports to Nintendo’s hybrid console. We saw the team deliver superb versions of GRID Autosport and Alien Isolation that surpassed other consoles, and then even an incredible version of Company of Heroes Collection, which was the series’ debut on Nintendo platforms. I’ve been playing Feral Interactive’s games since their first release on mobile, and I was super happy to see the team expand its incredible port lineup to Switch.
This week, Feral Interactive is bringing GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition to Nintendo Switch 2, the team’s first native release for the console, and it manages to impress quite a bit, especially handheld. Before getting to the technical details, GRID Legends is a great middle ground between pure simulation and arcade racing games. While it wasn’t my first GRID game, GRID Legends is the one I spent the most time with. In fact, I was quite surprised at the number of modes and cars in its base release, with all the cars, the live action story mode, and tracks included. I say this because I was used to mediocre and content-starved Need For Speed games at the time.
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 includes the base game with all DLC. The same edition is sold for double the price on PC and consoles, while it is available for half price on mobile (also done by Feral Interactive). My experience with GRID Legends began on PS5. I thought both GRID Legends and Dirt 5 were a lot of fun, but I stuck with the former more. I never bought any DLC on PS5, though, so Feral’s iOS version was my first taste of the game with all its DLC and updates.
When you first boot up GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition, you complete a short race before getting to the main menu or Home section. This is where you access the Story mode (live action edition), Career mode (for your team), Team (where you set up, manage, and customize your own race team), Garage (keep track of all your cars), and Free Play featuring both Single Player and Dynamic Events. Single player includes the usual quick play and custom cup options, while dynamic event races feature their own online leaderboards for you to compete against others on. Having played GRID (2019) as well, it is clear that the team used it as a base for Legends, and the payoff is brilliant. Even if you played 2019’s entry a lot, I think Legends’ jump in visuals, modes, and general quality makes it worth getting.
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition ships with multiple visual modes for use handheld and docked. When playing on TV or docked, you can prioritize graphics (30 frames per second) or performance (60 frames per second) while the handheld mode offers two additional modes on top of those two: battery saver and balanced, with touchscreen support for the UI. It also has HDR support, though I could only try that out handheld. I spent most of my time with the performance mode because I always play racing games at 60 frames per second if I can, but I found the balanced mode looked good enough handheld without compromising too much on visuals.
When playing docked, there is no balanced option, so I decided to spend the most time with GRID Legends on Switch 2 using its performance preset. It looked fine enough, but ran very well. I wouldn’t bother with the 30 frames per second mode here, but it is available if you want a crisper image. When comparing the performance mode to the PS5’s 60 frames per second gameplay, I think the Switch 2 version isn’t a big downgrade. The environment and NPC density see cutbacks, but the major visual difference you will notice is the resolution and texture cuts.
During actual races, I got used to this quickly when playing on my 1440p display, but there are some issues with the post-processing that make for a rougher image on camera cuts or sharp turns. This settles, but if you move the camera around the car, it can take a bit for whatever post-processing is being used to kick in.
When playing handheld, GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition shines in its performance and balanced modes. While Quality delivers a crisper experience, I don’t want to play a racing game at 30 frames per second if I have other options. I only tried Battery Saver for testing, and was not happy with the visuals. Performance mode handheld felt mostly great with only minor issues in my testing, while Balanced felt the best.
GRID Legends for Switch 2 also has the same camera distance and angle as the mobile version, which was tweaked a bit from the original console release. It appears like there was either a common base for mobile and Switch 2, or that the Switch 2 version is built off the mobile release that shipped many months ago. Either way, GRID Legends is polished and worth playing on both a modern iOS device or a Switch 2 in its current state.
Since I don’t own the PC version and hence never played it on Steam Deck, GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition on Switch 2 felt even better, and is a fantastic portable experience. Even taking into account the library for the original Switch, I think GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition for Switch 2 is an essential for any racing game fan on Nintendo platforms. The team did incredible work with this port, and it will be the version I recommend to anyone who wants to play on the go right now.
I remember criticism surrounding GRID Legends’ visuals back when it launched, compared to some other racers on current consoles. I never had a problem with that, but the story mode is easily the weakest aspect of the release, even now. I was hoping to see a future entry build on the live-action story, but GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition’s story is not why you buy this. You’re buying it for the actual circuit racing, time trials, and career mode.
I want to highlight the great use of HD rumble 2 on Nintendo Switch 2. This is another area where Feral never lets me down. The iPhone version has lovely haptic feedback, and that has carried over to the rumble on Switch 2 handheld and docked.
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic start for Feral Interactive on Nintendo’s new hybrid console. The team brought everything I loved about GRID Legends on iPhone, with added visual options to Switch 2, delivering a great experience both docked and handheld at half the price of other consoles. This is an easy recommendation and already one of the best Switch 2 ports I’ve played.
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch 2
Review Copy Provided by Feral Interactive
