The strongest confirmed Switch 2-native Soulslike picks are ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition and Lies of P: Complete Edition. For older Nintendo Switch games such as Dark Souls: Remastered, Ashen, Salt and Sanctuary and Ender Lilies, check Nintendo’s title-specific compatibility information before assuming they work on Switch 2.
Best Switch 2-native Soulslikes
| Game | Why choose it | Switch 2 edition |
|---|---|---|
| ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition | Best fit if you want a large world to explore, optional dungeons and a broad action-RPG adventure. | Available August 28, 2026. Includes ELDEN RING and Shadow of the Erdtree, plus two starting classes, four armor sets and three appearance options for Torrent, according to Bandai Namco (publisher announcement). |
| Lies of P: Complete Edition | Choose this for a more directed action adventure built around exploration, challenging bosses and build variety. | TechRadar reports an August 6, 2026 release for Switch 2. The edition includes the base game, the Overture expansion and previously released cosmetic DLC (TechRadar review). |
ELDEN RING is the more open-ended option: FromSoftware describes its setting as the Lands Between, with freely explorable areas and dungeons (FromSoftware announcement). The Switch 2 Tarnished Edition also brings the Realm of Shadow expansion in the same package.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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For Lies of P, TechRadar’s Switch 2 review says performance or balanced graphics settings were preferable for docked and handheld play; quality-focused settings involved a performance compromise. That is the reviewer’s assessment, not a separate performance test.
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These games were released for Nintendo Switch, but their inclusion here is not confirmation that each one works correctly on Switch 2. Nintendo says the new console plays compatible physical and digital Switch games, while warning that some titles may be unsupported or not fully compatible. Check the individual title’s status in Nintendo’s compatibility information before buying or installing it (Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility guidance).
#1 Best Overall
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
| Game | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Souls: Remastered | Players after classic FromSoftware design. | A remastered Nintendo Switch version of the foundational Dark Souls experience. Nintendo Life describes it as a faithful remaster and notes its handheld appeal; those are editorial judgments, not a Switch 2 performance assessment. |
| Ashen | Players who want a less punishing, more companionable take on the formula. | Nintendo Life characterizes it as a community-focused variation on Soulslike conventions. |
| Salt and Sanctuary | Players who want Soulslike combat in 2D. | A 2D action adventure described by Nintendo Life as Dark Souls-like. |
| Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights | Players who want exploration built around a Metroidvania map. | Combines Souls-influenced combat and environmental storytelling with Metroidvania structure, according to Nintendo Life. |
Nintendo Life’s catalog helps identify these older Switch releases and their styles, but it is not Nintendo’s compatibility list (Nintendo Life’s Switch Soulslike guide). Compatibility should be verified per game rather than inferred from the genre or the fact that a Switch version exists.
How to choose
- For an expansive adventure: Start with ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition if you want open-world exploration and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion included.
- For a more focused action game: Consider Lies of P: Complete Edition for its directed exploration, boss fights and build variety.
- For classic FromSoftware: Look at Dark Souls: Remastered, but verify its Switch 2 compatibility before treating it as a playable option.
- For a different pace or format: Check Ashen for a companionable variation, or Salt and Sanctuary and Ender Lilies for 2D or Metroidvania structure.
Check compatibility before buying an older Switch game
- Find the specific game in Nintendo’s Switch 2 compatibility information.
- Confirm whether its physical or digital version is listed as compatible, and note any stated limitations.
- If the title’s status is unclear, do not assume that general backward compatibility guarantees full support; seek confirmation for that specific game before purchase.
Switch 2 storage expansion uses microSD Express cards; conventional microSD cards cannot be used for game storage, according to Nintendo’s compatibility and hardware guidance (Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility guidance). This matters only if you plan to expand storage.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Rank #3
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
Rank #2
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
- A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
- Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
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