Absolutely – with caveats.
Buy Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition on Switch if:
Skip it if:
Is it worth the storage space? If you are looking for a long-form action RPG, absolutely. The main campaign takes roughly 20-30 hours, and with side quests and DLC, it can easily stretch to 40+ hours.
The "NSP" Advantage: As a digital title, the ability to instantly swap between Darksiders II and other games without swapping cartridges fits the game's "grindy" nature perfectly. It is a game best played in short bursts of dungeon crawling, where the Switch hardware shines brightest.
Summary Score: A solid port that prioritizes content over graphical fidelity. Play it in handheld mode for the best experience. Darksiders 2- Deathinitive Edition Switch NSP F...
For Switch users, the performance is the most critical feature to understand.
This is the key question for Switch owners. Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition targets 30 frames per second on Switch – both docked and handheld. This is a downgrade from PS4/Xbox One’s 60 FPS, but crucially, it remains stable in most areas.
The biggest compromise is shadow quality and draw distance, but the art direction holds up remarkably well on the 6.2-inch screen. If you have a Switch OLED, the game’s dark, gothic palette looks fantastic.
Is the portable version of Death’s epic adventure worth your time (and money) in 2026?
When THQ Nordic announced that Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition would be galloping onto the Nintendo Switch, fans of hack-and-slash action and Zelda-like dungeon crawling let out a collective cheer. The original Darksiders II (2012) was already a cult classic – a sprawling action-RPG that blended the loot grind of Diablo with the puzzle-platforming of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, all wrapped in a grim, apocalyptic comic-book aesthetic by Joe Madureira. Absolutely – with caveats
Now, years after its initial release on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, the Deathinitive version has found a natural home on the hybrid console. But how does Death’s scythe-wielding adventure hold up on the go? Does the Switch version suffer from performance cuts, or does it deliver a truly “definitive” experience?
Let’s break down everything you need to know.
First, a quick primer. Darksiders II is a direct sequel to the first game, but this time you don’t play as War, the red horseman of the apocalypse. Instead, you take control of Death – the pale, wise-cracking, and far more agile horseman. Your mission? Clear your brother War’s name after he is falsely accused of starting the apocalypse early.
The Deathinitive Edition is more than a simple port. Released originally in 2015 for stronger consoles, it includes:
This is where Darksiders II shines brightest. Unlike the first game’s linear action, this sequel doubles down on RPG mechanics. Skip it if: Is it worth the storage space
1. Loot System (Possessed Weapons) Enemies drop randomized loot: scythes, heavy weapons (hammers, axes), secondary arm blades, and armor pieces. You will constantly compare stats – attack speed, critical chance, elemental damage (fire, ice, shock). The genius feature is Possessed Weapons. Feed unwanted gear into a possessed weapon to level it up and add custom perks. It turns loot management into a mini-game of min-maxing.
2. Two Separate Skill Trees Death levels up with experience points, allowing you to invest in two distinct branches:
3. Zelda-Inspired Dungeons Each major area features a central dungeon with a map, compass, side rooms, locked doors, and a major boss. Death earns new tools to solve puzzles:
4. Horseback Combat (Despair) Death rides his spectral steed, Despair, across large overworld maps. You can slash enemies on horseback, use Despair to cross chasms, and engage in mounted boss fights. It’s not Shadow of the Colossus, but it breaks up the corridor-crawling nicely.