Street Fighter 6 Nintendo Switch 2 review – 2025’s best fighter goes handheld

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The Nintendo Switch has proven to be an unexpectedly fantastic platform for fighting games. While some versions of Mortal Kombat have had issues, enthusiasts worldwide utilize their portable Nintendo Switches as convenient “training grounds” for perfecting combos without needing a laptop or console along with a monitor, particularly useful during travels for competitions. Games such as Guilty Gear Strive, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Under Night In-Birth, Super Smash Bros., and numerous others perform exceptionally well on the Nintendo Switch. Carrying a small tablet is manageable given the size of the controller compared to the console itself. However, Street Fighter 6 may pose more difficulties in adapting to this platform due to its complexity.

Street Fighter 6 stands out as one of the most daring fighting games ever created. While it retains classic modes like Arcade, VS, Online, and some lighthearted options for casual enjoyment, it truly shines in World Tour – an expansive open-world setting brimming with quests, collectibles, minigames, and battles to conquer. Unlike traditional fighting games with static backdrops for fights, Street Fighter 6 offers a dynamic environment that required more powerful hardware, which made it challenging to run on the original Nintendo Switch and continues to push the boundaries of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

On the Switch 2, SF6 is just as packed with content as its counterparts on powerful consoles and PCs. It boasts every character (with Elena joining the fray simultaneously for the Switch 2), all modes (some of which are exclusive), and even classic Capcom arcade games accessible via the Battle Hub. When it comes to performance, the game runs smoothly at 60 frames per second, demonstrating the capabilities of the Switch 2 exceptionally well. Although some aspects may have lower resolution and settings compared to other consoles, in many instances, the gameplay appears sharper than on the Xbox Series S.

In simpler terms, the issue with this game’s performance lies primarily in the World Tour mode. The console versions have a built-in limit of 30 frames per second (fps) in this mode, which might cause issues only on the Series S, while other devices can handle it smoothly at 60 fps. On Nintendo Switch, both World Tour modes run at a constant 30 fps, similar to the last-generation PlayStation 4 version. It’s slightly disappointing, but understandable since this mode is player-versus-environment (PvE) and isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. However, when it comes to one-on-one battles, either online or locally, the Switch 2 runs smoothly at 60 fps. Unfortunately, navigating a 3D environment in this game is a bit too much for the system to handle.

If you’re looking to play with another Switch 2 user, you can now enjoy local wireless multiplayer. What sets this game apart, however, are the Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest modes where control is primarily handled by the JoyCon controllers. You’ll find yourself tilting and shaking them to move and attack. These modes seem tailored for a one-time play experience, similar to Ultra Street Fighter 2’s Way of the Hado waggle mode.

The new feature is local wireless multiplayer. But what makes it special are the Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest modes where you mainly use JoyCon controllers by tilting and shaking them. These modes seem like they’re meant for a single play session, similar to Ultra Street Fighter 2’s waggle mode.

It’s somewhat disappointing that none of my arcade sticks functioned with the Switch 2 simply by connecting them to the dock (perhaps I had high expectations), but surprisingly, the JoyCons perform well straight out of the box. They offer enough inputs for a six-button fighting game individually, and if you disregard the analog stick, they will feel quite comfortable for a Street Fighter II player looking to engage in a 1v1 match with a friend who is on the go. Players who prefer specific controllers might want to hold off until an appropriate adapter becomes available, but if you’re just eager for some Street Fighter action on-the-go, there’s no reason to delay.

For beginners unfamiliar with Street Fighter, the World Tour serves as an excellent step-by-step guide to grasp each game’s mechanics and various motion inputs. If complex patterns like quarter circles and double quarter circles seem confusing, the Modern control option simplifies the game for action game enthusiasts who prefer a special attack to be triggered by pressing a single button. Moreover, there’s a diverse range of skill levels playing online at most hours, so even newcomers can engage in Ranked mode without feeling overwhelmed.

In simpler terms, Street Fighter 6 stands out as the dominant fighting game of its generation, attracting nearly seven times as many competitors as the second-most popular title at EVO Japan 2025. It encourages an aggressive playstyle and has introduced characters in its first two seasons that are bolder and riskier than any we saw in Street Fighter V towards its end. Without a doubt, it’s the top fighting game to enjoy in 2025, and surprisingly, it performs exceptionally well on the Nintendo Switch 2.

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2025-06-16 14:16