Here’s how every Hyrule Warriors game runs on Switch 2 – Age of Calamity, Imprisonment, and Definitive Edition

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When I began writing about older games that are compatible with the new Switch 2, I covered a lot of RPG series like Ys, Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and Dragon Quest. I’d always planned to write about the Hyrule Warriors games, but I wasn’t sure if I should wait and include them in a larger article about Zelda. With the worldwide release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment this week, I decided the time was right. I’m taking a look at both Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, along with the new game, to see how well they work on the Switch 2 and to share my thoughts on the series’ first game designed specifically for the new console. Like my previous articles, I’ll be comparing how the games load and perform on both the Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch.

How does Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment run on Nintendo Switch 2?

I’ve been playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment ever since my digital pre-order became available about six hours ago. My first impression is really good – the game looks great in handheld mode and runs smoothly for the first hour or so. I did notice that cutscenes seem a little blurry when playing on my TV, especially on a 1440p display, though it wasn’t as noticeable in handheld mode. Hopefully, this can be fixed with an update, but it’s definitely visible.

As James pointed out in his review, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment doesn’t consistently run at 60 frames per second. However, after playing the first few hours, I’ve been pleasantly surprised – it’s much better than I anticipated. Perhaps my expectations were low after playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, but so far, I haven’t noticed any issues with performance or graphics. I also want to highlight the excellent rumble feature. It felt good initially, but there’s an in-game option to increase its intensity. I turned it up to the max, and it really enhanced the feeling of attacks and even just moving around.






Note: The images above were captured via a 4K capture card.

I suggest adjusting the camera movement speed right after the tutorial – once you get the Special Ration. The default speed feels quite slow, especially if you’re used to how Warriors games play.

Overall, the game runs well, but the graphics could be better. Specifically, on a 1440p monitor, the lack of smooth edges and detailed textures is quite noticeable, especially when moving through environments like the ground and plants. I’ve adjusted to it, but I expected a bit more polish for Koei Tecmo’s first game designed specifically for the Switch 2. On the plus side, the characters look fantastic and the special effects are really impressive. Unlike many Warriors game trailers that exaggerate the visuals, this game actually lives up to what was shown in its promotional materials, delivering those vibrant effects during gameplay.






Note: The images above were captured via the Switch 2 system capture functionality. 

I was initially surprised by the long loading time, but it seems the game cleverly loads more data upfront to make exploring the map faster once you’re in. While it’s still slower to load than Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, it’s a significant improvement over Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

Test condition Time taken
Dashboard to title screen 23 – 25
Loading the map 1 – 2
Loading a battle 13 – 15

Just so you know, the loading times mentioned are measured in seconds. These tests were performed using the Switch 2 system software installed on the console’s built-in storage.

How does Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition was surprisingly capable, rendering at 1080p even when played handheld on the original Switch. It scaled down to fit the 720p screen in handheld mode, and ran at 1080p when docked. While it aimed for a smooth 60 frames per second, performance wasn’t always perfect and it occasionally crashed. Still, it was a significant improvement over the Wii U or New 3DS versions. Load times were also quick, even on the original Switch. However, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition truly shines on the Switch 2 thanks to backwards compatibility. Now, it consistently achieves a stunning 1080p resolution at 60fps in handheld mode, creating an incredible portable experience with a wealth of content.






Note: The images above were captured via a 4K capture card.

The Switch 2 significantly reduces loading times. See the results detailed below.

Test condition Switch 1 Switch 2
Dashboard to title 10 6
Loading adventure battle 13 6
Loading story battle 10 6

Just to clarify, the loading times listed are measured in seconds. When playing on a TV (docked), expect an extra 2-3 seconds while the system recognizes your controller – this doesn’t happen when playing in handheld mode. The dashboard-to-game loading times were measured using the Switch in handheld mode. We tested the Switch version installed both on the console’s internal storage (on a Switch 2) and on a microSD card (on a Switch OLED).

What we want from a Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

Considering how old it is, I don’t expect Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition to receive any more updates. However, it would be great if a Switch 2 version could support 1440p or 4K resolution, along with HDR, when played on a TV. Even without updates, Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition is still the best and most complete Warriors experience available on the Switch. I’m excited to share my thoughts on the ‘Age of Imprisonment’ DLC once I’ve had a chance to play through it in the next few weeks.

How does Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was a tough game for me on the Switch, even more so than Pokemon Violet. I stopped playing it after only a few hours, though I did revisit it later. I never managed to finish it on the original Switch, so I was really interested to see how it would play on the new Switch. Overall, it’s a good improvement, but there’s still some potential for it to be even better.

While I wouldn’t recommend Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity on the original Switch, it’s a much better experience on the Switch 2, despite somewhat rough graphics. The game was limited to 30 frames per second on the older console, and that limit remains on the Switch 2 when playing it through backward compatibility. You will notice faster loading times on the new console, but other visual issues like shimmering and jagged edges are still present.






Note: The images above were captured via a 4K capture card.

Test condition Switch 1 Switch 2
Dashboard to title 31 – 33 15
Loading a battle 34 23

Just so you know, the loading times mentioned are measured in seconds. These tests were performed using the Switch version of the game installed on the internal storage of a standard Switch 2 and on an SD card in a Switch OLED.

It’s great that the game loads faster on the Switch 2’s internal storage, but I still wish battles started more quickly.

What we want from a Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity runs noticeably smoother on the newer Switch model, but it’s still limited to 30 frames per second with graphics that aren’t the best – you’ll see a lot of visual shimmering while playing. While a resolution boost and unlocked frame rate would be great improvements, it’s unlikely to happen because the focus has shifted to promoting the new game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

I’m hoping to come back to this topic with future Zelda Warriors games, or if the current games receive any updates or improvements.

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2025-11-05 22:58