Technical Enhancements Completely Transform Pokémon Scarlet & Violet on Nintendo Switch 2

I can’t think of a game as held back by performance issues as the original Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Sure, there are worse-performing games out there—like the kind that are basically broken from day one—but finding a good game that’s compromised just by how it runs? That’s a challenge.

Back in 2022, my review called these games a “super-effective new vision” for the series, though I couldn’t ignore the performance hiccups. Remember those windmills moving in stop-motion and cliffsides that seemed to come straight from a Nintendo 64 game? Yeah, those were the days. Scarlet & Violet deserved a better way to show off their charm.

So fast forward to now—three years later—where Scarlet & Violet get a do-over on the Switch 2. And wow, calling it a “total barnstormer” feels right. If the game’s concept was a home run back in 2022, now it’s finally gotten the performance boost it needed to back it up.

I got a sneak peek at the new and improved Switch 2 version, thanks to an invite from The Pokémon Company. To be honest, I was a bit hesitant since I’d been quite vocal about the original’s flaws, but let’s just say, I was blown away. It’s like night and day. Anyone who says frame rates don’t matter? Try switching back to the old version after experiencing the new one. I dare you. As Joe from Serebii mentioned in the video preview, it just doesn’t compare.

Now, with a sharper look at higher resolution and that beautiful steady 60fps—most of the time, at least—it’s a whole different experience. Those distant Pokémon and world elements have finally stopped resembling a slide show. And yes, the infamous windmills are fixed!

But this isn’t about bragging rights over better tech. The improvement changes how the game feels. Scarlet & Violet were meant to be the most free-roaming and expansive Pokémon games ever, channeling vibes from the greats like Skyrim and Breath of the Wild into something unique. But that was undermined if the frame rate tanked when you turned the camera to catch an approaching wild Pokémon or admire a vista. With the frame rate now stable, the entire vibe is transformed.

And then there are practical gameplay benefits. Wild Pokémon now appear in bigger groups, without that annoying lag when a wild encounter begins. Menus respond faster. Those Pokémon Box sprite icons? They light up the moment you glance at them.

These little tweaks really add up. Battles move at a snappier pace now, none of those awkward pauses caused by certain move animations crashing the frame rate.

However, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. The level of detail settings are still aggressive. As your trusty Poke-steed gallops along at a lovely 60 frames, flowers and little details pop in and out around you. It’s, uh, not perfect. Plus, now that the tech is sorted, the art style looks like it could use some refining. HDR is a nice touch, though, making Paldea look as vibrant as it should.

Overall, it’s a win. The game finally feels like what Scarlet & Violet were meant to be. Dare I say, it’s the most technically polished main-line Pokémon game ever? At least in the 3D era. Like playing Metroid with 120fps mouse-look, experiencing 3D Pokémon at 60fps feels a bit like getting away with something. But it’s the new way to enjoy these fantastic games. Now, with Pokémon games performing so well, my excitement for Pokémon Legends Z-A is through the roof.