It’s safe to say that Fortnite is currently the most popular game in the world, due to a nice combination of battle royale mechanics, charming graphics and the fact it costs zero dollars. It’s a well-made F2P title that doesn’t try to suck your wallet dry. In fact, it does F2P so well, you actually feel inclined to spend a few bucks while playing it because you’re actually having enough fun with the game to justify a “donation” of sorts.

People thought it wouldn’t be possible to port Fortnite to the Nintendo Switch, but they have been proven wrong: Fortnite is here and it’s still a very fun experience.

Fortnite‘s gameplay needs no introduction; its “easy to learn, hard to master” battle royale gameplay coupled with very basic construction elements captivated millions. It’s a lot easier to play than PUBG and faster since the map is a lot smaller. Then again, I know you aren’t here to read about something you already know. You want to know if the Fortnite port is decent. It is, but it’s not exactly the best version of the game.

The Switch version of Fortnite is essentially an improved version of the mobile port. That means the game boasts inferior visuals with less textural detail and a reduced framerate when compared to the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions. It might be a bummer, but you have to take the Switch’s severely inferior hardware into consideration and the fact that, despite the reduced performance, Fortnite on the Switch performs a lot better than PUBG on the Xbox One, for instance.

Another fine addition is the fact that crossplay is available with every single version (besides PS4, because Sony wants to act like a spoiled child for some reason). Voice chat is also present! You read it right, voice chat is present in this version without the need of using some complicated mobile equipment. Just plug in a mic and you’re good to go! Epic Games does what Nintendon’t, it seems.

I don’t think anyone will actually need to read a review in order to be convinced to download Fortnite on the Switch. Its visuals are clearly inferior and it doesn’t run at the best of framerates, but this is the best handheld rendition of Fortnite you’ll ever find. Epic Games has done a great job porting the hit title to Nintendo’s new hardware and despite all of its flaws, I can clearly see this becoming one of the flagship titles for the console.

 

Graphics: 6.0 Fortnite on Switch doesn’t look or run anywhere near as good as its console counterparts. It looks more like the mobile versions.	Gameplay: 8.0 The basic third-person shooter gameplay you would expect, with good responsiveness and the addition of some simple building mechanics.
Sound: 6.5 There’s no music nor a lot of sound effects, but there’s actual voice chat without the need of using external peripherals!	Fun Factor: 9.0 It’s a great alternative to PUBG‘s more serious gameplay, with the added advantage of being free and portable.
Final Verdict: 7.5

Reviewed on Switch.
Also available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC