Divinity Original Sin 2 on Switch is the perfect handheld complement to the PC game

Among the most celebrated RPGs to hit PC over the last few years, Divinity Original Sin 2 makes a surprise debut on Switch with a unique and compelling new feature: the ability to share saves with the Steam version of the game, effectively allowing you to take your game on the go, then return your progress back to the PC version. We've seen the rise of cross-play in the likes of Fortnite, but this again shows Switch coming into its own as a perfect complement to the home experience - but beyond the intriguing cross-save mechanic, can such a complex, challenging game transition effectively to Nintendo's console hybrid?

Of course, Divinity 2 is quintessentially a PC experience. From its lush visuals - a vibrant mix of forests and dungeons powered by developer Larian's in-house engine - down to its turn-based RPG mechanics, it's rich with fine detail. It's so dense with options, in fact, that I had doubts that a satisfying portable version would work at all. Beyond the usual constraints involving Switch's limited CPU and GPU power, there's also the matter of transitioning the core UI across. And yet, a port exists - and the developer has risen admirably to the challenge.

Yes, there are big cutbacks. It's unavoidable. A 39GB PC game install is pruned back to 11GB, after all. As ever though, it's a matter of which cutbacks can you accept to get the benefits - and Larian appears to have made smart choices. This is fundamentally a feature complete version of Divinity 2, right down to a four person multiplayer option, and the freedom to carve out your own path using your chosen character's abilities and traits. Visually speaking, the art direction comes through effectively despite a huge hit to resolution, whether playing portably or docked. Equally, the reduced frame-rate is something of a distraction. 30 frames per second is the target, and the game can drop a lot lower, but as a turn-based game, the impact isn't quite as dramatic as that sounds on paper.

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