2023’s most overlooked RPG is finally working on Switch 2 — and it’s a must-play

Perplexity and pure enjoyment rarely go hand in hand for me, yet Owlcat’s Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader manages to bridge that gap more successfully than I ever thought possible. I had never dipped my toes into the Warhammer universe before, and when Rogue Trader originally launched in 2023, my gaming hours were entirely consumed by Baldur’s Gate 3. However, following Owlcat’s substantial July 7 update for the Switch 2, I decided there was no better moment to finally dive in. I am thrilled I took the plunge. It is an extraordinary display of dark science-fiction and sophisticated tactical depth, running remarkably well on Nintendo’s hybrid hardware despite a few minor growing pains.

Or at least, it does now. The Switch 2 edition debuted in a genuinely abysmal state back in December 2025, plagued by erratic frame rates, stuttering, frequent crashes, and campaign-halting glitches. Thankfully, Owlcat’s patch has resolved the vast majority of these critical flaws while subtly enhancing the visual resolution. The frame rate is capped at a stable 30fps, and sudden performance drops are far less common. When stutter does occur, it is usually confined to the transitional moments between gameplay and cinematic sequences rather than demanding crowded environments, and this primarily happens in handheld mode rather than when docked. Battles unfold with impressive fluidity, even when dazzling lightning displays and psychic energy blasts flood the screen simultaneously. So far, I have encountered zero crashes or quest-breaking bugs. Furthermore, despite its mouse-and-keyboard roots, the control scheme translates to the Switch 2 with surprising smoothness.

That said, loading times are slightly more sluggish than I would prefer. Transitioning from the main menu into the actual game takes roughly 30 seconds, while moving between different areas in handheld mode demands another 15 to 20 seconds, though docked play speeds this up considerably. Saving the game also requires several seconds, which can feel jarring when an unexpected autosave abruptly interrupts your momentum. Hopefully, Owlcat can optimize these wait times in future patches. Even with this friction, I am simply grateful to experience such a sprawling adventure without being tethered to my desk. As a gesture of goodwill toward early supporters, Owlcat even made Rogue Trader‘s expansions entirely free on the Switch 2—a wonderfully generous touch.

Source: Polygon