In Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Definitive Edition, you return to the role of Talion, the undead ranger who, together with Celebrimbor, forges a new ring of power in hopes of being able to challenge Sauron. The story admittedly takes great liberties with Tolkien’s established world, something purists likely still have opinions on, but the narrative nonetheless succeeds in delivering an entertaining fantasy adventure filled with epic battles, betrayals, and ever-growing conflicts.

When Middle-earth: Shadow of War was released in 2017, it was one of the most ambitious sequels to an already appreciated action game. The original, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor from 2014, introduced the revolutionary Nemesis System and quickly became a favorite among both action and Lord of the Rings fans. Shadow of War built upon that same foundation but turned everything up to significantly larger proportions with more regions, bigger armies, massive fortress sieges, and a considerably deeper recruitment system. Almost a decade later, Talion’s war against Sauron has found its way to Nintendo Switch 2, and it quickly becomes apparent that some game ideas are far more timeless than others.

The Nemesis System lives on

The real reason to play Shadow of War, however, is not the plot but the memorable rivalries that arise along the way. The Orc captains you encounter are not just random enemies. They remember you. If someone manages to defeat you, he can advance through the ranks, become more powerful, and taunt you the next time you meet. If you kill him, there is always the possibility that he will return with new scars, a new attitude, and a personal vendetta! The result is a system that constantly creates its own stories and which today still feels just as innovative as when the game first launched nearly a decade ago.

Familiar but larger

If you have played Shadow of Mordor, much will feel familiar. The combat system builds on the same Batman: Arkham-inspired foundation where rhythmic counters, quick attacks, and brutal executions take center stage. At the same time, Shadow of War offers significantly more freedom, more abilities, and a Nemesis System that has been given much more room to flourish. Talion can switch between stealth, archery, melee, and supernatural powers in a way that ensures combat rarely becomes monotonous, even after many hours.

It is, however, when the army-building takes off that the game truly finds its identity. Instead of just eliminating enemies, you begin recruiting them to your own cause. The strongest Orcs can be broken down, recruited, and then used as captains in your own forces. From there, the game progressively grows from a traditional action-adventure into something almost reminiscent of a strategy game where fortresses are to be captured, defended, and developed. For newcomers, the game works excellently on its own, but veteran players will simultaneously appreciate how naturally the story and gameplay mechanics build upon what was established in its predecessor.

Complete content

The Switch 2 version also includes the entire Definitive Edition package. The expansions Blade of Galadriel and Desolation of Mordor are included from the start along with the Nemesis expansions Slaughter Tribe and Outlaw Tribe, as well as other bonus content. For those who missed the game at its original release, this is undoubtedly the most complete version of the adventure.

Technical performance

Technically speaking, however, it is a port rather than a remaster. The game runs at 1080p when the console is docked and targets 30 frames per second. In handheld mode, a slightly lower dynamic resolution is used to maintain stability while the frame rate remains at the same level. During my testing period on Switch 2, performance was perceived as consistently stable, even during larger sieges with many enemies on screen at once. At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the game’s 2017 origins. Textures, animations, and lighting aren’t at the same level as modern blockbusters, so Shadow of War is hardly the game you show off to demonstrate the Switch 2’s technical muscle. Shadow of War is not available for the first Nintendo Switch.

Not everything is preserved

However, not all changes are positive. Several of the original’s online features have disappeared with this edition. Online Conquests, Vendettas, Fight Pits, and certain other network features are no longer present, although the Garrison system now works completely offline. For most players, this is unlikely to be a dealbreaker today, but it is still missing content compared to what the game once looked like.

The core that refuses to age

The most impressive thing about Shadow of War on Switch 2 is really how well the core itself has aged. Many open worlds from the same time period feel repetitive and mechanical today, but the Nemesis System still ensures that each player creates their own story. When the credits roll, it’s rarely the main story you remember best, but those persistent Orc captains who refused to die, returned time and again, and eventually became as vital to the experience as the game’s actual villains.

In summary, Shadow of War might not be the best-looking or most technically advanced game on Switch 2, but almost ten years later, there is still no other game that has truly managed to recreate the same mix of action, strategy, and personal rivalries. It is an impressive legacy from Shadow of Mordor (which is now also playable on Switch 2) and clear proof that truly good game mechanics never go out of style.

Aspyr sent a review code for this test. The sender of material has no editorial influence on our reviews.