The Switch 2 has been out for almost half a year at this point, and game releases are finally ramping up from a trickle to a steady flow with titles such as Pokémon Legends ZA, Kirby Air Riders, Hades II, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (soon!), and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. There are a handful of games that are more likely to showcase the consoles latest hardware improvements such as Cyberpunk 2077 and, eventually, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. While I am no tech expert, no game has proven the Switch 2’s improved performance from its predecessor more than the latest Warrior’s spin-off, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
I am not a major fan of Warriors-style games; however, I was eager to pick up ones that collaborate with my favorite franchise: The Legend of Zelda. I also know that Warrior games are intended to be a power fantasy, favoring a large roster of characters that easily mow down scores of enemies in one fell swoop. Hundreds of enemies can populate a screen, and a variety of combos can lead to creative fun as you take down a whole army.
As much as I love the Nintendo Switch, I cringed at the thought of a Warriors-game on the 2017 console. I recall my system chugging for dear life when I set a field of grass on fire when playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While it didn’t ruin the overall experience for me, the performance deficit and the genre led me to skipping Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (that and I heard that story wasn’t cannon when we were led to believe this was the case in the marketing leading up to release).
Fast forward to November 2026, and I decided to give Age of Imprisonment a try. Nintendo promised the story would be cannon, I love Rauru and the Zonai powers, and I was eager to see how it would perform on the Switch 2. In fact, since I got my day-one Switch 2, I’ve purchased games that I would’ve otherwise gotten on my PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X out of sheer curiosity to see how far I can push my Switch 2’s limits. I’ve tested Cyberpunk 2077 and Chronos: The New Dawn, and so far, I haven’t been disappointed.
I was blown away at Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment‘s performance. I didn’t experience a single lag, even when playing on handheld. I tried all the combos each character had to offer in levels with hundreds of Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos, and more. While I lack the sophistication to count frames, I felt everything played out buttery smooth, making my gaming experience a top-tier one.
The reason why I bother with a banter on this topic is because I feel like this game is being overlooked. This is likely due to the fact that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is not a mainline Zelda game, and it has a genre that not everyone likes; therefore, many gaming snobs may overlook this title as one that can act as a barometer of a consoles’ performance capability.
While Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is not everyone’s cup of tea, this title is a true testament to the Switch 2’s power compared to its predecessor. It handles fast-paced action and high number of characters/actions occurring in one space. This game made me more appreciative of the transition from the Nintendo Switch to the Switch 2, and although I never gave in to the Switch 2 haters out there, I felt more confident in my console purchase.
Have you pushed your Switch 2 limits with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment? Or have you tested it with other titles? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Nintendo Pow Block – A Nintendo Podcast by Boss Rush
Nintendo Pow Block is a weekly Nintendo podcast hosted by Edward Varnell, Corey Dirrig, and their friends from around the internet. Each week, they dive into the latest Nintendo news and rumors for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, new and upcoming releases, updates to Nintendo Switch Online and the Nintendo Music app, and discuss what they’ve been playing in the Playing with Power segment.
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DIRECT RECAP 5.7.2026: Star Fox comes to Nintendo Switch 2 in June – Nintendo Pow Block Podcast – Now Your Podcasting with Power!
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