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.
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