Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition arrives on Switch 2 as a proper native port, finally freeing Capcom’s soft reboot from the compromises of the 2021 cloud release. The core game’s pivot to first‑person perspective still ranks among the series’ boldest moves, and this edition preserves that claustrophobic, slow‑burn tension while benefiting from the Switch 2’s improved horsepower.

Visually, the game receives a welcome refresh courtesy of the RE Engine. Textures look cleaner, lighting and particle work are more convincing, and the overall presentation feels closer to the original console versions than the earlier streamed iteration. Performance is predictably steadier than the cloud alternative, with a far more consistent frame rate that helps the immersion remain intact during the game’s many close‑quarters confrontations.

Sponsored

Gameplay remains faithful to the 2017 blueprint: limited inventory management, methodical exploration, and carefully metered encounters that reward patience and resourcefulness. The shift back to survival horror from action‑heavy entries is handled with restraint. Included in the Gold Edition are the story expansions and bonus content that round out the narrative and add replay value, making this the definitive package for newcomers and returning players alike.

The Switch 2 port also addresses the single biggest complaint players had with the previous Nintendo release. With native rendering and local performance, the experience no longer depends on an internet connection or suffers the latency and visual artefacts that cloud streaming introduced. That change alone elevates this release from a convenience to a must‑own for handheld fans who missed the original run.

Minor criticisms persist: some of the dated design beats linked to the game’s original 2017 structure remain evident, and power users expecting extensive visual parity with the latest high‑end consoles will spot differences. Those caveats do little to diminish the core achievement. Resident Evil 7 on Switch 2 stands as a confident, effective survival horror package — one that preserves the original’s atmosphere while delivering a far more polished and dependable portable experience.

Verdict: A welcomed native release that finally lets the game breathe on Nintendo hardware, offering the full Gold Edition content, stable performance and the intense immersion that made the title a modern horror classic.