FIFA 19 for Nintendo Switch Review: A Portable Champion With Room to Improve
FIFA 19 on the Nintendo Switch marks another significant step in Electronic Arts’ efforts to bring the world’s most popular football simulation to portable gaming audiences.
Building upon the positive reception of FIFA 18, which was recognized as the best football game ever released on a Nintendo console or a handheld device at its time, FIFA 19 takes the portable experience further while simultaneously addressing and exposing some long-standing gaps compared to its home console siblings. Despite a full development cycle to make advancements, FIFA 19 on Nintendo Switch remains a distinct experience.
Limitations inherent to the Switch hardware and the game engine used result in certain features being excluded; these omissions have been noted as a major talking point among the community.
"FIFA 19 on Nintendo Switch still can’t offer the full suite of modes and features available in other versions," EA explained, highlighting that the game prioritizes portability and local multiplayer experiences unique to the Nintendo platform. Key absences remain, most notably The Journey story mode, first introduced in FIFA 17, which is designed to immerse players in a narrative-driven career path.
The career mode on Switch is essentially recycled from the previous year, leaving it behind the richer and regularly updated modes found on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Furthermore, FIFA Ultimate Team continues to be simplified—popular modes like Squad Battles and Division Rivals still don’t appear on the Switch version, limiting the depth and variety seen elsewhere. There is, however, progress.
FIFA 19 introduces the ability to play friends online—a much-requested feature missing from the previous iteration.
This simple yet essential option allows players to invite friends from their list for direct matches, bridging the social competitive gap that existed before.
While not a revolutionary addition, it addresses a core expectation for fans of multiplayer sports titles. On the licensing front, EA Sports secured the prestigious UEFA Champions League for FIFA 19, infusing the game with authentic branding, commentators, and the signature tournament atmosphere.
While the addition is largely cosmetic for Switch players, it’s a welcome enhancement that adds an extra layer of realism when progressing through tournament play. The new House Rules feature within Kick-Off mode stands as one of this year’s best Switch-exclusive offerings.
Users can pick from several creative rule sets—such as Survival, Long Range, or No Rules—making local multiplayer sessions unpredictably fun and refreshingly competitive.
These modified modes, like First to Two or only allowing goals from headers and volleys, breathe new life into the traditional FIFA experience, especially for groups looking to mix things up. Gameplay remains FIFA 19’s bedrock.
The Switch version offers a steady framerate, responsive controls, and a refined dribbling system, continuing EA Sports’ tradition of incremental but meaningful improvements in core mechanics.
Split Joy-Con support means multiplayer is instantly accessible, and the game shines in handheld mode—perfect for quick football sessions on the go without anchoring players to a television or monitor. Nevertheless, by its second outing on Nintendo’s hybrid system, FIFA 19 is judged by higher standards.
While it expands the feature set over FIFA 18 and remains highly enjoyable in both single and multiplayer sessions, its persistent omissions prevent it from reaching the heights established by versions on more powerful hardware.
Unless deeper features and innovative modes are brought over, the Switch editions risk feeling like missed opportunities. FIFA 19 launched on Nintendo Switch in September 2018 through physical and digital storefronts, including the Nintendo eShop.
For players prioritizing portable play and accessible multiplayer, FIFA 19 offers the best handheld football experience to date, but fans seeking the full, feature-rich offering of FIFA will continue to notice what’s left on the cutting room floor.
Building upon the positive reception of FIFA 18, which was recognized as the best football game ever released on a Nintendo console or a handheld device at its time, FIFA 19 takes the portable experience further while simultaneously addressing and exposing some long-standing gaps compared to its home console siblings. Despite a full development cycle to make advancements, FIFA 19 on Nintendo Switch remains a distinct experience.
Limitations inherent to the Switch hardware and the game engine used result in certain features being excluded; these omissions have been noted as a major talking point among the community.
"FIFA 19 on Nintendo Switch still can’t offer the full suite of modes and features available in other versions," EA explained, highlighting that the game prioritizes portability and local multiplayer experiences unique to the Nintendo platform. Key absences remain, most notably The Journey story mode, first introduced in FIFA 17, which is designed to immerse players in a narrative-driven career path.
The career mode on Switch is essentially recycled from the previous year, leaving it behind the richer and regularly updated modes found on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Furthermore, FIFA Ultimate Team continues to be simplified—popular modes like Squad Battles and Division Rivals still don’t appear on the Switch version, limiting the depth and variety seen elsewhere. There is, however, progress.
FIFA 19 introduces the ability to play friends online—a much-requested feature missing from the previous iteration.
This simple yet essential option allows players to invite friends from their list for direct matches, bridging the social competitive gap that existed before.
While not a revolutionary addition, it addresses a core expectation for fans of multiplayer sports titles. On the licensing front, EA Sports secured the prestigious UEFA Champions League for FIFA 19, infusing the game with authentic branding, commentators, and the signature tournament atmosphere.
While the addition is largely cosmetic for Switch players, it’s a welcome enhancement that adds an extra layer of realism when progressing through tournament play. The new House Rules feature within Kick-Off mode stands as one of this year’s best Switch-exclusive offerings.
Users can pick from several creative rule sets—such as Survival, Long Range, or No Rules—making local multiplayer sessions unpredictably fun and refreshingly competitive.
These modified modes, like First to Two or only allowing goals from headers and volleys, breathe new life into the traditional FIFA experience, especially for groups looking to mix things up. Gameplay remains FIFA 19’s bedrock.
The Switch version offers a steady framerate, responsive controls, and a refined dribbling system, continuing EA Sports’ tradition of incremental but meaningful improvements in core mechanics.
Split Joy-Con support means multiplayer is instantly accessible, and the game shines in handheld mode—perfect for quick football sessions on the go without anchoring players to a television or monitor. Nevertheless, by its second outing on Nintendo’s hybrid system, FIFA 19 is judged by higher standards.
While it expands the feature set over FIFA 18 and remains highly enjoyable in both single and multiplayer sessions, its persistent omissions prevent it from reaching the heights established by versions on more powerful hardware.
Unless deeper features and innovative modes are brought over, the Switch editions risk feeling like missed opportunities. FIFA 19 launched on Nintendo Switch in September 2018 through physical and digital storefronts, including the Nintendo eShop.
For players prioritizing portable play and accessible multiplayer, FIFA 19 offers the best handheld football experience to date, but fans seeking the full, feature-rich offering of FIFA will continue to notice what’s left on the cutting room floor.
