Payday 2, the critically acclaimed cooperative heist shooter from Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios, has brought its high-octane criminal escapades to Nintendo Switch.
Originally released in 2013 for PC and subsequently launched on various platforms, Payday 2's arrival on the Nintendo eShop marks a significant addition to the Switch's multiplayer roster.
With a focus on multiplayer heists, vast customization, and unpredictable gameplay, the Switch version aims to bring both series veterans and newcomers into its frenetic world of crime. Upon starting Payday 2 on Nintendo Switch, players are introduced to their new life of crime inside the seemingly innocuous Bodhi’s Dry Cleaning, which serves as the gateway to the game’s tutorial area—the safe house.
Players gear up with a starter kit that includes staple weapons like the AMCAR rifle and Chimano 88 pistol, before discovering a hidden underground lair.
This safe house doubles as a hub for learning the game's mechanics, experimenting with weapons, and familiarizing oneself with core gameplay elements such as lockpicking, safe drilling, and camera disarming.
The environment offers a chance to practice and understand Payday 2’s systems, but its introductory guidance is notably brief and insufficient for newcomers, making the game's learning curve considerably steep for first-time players. Payday 2 on Switch expects players to hit the ground running, offering piecemeal introductions to mechanics without a comprehensive tutorial, particularly for stealthier approaches.
New players must learn through repeated play, mastering each heist’s intricacies and adapting to dynamic elements.
This hands-on approach aligns with the game's identity—throwing players directly into anarchic action best enjoyed with a coordinated team. One highlight of the Switch version is the introduction of local wireless multiplayer through "CRIME.NET Local Play." This feature allows up to four consoles to connect locally, each requiring their own copy of the game, fostering cooperative sessions cherished by Switch owners.
Online play is supported, though the Nintendo Switch Online voice functionality remains limited.
Many players opt for third-party solutions like Discord for voice communication, underscoring a gap in Nintendo's online ecosystem compared to competitors. Variety is at the heart of Payday 2's gameplay.
Heists range from classic bank robberies and jewelry store hold-ups to more outrageous escapades, like using cranes to abduct an IRS official, recovering contraband from a downed plane, or executing elaborate art thefts.
Each mission offers multiple paths, procedural variations, and unpredictable challenges, ensuring replayability and excitement, particularly when experienced with friends. Nintendo Switch owners also receive a timed-exclusive character, Joy, a 22-year-old Japanese hacker recognizable by an LED mask that mimics the iconic neon red and blue of the Joy-Con controllers.
This addition, along with the game's extensive weapon, skill, and mask customization, adds new layers to the experience. Progression rewards players with cash and experience points, which are used to upgrade weapons, invest in skills, and purchase new equipment.
Playstyles are highly customizable, and skill points can be reallocated, encouraging experimentation.
Strategic assets can be purchased before heists to provide tactical advantages, though such mechanics are not always clearly explained to new players. While the port maintains the core Payday 2 experience, some technical hiccups affect performance.
Reports of occasional bugs, AI inconsistencies, and infrequent crashes highlight areas needing polish.
Overkill Software's ongoing updates and support will be crucial in addressing these issues and maintaining community engagement. Despite being behind the PC version in content, Payday 2 on Nintendo Switch offers substantial gameplay depth and multiplayer entertainment.
Its complex mechanics and sometimes unclear onboarding may challenge newcomers, but persistent players will find a uniquely rewarding co-op shooter.
As Overkill Software continues to support the title, Switch owners can look forward to even more hours of chaotic, laughter-filled heists in the months ahead.
Originally released in 2013 for PC and subsequently launched on various platforms, Payday 2's arrival on the Nintendo eShop marks a significant addition to the Switch's multiplayer roster.
With a focus on multiplayer heists, vast customization, and unpredictable gameplay, the Switch version aims to bring both series veterans and newcomers into its frenetic world of crime. Upon starting Payday 2 on Nintendo Switch, players are introduced to their new life of crime inside the seemingly innocuous Bodhi’s Dry Cleaning, which serves as the gateway to the game’s tutorial area—the safe house.
Players gear up with a starter kit that includes staple weapons like the AMCAR rifle and Chimano 88 pistol, before discovering a hidden underground lair.
This safe house doubles as a hub for learning the game's mechanics, experimenting with weapons, and familiarizing oneself with core gameplay elements such as lockpicking, safe drilling, and camera disarming.
The environment offers a chance to practice and understand Payday 2’s systems, but its introductory guidance is notably brief and insufficient for newcomers, making the game's learning curve considerably steep for first-time players. Payday 2 on Switch expects players to hit the ground running, offering piecemeal introductions to mechanics without a comprehensive tutorial, particularly for stealthier approaches.
New players must learn through repeated play, mastering each heist’s intricacies and adapting to dynamic elements.
This hands-on approach aligns with the game's identity—throwing players directly into anarchic action best enjoyed with a coordinated team. One highlight of the Switch version is the introduction of local wireless multiplayer through "CRIME.NET Local Play." This feature allows up to four consoles to connect locally, each requiring their own copy of the game, fostering cooperative sessions cherished by Switch owners.
Online play is supported, though the Nintendo Switch Online voice functionality remains limited.
Many players opt for third-party solutions like Discord for voice communication, underscoring a gap in Nintendo's online ecosystem compared to competitors. Variety is at the heart of Payday 2's gameplay.
Heists range from classic bank robberies and jewelry store hold-ups to more outrageous escapades, like using cranes to abduct an IRS official, recovering contraband from a downed plane, or executing elaborate art thefts.
Each mission offers multiple paths, procedural variations, and unpredictable challenges, ensuring replayability and excitement, particularly when experienced with friends. Nintendo Switch owners also receive a timed-exclusive character, Joy, a 22-year-old Japanese hacker recognizable by an LED mask that mimics the iconic neon red and blue of the Joy-Con controllers.
This addition, along with the game's extensive weapon, skill, and mask customization, adds new layers to the experience. Progression rewards players with cash and experience points, which are used to upgrade weapons, invest in skills, and purchase new equipment.
Playstyles are highly customizable, and skill points can be reallocated, encouraging experimentation.
Strategic assets can be purchased before heists to provide tactical advantages, though such mechanics are not always clearly explained to new players. While the port maintains the core Payday 2 experience, some technical hiccups affect performance.
Reports of occasional bugs, AI inconsistencies, and infrequent crashes highlight areas needing polish.
Overkill Software's ongoing updates and support will be crucial in addressing these issues and maintaining community engagement. Despite being behind the PC version in content, Payday 2 on Nintendo Switch offers substantial gameplay depth and multiplayer entertainment.
Its complex mechanics and sometimes unclear onboarding may challenge newcomers, but persistent players will find a uniquely rewarding co-op shooter.
As Overkill Software continues to support the title, Switch owners can look forward to even more hours of chaotic, laughter-filled heists in the months ahead.
