Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade review
Let’s start by giving major props to the team behind the Final Fantasy VII Remake port on the Nintendo Switch 2. Not only does it load quickly, it delivers crisp visuals without compromising performance. The game runs buttery smooth and feels just as polished as the original 2020 release. I was impressed immediately by how magnificent Final Fantasy VII Remake looks and plays on what is truly a powerhouse handheld console. This version includes all the visual upgrades from Intergrade, Yuffie’s additional campaign, and a full suite of bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements.
If you played the original game, you’ll remember just how impactful the opening sequence of Final Fantasy VII was on the original PlayStation. Fast forward to 2020—and now 2025—and it still stands as one of the most stunning opening sequences in gaming history. As one of Square Enix’s most ambitious remake projects, it has been widely acclaimed, commercially successful, and continues to hit every sweet spot for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Running at a capped 30 FPS with DLSS upscaling is far from a dealbreaker on the Switch 2. The game remains crisp and fluid in both docked and handheld modes. When docked and upscaled to 4K, the visual differences compared to other console versions are minimal. At just USD 60, it’s an incredibly hard package to resist. Surprisingly, the 30 FPS cap never feels distracting—it simply works. Even during Yuffie’s fast, lightning-quick combat sequences, frame rate dips are rare and barely noticeable.
Square Enix made the right call by releasing the Intergrade version here. With updated visuals, refined cutscenes, and the majority of bugs and dialogue issues addressed, it’s difficult to spot any meaningful problems. From the breathtaking skyline of Midgar to the fine details in character close-ups, there are no obvious visual downgrades to speak of.
After spending several hours with the game, a few shortcomings do emerge. Battery drain on the Switch 2 is noticeable, with the system clearly pushing itself to maintain performance. On top of that, the file size is massive—over 90GB, and nearly 99GB for the deluxe edition. While hefty, it reflects the sheer scale of what’s included, from high-quality shaders and visuals to the game’s outstanding voice acting.
Having already completed the game on PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5, and PC, I initially struggled to justify revisiting it on yet another platform. However, returning to Final Fantasy VII Remake after more than five years feels like reconnecting with an old friend—this time in a much smaller form factor. Being able to experience such a massive, polished title on the go, on a device far smaller than any modern console, is genuinely impressive. It easily stands as one of the best ports available on the Nintendo Switch 2 as of 2026.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is out now on Nintendo Switch 2. Special thanks to Square Enix for the review code.
