GRID Legends Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
GRID Autosport was, in my humble opinion, one of the best ports to grace the original Nintendo Switch. Much like the finely tuned racing machines on the track, Feral Interactive pushed the hardware to its limits and delivered a version that felt right at home on Nintendo’s console. Now, GRID Legends enters the championship, shifting up a gear with a new engine under the hood in the form of the Switch 2. With more spectacle, more modes, and a stronger focus on presentation, this latest entry has bigger ambitions than its predecessor and has its sights set on pole position. What’s it like? Strap on your helmet, start those engines, and burn some rubber as we review GRID Legends Deluxe Edition on Nintendo Switch 2.
GRID Legends, originally developed by Codemasters and published by EA Games, takes a diversion from most racers by introducing a story mode delivered through live-action cinematics. It follows an up-and-coming race team, Seneca Racing, as they try to make a name for themselves against fierce rivals like Ravenwest and Volt Racing. The performances are decent across the board, and the live action presentation, told in a documentary style setup, adds an extra layer to the on-track action, helping races feel more personal and high stakes. While the concept may not appeal to everyone, it succeeds in giving structure and momentum to the early hours. This story mode also acts as an introduction to a much broader career experience. From there, players can form their own race team, upgrade and customise vehicles, and work their way to victory in a more traditional racing game setup. The Switch 2 version of Grid Legends also includes the DLC packages, including Classic Car-nage, a destruction derby-style mini campaign. Enduring Spirit focuses on the legendary Fuji International Speedway in a tournament of Endurance races. Rise of Ravenwest tells the Grid Legends tale from a different perspective, and Winter Bash adds some snowy conditions to drifting competition.
GRID Legends continues the series’ blend of simulation and arcade racing across a wide range of disciplines, including tuner racing, GT, drifting, endurance events, trucks, and even destruction-based modes. Each discipline handles differently and demands its own sense of rhythm and mastery, helping the experience feel varied without becoming overwhelming. No matter what you choose to race, events are consistently exciting. You are often on the edge of your seat as you slipstream rivals, time your overtakes, and follow the racing line to victory. Progression feeds into this nicely, with experience earned both as a driver and within specific disciplines, unlocking new customisation options for your team and, just as importantly, the cash needed to expand your garage. Cars can be upgraded once you have fulfilled certain requirements, such as driving a specific distance with them before being upgraded to the first tier of improvements. Completing a second set of challenges then unlocks the final upgrade tier. Team sponsorships follow a similar progression path, with objectives like slipstreaming a specific number of times or even trading paint with a particular rival team. It is a unique approach that keeps the game engaging, almost like achievement hunting, but for team progression.
There is a certain thrill to GRID Legends that is hard to pin down. Even after hours behind the wheel, unlike my tyre tread, my enthusiasm never wore thin. Each race feels exciting, every corner presents a fresh challenge, and much of the competition comes from yourself trying to shave seconds off a previous lap. The only mode that did not resonate with me personally was the Destruction Derby-style DLC. It is not poorly made; it just lacks the speed and exhilaration that comes from tearing around a racetrack at full throttle.
GRID Legends is a gorgeous game. Whether you are racing in the external third-person view or sitting firmly in the driver’s seat in first person, the presentation delivers an exhilarating sense of speed. Sparks fly as you trade paint with opponents, tyres smoke as they fight for grip on the asphalt, and cars show visible signs of wear and tear as races unfold. Several tracks from GRID Autosport make a return alongside a strong selection of new locations, including the legendary Australian track of Mount Panorama. Each course is packed with detail, from trackside crowds to environmental distractions that threaten to pull your focus away from the racing line. It is all quite a spectacle, and I was consistently impressed by just how good GRID Legends looks on Switch 2 hardware. Lighting is impressive, as are the weather and special effects. There are also a few options when it comes to graphics that allow you to customise the appearance, which I will dive into later in the review.
The audio design does a great job of bringing the racetrack alive both in and out of the cockpit. I found playing with headphones on in first-person mode especially immersive, making each race feel intense and difficult to put down. Each car feels powerful, and the constant chatter from your crew helps drive the immersion even further. The soundtrack is a high-energy loop that stays in the background without stealing attention, tying together engine sounds, ambient noise, and pit crew commentary to create an engaging audio experience.
Now, all of this spectacle counts for nothing if it doesn’t perform, and Feral Interactive has done a lot of tweaking under the hood to give Switch 2 gamers plenty of choice for performance. While docked, players can lock the framerate at 30 fps with high visual fidelity, or push up to 60 fps while reducing some visual effects to maintain consistency. Both modes still look impressive, and most of the footage in the video review is shown using the graphics-focused setting. In handheld mode, there are two additional options: Balanced and Battery. Balanced strikes a middle ground between graphics and performance, while Battery mode lowers visuals to extend handheld playtime. Players can also reduce weather intensity or disable motion blur if they prefer. I only had one performance issue in my playthrough, where the game hung for about 2 seconds before returning to normal. I was unable to replicate the problem again, and continued to play for around 5-6 hours afterwards without any issue.
For my Drivers looking into accessibility, GRID Legends offers a robust set of options designed to make your racing career more comfortable and enjoyable. Players can tweak many aspects of difficulty, use a mechanics pass to speed up progression, adjust several audio channels to focus on what they need to hear, remap controls, customise the HUD to reduce clutter, and tone down certain visual effects. Feral Interactive has also included analogue acceleration and braking using the right stick of Joy-Cons or a GameCube controller, along with new accessibility features such as auto-accelerate, steering assist, and a range of driving assists. Additional options include touch screen support for menu navigation and online leaderboards. It is impressive to see such a comprehensive suite of accessibility features, and kudos to Feral Interactive for continuing their trend of thoughtful quality-of-life improvements in the games they port to Switch.
At just under $55 AUD, GRID Legends offers hours of exhilarating motorsports action on the Nintendo Switch 2. The lengthy story campaign adds drama and weight to the racing action, which opens up into an even deeper and engaging career mode. Feral Interactive have drawn on its experience in the GRID Autosport pits to deliver a fast, finely tuned port that stands out on Switch 2. The breadth of disciplines, customisation, and accessibility options ensures that nearly every player can find their groove on the track. Whether you are a casual racer, a completionist chasing every upgrade, or a competitive player aiming for leaderboard glory, Grid Legends is a game that you’ll definitely want to take for a lap.
So, What’s it Like? Grid Legends is like Need For Speed 2010 crossed with Forza Motorsports.
In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.
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