Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition Switch Review

Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

If I could take you back to the early days of Mobile gaming, puzzle games were all the rage, and leading that charge was this small title called Candy Crush. The premise was simple: match 3 candies, which crush them, and work to clear the board. It was quite addictive, with no real story to invest in, just bright and colourful candy-crushing fun. But what if we were to add a story to that formula? Perhaps even throw in some RPG elements and a spellcasting/ability mechanic to liven things up? You would get Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition. What’s it Like? Choose your class, open your quest log, and prepare to match 3 as we review Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition on the Nintendo Switch.

When Puzzle Quest first released back in 2007, it carved out a space no one else had really touched before. Match-3 puzzles had already proven addictive, but marrying that formula to a full-fledged RPG was something entirely new. Now, nearly two decades later, Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition brings that original idea back to the spotlight on Nintendo Switch, complete with bundled expansions and new refinements that make it the definitive way to play. At its heart, this is still the same game that you played in 2007, you’ll choose a class, embark on a sprawling quest across Etheria, and battle monsters, bandits, and sorcerers by matching gems, casting spells, and outsmarting your opponent on the puzzle board. The story isn’t groundbreaking, but it provides enough of a framework to push you through its quest lines and keep the game moving forward.

Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition takes that match-3 puzzle and puts you and your opponent on the same board, taking turns matching gems and casting spells. You start out in town, select quests, and move through the overworld, encountering enemies that trigger these puzzle battles. The objective is simple: match three gems. Matching four or more, however, gives you strategic advantages that can swing the battle in your favour. Each colored gem you clear contributes to your resources, functioning like mana, which lets you perform class-specific abilities. Some abilities deal direct damage, while others can alter the board to set up bigger combos or defensive plays. In addition to colored gems, there are skulls on the board that you can match to deal direct attacks to your opponent. The game’s unique genre-crossing mechanics between gem-matching, resource management, and tactical abilities are what give Puzzle Quest its unique puzzle-RPG identity. Once you defeat an enemy, you return to the overworld to continue the grind: picking up or repeating quests, and facing random encounters along the way. Your character can level up, distribute skill points, and unlock new abilities as you progress. The system feels fresh and novel when you first play, but over time, you may start to question if the odds are stacked against you…

And this is where Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition’s issues start to rear their head like a fire-breathing dragon. The game can be downright frustrating. There are multiple moments when the game feels actively stacked against you. It’s not just about difficulty, as it’s understandable that the AI naturally takes the most effective actions, but it’s the way new gems cascade from the top that often benefits your opponent far more than you. At first, I thought, “maybe it’s just a skill issue,” but after revisiting the game multiple times over the past week, the pattern is clear: you play the hand you’re dealt, your opponent does something similar, and suddenly a stream of combos and attacks rains down in their favour. The enemy can cast and act without ending their turn, whereas casting for yourself ends yours. Even now, mid-review, I played a round to check my perspective, and despite having a 40 HP lead on a bridge troll, repeated combos and regeneration moves mercilessly wiped me out. It’s a system that can feel exhilarating one moment and absolutely exhausting the next.

Frustrations aside, there’s plenty of game here. Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition comes with all the added expansions in the form of Revenge of the Plague Lord and The Legend Returns / Attack of the Golem Lord, which offer 50+ hours of gameplay for those willing to dive into its quests and side content. It can sometimes feel a bit of a grind, especially if you’re aiming for full completion, but for puzzle game enthusiasts, there’s more than enough to keep you engaged. The mix of main quests, repeatable encounters, and random board challenges ensures that no two play sessions feel exactly the same.

Visually, Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition looks sharp. The characters and interface have been sharpened and redrawn for HD in the remaster, giving the game a crisp and bright appearance. It is not a visual powerhouse, simply upgrading what existed before with serviceable spell effects and minimal animation. It is a product of its time, and while the HD glow-up is appreciated, I would have loved to see additional spell effects and an overworld visual overhaul. That said, the UI is tidy and easy to navigate, the world still looks good, and the gems and playing field are bright and colourful. It is not a visual feast when it comes to the graphics engine, but it does the job and performs well in both docked and handheld modes, although I would be surprised if it did not. Fans of the original will find the game true to form, while newcomers might be a little underwhelmed.

For Puzzlers looking into accessibility, there are options for text and battle speed, as well as settings to change how frequently gems shine to provide hints. These adjustments can help with the visual aspect of the game. The game also supports touchscreen mode, which works very well and allows you to simply swipe gems into position or tap if you prefer. As always, I recommend doing further research to ensure Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition suits your needs. At just under $23 AUD, there is plenty of gameplay for fans of match-3 games with an added RPG twist. Whether you get the full 50-hour experience will depend on how you feel about the grind.

Ultimately, Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition has been a tough title to review. Admittedly, it is not the game for me, as I often found myself frustrated and needing to put it down due to what felt like the deck being stacked against me. At times, it did not feel fun; it felt unfair. That said, objectively, there is a lot to enjoy for fans of the series who know what to expect. The game delivers extensive content at a reasonable price point and stays true to the form of the title that first launched almost 20 years ago. For better or for worse..

So, What’s It Like? Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition is like Puzzle Quest with a HD lick of paint.

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