Hey everyone, and welcome back to “Cup of Coffee or Game,” the segment where I sift through the Nintendo eShop to find out if those heavily discounted games are a tasty treat or a bitter brew. This week, we’re looking at a big-name RPG that’s currently on sale for a mere $9.99: The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment.

As a fan of classic Fallout games, I was incredibly excited to finally dive into this sci-fi adventure on my Switch. But how does this massive, modern RPG hold up on Nintendo’s hybrid console? Let’s find out.

A Stellar RPG, at its Core

First, let’s talk about what makes The Outer Worlds great, and the good news is that all of it is perfectly preserved in this Switch port.

You play as a colonist awoken from cryo-sleep decades late, thrust into a corporate-dominated star system called Halcyon. The story, characters, and world-building are top-tier. The writing is consistently excellent, packed with the kind of dark humor and sharp social commentary you’d expect from the creators of Fallout: New Vegas . The companions you recruit are multi-dimensional and endearing, and their personal quests are some of the most memorable parts of the game .

The game is a first-person shooter-RPG hybrid, and it offers an incredible amount of freedom. You can build your character as a smooth-talking diplomat, a stealthy hacker, a heavy-gunned mercenary, or anything in between . The “Tactical Time Dilation” mechanic lets you slow time to target specific enemy body parts, which never gets old . Best of all, your choices genuinely matter, leading to different outcomes and multiple endings . This is a deep, satisfying role-playing experience through and through.

The Big Compromise: Performance and Visuals

Here’s the part where we have to be real. To get a game of this scale running on the Switch, significant compromises were made. This is not the prettiest way to play The Outer Worlds.

• A Fuzzy, Barren World: The most immediate issue is the low visual fidelity. Textures are often muddy and blurry, environmental details are significantly reduced, and the game can look like a “watercolour-like image” . Objects and enemies can “pop-in” just a few feet in front of you, which can be disorienting and break immersion .
• Performance Hiccups: The game targets 30 frames per second but frequently dips below that, with heavier stuttering during frenetic combat or when moving quickly through areas . Loading times are also “massively long,” sometimes lasting up to a minute when transitioning between areas .
• Handheld vs. Docked: While the experience is better in docked mode, the issues are “exacerbated a great deal” in handheld play . The 720p resolution can make everything look out of focus, making it difficult to spot enemies in the distance .

Gameplay Adjustments and Controls

So, how do these technical issues actually affect gameplay? Quite a bit, depending on your preferred playstyle.

The fuzzy visuals make it tough to be a long-range sniper, as enemies blend into the environment . I found myself shifting to a close-range, stealth-oriented character to compensate. Fortunately, the Switch version includes some helpful features like gyro motion controls for fine-tuning your aim and a strong aim-assist option, which help make combat serviceable . Just don’t expect the “hectic and fast-paced fluidity” of the other versions .

The $7.49 Verdict: Cup of Coffee or Game?

So, is this portable trip to Halcyon worth ditching your Starbucks for?

This is an easy YES, but with a major caveat.

For $7.49, you are getting one of the best-written RPGs of the last several years, fully intact and playable on the go. If the Switch is your only platform, or if the sheer novelty of having a sprawling sci-fi epic in your backpack outweighs the visual and performance issues for you, then this is an absolute steal .

You should buy this game if:

• Your priority is a fantastic story and deep RPG mechanics over graphics.
• You love games with meaningful choices and great companions.
• You primarily game in handheld mode and are tolerant of technical flaws.
• You don’t have another way to play The Outer Worlds.

You should skip this game if:

• You are a stickler for high frame rates and sharp visuals.
• You want to play a run-and-gun action hero.
• You have the option to play it on a PC, PS4, or Xbox One.

The Bottom Line: The Outer Worlds on Switch is a bit of a miracle and a mess all at once. It’s a five-star game wrapped in a two-star port. However, at this price, the incredible core experience shines bright enough to make its technical shortcomings easier to swallow. For the cost of a fancy coffee, you’re buying dozens of hours of brilliant, choice-driven adventure. Just be prepared for a slightly bumpy ride.

Have you taken the plunge on The Outer Worlds for Switch? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments on nineinchsandwich.com