Nidhogg has a very basic premise: make your way from one side of the screen to the other while avoiding your opponent that is trying to do the same. And while that may sound like it could get quite boring or too simplistic, you’d be underplaying the surprising depth that Messhof Games have packed into the game.

Building on from that basic game loop found in the original Nidhogg, Nidhogg 2 throws some new mechanics into the mix to make each engagement with your opponent a snappy and tactical affair. No longer are you restricted to just using a rapier or your bare hands to skewer or beat your opponent with. You’ll now find a longsword, dagger, and bow to fight with as well. Each of these weapons handles very differently to the standard thrusts and height selections that the rapier brings.



The introduction of the ranged bow makes for an interesting dynamic whenever someone has spawned with one as you begin dodging the rapid fire of arrows, parrying as you can to disrupt the incoming flow and maybe score your own lucky hit as the missile returns to sender. So too does the short range of the dagger change things into a more parry-focused experience as you make last second moves to disarm and close the distance for the kill. The longsword, which I found myself favouring, has the best melee range but has no middle height resting position and, as such, takes some good distancing and timing to make use of effectively. With all these in place, the good old rapier still has its place as the complete death zone around the blade and ability to more easily deflect ranged attacks means it's the preferred weapon of choice.

The longsword, which I found myself favouring, has the best melee range but has no middle height resting position and, as such, takes some good distancing and timing to make use of effectively.

Lastly, if you find yourself disarmed (sometimes deliberately due to chucking your weapon at your opponent), you can still put up a decent fight with some crazy fighter being able to time-parry even blade attacks.

You will quickly find your preferred weapon and the style that must be used while wielding it, though becoming versed in all of them will only be to your benefit as you will spawn with a randomly selected one each time you are offed by your opponent or falling through a gap on a level (why cloud level? why?). These simple additions change up the established method of picking which height you are attacking at and adds more complexity when trying to parry or counter a particular poorly matched weapon to your opponents’.



Let us not forget the amazing graphical update that Nidhogg 2 went through after the simple, pixellated stylings of the original. You’ll now find customizable characters that bleed in more colours than just yellow and orange and have some actual clothing options. These options are unlocked within a little while of play and add some individuality to everyone’s fighter. The overall stages are also much more involved in their look, with more detail oozing out of the backdrops and sometimes foreground too. These changes into silhouettes or fighting through sewers - or even the inside of a fallen Wurm - make for a game full of character, as quirky as that character may be.

The basics of selecting your height of attack, jump, and attack buttons lends itself to the simple layout of the joycon.

What makes this release of Nidhogg 2 stand out in comparison to previous ones is the added mobility that the Switch brings to playing the game anywhere and with whichever friend feels like joining in on the mayhem. In this way, the Switch is a great pairing to the game as just with the joy cons and propping the console up, you can get the full experience in next to no time. The basics of selecting your height of attack, jump, and attack buttons lends itself to the simple layout of the joycon. And while there can, at times, be a lot going on for the smaller screen to make out clearly, it’s never too much so as to prevent you from having a good time.

If all of the above has piqued your interest and you are a fighting game fan you’ll definitely enjoy Nidhogg 2 and get the most out of it. Even for players just looking for a game that can be used as a basic party game to have on in the background at a small gathering, the simple to learn/hard to master nature will make for a good fit. However, if you’re looking for something to play on your own without an Nintendo club subscription, you may find yourself wanting a bit more.



The single-player experience really only consists of an arcade mode gauntlet through the various levels, trying to finish all the levels in the quickest time possible. While this can entertain for a few playthroughs, the basic AI becomes quite readable and provides not nearly the same challenge as a real-life opponent would.

All in all, Nidhogg 2 comes highly suggested, especially at the price point on the Switch which feels like a perfect match for the game. Just make sure you’ve either got friends who will be willing to join in on the action or have a Nintendo club subscription to find opponents out in the wild to keep things interesting - and lasting more than a few playthroughs of the arcade mode.