Guilty Gear Strive Switch Edition Review – The Perfect Meyhem To Go

Since its reveal in 2021, Guilty Gear Strive has proven to be the “Guilty Gear for everyone.” At its core, it’s a rockin’ fighting game developed by the same company behind Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker for Sega. Now, the story of the Gears, the Crusades, and the return of magic to the world can be experienced in its entirety like never before. Not to mention, it’s one of the more mechanic-heavy titles in the genre. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch, Guilty Gear Strive can now reach a larger audience—especially for those who want to play on the go.

Game Name: Guilty Gear Strive Switch Edition
Platform(s):  Nintendo Switch
Publisher(s): Ark System Works
Developer(s): Ark System Works
Release Date: January 23, 2025

Visually, Guilty Gear’s latest iteration proves that transitioning from its 2D roots to 2.5D is something Arc System Works can do flawlessly. Xrd revolutionized the series with Unreal Engine 3, and Arc System Works’ ability to create an anime-faithful, competitive fighting game like Dragon Ball FighterZ helped pave the way for Strive. And we’re talking about a franchise that hadn’t seen a strong 2D Dragon Ball fighting game since the SNES-era Hyper Dimension.

Guilty Gear Strive’s futuristic, semi-post-apocalyptic world is back in full force, with an eclectic cast that truly puts the “mixed” in MMA tournaments—guns, swords, and bare-knuckle brawling (even from robots) are all here.

The Band’s All Here

Guilty Gear Strive boasts a full roster of 28 characters, with Queen Dizzy ready and waiting. There’s no need for DLC—aside from upcoming additions like Venom, Elphelt, and Cyberpunk Edgerunners’ Lucy. Every character available so far is unlocked from the start, with no paywalls, replay requirements, or special conditions to worry about.

Each fighter integrates seamlessly into the game’s robust mechanics. For instance, I’ve always considered Chipp one of my go-to characters, but Baiken’s slower, heavy-hitting style intrigued me enough to make her my main. Yes, I’m talking about her one-handed katana fighting style. Meanwhile, the Yasuke-inspired vampire, Nagoriyuki, caught my attention with his unique stance mechanic, which transforms his bloodlust into raw power. He’s massive, wears a badass mask, and wields destructive attacks that dominate space during fights.

Every character’s archetype—whether zoning, rushdown, or balanced—is clearly displayed on the character select screen, along with their ease-of-use rating. And let’s be honest, Sol Badguy’s attitude is always a blast.

The action feels smooth in both docked and handheld modes. Even online matches run without lag, with the original framerate holding steady. I can’t recall a single match that didn’t play well on the Switch. It’s great to see Arc System Works bring the series back to a portable format, and the Switch handles it impressively. I’ve often found myself running tutorials during breaks or playing on the train with my split Joy-Cons.

Modes A Plenty

There are still plenty of modes to explore. The fishing mini-game brings back the thrill of unlocking character colors, avatar skins, gallery images, and even classic soundtrack hits from the original Guilty Gear. With the large amount of in-game currency available, unlocking everything could take some time.

The tutorial mode covers a lot of ground, explaining both the game’s mechanics and fighting game fundamentals in detail—from the Tension gauge to how barrier breaks work. And before Dual Rulers launches this April, you can get your anime fix with the five-hour introduction to Happy Chaos and his bid for Tome domination. It’s packed with everything you’d expect from a well-done anime: WTF moments, intense action scenes, and deep character exploration. Lore sections are also available to help you keep up with the story.

The Off-Key Notes of Guilty Gear Strive

While Guilty Gear Strive still hits most of the right notes, a few feel off-key. The biggest issue is the lack of crossplay in the Switch edition, unlike its other versions. Many fighting games have embraced crossplay—going as far back as Capcom vs. SNK 2 on the PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast—but this version of Strive is missing that feature. It could be a technical limitation, especially with the full current DLC roster helping to balance things out.

Another oddity is the chaotic Team of 3 mode, which is supposedly included but difficult to find. On the PlayStation 4 and 5 versions, it’s the second option from the left, yet on Switch, it’s nowhere to be seen. Hopefully, a future update will bring it back.

Some stages also have minor issues with moving background elements, like pedestrians. It’s not game-breaking, but it is noticeable.

Online play can be sparse in certain regions. I had to switch to the Japan region to find matches since I only found one opponent in North America to fight repeatedly. Most lobbies had low player counts, which is surprising for a game that hasn’t even hit the five-year mark.

Conclusion

As I’ve said many times, this era of fighting games belongs to Arc System Works, and Guilty Gear Strive continues to assert its dominance. The Switch edition is a masterclass in porting a current-gen title to a last-gen portable system natively, with only a few compromises. The last thing I expected was to take a modern, robust fighting game like Guilty Gear Strive outside—even to a bar for a drink—but Arc System Works proved me wrong.

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