Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Holds No. 1 on Switch 2 eShop After Strong Launch

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition had an unusually strong start on Nintendo Switch 2. It reached No. 1 on the eShop chart before its August 28, 2026 release, when preloads began, and remained No. 1 in the chart dated August 30 after launch. The available rankings demonstrate commercial momentum, but they do not include sales totals or establish how many copies were sold. 1112

Switch 2 eShop charts: No. 1 before and after launch

The August 23 chart already placed Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition at the top, despite the game not yet being available to play. The rest of that week’s top five were:

1. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
2. Splatoon Raiders
3. Mario Kart World
4. Pokémon Pokopia
5. Madden NFL 27 11

The game held the top spot in the August 30 launch-week chart. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 followed at No. 2, with Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077, and Pokémon Pokopia completing the top five. 12

That two-week result is the clearest early signal available: the Switch 2 version attracted enough pre-release and launch-week demand to lead the chart through its debut. However, chart position alone should not be treated as a unit-sales figure or a complete measure of profitability.

What the $79.99 Tarnished Edition includes

The Switch 2 release is designed as a complete package rather than a small content upgrade. Its $79.99 price includes:

• The original Elden Ring game
• The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
• Two new starting classes: Heavy Knight and Idus Knight
• Four new armor sets
• Three Torrent appearance customisations
• Additional new weapons and related content 361921

The edition launched exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28. 310

Tarnished Edition vs. Tarnished Pack

Existing players on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC do not need to purchase the Switch 2 bundle to access the new additions. Bandai Namco is selling those additions separately as the Tarnished Pack. 2125

The Pack contains the new classes, armor sets, Torrent skins, and other new content, but it does not include the base game or Shadow of the Erdtree. Those are already-owned products for the target audience. 2144

The Pack is listed at €4.99 in Europe, while exact pricing can vary by region and storefront. 44 In practical terms, new Switch 2 players are paying for the full game-and-expansion package, whereas existing players elsewhere can buy only the new content.

Early reviews: a strong handheld port with compromises

Nintendo Life awarded Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition 9/10, calling it a “tremendous achievement” and one of the finest games in the Switch 2 library. Its review said the port runs well in both docked and handheld modes, with a 30fps target that is generally maintained and only occasional minor drops in demanding situations. 3132

Other early reviews were also positive about playing on the go. TechRadar described handheld performance as slick, while noting occasional pop-in and stuttery enemy animations. 30 RPGFan likewise reported a much better result than early previews suggested, but pointed to visual compromises and occasional stutter, particularly during demanding scenes. 29

The overall verdict is therefore favorable but not identical across reviews: Switch 2 delivers a convincing portable version, though it is not evidence of visual or performance parity with every console and PC version. More specific technical claims should be treated carefully because reviewers reported different levels of detail and measurement.

Nintendo and Bandai Namco’s advice for newcomers

The official guidance for new players is to treat exploration as part of the solution to Elden Ring’s difficulty. Nintendo emphasizes learning the terrain, discovering secrets, and using knowledge of the world to approach enemies and bosses more effectively. 1415

Bandai Namco’s gameplay guidance similarly encourages experimentation. Players can change weapons, spells, and skills, use stealth or direct combat, summon allies, and adapt their approach when a fight is not working. 26

For players pursuing the standard Elden Lord objective, the central direction is to explore the Lands Between, improve the Tarnished, overcome its major challenges, and continue toward becoming Elden Lord. The guidance presents that goal as a gradual process of learning the world and finding a combat style that fits, rather than a requirement to defeat every obstacle through repeated attempts with the same strategy. 1415