Granblue Fantasy: Relink Endless Ragnarok is an expansion for the base game that also brings it to a new platform, in this case the Nintendo Switch 2. The game had a long and troubled development, including a change of developers midway through production, but the final result was an exceptional action RPG, as you can read in our review of the base game.
So, what exactly is Endless Ragnarok? It is essentially more content for players who have already finished the base game. The expansion unlocks after completing the main campaign and adds a new difficulty setting, Conflux, a roguelite area where players can earn new rewards by taking on tougher challenges, a new mechanic that lets players summon powerful beasts, and plenty of other tweaks. One notable point is that the Switch 2 version marks the first time the game has been available on a handheld, with the original Switch missing out. That was what made this release especially interesting to experience.
I am happy to report that, visually, the game looks great and holds up well alongside its console counterparts. Compared to PC handhelds, it also scales nicely on baseline systems like the Steam Deck. The main issue here is performance. While it is by no means terrible, the game sadly doesn’t offer a performance mode and currently runs at 30 FPS, which just isn’t ideal for an action RPG. Even so, I found the performance to be serviceable. It takes some time to get used to, but for a handheld-console hybrid, I think the Switch 2 handles it well, especially considering the game’s flashy visual effects and demanding battles.
The biggest performance issue is the inconsistent frame pacing. This is more noticeable in docked mode, where there is no VRR support, but it is much less distracting in handheld mode. I still would have liked to see a 60 FPS performance mode, even if it meant sacrificing some visual quality. That said, considering how demanding some of the battles are, especially in Endless Ragnarok, I can understand why the developers chose to target 30 FPS.
The story of Granblue Fantasy follows Gran and his crew, a group of skyfarers travelling through the Zegagrande Skydom. During their journey, they meet Lyria, who has the power to communicate with beings known as Primals. However, one of these Primals goes berserk and crashes their ship. As they continue their search for Estalucia, the party uncovers a larger conspiracy behind the Primals losing control and eventually faces Lilith, the main antagonist of the base game’s story. The expansion begins after the events of the main game and introduces another world-ending threat that brings the party together once again. While the expansion is fairly light on story content, longtime Granblue fans who have followed the series from its mobile game origins will appreciate the callbacks and lore that expand on the wider world.
When it comes to action RPGs, Granblue Fantasy: Relink easily ranks among the best for its combat system. The expansion builds on that foundation with more than 20 to 30 hours of additional gameplay. The game introduces new playable characters and features a summon system. This system can be utilized only during specific encounters and is primarily designed to offer additional resources for players tackling higher chaos difficulty quests or playing in Conflux mode.
The main issue with the Endless Ragnarok expansion is that it can feel quite grind-heavy. For newcomers, there is very little appeal here, and the story doesn’t get much attention, with the focus instead placed on combat and the Conflux roguelite mode. The narrative is also difficult to follow if you are unfamiliar with the series, as the game drops you into the middle of an ongoing story and expects you to figure out the characters, their motivations, and their roles on your own. It doesn’t do a particularly good job of welcoming new players.
On the positive side, the amount of content included in this expansion is impressive. A new endgame difficulty, systems such as summons, Master Traits, and Resonance, along with new playable characters, are all excellent additions for players who have already finished the base game. If I were judging the expansion on content alone, it easily feels worth the asking price. Despite its weaker narrative, the gameplay improvements and additions are substantial enough to outweigh its shortcomings.
As for the Switch 2 version, the lack of a 60 FPS performance mode is disappointing, but I eventually came to terms with the performance after spending some time with it. At least in handheld mode, the frame pacing issues are less noticeable thanks to VRR support, resulting in a smoother experience. Visually, the game looks excellent, and I honestly didn’t notice any major compromises beyond a slightly lower resolution compared to the other console and PC versions.
Granblue Fantasy Relink Endless Ragnarok Game Information
- Price: $59.99
- Publisher: Cygames
- Developer: Cygames
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
