Storm Lancers | Switch 2 Review

Storm Lancers made its debut in the September 12th Nintendo Direct, and from the moment I saw its vibrant visuals and side-scrolling action, I knew I had to play it. “2D Side-Scrolling Roguelite” is usually enough to grab my attention, but this one stood out immediately with its eye-popping style and fast-paced gameplay. The maps looked fun, the combat looked fluid, and I dropped it straight onto my backlog. That Saturday, with a little extra time on my hands, I decided to give it a try. Within minutes, I was hooked, and within an hour I knew I was playing a potential Game of the Year contender.

A World Worth Saving

You crash-land on a mysterious planet and are revived by spectral, dog-like spirits who grant you the power to return again and again after each death. The narrative is light with the story delivered through gameplay and story notes dropped at the beginning of each run. The premise is simple: you are there to save their world, and your mission unfolds one run at a time.

The story provides enough purpose to frame the action. Each resurrection carries weight because you know it is pushing you closer to uncovering the mystery behind your role. By the time I reached the final boss, I felt invested in what I was fighting for, even though the game kept the storytelling lean and to the point.

Precision on Every Run

The controls in Storm Lancers are crisp, responsive, and immensely satisfying. At first, it felt strange to have the primary attack mapped to the Y button on the Switch 2, but that awkwardness faded within minutes. Unlocking new moves like air glide, slide, and double jump expanded the gameplay into a smooth, precise playground.

The rhythm came from learning enemy tells and anticipating attacks. Levels are laid out consistently, which makes it easy to remember where enemies will appear and plan accordingly. Bosses follow the same philosophy, with patterns that reward patience and timing.

Weapons play a huge role in that rhythm. Each weapon has three attributes: damage, attack speed, and recovery time. Recovery and speed are the most important. Heavy weapons may pack a punch but can leave you wide open. I often found that weaker, faster weapons suited me better than the powerful slow ones. Finding a strong weapon with faster speed was the ideal choice, while ranged weapons with quick recovery became critical in later boss fights.

A Delightful Roguelite With Metroidvania Touches

As a roguelite, the game features the expected early grind. You begin underpowered with limited health and basic weapons, but upgrades come quickly. Within 30 minutes I had earned enough rewards to make the first level beatable, and from there progression felt steady and purposeful. Upgrades include boosts to health, damage resistance, weapon variety, coin earning, and even cosmetic skins. Each upgrade felt impactful, with payoffs noticeable in the very next run.

Metroidvania elements exist but are light. Special moves gained from defeating bosses open some previously unreachable areas. You are free to walk back and forth through the maps of each level, but you cannot return to earlier levels and you do not need to. You also cannot access the portal to the next level without the newly unlocked move. At its core, this is a roguelite through and through.

Most importantly, the challenge is fair. Every defeat felt like my fault, and every victory felt earned. Learning how to evade properly was the key, and once I mastered that, frustration was replaced by excitement. The game constantly encouraged me to say, “just one more run,” whether it was over lunch at work or while relaxing in the evening.

There is also a co-op option, which I was sadly unable to try. If it works as smoothly as the single-player experience, I can only imagine how much fun it would be to tackle these levels with a friend.

A Feast for the Senses

Visually, Storm Lancers is striking. Its use of color and contrast makes every level pop, with backgrounds that flow seamlessly and enemy designs that stand out clearly. The screen is always full of detail but never cluttered, which keeps the action easy to follow even during chaotic fights. One standout stage tasked me with finding and hauling a large battery to power a digging device, a memorable change of pace that highlighted the thoughtful design.

The graphics are a genuine highlight. Their clarity, vibrancy, and polish added to the joy of every run and elevated the entire experience.

The soundtrack is energetic techno-electric goodness. It may not stick in your head long after playing, but it serves its purpose flawlessly. Each level has its own track, and boss battles shift the music to match the intensity. The soundtrack might not steal the spotlight, but it keeps the pace strong and ensures the gameplay flow never falters.

Final Verdict: Storm Lancers

Storm Lancers is pure fun from start to finish. Across seven to eight hours, I was driven by excitement, challenge, and the satisfaction of improving with every run. The visuals dazzled, the controls felt perfect, and the upgrades made progression addictive without becoming a slog.

This is my current Game of the Year. The combination of sharp mechanics, fair difficulty, vibrant presentation, and strong replayability make it a must-play. At a price point that feels almost too good for what you get, Storm Lancers delivers outstanding value.

What impressed me most was how everything came together to create such a smooth and rewarding experience. The graphics kept me smiling, the controls kept me engaged, and the upgrades always gave me something new to look forward to. Most importantly, the game never wasted my time. Every run mattered, every upgrade paid off, and every defeat taught me something that made me want to dive right back in.

This review is based on a purchased copy of Storm Lancers for Nintendo Switch 2. As of this writing, it is exclusive to the platform.