Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

Friday the 13th: The Game - Ultimate Slasher Edition serves up a bloody feast that’s a treat for schlock horror fans who want an authentic Jason experience while taking that tricky asymmetrical multiplayer template and making it truly enjoyable. With a ton of extra skins, weapons, signature kills and more this complete edition couldn’t be any more stacked with DLC. Sure, it’s still a little janky, but with servers that are seemingly holding and two years of refinements straight out of the box, this multiplayer gem still knows how to make an entrance on Switch. Mrs Voorhees will be pleased.

With the recent discourse about violence in video games, the launch of Friday the 13th: The Game comes at an inopportune time. It certainly earns its mature rating, with a level of gore and violence that would make most people sick to their stomach, but for fans of the horror genre, this is their bread and butter. The experience of being Jason Vorhees is captured perfectly, and all of the feelings of panic and dread are still felt even after hours of playing. If you enjoy being scared out of your pants on a consistent basis, be prepared to scream.

While Friday The 13th suffers from some overbearing technical issues, it’s simply a blast to play. Despite the graphical downgrade, you’re still going to have a blast with the Nintendo Switch version. Just prepare for a glitchy, thrilling, disaster of a good time.

Friday The 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Edition for the Nintendo Switch is the online experience the platform has desperately needed. It’s engaging, it’s addicting, it’s everchanging and it is unlike anything else on the system. Overcoming the odds and escaping Jason is a thrilling chase that will get your adrenaline racing. You never know what is going to happen in Friday The 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Edition and that is what makes it so appealing. No two games are identical. It’s a killer game and, if given the chance, one that will slay your free time.

The Ultimate Slasher Edition on Switch might not be the prettiest version of the game, and there are a couple hiccups along the way, but the core experience is still an undeniably fun one. [Issue #46 – May/June 2020, p. 67]

Friday the 13th: Ultimate Slasher Edition is not perfect by any means, but it is a perfect representation of the movie series as a whole. By providing players thrills and tense moments any Nintendo Switch owning horror fan should enjoy it, even with some of its deficiencies. The additional DLC extras, offline mode and various goodies all add to the package, and developer Black Tower Studios’s effort is one that would make even Mrs. Voorhees proud.

It’s a rare thing when a licensed game can give me a greater appreciation for its source material, but Friday the 13th: The Game is a rare exception. After gaming sessions, I would often find myself switching over to the Hulu app to reacquaint myself with the films. It’s a testament to the love and passion developers Illfonic and Black Tower Studios have for the brand. There is an undeniable sense of satisfaction stepping into the shoes of Jason Vorhees, and playing as his would-be victims is also a hoot. Players looking for a substantial single-player experience will find themselves wanting, but for everyone else, Friday the 13th: The Game is a solid “B.” Given the franchise’s roots, that letter grade seems only appropriate.

Friday the 13th: Ultimate Slasher Edition represents the culmination of the last two years of development for the iconic masked murderer and his dippy camp counselor victims. As a result, we find a well-balanced and fun asymmetric 7v1 slasher that we can take on the go. The only thing letting this ultimate edition down is the underpowered hardware of the Nintendo Switch. Come for the pure fan-service cat-and-mouse gameplay, but know that it’ll be better on every other platform.

Simply put this is a valuable collector's item not just for horror fans but for anyone fond of the '80s to share with future generations for years to come or just to fire up whenever you need to visit that hockey mask-wearing terror.

If you're looking for an enjoyable online multiplayer game for Switch then you could do a lot worse than Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Edition. As long as you don't take the over-the-top violence too seriously, it can be a very fun game.