Nintendo Switch 2 Critic Reviews

RuneScape Dragonwilds takes everything I love about Jagex's world and progression and turns it into a wonderfully rewarding experience. Its exploration, crafting, combat, and base-building make even the smallest tasks feel meaningful. Dragonwilds is an easy game to lose yourself in.

On paper, there are elements that should take a bit away from the experience, but in practice, I spent nights staying up until 2 am, just glued to my screen, trying to get some material for a Masterwork Shield or maximising my crops and compost. I haven’t felt this sort of draw since when I first played World of Warcraft, calculating how much game time I could squeeze in and still get decent sleep before starting work the next day. Sure, the visuals on Switch 2 will be the biggest hurdle for most gamers, but for those who think beauty is only skin deep, there’s a massive survival RPG that might not do a lot of things new, but it does them all well.

Being able to attract and expand a player base through its story in a completely different type of game is a great achievement, and the creators of the RuneScape franchise should be pleased, as they have managed to maintain their usual level of quality. While the difficulty may cause some frustration for players, this is the kind of game that can steal hours of our lives without us even noticing.

In melding the mechanics of popular survival games with classic RPG elements from the MMO that inspired it, RuneScape: Dragonwilds crafts a solid experience that honours the spirit of its namesake. It is vast, mechanically rich, and often unforgiving, to an extent that might ward off more casual players. But just like the intimidating dragons you’re pitted against, it’s a challenge that can be conquered provided you’re willing to slow down, spend the requisite time learning its ins and outs, and slowly build your arsenal. Or you can just spend all your time building a nice, cosy shack in the starting area — your choice. If you’ve got a few hundred hours to kill, Dragonwilds is a good candidate for your next virtual home-away-from-home. Let’s just hope Jagex makes good on those promises of graphical improvements on Switch 2 sooner rather than later.