Here's how every SMT game runs on Switch 2 – Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, SMT III Nocturne HD, SMT5, & More

This week's Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 backward compatibility feature covers the Shin Megami Tensei series from Atlus and Sega. After tackling Persona last week, I've been working on testing every SMT game on Nintendo Switch 2. This SMT series feature follows the other recent articles I've done going over the Ys, Fire Emblem, Tales of, Monster Hunter, Dragon Quest, Xenoblade, and SaGa games tested on Nintendo Switch 2. As with my earlier features going over different franchises, I will be comparing load times, performance, and more when testing on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.

With Shin Megami Tensei, the Switch was home to an exclusive new entry back in 2021, an enhanced re-release last year, a remaster, and also Nintendo Switch Online versions of the Super Famicom games in Japan. The games covered today are Shin Megami Tensei V, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster, Shin Megami Tensei if..., Shin Megami Tensei, and Shin Megami Tensei II. The last three are via the Nintendo Switch Online app in Japan. I will not be covering the G-Mode releases like Shin Megami Tensei 20XX and Tokyo Requiem here. If you're curious about Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army or Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, I have covered them in my handheld comparison and Fire Emblem series backward compatibility feature.

For the load time testing today, as with prior features I've done, I've used the digital version of each game installed to the Nintendo Switch 2 internal memory and the SD card on Nintendo Switch OLED. I've also made sure to mash A to speed up any loading and avoid the publisher and developer logos if possible. 

How does Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, the enhanced and definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V, ran similar to the original on Nintendo Switch 1. There were some minor differences in post-processing with new options like an anti-aliasing toggle even on Switch 1 in addition to FOV changes in this new version. Performance for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance was still not great on Nintendo Switch. It was a comparable experience, but slightly improved over the base Shin Megami Tensei V on Switch 1. 

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance played on Nintendo Switch 2 benefits from much faster load times and more stability for its resolution and performance. While this may not seem like a massive improvement, it is a welcome one with less hitching during exploration, cut-scenes, and even when scrolling the menus. If you had a Switch 1 playthrough on hold, I recommend getting back to Vengeance on Switch 2. The aesthetic also holds up well handheld. For TV play, I recommend Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on another platform if you have that option though.

Note: All load times above are in seconds.

What we want from a Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the game I want a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade more than any of the others I've written about here. Having launched a year prior to the Nintendo Switch 2, I'm sure there are loads of Switch and Switch 2 owners who would not mind buying an upgrade pack or a potential free patch that delivers 1080p and 60fps handheld or at least offers a 60fps mode with improved visuals. Given how well Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance runs and looks on Steam Deck where I played it the most last year, I have high hopes for a Switch 2 version if one does release.

There is a lot of room for improvement with shadow quality, draw distance, animation culling, and even textures given how incredible Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance can look on PS5 and Xbox Series X for TV play and on Steam Deck for handheld play right now.

How does Shin Megami Tensei V run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Shin Megami Tensei V on Nintendo Switch, despite being a fantastic RPG that I put tons of time into across multiple playthroughs, had many technical issues. It ran at a dynamic resolution that rarely resulted in a native-looking image with a frame rate that always felt a bit below 30fps. It generally felt less responsive across the board including in menus. On Nintendo Switch 2, the improvements are similar to those in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance with the resolution and frame rate seemingly holding those dynamic resolution upper limit with a more-stable performance even in areas where it dropped considerably on the original Switch like the Fairy Village. The draw distance is sadly still abysmal. 

Note: All load times above are in seconds.

What we want from a Shin Megami Tensei V Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade

I don't recommend playing Shin Megami Tensei V's base release when Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance exists. The latter was a huge improvement in just about every way and remains the best way to experience Shin Megami Tensei V. With Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance now available on all platofrms, there's no real need for Shin Megami Tensei V to get patched for Switch 2. Any potential improvements and upgrades should be saved for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V.

How does Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster was not a great release on a technical level when it arrived in the West on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. It had compressed audio issues, some performance issues despite only targeting 30fps, and slowdown in parts on Nintendo Switch during some animations. On Nintendo Switch 2, the load times are improved and the slowdown is less of a problem during said animations. I haven't tested every single instance where I ran into animation slowdown issues during my original playthrough, but it does seem to be less of an issue here in the early hours I replayed especially during enemy battle transitions. 

Note: All load times above are in seconds.

What we want from a Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade

If Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster gets a potential Switch 2 patch or upgrade, I have a lot I'd like fixed. While the frame rate likely won't change from a 30fps target given the game also targets 30fps on PC and PS4, I would love for the audio quality to get fixed for music, a higher resolution across the board, and better post-processing so it looks less jagged on Switch. Having 1080p handheld and 1440p or 4K docked would also be a welcome improvement over how Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster looks right now on Switch 2. 

How do Shin Megami Tensei, SMT2, and SMT if... run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Shin Megami Tensei, SMT2, and SMT if... are available on the Super Famicom Nintendo Switch Online app in Japan. As such there are no real performance issues or things to note here with the emulation. The games run as they should on Switch and look great even on Switch 2. The app loads up a bit quicker as well. I want to note that I ended up enjoying my time with Shin Megami Tensei 1 handheld on Switch 2 using the updated CRT filter. If you haven't used the SNES or Super Famicom apps in a while, the new update warrants trying them again. 

Note: All load times above are in seconds.

What we want from a Shin Megami Tensei, SMT2, and SMT if... Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade

What I want applies to the app in general and not just the Shin Megami Tensei games. I would love for the Super Famicom app to add the ability to turn off the borders. It was recently updated for Nintendo Switch 2 already, but being able to turn off the borders would fix my remaining issue with the Super Famicom and SNES apps. As for the games, the most important thing is for Atlus and Sega to localize these in some form. Shin Megami Tensei already has a localization in a now-delisted iOS version. I hope these three games get re-released with English support in a classics collection or some other form.

As usual, if any of these games get patched or paid upgrades, I'll update this feature with more impressions. I will also add any potential future Shin Megami Tensei games that release on the Switch family of systems.