Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition is not only a mouthful to say out loud in a single sentence, but also a robust and rewarding playthrough. A Bioware and Obsidian game initially released in 2006, there is a good chance many have played this game. For fans who came later, however, and may be riding the high of a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 or modern isometric RPGs like Pillars of Eternity, this is a fun chance to look through a window to the past. Do the enhancements make this smooth enough to enjoy in 2025? Here’s our review of Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition. 

The joy of Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition for me is that I’ve never played this game before. I was much more of a Baldur’s Gate 1+2 and Dark Alliance fan back in the day. That said, I read up on many of the gripes fans had at the time to gain an understanding of what many are likely hoping is addressed in this re-release from superstar Aspyr. What I can tell you is that not only did many believe Neverwinter Nights 2 lacked its predecessor’s dynamic story, but that its interface and camera were hard to manage and didn’t hit that 2006-next-gen level many hoped it would.

With my expectations set accordingly, I can say I honestly didn’t have as much trouble jumping into this game, dated elements aside. Despite Aspyr marketing the game around things like an enhanced UI, better graphics, and an improved camera, all of these things feel a tad underwhelming. Camera controls took first place in complaints about the game upon its initial release, and while it’s not impossible to navigate, it is rougher than I’d hope for a remastered version. That said, while this isn’t going to be the most gorgeous game you play on your Switch, I think there’s plenty here to still enjoy.

Firstly, if you haven’t played any of the Neverwinter Nights games like me, these are brand new Forgotten Realms stories. Having burned through a ton of Forgotten Realms novels following my completion of Baldur’s Gate 3, I was happy to be back in this world again. I don’t think the story is top-tier, but I had fun being thrown right into the heart of this adventure. For a lot of players like me who are experiencing this for the first time, I think the story is immersive enough to keep you interested, but it certainly doesn’t compare to the original Baldur’s Gate games that came before it.

In terms of gameplay, Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition runs off of D&D 3.5 rules, which is a bit different than Baldur’s Gate 3 if that’s your main point of comparison. There’s a lot more math and calculations that go into 3.5 rules, including the use of skill points carefully being placed to ensure your character is shaping up the way you’d like. Sometimes, I’m a fan of complexity for the sake of deeper integration into how my character grows and adapts. This is not the case here, but I don’t blame the game or Aspyr for outdated D&D rules I have no nostalgia for. It was easy enough catching on to the differences.

For players with a history with this game, I can imagine you’re running into two things. Firstly, nostalgia glasses are wild, and this might look a lot worse than you remember, even with the enhancements. Secondly, it might be fun revisiting this game, given how widespread mods were for the game, allowing players to run their own D&D campaigns in the game’s engine. Given that the original game’s servers shut down in 2012, it would be fun to see this spark another resurgence for this retro experience to play host to tabletop game nights with friends from all over the world.

I didn’t lose myself in this game, but I wouldn’t say that it isn’t good either. This is a perfectly servicable way to pass the time if you’re itching for an isometric experience. I have my fingers crossed we see a Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Baldur’s Gate 3 one day, so for now, this was a decent way to kill time until that announcement happens, even if only in my dreams. The game is available for $29.99 USD in the Nintendo eShop, and on other consoles and PC as well.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition was provided by Aspyr for this review.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition

29.99

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Good bit of nostalgia in the video game D&D universe
• Playable in 2025 without feeling completely frustrated
• Great Forgotten Realms lore to explore again or for the first time

Cons

• Even with updates, this game shows its age and then some
• UI and camera controls are a tad rough
• Story beats are passable, but far from memorable