SOMA Nintendo Switch 1 Mini Review & Gameplay Impressions

July 22, 2025July 22, 2025 Handheld Players 0 Comments

Game Title: SOMA
Released: July 24, 2025
Price: $29.99 / €28.99
File Size: 16 GB
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Abylight
Platform: Nintendo Switch 1
Version: 1.1.0, played in Docked mode

When Abylight Games announced they were bringing SOMA to Nintendo Switch, I was genuinely excited. As a psychological horror gem from the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, it’s built a strong reputation. Naturally, I was curious to see how well Abylight would capture the eerie, immersive experience on the Switch – and in this mini review, I’ll share my thoughts.

📝 Mini Review

SOMA takes place in the haunting depths of the PATHOS-II facility, where machines chillingly believe they’re human. The environment oozes psychological dread—danger feels ever-present, and the oppressive atmosphere never lets you feel truly safe. As you search for a way to escape this waking nightmare, you’ll uncover locked terminals, cryptic documents, and come face-to-face with corrupted humans, deranged robots, and twisted creatures eager to end your journey.

From the opening moments, the game’s atmosphere grips you, plunging you into one of the more compelling horror narratives out there. The Nintendo Switch version targets 30 fps and generally performs well, though occasional frame rate dips and slightly jittery camera movement in handheld mode can interrupt the flow. That said, these issues don’t seriously impact gameplay. Abylight has stated post-launch patches will be released to address bugs and improve performance.

Based on the early game experience, I’d absolutely recommend SOMA to horror fans looking for something fresh on the Switch. The eerie mood and unrelenting tension are expertly crafted, keeping you constantly on edge. Early on, the ability to interact with nearly every object might feel distracting, especially since most aren’t useful right away. But as the game progresses, it becomes clear that nearly anything can be used to distract enemies or as makeshift weapons—adding depth to the gameplay.

A patch for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is also on the horizon, promising improved performance. We’ll be checking it out once it drops.

✅ Pros

Atmospheric Storytelling: The game nails psychological horror, pulling players into a tense, eerie narrative that keeps you on edge from start to finish.
Immersive World Design: PATHOS-II is richly detailed and disturbing, with interactive environments that enhance exploration and puzzle-solving.
Unique Gameplay Mechanics: The ability to interact with nearly all objects adds a layer of creativity when distracting enemies or finding improvised solutions.

⚠️ Cons

Performance Hiccups: Frame rate drops and jittery camera movement, especially in handheld mode, can slightly impact the smoothness of gameplay.
Opaque Object Use Early On: At the beginning, the sheer number of interactable objects feels overwhelming and misleading until their utility becomes clear later.

🔚 Final Verdict: 8/10 – Good

SOMA delivers a chilling psychological horror experience with an atmosphere that keeps you constantly on edge. Performance on Nintendo Switch 1 holds up well for the most part, though occasional frame rate drops and jittery camera movements in handheld mode can be a bit distracting. Thankfully, Abylight has committed to post-launch patches for Switch 1 and further optimizations for Switch 2, which could smooth out the technical bumps. Overall, it’s a solid entry for horror fans craving something unsettling and immersive on the go.

📽️ Gameplay Video

In our gameplay video, we showcase the early stages of SOMA running on Nintendo Switch 1, giving you a firsthand glimpse of the game’s tense and chilling atmosphere.

>> BUY NINTENDO ESHOP CARDS AT PLAYASIA <<