The Eternal Collection's resolution, on the other hand, is a bit more muddled.

The framerate is equally stable in handheld mode, and crunching those mobs is just as satisfying as it's ever been. Even during high-level challenge rifts, with hundreds of demons covering the screen, the dungeon crawler maintained a smooth and steady pace. When it comes to visual fidelity, Blizzard ensured that Diablo 3 on Switch runs at 60 frames across the board-aside from rare occasions when elemental effects didn't animate, the Eternal Collection is remarkably clean. To paraphrase the designer Don Norman: good design is invisible. It's just as easy to rely on muscle memory while you focus on the kaleidoscopic display of magic and fire. As was the case with Diablo 3's previous jump to PS4 and Xbox One, the mechanical leap to Switch is painless and fluid. Movement still feels natural on the analog sticks-whether you're playing with the Joy-Cons or Pro controller-and custom controls make it easy to maximize your character build at any time. It's another testament to the novelty of Nintendo's console, yes, but also the elegance of Diablo 3's design.

Of the 50 hours I spent with Diablo 3 on Switch, about half of them played out in handheld mode.

I completed bounties on my way to work and organized my inventory on the way back. So much of Diablo 3 plays best in short bursts, from the 10-minute chase for that next legendary item, to the satisfying flow of a challenge rift. In fact, I can think of few games better suited for a handheld port.

Diablo 3 nintendo switch console