Valheim, the Viking-themed open-world survival and sandbox game, is officially headed to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, bringing its signature survival gameplay to Nintendo’s next-generation handheld-hybrid platform. The announcement was part of the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, where the title was revealed alongside both new and classic games slated for the platform this year.
Developed by Swedish indie studio Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Publishing, Valheim first launched on PC via Steam Early Access in February 2021 and later expanded to Xbox consoles. The game quickly won over players with its atmospheric Norse-inspired world, deep crafting systems, cooperative survival, and procedurally generated environments.
A Viking Adventure for Switch 2 Players
On Switch 2, Valheim is expected to support features tailored for the platform, including touch screen menus, HD Rumble 2 support, and gyroscope aiming, as well as full online co-op for up to 10 players — just like on other platforms.
Players will again be tasked with surviving the mystical “tenth realm,” gathering resources, building shelters and Viking halls, battling dangerous foes, and exploring diverse biomes ranging from lush meadows to mist-shrouded forests and lava-scorched ashlands.
Why Valheim Became a Phenomenon
Since its initial release, Valheim has become one of the most talked-about indie games of the last decade. The title has sold over 12 million copies worldwide across platforms, thriving on both its sandbox freedom and cooperative gameplay.
Upon launch, the game achieved remarkable engagement: it sold over a million copies in its first week on Steam and amassed hundreds of thousands of concurrent players, rapidly climbing Steam’s popularity charts.
Critically, Valheim also earned widespread acclaim — boasting a “Very Positive” rating on Steam with hundreds of thousands of player reviews — and has remained a favorite among survival game fans due to its mix of exploration, crafting depth, and community-driven creativity.
Continued Growth & Platform Expansion
The Switch 2 version follows Valheim’s move to consoles like Xbox and the planned PlayStation 5 release also scheduled for 2026, underscoring the game’s growing presence across gaming ecosystems.
With Valheim’s inclusion in the Switch 2 lineup, Nintendo players will soon be able to explore its rugged Viking world on the go or docked at home — a major milestone for one of the survival genre’s standout breakout titles of the past few years.
