Gems of Glory: Unpacking Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition on Switch

XPN Network
Oct 3
4 min read

Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition brings the iconic match-3 role-playing adventure to Nintendo Switch in its most complete form yet. Crafted by Infinity Plus 2 and released under the 505 Games banner, this edition fuses every quest, character class, and expansion into one cohesive journey. Whether you’re swapping gems to fuel devastating spells or chaining skulls for brutal attacks, the refined interface and modern polish make each encounter feel immediate and engaging.

Infinity Plus 2 is founded by genre innovator Steve Fawkner who has spent nearly two decades perfecting the art of blending puzzle mechanics with RPG progression. Teaming up with 505 Games, the studio has remastered visuals, rebalanced difficulty options, and added robust accessibility features, ensuring that veterans and newcomers alike can dive into Etheria’s sprawling narrative without losing a beat.

Puzzle Quest fuses match-3 with RPG progression in a way few games ever matched. Each gem you swap or skull you unleash carries weight and you’re not just clearing tiles but scripting your hero’s rise or fall. Over two decades after its debut, the core loop still pulses with strategic tension, inviting you to balance risk and reward every turn. Immortal Edition weaves a simple but persistent tale through sprawling quests, from dwarven mines to haunted keeps. Each chapter layers new villains, side quests, and artifacts that shape your journey. Though the story rarely surprises, its episodic structure keeps momentum, with each expansion unlocking fresh lore and maps to explore.

Immortal Edition arrives as a single, seamless download that stitches together the original Puzzle Quest and every expansion released since 2007. You no longer juggle multiple DLC packs or menus as every questline, map, and artifact is unlocked from the moment you boot up, letting you dive straight into the full Etheria saga without extra purchases or installs.

Character sprites and battlefield backgrounds have been reworked in high resolution, lending greater detail to armour engravings, spell animations, and environmental textures. The orchestral score and chiptune melodies have been remastered for richer bass and crisper highs, while sound effects for gem matches and special attacks now hit with more punch, reinforcing that sense of impact with every move.

Menus have been reorganised with clearer typography and redesigned gem icons to remove any visual clutter. You can adjust gem-drop speed mid-battle, toggle colourblind palettes, and enable streamlined tooltips that guide you through spell chains or opponent tendencies. These options ensure the game adapts to your playstyle and visual needs without breaking your flow.

All hallmark features from past expansions now live within the core campaign. Build and upgrade a floating Citadel to gain passive bonuses, hunt and tame monsters for unique combat perks, and unearth hidden runes to craft powerful gear. Mini-games like runecrafting puzzles and siege simulations are woven directly into quest hubs, eliminating the need to switch modules.

For the first time in the series, Immortal Edition introduces an entirely original class with its own talent tree and spell roster. A fresh batch of exclusive missions and challenge maps has been crafted around this hero’s mechanics, giving veterans who’ve mastered every spell a brand-new strategic playground to explore.

Battles now flow faster thanks to accelerated gem-fall animations and an optional “auto-repeat” mode for rematches against familiar foes. Dynamic difficulty sliders let you ramp up enemy AI or dial it back at any point, so you can chase leaderboards or simply enjoy the puzzle-RPG at your own comfort level. Auto-saving between skirmishes keeps progress intact even if you need to close the game mid-dungeon.

On Nintendo Switch, both Joy-Con and touchscreen gem-swaps feel responsive, with button shortcuts for quick spell casts and inventory access. Load times have been trimmed, and frame rate holds steady at 60 fps in both docked and handheld modes.

Pros

Comprehensive content in one package, including every expansion and DLC
Deep blend of match-3 puzzle mechanics with RPG progression and class builds
Polished visuals and remastered audio for sharper sprites, richer orchestration, and punchy effects
Responsive controls via touchscreen in handheld mode and Joy-Con/Pro Controller support docked
Quality-of-life options like adjustable gem fall speed, dynamic difficulty sliders, auto-save, and colourblind palettes
Stable performance at 60 fps in both handheld and docked modes
Accessibility features and streamlined tooltips that guide new and returning players

Cons

Menus and interface can feel cramped on a TV screen, showing its mobile-first heritage
Lacks any local or online multiplayer modes for competitive duels
Storyline is serviceable but doesn’t evolve beyond familiar fantasy tropes
Some endgame content becomes grindy, with repetitive battles to chase gear and runes
New hero class and missions add variety but may feel limited compared to two decades of DLC
Noticeable battery drain during extended handheld sessions
Occasional loading screens between areas interrupt flow

Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition earns its place as one of the most compelling match-3 RPG hybrids on Switch. Its core puzzle combat remains razor-sharp, and the sheer volume of quests, classes, and expansions bundled together delivers incredible value. While the UI occasionally betrays its mobile roots and the absence of multiplayer feels like a missed opportunity, the tight pacing, polished presentation, and strategic depth carry the experience. Whether you’re new to Etheria or revisiting old haunts, this edition hits enough high notes to justify its price (only £11.99) and then some.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)