TL;DR: A vibrant, nostalgic, and surprisingly deep 2D shooter that shines on the Switch 2. Strike Force Heroes combines the best of its Flash-era roots with modern performance and handheld freedom. It’s a chaotic gem that plays great anywhere, anytime.

There’s a certain joy in watching a game born in the browser age find new life on a futuristic handheld. Strike Force Heroes on the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t just a nostalgic throwback—it’s a love letter to the Flash era that somehow feels right at home in 2025’s portable powerhouse. Developed by Sky9 Games and published by IndieArk, this $24.99 revival brings back the run-and-gun magic that defined our teenage lunch breaks—only now, it’s sharper, faster, and smoother than ever.

Booting up Strike Force Heroes on the Switch 2 feels like resurrecting a memory you didn’t realize you missed. Sky9 has rebuilt everything from the ground up for modern consoles, and on Nintendo’s newest hybrid, it sings. The 2D visuals pop on the OLED+ display—every explosion, bullet trail, and character animation looks absurdly crisp, running at a buttery 120 FPS in performance mode or a rock-solid 60 FPS with full effects enabled.

This version is tailor-made for handheld action. The smaller scale of each match, the snappy movement, and the immediate feedback make it perfect for quick rounds on the go. Whether you’re on the couch, commuting, or hiding from responsibilities, Strike Force Heroes feels right in your hands.

If you’ve ever played Contra or Metal Slug, you’ll instantly feel at home. Strike Force Heroes on Switch 2 is pure 2D chaos: tight controls, satisfying shooting, and that perfect blend of skill and luck. There are four hero classes—Commando, Assassin, Medic, and Tank—and each one brings its own rhythm to the fight.

The Switch 2’s upgraded Joy-Con feedback makes a big difference. There’s haptic rumble for every bullet, grenade, and reload. Firing the heavy machine gun feels punchy, while a sniper shot gives that sharp, satisfying click you can feel in your palms. The analog sticks respond perfectly, allowing for precise aiming even during screen-filling mayhem.

Online matches run surprisingly well thanks to Nintendo’s new netcode improvements. Quick matchmaking, low latency, and fluid movement make it easy to lose hours hopping between PvP and co-op sessions.

Sky9 didn’t skimp on the single-player content. The campaign is a tongue-in-cheek action movie parody that moves fast and hits hard. Animated cutscenes, witty dialogue, and huge boss fights keep the pace alive. It’s lighthearted fun that never takes itself too seriously—think Saturday morning cartoon meets pixel warfare.

Each mission loads in seconds on the Switch 2’s faster internal storage, and you can hop between handheld and docked play seamlessly. The transition is instant, and both modes maintain smooth performance. Docked play adds richer lighting and crisper details, but handheld mode keeps that classic arcade immediacy.

This is where the Switch 2 version really shines. Strike Force Heroes thrives in short bursts of chaos, and local wireless co-op makes it a party machine. Four friends, four classes, one couch—or rooftop, or plane. It’s the perfect kind of fun that made Nintendo’s multiplayer magic what it is.

Cross-play support with other platforms also keeps the player base active, and Sky9’s clean UI makes setting up matches painless. There’s no grindy unlock system, no microtransactions, just pure, skill-based mayhem.

Technically, Strike Force Heroes runs like a dream. On handheld, it maintains a crisp 1080p with zero dips, and docked mode pushes up to 4K with enhanced shadows and lighting. Sky9’s new engine is shockingly efficient—it handles explosions, debris, and enemy swarms without breaking a sweat.

Battery life holds up too. Expect around 4.5 hours of intense multiplayer or nearly 6 in campaign mode. And the game’s 1.2GB install size means you can easily keep it tucked alongside your indie favorites.

No game escapes a few hiccups. The menu system feels a little small in handheld mode, and the Joy-Con analog sensitivity takes a round or two to get used to. Voice acting in the campaign is hit-or-miss, and while the humor mostly lands, a few lines veer into cheesy territory. But that’s part of its charm—it’s self-aware cheese, and it knows it.

Online, the occasional lag spike still sneaks in when cross-playing with older consoles, but it’s rare enough not to spoil the fun.

Verdict:

Strike Force Heroes on Nintendo Switch 2 is a joy. It’s fast, it’s funny, and it remembers what games are supposed to be: fun first, fancy later. Sky9 Games and IndieArk have brought this classic shooter roaring back with style, energy, and just enough modernization to make it feel fresh without losing its heart.

It’s not perfect, but it’s proof that great design and passion can outgun raw spectacle. If you’ve got the new Switch, this one belongs in your library.