GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch and Xbox, which version is better?

GoldenEye 007 has made its long-awaited return as it’s available on Nintendo Switch as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack and on Xbox systems as part of Rare Replay and Xbox Game Pass. These two versions of GoldenEye 007 are based on the Nintendo 64 original and are not full remakes or remasters but have unique qualities that set them apart.

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GoldenEye 007 has online multiplayer on Nintendo Switch

The biggest selling point of the Nintendo Switch version of GoldenEye is online multiplayer, which is absent from the Xbox versions of the game. This is the same type of multiplayer as the other N64 titles on Nintendo Switch Online, with players being given remote access to the in-game local multiplayer modes. This is notable for GoldenEye, as all players must share a split screen view where everyone can see the other fighters’ screens.

However, playing on Nintendo Switch has a major downside as the control scheme for the game is terrible. GoldenEye was designed with an N64 controller in mind, and the default controls are incredibly difficult to use with Joy-Cons or a Pro Controller. Now there are options to remap the Nintendo Switch’s controls, which makes GoldenEye a little more playable, but involves messing around with presets whenever someone wants to play the game.

GoldenEye 007 has improved controls and graphics on Xbox systems

While the Xbox version of GoldenEye is based on the N64 version of the game (rather than the Xbox Live Arcade version that was discontinued years ago), it has some new additions, like unlockable achievements, as well as visual enhancements in the form of native 16:9 , a consistent refresh rate and 4k Ultra HD support. These changes aren’t huge since there’s only so much that can be improved on GoldenEye, but they do make the game look better than the Nintendo Switch port.

Unfortunately, the Xbox version of GoldenEye lacks online multiplayer, which is a major blow to the game. The Xbox version only has the local multiplayer modes of the original GoldenEye on the N64, with no new content.

Still, the Xbox version has one major change that makes it the superior version; the controls. The Xbox port has remapped the buttons so they work better with a dual stick controller. This makes the Xbox port the more comfortable version of GoldenEye, especially for those who never played the original and aren’t used to its unconventional control scheme.

Which version of GoldenEye 007 is better?

The two versions of GoldenEye have some differences in terms of their graphics, but the choice boils down to online multiplayer and controls. The people who want to run through The Facility with their friends should play the Nintendo Switch version, while those who are only interested in single player should go for the Xbox version.