Nintendo Switch 2 Boasts Impressive FPS, Sequel in Development

On Tuesday, Prophecy Games unveiled Deadzone: Rogue 2, the highly anticipated sequel to its standout roguelike from 2025. While a release date is still under wraps, players can look forward to a demo set to drop in June 2026, giving them a taste of how the sequel enhances and builds upon the original’s thrilling gunplay.

The first Deadzone: Rogue launched last summer, but it didn’t catch my attention until its arrival on the Nintendo Switch 2 in March. I picked it up on a whim during my travels and was instantly hooked. While others were diving into the horrors of Marathon, I was busy getting my FPS fix in Deadzone: Rogue.

Set in a desolate space station devoid of human life, Deadzone: Rogue immerses players in a world filled with deadly robots and eerie biomechanical creatures, all intent on your demise. As you progress through runs, you uncover fragments of lore that gradually reveal the mystery behind the station’s fate and your role in it.

However, the real highlight of Deadzone: Rogue is its exceptional gunplay. You can craft powerful builds around any of the game’s primary weapons, each offering unique advantages. Personally, I favor the large magazine of an LMG, as I dislike the vulnerability of reloading while enemies close in. But the rapid-fire capabilities of SMGs, despite their smaller magazines, can be just as lethal with the right perks. Mastering any weapon can lead to obliterating foes, and mid-run shops let you continuously upgrade your favorite gun, ensuring you never have to part with it.

On the Switch 2, Deadzone: Rogue stands out as one of the few third-party titles to utilize mouse controls. Using one Joy-Con as a mouse (while the other awkwardly floats in my hand) takes some getting used to, but after a few rooms, it becomes second nature. I can aim much faster with the Joy-Con mouse than with the thumbstick, which is crucial when swarms of robots threaten to end my run.

What keeps me returning to Deadzone: Rogue is the diverse range of builds available. You can experiment with various elemental damage types, like freezing enemies or igniting them (which never gets old). One build I rely on for longer runs involves companion bots that follow me, dealing damage and, more importantly, distracting my foes. (These bots respawn after they explode — I don’t.) Another favorite is a perk that grants temporary stealth after taking down an enemy with a melee weapon. Armed with a strong axe or knife, I can channel my inner assassin and stealthily eliminate a room full of enemies without them ever realizing I was there.

Permanent upgrades, which you enhance before embarking on a run, ensure that even in death, you grow stronger — a feature that has become a staple in other roguelikes. Between runs, you also get to interact with Planty, the only lifeform that isn’t out to get you. Good plant.

Despite launching nearly a year ago, Deadzone: Rogue still feels fresh, making the announcement of a sequel so soon a pleasant surprise. Is this a throwback to the 2000s? Regardless, I’m excited to see how Prophecy Games expands on the elements that made the first game a standout, as it quickly became one of the best titles on the Switch 2.

Deadzone: Rogue is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.