Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition is a retro-inspired action platformer with side-scrolling shooting, 1990s gaming references and short puzzle-like diversions. Its Switch edition adds couch co-op, Battle Mode and other content, but Nintendo Life’s 2019 review found the movement clunky and the game’s appeal short-lived. It is most likely to click with players who enjoy deliberately old-school platformers and crude nostalgia; its ESRB rating makes it an unsuitable pick for many children.
Is Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition worth playing?
It depends on what you want from a platformer. The main game is a side-scrolling shooter-platformer: Rad runs, jumps and shoots through game worlds, while his sentient console Dusty supports brief Pixelverse sections built around repairing glitches. The retro references are central to the experience, not just decoration.
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Rad Rodgers Radical Edition - Nintendo Switch | $95.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Rad Rodgers Radical Edition (Nintendo Switch) | $86.20 | Buy on Amazon |
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Rad Rodgers Radical Edition - Nintendo Switch (Renewed) | $85.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Nintendo Life reviewer Dom Reseigh-Lincoln scored the European Nintendo Switch version 6/10 in a review published March 1, 2019. He praised its earnest nostalgia, simple shooting and occasional genre detours, but criticized sluggish movement, imperfect platforming and fuzzy-looking Switch visuals. The review also reported occasional ledge-grab glitches, but no slowdown during that review. These are observations about that Switch version and review, not a fresh test or a performance verdict for other platforms. Read Nintendo Life’s review.
The practical verdict from that review is a modest one: the game has enjoyable moments, but its controls and lack of lasting impact may keep it from becoming a standout. Players deciding between versions should weigh movement and shooting feel, visual clarity and technical performance, level and minigame variety, local multiplayer, their tolerance for profanity-heavy humor, and whether nostalgia matters more than novelty. The available review evidence is not a multi-publication consensus.
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- 2 Player Couch Co-op - Play together with a friend! Enemies can prepare themselves for tough battles!
- Battle Mode - Tired of team play? Fight against your friends and show them who's boss!
- New Playable Characters - Take on the roles of Lo Wang (Shadow Warrior), Duke Nukem, Bombshell and more!
- New Abilities! New Minigames! New Overworld! New Levels!
- And tons of new secrets, collectibles and unlockables!
What is included in the Radical Edition?
Nintendo’s Switch listing describes Rad being pulled into his television after a late-night gaming session, where he explores a game world with Dusty. The core includes side-scrolling action, weapons, collectibles and secret rooms, plus Pixelverse interludes in which Dusty repairs glitches. Nintendo says the Switch Radical Edition adds:
- Two-player couch co-op, including play with split Joy-Con, as described in the Switch review.
- Competitive Battle Mode.
- New playable characters and abilities.
- Minigames, an overworld and additional levels.
- More secrets, collectibles and unlockables.
Those additions give the Switch edition more ways to play than a straightforward solo run, though the review’s criticism of movement and staying power still matters if you are considering it primarily for the main campaign. Nintendo’s Switch listing identifies the edition and its features.
Rank #2
- 2 player couch co op Play together with a friend Enemies can prepare themselves for tough battles
- battle mode tired of team play Fight against your friends and show them who's boss
- new playable characters
- new abilities
- new minigames .new overworld .new levels .tons of new secrets, collectibles and unlockables .subtitles languages: EN, DE, FR, ES, IT, RU, PL, JP
How do the Switch and PC versions differ?
The confirmed details establish release dates and some platform-specific features, but they do not provide a controlled performance comparison between Switch and PC.
| Version | Listing and release date | Details established by the cited source |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo UK lists February 26, 2019. | Radical Edition content includes couch co-op, Battle Mode, characters, abilities, minigames, an overworld, levels, secrets, collectibles and unlockables. Nintendo Life’s review discusses this version’s visuals, controls and performance. |
| PC (Steam) | Steam lists February 21, 2018. | The listing describes single-player and shared/split-screen co-op, along with Steam achievements, trading cards, cloud saves, leaderboards and Remote Play options. The cited evidence does not establish how its performance compares with Switch. |
Steam publishes minimum Windows requirements of 64-bit Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1 or 10, 6 GB RAM, GTX 560-equivalent graphics, DirectX 11 and 10 GB storage. Its recommended configuration lists 64-bit Windows 10, 8 GB RAM, GTX 660 or Radeon HD 7950-or-better graphics, DirectX 11 and 10 GB storage. These are Steam’s published requirements, not independent compatibility testing. See the Steam listing.
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- 2 Player Couch Co-op - Play together with a friend! Enemies can prepare themselves for tough battles!
- Battle Mode - Tired of team play? Fight against your friends and show them who's boss!
- New Playable Characters - Take on the roles of Lo Wang (Shadow Warrior), Duke Nukem, Bombshell and more!
- New Abilities! New Minigames! New Overworld! New Levels!
- And tons of new secrets, collectibles and unlockables!
The listed release dates are historical; they do not establish whether either version is currently available to buy in a particular region or store. Nintendo’s date is for its UK listing, while Steam’s date is for PC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Rad Rodgers suitable for kids?
The ESRB rates the Nintendo Switch version Mature 17+ for Blood, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language and Violence. Its content description notes cartoon-style machine-gun combat, enemies that explode into blood splatters, sexual references and profanity. That rating and those descriptors are important for family purchase decisions; the game should not be presented as a children’s pick. Check the ESRB rating.
What do player reviews say?
Steam’s listing showed 62% positive from 99 purchaser reviews, labeled “Mixed,” in a snapshot accessed October 8, 2026. That figure changes over time and represents Steam user reviews, not a professional-review average; check the live listing for an updated total. It should be read separately from Nintendo Life’s 6/10 Switch review.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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