Why the Everybody 1-2-Switch! is the perfect family party game

Nintendo's Everybody 1-2-Switch! is the ideal new game to keep the whole family entertained. Perfect for gatherings large or small, or keeping everyone's spirits up when the weather’s far from great during a rainy weekend. Whatever the situation, Nintendo’s newest game, Everybody 1-2-Switch!, ensures it's a party.

The video game, designed for the Nintendo Switch, is the sequel to the original 1-2 Switch that’s well loved by families and our Mumsnet users. It has an exciting array of 17 games and a lively host called Horace to help guide you through. Designed for ages three and up, you can use a Joy-Con controller to play with two to eight people or you can use your smart device to play with more people. Everybody can join in at the same time, and there’s no more waiting around for your turn or being left out if you have a larger group of players!

The games offer something for everyone and with some designed to get you on your feet and others to use the power of your mind to strategise, you'll find everyone's skill set is catered to.

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Everybody 1-2 Switch!, £24.99

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What we like

Suitable for ages three and above
Small groups from the comfort of your living room to large gatherings (including weddings!)
Can be played using smartphones

What to know

17 unique mini games to choose from, plus additional rule variations to keep people on their toes
Nintendo Switch Parental Controls enabled

Key specs

RRP on writing: £24.99 | Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Russian | Play Mode: TV Mode,Tabletop mode | Player: 2 - 8 (or more with smartphones ) | Digital Download Size: 4GB

Our verdict

First up in the list of games is Balloons, where you work as a team to pump up a balloon using your Joy-Con controller like a pump. The aim is to inflate the balloon to as big as possible without letting it pop. It's a game that relies on good and solid communication, which can prove tricky the more stressful things get.

Another favourite minigame is Hip Bump, which requires you to hold your Joy-Con controller behind you and try to virtually bump your opponent out of the ring. We warn you, you will look silly. But the bigger the hip thrusts, the more chance of winning. So be prepared to let loose!

The fact that the game can be played using your smartphone means you can play with more than eight players at the same time, and allows people who aren’t familiar with video-game controllers to play with a familiar device.

Everybody 1-2-Switch! offers you three exciting modes to choose from. Team Contest is the main mode and splits everyone into two teams, allowing the teams to win a point for every minigame they win. You can choose to play in this mode for 20 minutes, 40 minutes or 60 minutes depending on how many points you want to win.

In Quiz Party Mode, you have to answer multiple choice questions as quickly as possible, and there are even special modes where you can write in your own questions to make things more personalised - great for adding a personalised flair to a party!

In Bingo Party Mode, you’ll be offered the chance to chill out a bit as you use smart devices to see who can be the first team to get five numbers in a row.

Fun for all the family, from three years old and up

Is the Everybody 1-2-Switch! good for families?

Yes, at just £24.99, the game is designed for a broad age range and abilities. Horace the MC is great for explaining the games to a younger audience and keeping up momentum.

Plus, the choice of 17 games will keep everyone entertained for hours on end.

Read next: Best Nintendo Switch games for kids: guaranteed fun for all the family

What do our Mumsnetters think?

The Nintendo Switch is great for families and a popular choice amongst our Mumsnet community.

“They're great. Many options for playing alone or together. Addiction doesn't come from reasonable supervised access,” Mumsnet user bumpytrumpy said.

“They're great, lots of fun. As PP said, use/addiction is down to you. Good for multiplayer play,” Mumsnet user WhatWouldTheDoctorDo added.

While Everybody 1-2-Switch! is a brand new game, our Mumsnet community were big fans of the 2017 original.

“The switch has loads of great mini games that are very intuitive and I'm sure she'd like to play with you they are very short standalone games, 1-2 Switch and Carnival are two of our favourites”, Mumsner user HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime said.

“1-2 switch is a great game, if you have one of the switches where the remotes remove (it is a 2 player game),” Mumsnet user sleepismysuperpower1 noted.

Large gatherings can join in the fun with their smartphones

17 mini games available on Everybody 1-2-Switch! - what are they?

Balloons – Inflate the balloon but avoid it popping
Hip Bump – Try and get your opponent out of the ring by using hip thrusts to knock them out.
Joy-Con Hide and Seek – Use the Joy-Con’s vibrate mode to locate it.
Jump Rope – Make sure you watch out for the rope and keep jumping to avoid tripping up.
Kitchen Timer – Stick to the timer for flipping, draining and lifting the lid.
Musical Chairs – Just like the traditional game, you must sit down as soon as the music stops.
Ninjas – Use your sword to avoid all the Ninja stars being thrown at you
Quiz Show – Answer whether something is True or False as quickly as you can.
Relay Race – Using your Joy-Con controller as a baton, run a relay race as fast as you can.
Samurai Sword Fight – Armed with a virtual sword, make sure you take down your opponent first.
Squat – A simple action game, make sure you squat as soon as you hear the word.
Statues – Do not move when he is looking at you
UFOs – You need to make the correct signal to greet the aliens
Auction - An item has a fixed value and the teams need to make their own bid, without knowing what each other is bidding.
Bingo – Just like the classic game.
Color Shoot – This game requires a good memory.
Ice Cream Parlor - Another game that requires a good memory, you have to remember the amount of scoops ordered and answer as fast as you can.

Can you install parental locks on the Nintendo Switch?

The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device app is free and allows you to monitor what your children are playing. If you don't have a smart device, there is an option to set up these restrictions on the Nintendo Switch directly.

For parents worried about excess screen time, you can set up a time limit for your child. When time is up, an alarm will trigger to let them know. You can even choose for the game to automatically turn off if they exceed the time limit.

About the author

Kat Romero is a writer and journalist with over a decade’s experience in the industry. Hailing from London, she has become experienced in scouring the market to find the latest and best products that are worth your purchase. Away from her desk, Kat can be found consuming far too much coffee and spending her weekends with her toddler and partner - soaking up the sights of London and sampling anything new and exciting that has opened up within walking distance.