Nintendo switch - shared present

[CleverQuacks]

So both my boys (age 8 and 11) are asking for a Nintendo switch for Christmas. I can’t afford to get one each so was thinking to get it as a shared present (they will obviously get other presents as well). I don’t know much about the switch, can you play it two player? Would it work as a shared gift or is it designed for individual play?

I wouldn’t get it as a shared present. You can play it as two player using the little remotes but it’s main use is as a hand held that has its own screen. I’m not sure how the scoring on games would work too.

Yes there are two player games
Everyone sets up an individual profile so for single player games they save their own scores/progress

We got one last year between 3 DC and its been fine. You can do 2 players, and it hooks up to the tv so you can have it on there.
Just give them a set amount of time each, sharing is a necessary life skill.
The 123 Switch game is a good family game. They also love Splatoon 2 ( not sure this is a sharing game) Mario Kart (deffo good solo or sharing). Get a case!

We've bought one for our two dcs to share for Xmas. (Haven't used it yet) I spoke to the John Lewis advisor about it and he said there is little functional difference between the switch and other non portable games consoles. The handheld/ portable aspect is just an addition advantage.

There are some properly 2/multi player games.

But some are really sneaky. Splatoon 2 for example says it's a multi player game but only if both players have their own switch console

Switch is portable, but you don't have to connect the controllers to the screen. As long as bother players can see the screen, they can play 2 player without connecting it to TV.

Many games have 2 player options. In some, the 2nd player is a bit shit though - Mario Odyssey and Captain Toad I'm looking at you here - you are a supporting role with less functionality.
Others like Mario Party, Kart, Splatoon, etc are very good 2 player.

I'd invest in a second full set of controllers (circa £80) as full functionality on some games requires each player to have a pair of controllers.

Personally I wouldn't get a switch as a shared present. Unless you like the referee thing and don't mind enforcing fair time on it.

God, I'd never buy one each.

Mine share with no problems. Even single player games tend to have multiple save slots.

It's definitely a family thing in this house. The games are madly expensive by the way.

Shared.

Connect it to the TV as its primary location (it can be used handheld) - this'll encourage not thinking of it as "mine!" and will allow you to police screen time appropriately.

It comes with two tiny controllers clipped to the sides, which are fine for most two player games - Mario Kart and so on. They clip into a hand-shaped holder for one player games, which also comes with the Switch.

You can buy another pair, or a "pro controller" which is more like an Xbox/Playstation controller, if you need two full controllers for some game. Don't get them in advance just in case, they're £60-70!

It allows multiple user accounts as well, so they get their own savegames.

We’ve got a shared one. I wouldn’t buy one each.

You can connect it to the tv so if they play two player they’re not staring at a tiny screen.

I’d also recommend getting an additional controller though.

Mario Kart and Mario Odyssey are both good although only Kart is two player.

We bought one last year between our four boys, the controller that comes with it (called a joycon) can be used as one controller and split into two for many games.

A lot of games are for more than one player and you can buy more controllers. Another joycon was about £80 last year, looking in shops last week they were about £60 in some shops. You can buy wired controllers which cost around £20 - £30, more for patterned/special editions.

There are a variety of games suitable for various ages too, and it's portable (we bought a case, you can get screen protectors etc).

If you have one Switch you can connect more than one controller and play multiplayer, if you have two Switches you can connect via the internet to play games together, but you need a game cartridge in both Switches. And considering the games generally cost between £35 and £50 buying two of each will get really expensive if you don't need to buy them, especially if you have already forked out for two consoles. (Which I know you're not going to do anyway, but it's also not cost effective to have two in one house if you don't need two.)

Sometimes as a family we play Mario Cart (2 boys and 2 adults together, sometimes the 4 boys together etc.) We all enjoy it. There are other games to play either as one player or together too.

It is one of the best console purchases we have made, and that is high praise coming from me as we have always been a PlayStation family! (Still have a PS1, PS2, and PS3, but we chose the Switch over the PS4. Sorry Sony, we deserted you for the Switch.)

we got one last year to share between 3 young kids and they manage to share fine. it been great for teaching time management, taking turns etc etc

Anyone know if there is a MARIO platform game for the switch that allows two kids to control their own character at once?

I've just set up the switch with the tv in preparation for tomorrow but am disappointed that the "MARIO odyssey " game only allows the second player to control Mario's hat!

On holiday we played a mario game that both kids controlled their own avatar on the screen at the same time but I don't know what it was called (and it wasn't on the switch).

Any advice?

Gonzales maybe this one?

www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Mario-Deluxe-Nintendo-Switch/dp/B07HHN42WK?tag=mumsnetforum-21

It’s not released til January for the switch, but I think it’s a port from an older game on different consoles?

There’s also Super Mario Party but that’s not a platform game I don’t think, just lots of mini games.

www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Mario-Party-Nintendo-Switch/dp/B07DTNGK5V?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Thanks.

I'm really surprised there isn't one available already.

The one we played on holiday was a modern style 3D platform game, I was really sure that I'd be able to find one like that. Although I do like the simplicity and retro feel of the 2D one that's coming out in january.

Ours is shared. I really, really don’t understand why people buy a console for each child. Our have their own profiles and know how to share.

It works perfectly fine with the controllers that come with it, but I did end up buying a new controller (the one where the smaller conterollers can slide in and out) as that was easier when multiple friends were round.