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Original poster

Please explain Nintendo Switch Lite to me

32 replies

RelentlessForwardProgress · 12/12/2022 21:40

Can someone please put me out of my misery.

I need to buy games for a switch Lite. (for DS, 8). I can't understand which games are compatible for a Lite, and which are for Switch only and won't run on switch lite.

I've spent an hour on Nintendo website this evening and still no further forward!

Switch Lite is a surprise present so I don't want to ask DS. Can anyone please recommend any games that will definitely work. Thanks

OP posts:
Lemonademoney · 12/12/2022 21:48

I think all switch games run on a switch lite? We have one of each and my boys regularly swap games

Ahhhhhbisto · 12/12/2022 21:48

All switch games work on both consoles!

QueSyrahSyrah · 12/12/2022 21:49

We have a switch light and the physical games we have are Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion and Super Mario 3D world.

Luigi's Mansion is great fun 👍🏻

CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 21:50

the overwhelming majority of the games are compatible for both, but games like just dance, or switch sports you need a regular switch as the games are designed to play through the tv with the console docked.

DeathMetalMum · 12/12/2022 21:54

The games have a section on the back of the game package that shows which mode each game can be played in.

The symbol for the switch lite is just a small picture of the console with a number one above it.

gaf · 12/12/2022 21:57

Which games are you thinking of buying?

DeathMetalMum · 12/12/2022 21:57

On the website it lists play modes - switch lite is handheld mode only.

CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:03

DeathMetalMum · 12/12/2022 21:54

The games have a section on the back of the game package that shows which mode each game can be played in.

The symbol for the switch lite is just a small picture of the console with a number one above it.

No, that’s the number of potential players it supports on each device. Eg, a lot of games are only single player on lite, but multiplayer on original as each joycon can be removed to be used by separate player.

MoanySloney · 12/12/2022 22:09

The game card will work on both.

Unless you want to play something like just dance, Switch Sports or the fitness games, you will be fine.

Do you know what games he would like? Look for a review of the game and look to see how they're played.

Original poster
RelentlessForwardProgress · 12/12/2022 22:10

Thank you for all the replies it is appreciated!!

I keep reading all games work/ some games don't work comments under products on amazon and argos and based on the replies it does seem a bit confusing!

@CockSpadget get this is exactly the difficulty I'm worried about ie the game not working as it needs to dock but I can't find out which games this covers.

Thank you for the recs so far.

I think DS would really like a Mario one, a Pokemon one and a chess one. (Chess one probably needs to be stand alone because DS plays chess for a club so one of those 30 in 1 games bundles might not have hard enough chess on it!)

OP posts:
ElfDragon · 12/12/2022 22:12

You want a game that will be ok in handheld mode, and not need a tv screen.

games like Mario party, or just dance, or sports games won’t be as good on the lite, as the screen is too small to play them multiplayer (plus you need extra controllers to do this).

games like Mario kart, or the Lego games, or Zelda, will work really well, as you play them one player (or against computer opponents) and will play well in handheld mode.

what style of game would your ds like? Puzzles? Racing? Platform levels?

have you already bought the switch lite? If not, could you stretch to a switch console? It can still be played handheld (my ds does this most of the time), but then docks for times that the tv screen is needed - for multiplayer mariokart, or Mario party for eg.

I have a switch lite, and like it, but my ds very much prefers having the full console and the option to play either way.

Jfw82 · 12/12/2022 22:13

My ds loves mario 3d world/bowsers fury which def works for switch lite and is prob his favourite

DeathMetalMum · 12/12/2022 22:15

@CockSpadget

No it indicates which console it's compatible on. This image shows it greyed out on the just dance game.

Please explain Nintendo Switch Lite to me
ElfDragon · 12/12/2022 22:16

If your ds likes chess then he might like the strategy of Mario+Rabbids. That works fine on a switch lite.

Pokémon wise, I’ve only played Let’s go Pikachu, but my ds has enjoyed Sword and Diamond too. He didn’t like Arceus so much. He is getting Violet for Christmas so can’t comment on that one yet.

mariokart is a must, it’s so good, and excellent value with all the new expansion races too.

Nookable · 12/12/2022 22:16

You want games that have handheld as a supported game mode. On the Nintendo store website they have icons that show this. So the attached image is for Super Mario Party which doesn't have handheld mode so won't work on the switch lite. So the icon that is grey on this screenshot needs to be blue.

Annoyingly I can't find a way on the website to filter out the unsuitable games but most of them are suitable for handheld use. Generally the more active ones where you need to move your body are ones that won't work.

Please explain Nintendo Switch Lite to me
CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:19

DeathMetalMum · 12/12/2022 22:15

@CockSpadget

No it indicates which console it's compatible on. This image shows it greyed out on the just dance game.

No, it’s definitely no of players, that’s why it says number of players next to the images.

CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:21

@DeathMetalMum its just a coincidence that you’ve got a game where it’s greyed out because it’s not compatible. If it’s compatible it’s not greyed out, but the number next to the image is the number of players.

Original poster
RelentlessForwardProgress · 12/12/2022 22:25

@Nookable I have found that icon on the nintendo store listings, thank you

I am looking up all the recommendations now thank you

OP posts:
DeathMetalMum · 12/12/2022 22:25

@CockSpadget

Really!?

I'm just answering the OP on how she can tell what games are compatible for the switch lite. All of the games have the same image on the back. If it's not compatible with the lite then it's greyed out.

It does also say how many players can play. But that wasn't the question the OP asked.

Original poster
RelentlessForwardProgress · 12/12/2022 22:27

@ElfDragon we don't have a TV in the house so we couldn't use the switch as a console

OP posts:
CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:29

@RelentlessForwardProgress to be honest if you can afford the original version then that would be the way to go, because then you cover all bases for multiplayer games, and motion games like just dance etc. I mean you can still play things like Mario kart on a lite, but the best experience for a game like that is played multiplayer through your tv. I have a lite, and it’s great, but I only chose it because my son has the original one for whenever we want to play multiplayer.

CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:31

RelentlessForwardProgress · 12/12/2022 22:27

@ElfDragon we don't have a TV in the house so we couldn't use the switch as a console

Ah, scrap my last comment then. Yes, the lite is your only option then, and yes it will be perfectly fine for chess, Pokémon and Mario.

ElfDragon · 12/12/2022 22:33

I’d still go for a full console to use as a handheld. It’s a bigger screen, and if you wanted to play multiplayer (eg mariokart), then you can do, by detaching the controllers. Not as simple with a lite.

I do like my lite, a lot. But I wouldn’t have chosen it if it was the only console. The full console does everything the lite does, and more (obviously at a higher cost), and in simpler ways for some functions.

CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:37

@ElfDragon oh yeah, of course it’s not the only option, and you can still use the full console handheld. Ignore me OP, I’m a dickhead tonight.

CockSpadget · 12/12/2022 22:39

@DeathMetalMum yep, you’re right. I’m in full on dickhead mode tonight it seems 🤦‍♀️.