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Original poster

Nintendo Switch question

38 replies

JinglePies · 07/12/2020 12:06

AIBU to ask here for a friend?!

I am driving myself mad with this question. I have two children age 8 and 10. I have one nintendo switch for Christmas. This was meant to be for the 10 year old. HOWEVER, I'm now wondering if I should get one for the 8 year old too? I know they will play together a lot, but when we are travelling (family in Australia so in normal times we fly a lot) etc they might really like one each. OR do I stick with one normal switch and get a switch lite for the other child? Tell me what to do, please!
Oh, and practical issue - I have one switch in my house, hidden away. It might be a nightmare to get a second one as all sold out, but Switch lite are in stock... PLEASE BOSS ME ABOUT AND TELL ME WHAT TO DO. Thank you!

OP posts:
Annasgirl · 07/12/2020 12:12

I have a teen who has a DS, got it when it was released. I have an 8 year old and the teen won't let him use his DS so we got a DS for the 8 year old for his birthday (also due to it being in lockdown and no party and not friends). Teen is an expert in all things Nintendo (honestly, nerdy expert) and he told me DO NOT BUY the DS Lite - it is not as good. So, to answer your question, DO NOT BUY the DS Lite (as then you will end up with the 8 year old having a "not as good" console and they might not be able to play all games together). Don't ask me for any further information as I am clueless about gaming (I have never played) but DS 1 games a lot, 90% Nintendo, (he even wants to work for them when he grows up Grin) and he would not have lied about this to me.

Hope this helps?

Needahug72 · 07/12/2020 12:17

You can still get the switch with animal crossing - just ordered one from Amazon this morning it’s a bit more expensive but comes with the download code for the game

lovepickledlimes · 07/12/2020 12:18

I would get a switch lite for the other child. Also at that age it would be harder to break

Needahug72 · 07/12/2020 12:19

Oh and I wouldn’t get one the switch and one the “lesser” switch lite console

Mumdiva99 · 07/12/2020 12:21

Don't get a second one until you know if you really need it. It's a lot of money to spend on a 'not sure'. Plus you probably already got the 8 year old a present.

If and when you go to Oz again you can get one for then if you need it.

Rhayader · 07/12/2020 12:21

We have a switch (technically mine) and a switch lite (7yo dd), my 4yo ds has recently started using my switch to play animal crossing, stardew valley and minecraft. Works fine having one of each.

HappySonHappyMum · 07/12/2020 12:34

If they both want to play Animal Crossing one child will be the main user and the other one will only have a house on the other Childs island which will cause issues. They will both need their own Switch, individual accounts and own games to play at the same time.

KenAdams · 07/12/2020 12:37

Get two normal ones - the one with the Animal Crossing code will work.

Sickofbroccoli · 07/12/2020 12:50

I’d buy a second switch if you think your 8 year old will want to play too.

The flights alone would be enough to persuade me - and I’d get the proper switch based on that too as the battery is slightly better and there’s more flexibility in positioning. But just day to day, if they don’t have a TV dedicated for the switch and want to play handheld, it’s tricky to multiplayer on one console then and bickering ensues.

In terms of durability, the lite is slightly more rugged, but the joysticks are known to “drift” which Nintendo will replace/repair for free but with the lite this means sending off the whole console vs one controller for the regular switch.

UtterlyHelpless · 07/12/2020 12:53

Only buy a second proper switch if you have a tv to dock it to. It’s really not worth spending the extra £100 if it’s only going to be handheld (plus the original switch is a big bigger and can be more fiddly for small hands).

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 07/12/2020 12:57

@Annasgirl
The OP is asking about the Nintendo Switch not the Nintendo DS.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 07/12/2020 13:15

If it is not going to be connected to a tv the switch lite if absolutely fine, and plays all the same games. If you want to be able to connect it to the tv you need another full switch. I would be surprised if your older dc was happy to share his present as often as younger dc wants to play. Or just give the switch as a joint present, they will have to take turns

safariboot · 07/12/2020 13:33

One, and your children can learn to share.

Almost all games have separate saves for each "user" on the console. (Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a notable exception.) Games are saved to the console, not the cartridge like older systems.

PizzaForOne · 07/12/2020 13:37

Vote for one and learn to share.

It will look like favouritism - one of them will get the full blown switch and the other the lite. Only the normal switch will be able to get hooked up to the big TV and played there. The game progress can't be easily shared with the switch lite.

In terms of travelling - they take turns or play multiplayer. They can use the joycons with the regular switch to play 2 player games (e.g. Mario Kart and other racing games, Smash Brothers, Mario Odyssey, Luigis Mansion) straight out of the box! Or you can buy a 2nd set of joy cons too.

Example video here:

Brefugee · 07/12/2020 13:39

we have one Switch and one lite and it works well. Depending on what games they want to play, you might have to have 2 consoles anyway. How about getting a Lite for the younger DC and if they use it a lot, get a Switch for them next year?

Morgan12 · 07/12/2020 13:40

I'd get your 8 year old one aswell.

Fluffybutter · 07/12/2020 13:55

Ignore the poster who said no to the switch lite .
It’s a good little console.
We have had Nintendo products for years and years and we have the switch and then bought dd the lite for her birthday , that way we both have our animal crossing islands and it means for party type games we use the Switch connected to the tv.

yellowcatss · 07/12/2020 13:55

i dont think you can get a child a lesser present as at least in my household 8yo first question would be why does 10yo get the better switch.you could just get 1 and make them share thats what i would do

littlepeas · 07/12/2020 13:59

We have 3dc and one switch. They share it.

PizzaForOne · 07/12/2020 14:00

@yellowcatss

i dont think you can get a child a lesser present as at least in my household 8yo first question would be why does 10yo get the better switch.you could just get 1 and make them share thats what i would do
Yep exactly. And as some adult posters on here often experience/describe personally, small things like this can add up to a lot of resentment with parents about favouritism and unequal treatment in the long term.
Annasgirl · 07/12/2020 14:06

Sorry OP, I mean all of my comments in relation to the SWITCH not the Nintendo DS.

So DO NOT buy a Switch Lite.

As you see, I have so little knowledge although I should know the difference between a Switch and a DS (seeing as we have every single type of Nintendo console except the Lite Grin)

Annasgirl · 07/12/2020 14:07

@WhereverIGoddamnLike - so embarrassing - I meant to write Nintendo Switch Blush.

RayOfSunshine2013 · 07/12/2020 14:20

I’d feel mean letting one have the cheap version, and would get both the same. My 6 year old loves his, had it since he was 5 but couldn’t really use it properly until this year

lakesideadvent · 07/12/2020 14:40

We have both switch and switch lite, I recently swapped my lite for a full switch because I wanted an animal crossing version.
But honestly as I never put in on the tv screen there aren't many advantages to it.
I like the lite and would vote for younger dc having that rather than having to share.

ShowOfHands · 07/12/2020 14:40

Absolutely nothing wrong with the Lite at all. Just means it's a handheld console with no option to connect to the television. DS rarely connects his Switch to the television and DD asked for a Lite for Christmas knowing she had no interest in using it through the TV.