To think 2 is not enough?

[RunningonCaffeine]

Our two kids (6 and 8) are having a Nintendo switch (to share) for Christmas. It’s their main present but they are having other things as well. DH and I have different views about how many games we should buy to go with the switch. DH thinks two is plenty but I want to get them more! I would have probably gone for at least 4 or 5 on the basis that it’s Christmas and they’ll probably be playing it quite a bit over the holidays. DH thinks 2 is plenty for now and they can build up more over time. I’m worried it won’t be as exciting if they only have a couple of games and get bored of them quickly.

I should say this is representative of our general views towards Christmas presents. DH is a little more on the sensible (miserly?) side and I am a little more generous (frivolous?!) The money itself isn’t an issue but DH never wants to go wild at Christmas and I don’t know whether he’s being too much of a Scrooge or whether I have the tendency to perhaps go a little over the top, maybe it’s a little of both.

They can be plugged into the TV as long as you buy the docking station for it. Like 2Pints says, they are predominately used as a handheld console but do have the TV functionality if you buy the right equipment

As @friendsfiend said, as long as they don't get into in-depth single player games then they may be fine sharing

Why would you buy a console that was released about 15 years ago and is no longer supported by Nintendo? The eShop has closed and no more games will be released to it.

The Switch can be primarily handheld or primarily plugged into the TV so is effectively the newer version of the Wii and has plenty of multiplayer games.

Do they get Christmas money? If so, I'd say 2 games is enough, and then they can choose another if they like. Switch games aren't really things you get bored of that quickly. I have hundreds of hours on my favourite Switch games.

Yes you can play upto 4 players on the dock or single player as hand held.

I'd go 3 or 4. Mario kart is excellent, Minecraft is popular. A couple of the games could be £15 ish so bit cheaper.

Our ds is only child so it was a Xmas and birthday present. He loves it and we all play together sometimes

Two is great. If you get more you should hold them back.. the games all have things you can get better at so if you’ve got 2 they aren’t once and done. There’s loads to do as you get better

I agree with PP. Stick with 2 games Mario/ Minecraft and if anyone gives them Xmas money then they can choose games with those.

It's likely some of the DC's friends may have also got switches and games for Xmas and there is a game they all latch onto that you haven't bought. This way the Xmas money or money that you haven't spent on the extra 2 games can be used to buy the "in" game.

Surely the whole point is you don't want them on it constantly? At that age they shouldn't really ever be on games consoles "quite a bit".

A lot of people don't even allow these for children this age with good reason.

I would buy less computer games & use the money for non screen toys instead if you want more variety - a lego kit, an outdoor toy etc

My DSes use their switch primarily as a plug in console for the tv and play multiplayer games on it with each other (and DH and I when they play something we like too). Its great for family fun if you buy the multiplayer games. I would suggest that you buy/give it with the understanding that it stays plugged in as that restricts the amount of gaming time and keeps it as a joint activity

It's called a Switch because you can switch between using it as a console and a handheld device. It gets used more as handheld in our house.
Communal games we like are Mario Kart, Just Dance, Mario and sonic Olympics. Ds2 loves Mario Odyssey the most.

Do Mario odyssey, Mario kart and pikmin 4.

If you're interested in Mario party, there is a bundle available of 2 extra joy con controllers and Mario party for £79.99 so the game works out £20 extra to just the controllers. I know you said you have already ordered the extra controllers but could be worth returning and getting the game for effectively half price?

We're doing similar and getting a family switch for Christmas this year. 2 games is probably enough to start with and you can always get more but if you're keen to get more I don't think 3 or 4 is excessive if you include a couple of cheaper ones eg Minecraft, untitled goose game, or Argos are doing 2 for £20 offer so you could get eg a just dance game and Mario rabbids for £20.

Our aunt and uncle got caught one year with the games. Cousin asked for games for their birthday from family, everyone bought off the list.

Aunt and uncle didn't want relatives giving money after cousin spent all their Xmas money on skins and in game currency. A few weeks after the birthday loads of YouTubers that cousin enjoyed started playing that goose game. It became a bit of a fad in cousins year group. As cousin had no money from birthday and had already received all birthday games she couldn't play it and was massively disappointed for weeks until the fad passed.

Can you adopt me? Pretty please?

Yep. No Zelda, definitely no Minecraft or Fortnite. No animal crossing either.

As others have said they are plugged into the tv on a dock but also used as handheld.

In my experience sharing consoles doesn't work and unless one child is really not bothered by gaming it will end up feeling unfair for someone. It's not about whether the child is ungrateful or a perfect angel. It's really annoying.

@RunningonCaffeine I have DC of the sanevages, also getting a shared switch. They have the Mario karts game that cane with it and a 3 month membership which gives access to loads of games. I hadn't even considered buying more games. The switch itself was a stretch..

DS best friend is one of three. Not only did their DM only buy the one Switch to share, but they weren't even allowed their own accounts on it. They had to share a player account. You can imagine what that did to streaks, settings, skins, and in-game rewards etc! 😲

Op go for 3 like others have said Minecraft Mario but also the sports one it’s one that gets you moving with tennis and bowling etc great fun for all the family!

Could you compromise with 3?

definitely make sure you bought a version with the docking station (I think it comes with it unless you get the lite version but check).

focus on having multi player games.

you should set some ground rules on how they will share it to stop one of them just taking it as hand held and the other missing out.

Aren't they a bit young for Switch

Whether you buy 2 or 4 their level of happiness and excitement won’t change.

Not sure if suggested but can you get a game that has multiple games on it, this is what we started off with, I brought one as a family gift several years ago with 4 games, since then only 2 of the kids play it now, the other 2 aren't bothered. If mine want a game fornit and buy it themselves they don't have to share the game. But my kids do have a lot of tech so not a issue. Hope you enjoy it

Get two games and a Nintendo Switch online subscription, then you have loads of extra games they can play?

My 6 and 10 year old have asked for the same. The console comes with a sports game, and we have purchased 2 other games.

You can buy games cheaper on the online store, I would get them 2-3 games for Christmas but then offer to buy them 2-3 of their own choice from the online store once they've had a chance to look at them. They can see demos and decide what they like that way.
Otherwise, are there any family members that would want to buy them games?

As the gift is to share I'd get 4 games but possibly I'm a bit frivolous too!
DS6 is getting a Switch for Christmas and we've got him 2 games to go with it, but family have bought him another 2 games too. I think this is a good number for some variety.