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.

@ThePineapplePrincess

she ASKED about how many GAMES, not consoles, so no you didn't

Two is plenty to start - any Christmas money can be pooled to buy more

I did give my opinion. You just apparently don’t like it 😂

My kids are the same age as your and they are getting a switch to share. Like you the main reason is so they can play together. I am not sure why some people are saying they won't and you need 2. Mine will definitely play together, they have fire tablets at the moment and they often play on one together, or watch each other play or try play the same game. Maybe some kids are spoilt brats and would need one each.
So have got mario kart so far as came with the console. Then will get a few more I think, but will ask grandparents to get a couple I think. I have seen on Argos they have a load of games for 2 for £20 so that could be a cheaper option to get a couple of more simple games. Will give you an idea what type of games they like.

Don't forget that there are games on the Nintendo store that are free. You just have to download them.

Compromise and go with 3. Though I think 2 would be plenty to start with at that age.

Stick with 2 if you like OP but be open minded to the idea that one of them may want their own in the future for their birthday or next Christmas.

My DS uses it a bit like a Gameboy would have been used in the past (ie on his own as a handheld device). He does play it as a console on the TV with his sister sometimes but he likes the option of just playing it himself. It doesn't make him a spoilt brat or selfish or indulged.

We’re also getting our children (9&6) a switch as a joint present. It comes with sports and Mario kart included, and we’ve got them each a game to match their interests plus another joint game.

My DC (with an age gap) had one last year and love it, sometimes they play on their own but most of the time it’s plugged into the dock and they/we all play.
-you need to buy the non-lite version for it to come with the dock.
-extra controllers a must
-weve got the Nintendo membership that comes with some older Nintendo 64 games (diff membership options on the Nintendo eshop)
-lots of secondhand games on Vinted/ebay, we’ve got the older versions of just dance very cheap

Family games we’ve enjoyed
Minecraft
Mario party
mario 3d world
1,2 switch
switch sports
mariokart
just dance

She asked for an opinion on how many games to buy as a joint gift, not on whether her children should have a Switch each.

Mine literally play roblox, minecraft and mariokart

My kids (10, 6 & 3, although the little one is too young for it yet) share a Switch and I wouldn't see any need to have more than one console in the house. We largely use it on the TV, so often the whole family will play Mario Party on a weekend morning - this is the game we get the most use of by far. My two love Animal Crossing also - I'd highly recommend these two games, plus MarioKart and/or Minecraft if you wanted to get more. As long as you get the Switch rather than the Switch Lite, it works perfectly in the TV docking station as a full console, but is usable as a handheld also, which is the beauty of it.

Definitely 3 or 4. Or I'd buy what my DD requested which was rarely more than 4, sometimes only 1 or 2, which she was fine with as that's exactly what she wanted. If she only 1 or 2, I would offset it with other gifts/clothes to make up for not buying more.

I'm tried to reword this too many times as I don't want it to come across as patronising, but as others have said please don't get the lite version (the solid colours like yellow, blue) because they don't have a dock with them and can't be used with a dock even if you buy it separately.

And please please don't get them Fortnite as someone crazily suggested, it's literally about how many people you can kill so really not agree appropriate!

Wreckfest is fun, it's basically like banger racing, trying to destroy your opponents' cars.
Mario kart as most have suggested is a classic.
Mario party or there are several other versions that are cheaper like ultra mega xtra party challenge 100 games or everybody 1-2 switch which are £10 & £13 respectively at Smyths.
Lots of sorts games like Nintendo Switch sports, instant sports, summer sports, sports party all very similar. Ring fit is my favourite though, it just ends up in laughter in my house.
I like monopoly as its the fun of the game without all the setting up/clearing away hassle.
And then there are creative games like zoo builder which isn't 2 player in the traditional sense but they could work together to plan and build, then take turns doing all the maintenance on equipment etc.

I bought 3. It was included in a bundle. We got family members to buy others.
You can also download onto the actual switch. Rather than buy some physical games.
I would also recommending setting up before actual Christmas Day.
We paid £688 for 2 switches and 3 games. The latest model. I can't believe we spent that much tbh! But they've been great and so handy this year

Oh don't get the lite one. We love plugging into the tele and playing as a family. Especially the sonic and Mario sport games. But extra controllers and spend the extra on the proper model. It's so worth it

As a child, did you feel you didnt have enough toys? Sounds like you re projecting.

We gave a single game. And DS paid half the Switch from his own saved birthday money.
Now he lives carefully and frugally as a student.

A really interesting thought and I have also been thinking back to childhood to find out where this urge to buy more presents might come from. I do agree that I’m projecting somehow, I can’t recall not feeling like I had enough toys but I didn’t have a close relationship with my mum at all and I do remember feeling happiest/most loved at Christmastime, not with hugs or spending time together but with lots of presents which I accept is highly materialistic but it somehow made me feel loved. I do think there are elements of this that I pass down when it comes to buying presents at Christmas time which I need to be mindful of.

Anyway, all this to say we have settled on three games to unwrap on the big day, Mario kart, Mario party and Nintendo sports. Hopefully these should keep us all entertained over Christmas and then there are some great suggestions above for other games which we could consider for birthdays, pocket money spends etc.

Thanks everyone for the input and hope you have a lovely Christmas.

I got a bundle of games with new switch oled. minecraft, mariokart and mario wonder. It was the same price as oled on it's own and then I got an extra 20% discount as I signed up for finance which I promptly paid off.

They will probably want to download a few games anyway!- lots are free on nintendo switch too so plenty to keep them busy! (Pacman, tetris, minecraft, among us.. loads of free ones!) They can make a wishlist on the nintendo shop an get notified when there's a sale on too.
I would get them a memory card for the switch as the space fills up quite quick!
And keep in mind, physical games can be sold if they don't like them (they keep their value quite well,) wheras downloads obviously can't be.
Have a lovely Christmas.

How spoilt lol. Hubby is right. Buy fewer things and they will appreciate it more.

Remember when you were younger you didn't get much but you appreciated what you had?

when my two (now adults) had the nintendo wii/wii U we got a couple of games. They are not going to complete the game in one hit, so they should be fine over the holidays. Also if they get any christmas money they can get another game if they want to.

Ignore the naysayers, our shared switch is fine for our two.

Keep subscribed to the switch online store or whatever it is - when they have sales you can pick up games for much cheaper than they usually go for.

hope your kids love it.

My girls are the same age as yours and they have a switch between them.

They play Mario Party and Animal Crossing together but to be honest 6 isn’t really all that bothered about the Switch. She’ll play for a wee while and get fed up. 8 loves it and needs to be reigned in with it a little bit. She loves Minecraft. They rarely fight over it.

We started with two games (Mario Kart and Minecraft) and built up from there. Even now they only have 5 or 6 games. They haven’t asked for any others and seem quite happy