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.

I think two is plenty to start with, then once they’ve got the hang of it they might have a better idea on the type of games they like, so you can get them down the line

2s fine

Gosh. A 6 and 8 year old needing a switch each? Mine are older and share 1. The reason I chose a switch a few Christmas’s ago, is so that they play together on the tv and interact with each other rather than sit staring at interactive devices. They had 2 games in total to start with. They were older and these were plenty!
** this was in response to someone here saying to buy 1 switch each.

Why do you consult your husband? Go buy what you want for them....they are your kids. My husband finds out on Christmas day what our kid gets.

Many people have joint accounts so it’s fair that he has a say in how much is spent and also how much he feels they ‘need’/get. He is their parent too.

Can’t they play together with a controller each? That’s the reason why I got a switch- so they could play together and interact as they play

I disagree. I bought one to encourage shared game play and that’s what they do! I prefer them to play together than sit staring alone at separate screens

If you buy second hand you can get more than 2 for the price of 2

In your situation, I'd compromise and get 3.

Once the switch is set up, you can purchase digital copies online which are cheaper and theres a big sale on at the moment

Two is plenty. And we’re a family who likes games! Especially the adventure style games where you’re following an adventure to the end. Mario Kart is great and takes up to four players (get two extra controllers, the steering wheels were rubbish in our experience) and Luigi’s Mansion is the best two player game we’ve seen. Animal Crossing will keep them occupied for hours. So one “long” one which you invest time in and one that you dip in and out of like Mario Kart would be a good balance. Animal Crossing and Mario Kart are good starter games if they don’t have gaming experience. Luigi’s Mansion might be the next one for a birthday!

And I’m the one who goes overboard on Xmas presents! Two is definitely good.

2 is fine. A switch is a huge cost. But,maybe that is also missing from your OP. Is it a huge cost to you? What's your income, outgoings etc. But all things equal, they are really young and 2 games is not only enough, but as other people said, allows dice fpr other things to be important or valued.

Poster says money isn't an issue so get them a switch each with 2 or 3 games.

Where are people getting cheap second hand games? CEX is often as expensive as new at Amazon, once you include postage.

I think you want -

1. an open ended creative sandbox game that works in 2-player, e.g. minecraft
2. a good competitive 4-player, e.g. mario kart or party
3. a 2 player platform game

We have one switch as a family console, and DC play together if they want to play at the same time. It works fine.

Mario cart and Minecraft.

Mario party is fun but long as gets repetitive.
Minecraft is more creative and tons of ways to play. I really recommend it.

My children were about the same age as yours when they got their Nintendos, at this point 5 years on they have most of the games in their age range. However they play only a handful of them. The games we love as a family are monopoly and Mario kart, the games they love are Minecraft (has been played more than anything else) and animal crossing, Lego worlds is fab too a bit like Minecraft as in it’s a building game. I would say 2 each would be my go to, something for them and something for you all to play together. If you join Nintendo online there’s free games on there too. Make it a family thing and may DH will loosen up a tad but there’s no need to go mad, games are brilliant go to gifts over the years.

I think it’s you… two games is plenty. Do you know what games they like? See how they get on with those two and if needed, take a shopping trip to get another one. Giving them 4-5 is over the top indulgence. You will end up regretting giving them so much when they are a bit older. But I totally get where you are coming from.

As someone with a switch i would recommend going on the Nintendo eshop once the switch is setup. They often have deals on games.
You could also get them a voucher and taken them to boxing day sales so they can pick a game of their choice each.

I would start with 2. More so they can have a say in choosing further games, maybe for birthday presents. Depending on the game there is a fair amount of gameplay in them and it will take them a while to work through unless they are already experienced at gaming.

With respect, this isn't like that at all. It's like buying Monopoly for them to play together - sure they might not, but it's designed to be played together.

@RunningonCaffeine

I'd get two or three I think, plus the online subscription which is only about £30.

• Yoshi's Crafted World is lovely, fun for all the family and the littler one will love it
• Mario Kart always a mainstay for multiple players - warning though - you WILL have tears as they are competing rather than playing co-op! It is a good way to encourage fair play and sportsmanship
• Minecraft will last them for years and years, so get this as well if you can.

Just realised this is basically what @CreeperBoom has recommended - a platformer, a sandbox, and a multiplayer.

Don't bother with the sports games as IME they're quite hard for the littler kids to manage. Not sure about Just Dance.

@Catza you do know that some parents will exercise their powers of No and not let their children spend every spare minute gaming? It's even possible to do that on Christmas day!

@ChiefWiggumsBoy I am commenting on OP's own sentence, so not generalising to the population at large.

We went for 2 and then 6m later they had a game each for birthdays then a game each the next Christmas. 6 has been plenty and we've had our switch years. We are getting Nintendo online this Christmas now they're a bit older.

i think a few more games would be good so they can get the most out of it? But you can find some good deals second hand!