Nintendo DS

[hannahbanana2007]

I am thinking of getting my nearly 8 year old son a Nintendo DS for Christmas but am so confused by the different options. We had originally been thinking of getting him a Nintendo switch but we just can't afford it right now and I need really to keep Christmas costs down. So thought the DS would be a good alternative as you can pick up a lot of deals/second hand consoles plus load of cheap second hand games available. If I go for 2DS then that is the cheapest but am not sure if it is now obsolete? But the 3DS even second hand is quite pricey. My (tech obsessed) OH is convinced that getting a 2DS is crap as the 3DS must be better and is more up to date. Anyone got either and have any recommendations or tips?

Ours are about 4yrvold but we got the 2ds XL for bigger screen, both DC happy with it.

Nintendo are about to launch a handheld version of the Switch. Due out in October.
I think I'd wait to see what price that comes out at.

I do think the DS is becoming quite old and games are becoming harder to find. So many kids are using tablets as portable consoles. The launch of the new Switch-lite will kill it off completely.
Just so you know the 2DS and 3DS both play the same games.

Agree with Ed that the Switch Lite will kill off the DS and I wouldn't buy one new. However you can get them at a much more reasonable price second hand from game stores.

The Switch Lite is available for preorder priced at £200. Given the switch can be bought for £259 in Smyths at the moment, I'm not sure I'd pay £200 for the handheld version.

Thanks for your replies. Think whichever I get will need to be second hand to keep cost down so will keep an eye on eBay!

The 2D one is better for kids as the 3D is bad for their eyes. My kids had the 2D version and they liked it a lot.

200 pounds plus more for games is still s lot of money for most people. A DS and bundle of games is a good starter. I think your son would be happy.

Try CEX for pre-owned Nintendo DS.

Keep an eye out for a preowned Switch it's probably got more lifespan than the DS.

I got the 2ds for my son last xmas. If it helps you can play the 3ds games on it anyway. There's not much difference in it at all. He still plays it all the time and I've already bought more 3ds games for Xmas.

We got the 3DS XL for my son when he was 8 and he still uses it every now and then -he's 13!

The 2DS is a newer model and can play the same games as the 3DS without the 3D functionality (this is turned on and off with a switch on the 3DS and tbh my son has never used it anyway!)

You can pick up bundles second hand pretty cheaply and my son still buys games for it occasionally so they are still available for now. Just be aware that original DS cannot play 3DS games but the 2/3DS can play all. I think it's a great starting point :)

2DS is newer than 3DS and just as good in my experience (which is extensive - we’ve had about six of them over the years).

The flip open 2DS is newer than the 3DS and you can play 3DS games on it

Mine (13 and 15) still use the 3DS we bought years ago, even though we also have a Switch now. You can't get even pre-owned games in Game now, but our local CEX still has lots. We agreed to turn off the 3D when we bought it and it has stayed
off ever since I think (just picked it up as they were using it yesterday and it was off).

They still use the Wii too.

My 8 year old loves his 2ds what I like about it is that the games are affordable. He has loads if he had the switch theres no way he would have the same amount of games.

That's what keeps us going with the 3DS and Wii, cheap games and simple to use. We have an Xbox and there's much more faffing about, it always seems to need updates, downloads, passwords. It rarely gets used.

I got my son a 2ds for his 7th birthday and he loves it. I like that you can play any 3ds games on it too. If I'd have bought a switch or 3ds I would have spent my time being much more angry when he leaves it on the floor!

Just got my 6yo the 2ds for his birthday which had mariokart pre installed for £80 from smyths. He loves it but he is at an age that doesn’t really know video games iykwim?
He’s bought some cheap games with birthday money and apparently I can download games too (haven’t tried this yet).
It seems a great first console though

My DC (well into their teens) still play on their 2DS!

Games will be cheaper than the Switch Lite, I think! Especially at CEX as PP have said. All DS games will work on it, including 3DS games.

Btw the 2DS came out after the 3DS so is more 'up to date'.

My 15 and 12 year old dcs still go back and forward to theirs and dd started off with the DS Lite which is ancient. They both have the New 3DS XL which came out a few years ago but still works fine

My 8 year old never plays with his DS but plays with his switch instead. Think DS are very much need a major upgrade to keep up with all the new stuff available.

My dd has the switch but as there are hardly any games for it she often goes back to the DS. We have lots of barely used consoles tbh (xbox, Wii, Wii u). Ds does use the PS4

Brilliant, thank you all for the info

The 2DS will be fine. But both the 2DS and the 3DS are now obsolete as Nintendo has announced they are no longer bringing out new first party games for the consoles

I wouldn`t buy a 2ds. Nintendo are not making any more games for it! Its now the switch lite, a non put on the tv screen (handheld only) version of the swtich. Its obelete.....known that for months.

Theres still thousands of games you can play on it unlike the newer consoles