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Nintendo Switch - what do I need?

48 replies

Releasedmyinnerabacus · 02/10/2020 20:32

Hi

I'm getting my children a Nintendo switch for Christmas- it's our first foray into gaming.

What do I need by way of cables - to attach it to the TV etc, or extra memory, or anything else?

It's going to be a joint gift for all three children do I need to get it working on the day. 😬

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 02/10/2020 20:36

What about extra joycons - the switch comes with 2 but you can buy 2 more so more people can play

ohnonora · 02/10/2020 20:37

Deffo extra joycon. Go vacation game. I've cooked game.

andadietcoke · 02/10/2020 20:39

Extra joycons definitely. Maybe the steering wheels for Mario Kart too. I got those, joycons, and a case.

plixy · 02/10/2020 20:52

It comes with everything you need to attach it to the tv. And you will only need extra memory if you are planning to download games instead of buying the physical game. If you do want memory it's the same as you put in a camera and is really cheap.
You don't really need anything extra but if you want all the kids to be able to play a game together you will need extra controllers

Terrace58 · 02/10/2020 20:56

Set it up a day or two before and then turn it off and put it back in the box. You do no want to be one of the crowd trying to access the server on Christmas morning.

Just an FYI, do not buy Animal Crossing if it is a shared device. Only 1 account can be the primary player and everyone else is just a visitor with very limited game play.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 02/10/2020 21:00

Joy cons are expensive, I bought some unbranded ones from amazon which have been fine.

How old are your children?
Mario Kart and other Mario games are a hit for all ages.
1 2 switch and the carnival game are great for family game night, very short mini games with very instinctive control so you don't really have to learn what to do.
I found Animal Crossing quite addictive and relaxing through lockdown, you move to an island and carry out daily tasks, pick fruit, chop trees, make furniture with the resources.
I used to really like Theme Hospital as a teen and there is a similar one on the switch.
Puyo Puyo Tetris is good, you can play in story mode or as a battle with up to 4 playing at the same time for the ultimate Tetris head to head.
Also you can download demos of lots of games to try them out for free. I would invest in a carry case, you can get them either just for the switch in or table mode or bigger cases that you can keep everything in.

happytoday73 · 02/10/2020 21:01

Screen protector
I've also just bought a case/bag to put it away in

hauntedvagina · 02/10/2020 21:14

It comes with all the cables you need. Get a memory card if you're planning on downloading Fortnite, etc... an extra set of joy cons so more people can play. A case for if you plan on taking it out and about.

As a family we enjoy Mario Kart, Super Mario Oddessy and Fortnite. We take it in turns to play and then help each other by "spotting", DH takes on the bosses, I focus more on the strategy aspects Wink

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 02/10/2020 21:23

I bought one for my DD for Christmas from Nintendo and it came with the Mario Kart and a case for the Switch. I’m debating buying more controllers but they’re so expensive.

I’ve bought 1-2 Switch and the Incredibles far as those are the ones she wanted.

MountainPeakGeek · 02/10/2020 21:27

I'm probably stating the obvious but make sure that you get the proper Switch, not the Lite version.

ElfDragon · 02/10/2020 21:41

As everyone else has said, extra joy cons are a must.

My 3 dc share a switch. To begin with, I bought:

Switch plus mariokart 8 (package)
Extra set of joy cons
And a couple of cheaper games (crayola scoot which is fun, but not proper multi player, Lego Harry Potter and Lego city undercover - the Lego games are good value with lots of gameplay, IMO)

The switch comes with everything needed to connect to tv.

Do set it up beforehand - you’ll doubtless need a system update, plus I’ve always found it a good idea to have some knowledge of the game/gameplay so that you’re not scrabbling around trying to sort it out while cooking lunch, making sure only rubbish goes in the bin, the lost of presents is updated for thank you letters, etc. Plus system setup needs an account etc. You might want to look into an online gameplay account - depends on what games you want, or how you want to play them. I got away with not having inline membership for a couple,of,years, but as my dc have used it more, and acquired more varied games, it became more necessary.

Animal Rossini is fully playable by multiple players - not as a full multiplayer game though. The primary account is the residents rep (on our switch, this is me to sidestep any arguments between dc ), but when ds wants to play, he signs in from his player account, and he can do everything. The multiplayer set up gets a bit annoying, although it is easy enough to switch leader to have different players doing different bits.

Our most played games are:

Mariokart
Mario party
Animal crossing
Pokemon (lets go and sword/shield)
Just Dance
Lego games (now have Harry Potter, city, Jurassic world and Lego Worlds)

BexR · 02/10/2020 21:46

Following as my mind is getting boggled at the options

JellyBellies · 02/10/2020 21:53

Bought a switch last week. I bought

The switch
A 128 gb memory card
Case and screen protector
Extra set of controllers
Accident cover and warranty

Got all of our on amazon.

SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 02/10/2020 21:56

Memory card, at least 4 times what you think you'll need (so 128gb)

DON'T buy nintendo joycon. You can buy genuine Nintendo separate controllers, or non branded ones are pretty good. Get one each so they have the same thing.

What games are you getting?

EnglishGirlApproximately · 02/10/2020 21:57

Depending on the ages of the children I'd recommend Yoshis crafted world for a multiplayer game and of course Mario Kart and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 02/10/2020 22:02

Seriously don't buy joycon. Search switch controller on Amazon, or anywhere. Much better to have a proper controller, it's more comfortable to use and much easier to charge (usually just USB-C)

The gen Nintendo ones are great, you could get their own individual ones if you wanted, but the cheap ones are so much better, and so much cheaper

My teen has just informed me that the connection can be weird on the joycon too, and it'll just randomly switch off, and the controllers are 'way better'

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 02/10/2020 23:01

Can someone explain the difference between the additional controllers and the joycon. I googled Nintendo joycon and it came up with what I thought were the controllers. I don’t want to get the wrong thing.

ZombieFan · 02/10/2020 23:10

screen protector
extra set of genuine joycon controllers (the cheap knocks offs are a gamble. some work, some dont and they just aren't as good)
separate charger for all your controllers otherwise it will take you forever to keep 4 joycons charged.
Optionally but I found very very useful: Nintendo switch subscription, lots of games only work fully with a subscription.

ZombieFan · 02/10/2020 23:12

Can someone explain the difference between the additional controllers and the joycon
They are the same thing. The switch comes with 2 controllers/joycons attached. You need to buy extra ones if you want to do a 3/4 player game.

UnderCaffeinated · 02/10/2020 23:14

We had extra controllers but everyone prefers to play with Joy-cons, other than my partner.

We also have an extra charger for the joy cons so we generally put them all on charge together, the unit does charge two controllers but we always forget so put them all on charge on the charging stand whenever we're done.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 03/10/2020 00:05

@ZombieFan

Can someone explain the difference between the additional controllers and the joycon They are the same thing. The switch comes with 2 controllers/joycons attached. You need to buy extra ones if you want to do a 3/4 player game.
But there are a few comments like this that confuse me.

Seriously don't buy joycon. Search switch controller on Amazon, or anywhere. Much better to have a proper controller, it's more comfortable to use and much easier to charge (usually just USB-C)

Quartz2208 · 03/10/2020 00:10

We have the pro controller as well and the adaptor to play the joycons like that basically it’s like an Xbox/ PlayStation controller

ZombieFan · 03/10/2020 00:14

"Seriously don't buy joycon. Search switch controller on Amazon, or anywhere. Much better to have a proper controller, it's more comfortable to use and much easier to charge (usually just USB-C)"

What does this even mean? A joycon is the proper controller, its the 'official controller'. Do not buy cheap knock offs, they are a risk (might not work) and not as good (do not have full functionality cannot, do not update software). Don't believe posters trying to get you buying cheap shit.

Quartz2208 · 03/10/2020 00:40

The switch pro controller is by far the best for playing on your own zombie fan and is entirely official

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