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Original poster

Do I buy Nintendo Switch

37 replies

Shinyandnew2022 · 14/10/2022 10:23

My two DC have both wanted one of these for years - they are now 11 and 9y
Originally we said Father Christmas doesn't do 'tech' and although the youngest continues to ask they pretty much have given up that we would buy them these.

They both have old iPads and use these
For Minecraft etc - though DDs interests are changing now she is at secondary school.

So am I mad for starting to think this might be the year to get them one ?
My worries are
Are they worth the money ?
Will DS become a gaming addict ??
And what do I actually need to get if I do decide to do it ?

Can anyone less Luddite please advise??

OP posts:
SantanaBinLorry · 14/10/2022 10:33

The Switch is great. Perfect ages for it.

The miss-use/addiction is down to you to police.

We got one at this age, with a starter game 1-2-Switch, then signed them up for a bundle where they ca download games.
They some times save or ask for more expesive games £30+ etc for xmas or birthdays.

bumpytrumpy · 14/10/2022 10:37

They're great. Many options for playing alone or together. Addiction doesn't come from reasonable supervised access.

Original poster
Shinyandnew2022 · 14/10/2022 10:40

Thanks for positive replies - am I right that there are sets with two handsets or do I buy a switch each ? I have no clue as you can tell.
Yes I know the gaming addiction is down to is so hopefully we can manage that
Many of his school peers seem to play Roblox/ Fortnite A LOT. !!

OP posts:
chouxfleur · 14/10/2022 10:41

We held our buying a games console for ages for similar reasons but we ended up getting a Switch a couple of years ago.
TBH I'm glad we did. I really like the way lots of the games are designed to be played together. We often play Mario kart, Just Dance, Snipperclips together as a family at the weekend. Much like playing a board game.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 14/10/2022 10:42

They're great, lots of fun. As PP said, use/addiction is down to you. Good for multi-player play.

You don't need much apart from some games to start off, but there are accessories you can buy e.g. steering wheels, accessories for sports/fitness games.

Original poster
Shinyandnew2022 · 14/10/2022 10:42

Can I get this between them and will these
Sell out before Christmas or willl there
Be any better prices if I wait ??

www.argos.co.uk/product/9482210

OP posts:
MistyRock · 14/10/2022 10:46

I would get them one each if you can. No kid wants to share.

SantanaBinLorry · 14/10/2022 10:48

Ha, mine share one quite happily!
Play two player games or take turns with their own games. Its not hard.
The defo don't need one each

theduckinatree · 14/10/2022 10:51

Shinyandnew2022 · 14/10/2022 10:42

Can I get this between them and will these
Sell out before Christmas or willl there
Be any better prices if I wait ??

www.argos.co.uk/product/9482210

Switches very rarely seem to be discounted, but you do sometimes find bundle deals with a game or two included. Depends if you want to risk waiting until, say Black Friday sort of time to see if any retailers offer a deal, or just get it now while it's in stock. The OLED one is still fairly new so might be harder to get hold of closer to Christmas.

Rollercoaster1920 · 14/10/2022 10:57

I'd have thought the older child would be more interested in a phone at that age than a switch?

I do think the switch is great though, we've had one for each child or a while. Do be aware that if they want to play online with friends then you will need to set up a Nintendo online subscription. And minecraft on the switch needs Nintendo online and also a Microsoft / xbox account. It's a bit complex.

ImissyouBR1 · 14/10/2022 10:58

Yes buy the Switch!! I want one for myself!

Jericha · 14/10/2022 11:01

We've bought one for our son, it's for his birthday that's a bit before Christmas. We got it second hand (admittedly I know of the man selling it so felt more comfortable coughing up a chunk of money for something second hand) as the prices have been increasing, it's about £60-70 more than it was 8 weeks ago when I first started looking.

It has a parental control thing on it to set restrictions so they can't play on it non stop.

Realityloom · 14/10/2022 11:02

Switch is fab I bought DS one when he was 6 absolutely worth it. He uses it when we are in the airport and travelling around. Good for friends and family as group games too.

Original poster
Shinyandnew2022 · 14/10/2022 11:03

Rollercoaster1920 · 14/10/2022 10:57

I'd have thought the older child would be more interested in a phone at that age than a switch?

I do think the switch is great though, we've had one for each child or a while. Do be aware that if they want to play online with friends then you will need to set up a Nintendo online subscription. And minecraft on the switch needs Nintendo online and also a Microsoft / xbox account. It's a bit complex.

She has a phone for school travel and messaging endless nonsense to her friends !

I am not sure it is her dream gift in the same way as DS but I think she would be excited to play with her brother and loves Pokémon and just dance

OP posts:
AnnapurnaSanctuary · 14/10/2022 11:03

The switch is good for this age. Then we got an Xbox when mine were older. I definitely wouldn't buy one each - there are some multiplayer games, and for the single player games they have to learn to share just like we had to fight with our siblings over the TV remote!

Rollercoaster1920 · 14/10/2022 11:03

Just checked and fortnight is free on switch and doesn't require the Nintendo online account. Roblox is not available on switch.

Both can be played on their iPads though.

MassiveSalad22 · 14/10/2022 11:08

God yeah! They’re great. My 7 year old can handle it just fine without becoming addicted. My 5 year old is starting to enjoy Ring Fit.

Occitane · 14/10/2022 11:12

I would recommend a switch, but I would get the one that can connect to a tv, and can also be used as a handheld version. There are lots of games that you can play as a family, and this only works if you connect it to the tv.

We never had problems with addiction, my children enjoyed playing but didn’t want to play all the time.

I would also recommend you get Zelda, Breath of the Wild. It’s an amazing game that I play, not my children!

whichwayiwonder · 14/10/2022 13:42

Shinyandnew2022 · 14/10/2022 10:42

Can I get this between them and will these
Sell out before Christmas or willl there
Be any better prices if I wait ??

www.argos.co.uk/product/9482210

Mine share quite happily, they don't need one each! You can get extra controls though

b8tes7sw · 14/10/2022 13:44

It's such a fun console and the family can get involved with games too. There is an app that controls daily time limits etc so easily monitored/policed. The ages of your children sound ideal age for a switch

Changednamesorry · 14/10/2022 13:50

My kids bought themselves a switch working cleaning for the neighbours for 7 months as I said I would never buy any console 😅

They are 11 and 5.

So far it had been good. Because it connects to the TV and we only have the TV in the living room my main rules are

  1. They have to play on the TV.
  2. No headphones that isolate them from the rest of the family and also allow them to communicate with others online.
  3. No spending in game (my boyfriend has bought them a battle pass for Fortnite with my secret consent and this feels to them like serious contraband!)
  4. We will never prioritise the switch so for example no "but my friends need me online at X time....."
  5. When I say put it away, put it away or it goes to cash converters and I'll give them the money which will be way less than they paid.

So far so good.

One major advantage is how portable it is. So I accidentally on purpose leave it at my boyfriend's house a couple of night a week when we have stayed there (which we usually do on Saturday) and when they stay with my ex they can only take I occasionally so it works out that it is only actually in their reach for probably 3 or 4 days a week max.

I'd let them have it but with a lot of caveats. It works.

ElfDragon · 14/10/2022 14:08

The Switch is great. Lots of lovely multi player and family games to enjoy.

One main switch console (not switch lite, which is handheld only) is fine between them - my 3 have happily shared one for years now. The main console will come with 2 controllers (joycons), which clip onto the console to play in hand held mode, or detach to play in tv mode (or when playing multi player using just the switch screen).

the controllers are multi functional, so can be used as either one small separate controller, or used two together as a bigger controller (sounds complicated, but it really isn’t!). It is worth checking what controllers the games you want to buy need, as there are sometimes restrictions on what is needed.

I would recommend buying an extra pair of joycons, so then you can play 4 player on some games (like MarioKart or Mario Party, or Just Dance, etc).

main console, extra joycons, and whatever games you want are all you need. There are extras, eg steering wheel joycon holders but they are not necessary.

Stressfordays · 14/10/2022 14:12

Got my boys aged 7 and 10 a switch lite each last year for Christmas. They are used daily and by far the best thing I have ever bought them. Some people are funny about gaming and screen time but mine have free reign most of the time as long as when I say stop, they stop. Theyve had tech bans a grand total of twice since they got them so they toe the line nicely. They also have a PlayStation which gathers dust these days.

Blessedbethefruitz · 14/10/2022 14:25

I got the switch a couple of weeks ago. Very had (has?) 20% off for new credit accounts, I got a bundle and a few games, for Xmas. I had to apply for the credit account but I just paid via PayPal in full anyway. The offer excluded other consoles but not the switch.

Flumo · 14/10/2022 14:44

They are great, my 2 love it. Definitely put a time restriction on though, my 8 year old son would stay on it all day if he was allowed.