Nintendo Switch

MumsyMoves · 2023-10-09T21:28:50+00:00

Considering buying my DC a Switch for Christmas but I am clueless when it comes to gaming! Please can someone tell me what I'd need to buy, what comes with the main console and what doesn't? Thanks!

OnlyBoobsandBabies · 09/10/2023 22:30

As a gamer myself and also owning a switch it comes with everything you need! If your DC travels I would recommend a travel case to hold the switch itself and the games. The game cards are very small so a case would help them not lose anything :)

Carolwithane · 09/10/2023 22:31

I'm of no assistance unfortunately as I'm in exactly the same boat 🤦‍♀️ Hopefully someone with half a clue will be along shortly! 🤷‍♀️

Original poster

MumsyMoves · 09/10/2023 22:35

OnlyBoobsandBabies · 09/10/2023 22:30

As a gamer myself and also owning a switch it comes with everything you need! If your DC travels I would recommend a travel case to hold the switch itself and the games. The game cards are very small so a case would help them not lose anything :)

Oh wow, really?! I thought I'd have to buy the main thing and then extras? Extra controllers for multi player maybe? Controller charger station or stand? Do the consoles come with any games?

OP posts:

Blessedbethefruitz · 09/10/2023 22:37

Bought one last year for dp and ds4 as they love to mario together.

You need a switch (not a lite) to have it on the TV, not just handheld. We got steering wheel controllers which makes the tiny sticks like a normal controller size for non racing games too, like final fantasy or mario brothers.

We've not used the travel case that I bought, or needed an extra memory card yet (which I didnt buy as per recommendations on here). I bought nothing else except games.

Letsplayvets · 09/10/2023 22:39

I also know nothing about these but my son is desperate for one. Do they use batteries? Or should I buy a docking station? I’ve seen lots of accessory bundles on Amazon so I assumed i would need to buy lots of extras.

Blessedbethefruitz · 09/10/2023 22:39

It comes with a stand, and you slot the little controllers in to the screen to charge them up when you're done playing. Ypu can buy packages with games, or buy them separately. Check out the online store (nintendo) for some bargains around black friday/Christmas.

Blessedbethefruitz · 09/10/2023 22:40

@Letsplayvets They come with a docking station which you keep attached to the mains (and tv) and it powers the unit and charges the controllers when they're plugged in to the screen.

kiddosbedtimealready · 09/10/2023 22:43

It's worth buying a separate controller as the joycons break easily, especially when kids drop the console! I got a decent one for £16 on Amazon for my son. It has lightening led on it which looks cool (to 7 year old!)

kiddosbedtimealready · 09/10/2023 22:45

Also Zelda Breath of the Wild is one of the best games ever made. You get your monies worth as it takes 100s of hours to complete!

Original poster

MumsyMoves · 09/10/2023 22:45

Blessedbethefruitz · 09/10/2023 22:37

Bought one last year for dp and ds4 as they love to mario together.

You need a switch (not a lite) to have it on the TV, not just handheld. We got steering wheel controllers which makes the tiny sticks like a normal controller size for non racing games too, like final fantasy or mario brothers.

We've not used the travel case that I bought, or needed an extra memory card yet (which I didnt buy as per recommendations on here). I bought nothing else except games.

Excuse my ignorance... what's the memory card for? Do I buy the canes or download them onto the device?
Also, does the standard console come with a card then?

OP posts:

Original poster

MumsyMoves · 09/10/2023 22:46

Games not canes!

OP posts:

EverybodyLTB · 09/10/2023 22:47

A switch comes with its docking station, which charges it and also connects it to the TV. When you’re using it as a handheld console you can plug in a charger, too.

IME the only need for extra storage was when my older son started playing Fortnite. Younger kids games didn’t seem to require it.

Get the storage case with lots of little game slots, as the games are tiny and you end up with the games cases open everywhere. I’ve chucked all the cases in the loft otherwise they’d have taken over the living room.

You can get cheap Amiibos (little stamps that add in-game bonus items) on Amazon/Temu and they also do things like swords and steering wheel controllers - but they are never necessary - they’re just an extra.

The switch controllers slide on and off of the console and can be used as one full controller paired together, or turned on their sides and used as two individual controllers. It’s easy and will pop up with a visual on the screen to help you decide which you’re doing with your controls.

Like an apple iPhone, I have to give Nintendo their dues, the Switch is so simple and self-explanatory even for tech twits like me.

kiddosbedtimealready · 09/10/2023 22:47

Memory card adds memory in case you want to it games as downloads. But buying the games on cards and putting them in and looking after them is better in my view. It gives the kids something to look after and they can make a collection and sell them when they are do e. You can't re-sell a download!

TeeNoG · 09/10/2023 22:48

We got my son a Switch a couple of years ago and it has been great.

If you want to be able to play it on the TV as well as handheld, you need the version with the docking station, not the 'lite' version.

Controllers - the switch has a controller on each side of the screen. These slide off and each one can be used as a separate controller to enable two people to play together. I've never needed to buy an additional set of Switch controllers, but I did buy a cheap (£15) Bluetooth controller which connects easily and works well.

If you want your kids to be able to speak to their friends whilst playing you'll need a headset - we didn't get one at first, but it is handy. It also depends on what games they are playing.

You need to buy games, these can be downloaded or bought on a cartridge. I buy second hand cartridges as one day I can sell them on again.

I really like the Switch - I know some aren't keen on screen time etc but we've had lots of fun times playing together, and they are great for a rainy days entertainment.

JaxiiTaxii · 09/10/2023 22:48

Buy a package with the switch (not switch lite), dock and games.

The only extras I'd suggest for Xmas day is a HDMI cable to connect it to the TV if needed and a case to hold your game chips, they're tiny.

I later needed a memory card, but that's not essential.

Great games are any if the mario series, mario kart, Pikmin 3 and Kirby.

JillyBoel22 · 09/10/2023 22:49

You can buy the console on its own or in a bundle with games which are usually good value. You will get the docking station, console and 2 joy cons to go with it.

To plug into the tv, the docking station goes into the tv via hdmi cable and the console sits in the docking station with the controllers removed.

You can also use it handheld with the controllers attached.

And there is a little flap on the back which allows the screen to stand on a table with the controllers detached.

Some games you can play multiplayer with one joy con each, usually turned on its side. But you'll need to look at the back of each game case to see how they can be played in multiplayer.

Otherwise you might want to buy separate joy cons if more than 2 will be playing.

You can buy really good accessory bundles on Amazon with the wheels, different attachments etc but this will depend on what games you buy.

Hope this helps. DP and I love our switch

EverybodyLTB · 09/10/2023 22:49

Yes re games Breath of the Wild is fabulous, I’ve completed it and it took me years of joy. The kids love it, also Animal Crossing and the Pokemon Games. Hollow Knight is a beautiful platform game. Mario Kart, Super Mario and 3D world are great for multiplayer, we’ve had so much family fun racing each other.

JillyBoel22 · 09/10/2023 22:50

Spyro is a great one player game

Blessedbethefruitz · 10/10/2023 08:20

Oh and of course, open it and set it up before Christmas. There are a bunch of software updates and these can take ages if you leave it until the big day.

octoberbundle · 28/10/2023 13:30

Is it suitable to buy one as a joint present? If so any additions I should be getting?! Thank you! X

EverybodyLTB · 02/11/2023 09:17

octoberbundle my 3 kids have a joint switch and honestly I see no issue with it. I don’t want them on screens all the time, so depending on what’s going on Friday-Sunday, we negotiate how many hours each child will get and how they want to spread that across the weekend. My eldest particularly wants to play with with friends on a Friday evening, so he tends to get that time slot. Others like the mornings and play different games, so it seems to balance well. They have become quite skilled at negotiating and sharing, and quickly worked out that if either of them doesn’t cooperate or be fair, it messes up the whole system.

I do play with them usually on a Sunday eve to wind down the weekend, we play Mario Kart or 3D world or something all together as a family. The timing ‘rules’ are more relaxed when there’s multiplayer situations.

PeanutsFan · 06/11/2023 23:10

DS already has a Switch and DD has asked for one for Christmas.
if I get a Lite how compatible are they? or is it best to get a switch with docking station etc?

She also wants Minecraft and Animal Crossing.

TheGirlWhoLived · 07/11/2023 09:39

You can’t play on the tv with the lite. I would get another switch the same as the initial one, then they can both play handheld at the same time, either one can use the docking station attached to the tv and they can use the controllers off one switch to play multiplayer on the other ☺️

BritneyBookClubPresident · 07/11/2023 09:57

Following

PeanutsFan · 07/11/2023 18:38

Great, thank you. The original switch has been a huge hit with DS and they sometimes play together, especially Nintendo sports so it will be good to be able to keep this up.