Nintendo Switch

[MumsyMoves]

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!

when you have 4 joycons, you can play all together! Mario kart is great too for smaller ones ☺️

Switch is the best console imo
we have a PS4 that gets played about 3 tomes a year!
Very or similar usually do a package deal inc a game and if you're a new customer you'll get money off
That's how I did it ^
It was the cheapest way at the time
Never bought anything from Very since! ;)

Good tip! I got the first switch during Black Friday in a console/game/case package from the Nintendo store and it was very competitive. I'll start keeping an eye out for deals.

If you’ve never had a very account then that could be a good bet come Black Friday. Usually £30 off first purchase and you can pay it off straight away. Otherwise Amazon does some good bundles on Black Friday too, you’ll almost certainly find some with animal crossing bundled in. Minecraft is quite cheap anyhow so it’s probably better to buy that as a stand alone game

Question. If we already have game chips and codes can they be used on another console if they are already downloaded on our existing switch?
Also, can I add more kids account to my Nintendo account?

Game cards can be shared amongst switches, they come with their own save date on the console they’re using! i think downloads can too but I’m not 100% - you’d have to be using the same family account to Download.

it’s trickier to add another child to your account because you have to set up a primary and secondary console and saving etc gets awkward. They wouldn’t be able to use the internet facilities at the same time (so if you end up with Fortnite for eg then they wouldn’t be able to play each other or at the same time)

you are best setting up a family account and adding the new switch under a new email - this costs slightly more but in my opinion it’s worth it when you have more than one user!

You are a font of all knowledge, thank you! I'll add that to the to do list! At age 10 I'm keen on the parental controls aspect so to be able to manage both consoles from a family account is important.

Nah just a very niche Nintendo switch knowledge. My animal crossing knowledge is my real super power 😁

You have your primary parent account and then the kids come under the family account but have their own details, it’s a pain initially (I’m not a massive fan of techy admin) but there’s lots of step by step walk throughs on the Nintendo website.

re parental controls you obviously yes can have them, but I’ve never felt the need to really exercise the controls, it’s not free roaming onto the internet and I would know if someone is on the switch as it docks in the living room. Maybe older teens etc might sneak out of bed to get it, but mine are younger and honestly I don’t think the games are as addictive as some things. I just sort of say “you can play the switch after dinner” and that’s the level of restriction. Maybe Fortnite is a bit more of a concern as they can communicate with others - that I do have controls on! My son’s Fortnite controls are that I have a passcode that I have to enter each and every time he wants to add a friend. So he’s only friends with his actual friends.

Sorry to jump on. What is the best age to get a switch to be able to make the most out of it? Ds has just turned 6 but doesn’t know what a switch even is. I don’t know whether to get it this Christmas or wait for next.

It depends if you’re going to be playing with them. Mine started using it properly from 4/5 playing Mario kart with us, then on their own probably 7/8
If they have started being interested in phone or iPad games like some roblox ones (usually around year 1/2) then they’ll get enjoyment out of the more basic games!

ds plays Mario and he’s 3 in January 😁

We waited until he asked for it and showed an interest in particular games. He was 7 and a few friends had started getting one and he saw older kids at a sports club use it at break times.

If I remember rightly if they want to play with friends on such as Minecraft you need to have the Nintendo membership which costs monthly or yearly. I have this for dd.

We went for dd8 a full switch not the lite version as it came with the dock to hook up to the tv. She hasn’t really used it at all with the tv but in future she may so I think it was worth getting the more expensive one. Definitely get a case for the games too as they are so small. My dd loves Minecraft, animal crossing, Pokémon games like pikachu go and Mario kart games. She’s not bothered too much about Zelda but I have both Zelda games so she can play if she wants.

Dd got her switch for 7th birthday but had been playing mine a bit since 6. She’s 8.5 now and is so good at Minecraft.

DS got a Switch last Christmas and I was really impressed at how easy it all was.

Don't get the Lite.

It comes with everything you need, a stand which charges it, 2 controllers that get charged through the console, and a cable for connecting to the TV.

Open it before Christmas and set it all up, it will need an update and a log in. I set it up using my email address and card details (for buying games) and each child has a profile where they can save their progress etc.

They're quite sturdy, only last night older DS dropped it and there were tears and panic all round, but it was one of the controllers and I just pushed it back together and fingers crossed it's all fine. But weve got insurance through Currys just in case.

We don't buy the physical games, they're too small and easily lost. He gets a gift card then he can buy online.

Mario Kart is amazing and if you get an extra controller pack you can play as a family!

Think we’re getting one for my 5.5 boy as all his friends are getting one. Probably the oled.

a friend of mine has problems with very as it didn’t get delivered. Do they tend to be late on shipment ?

Has anyone bought one via CEX? I'm such a cheapskate and am awaiting black Friday deals etc but the inner cheapo in me is saying get it second hand!

At the same time really really dont want it breaking or not working as its DS main xmas gift

It’s obviously up to you, I wouldn’t risk cex personally as the joycons tend to wander after a bit and they cost £70 to replace, which will probably suck up all the savings on a second hand switch (they hold their value pretty well for an a or b grade) you don’t know how the movement gyroscope is in the joycons either if they’ve been dropped a lot or internal water damage or anything 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes thats a good point. I think I might for once just need to suck it up and buy new 😑

If you can afford to buy new then I’d buy new. although the joy-cons do tend to get issues after a while they can be sent to Nintendo to be replaced or fixed free of charge, even after the manufacturer's warranty has passed.

All, just bought a switch for the DC's Christmas. I was going to purchase extra joy cons so the 4 of us can play it together. Can anyone suggest ones that are decent as spares but not extortionate? I doubt we will use them much

Where did you buy from?

I'm planning to buy this weekend. Can anyone suggest the best place to buy from - any offers around?

I need to go back and read the advice on this thread to understand what I need to put in my basket 🤯

Would you say that a Switch is suitable for kids around 7-10 years old?

Asda was the cheapest one I could find for the OLED a model

I ordered the oled bundle from very with the new Mario game for £280, they had 20% off x

We ordered the OLED. Also planning to get a screen protector, carry/storage case and a couple of new games - all Amazon. Considering buying the little steering wheel things for Mario too

Also keeping an eye on FB Marketplace for any used games.

Has anyone bought spare joy cons? If so what model did you buy, they are sooooo expensive!