In this episode, we help you get your Nintendo Switch fan's wish list taken care of with our Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED Gift and Buyer's Guide for the 2022 Christmas Season.
The Nintendo Switch is one of my favorite video game platforms, from the wonderful hardware to the amazing games, there are lots of reasons to love the Switch. Around the holidays, I always get asked by parents what to get their kids who are interested in the Nintendo Switch. I normally have to ask where they're going to play, how they are going to play (handheld vs docked), the types of games they want to play, and more. This happened again just a few days ago, which reminded me that it was time to get our annual gift buyer's guide for the Switch together. Whether you're looking for systems, accessories, or games, there's something here that should help everyone with their Switch gift list.
Systems: There are 3 configurations for the Switch. The original can be played on a TV or in handheld mode and features a 6.2-inch display. Next, there's the Switch OLED, which features a larger and brighter 7-inch OLED display, an improved kickstand, a dock with Ethernet for better connectivity, enhanced audio, and a few other improvements. Finally, the Switch Lite is the least expensive of the family, is a handheld--only device. It features a 5.5-inch display, non-detachable Joy-Cons, and a D-Pad for controls vs the up/down/left/right buttons.
Controllers Out of the box, both the Switch and Switch OLED include a pair of Joy-Con controllers and a Joy-Con grip. While these are functional, they are not really optimized for game playing. I highly recommend upgrading to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, it provides a much better overall experience in every way. They are rather expensive, however, and over $60, so for a less expensive alternative I highly recommend the KMD Pro Controller. At around $20 right now on Amazon, they operate well, they're comfortable, they have great battery life, and if they get ruined by the kids I'm okay with it.
SD card All three switch consoles have a ridiculously small amount of onboard storage. One of the good things, however, about all three is that you can add external storage through a microSD card slot. Stick with a reputable name brand, I use SanDisk myself. You don't need a super high-speed card either, and the 400GB card I currently use In my Switch OLED is under 50 bucks!
Spare Docks The Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED can be played connected to a TV, and they both include one dock in the box with the system. What if you want to take it with you on the go or play in more than one room? You're going to need an additional doc. The OEM Nintendo dock runs about $70 for the Switch OLED, but there are less expensive alternatives out there. The Iesooy doc I recently reviewed is a terrific choice for the money. The one thing I would recommend is to also pick up the Nintendo OEM power supply to avoid any power issues.
Games What good is the system without games? Three games I can easily recommend that anybody should enjoy would be Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Nintendo Switch Sports. All of these can be played either single or multiplayer, offer super fun gameplay, and they're all family-friendly too.
Switch online and eShop gift cards The Nintendo Switch is capable of being a fully digital system and has a full online store to support it. Save money by purchasing Nintendo eShop gift cards from Target or Sam's club as they are discounted every day.
The Nintendo Switch Online and Switch Online Expansion pack grants you access to online gameplay, cloud saves, and access to a library of games from the original NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis. Standard memberships are only $20 a year, whereas a family membership with the Expansion Pack is $80 a year.
The Nintendo Switch is still going strong and many people will find it under their Christmas tree this year. Hopefully, this gift guide has helped you find and fill some of the holes on your shopping list.
