The Switch has become one of Nintendo’s most popular consoles with over 110 million units sold, just below the Nintendo DS with 154 million units sold. Like the Nintendo DS, the Switch is also built with portability in mind, but with much better graphics and can output to an HD display.
From its awesome game library to its surprisingly awesome controllers, here are a few reasons why the Switch has become the gold standard for portable gaming.
1. The joy-disadvantages
You can see a lot of inspiration from the Wii U when it comes to the design of the Switch, including the controllers. The Wii U was also meant to be somewhat portable, with the clunky GamePad doubling as both a controller and a screen to watch the entire game or some other game element while connected to a television.
One of the main problems with the Wii U GamePad is that it was extremely heavy in terms of controllers. The Switch has solved this with its sleek, lightweight design. The Joy-Cons can be used wirelessly with one in each hand, similar to the Wiimote and Nunchuk design of the Wii, attached to the comfort grip for a more traditional controller layout, or separately for multiplayer games.
This is the best part of the Switch’s design. Instead of spending an absurd amount of money on another controller, the Switch makes it easy for a friend to join in the fun with each Joy-Con turning into its own controller using an L+R rail on which you slide . This in turn makes it much more practical when traveling with your Switch, as you don’t have to pack a separate clunky controller in case you want to play a multiplayer title.
The only downside is that some people experience Joy-Con drift; here are some ways to fix the problem if you are also having a problem.
2. Game Availability
Nintendo has the best exclusive games from all the major console manufacturers, making the Switch a fantastic investment to add to your collection. One of the best parts of the Switch is that it has a wide variety of games for every kind of gamer.
It has fantastic multiplayer titles that are fun for both casual and hardcore Nintendo fans, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Strikers: Battle League and Splatoon. The Switch also has some great relaxing titles for casual gamers, such as Spiritfarer, Tetris Effect: Connected, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Also hardcore fans who like RPGs are not left out in the cold. Games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Bravely Default II and Fire Emblem: Three Houses offer hundreds of hours of gameplay and are fantastically replayable once defeated.
Each of these types of games has its place when it comes to portable gaming. Multiplayer games on the Switch are perfect for bringing to a friend’s house, RPGs with hundreds of hours of gameplay are great when traveling with a lot of downtime, and casual games are best while relaxing in bed.
3. The design
Nintendo finally has the right design for its home console that can be both a powerful system with beautiful graphics and easy to take with you on the go. It’s not quite as small as a pocket-sized 3DS, unfortunately, but it makes up for that with a nicer screen, especially with the Nintendo Switch OLED, and a huge game library.
The Switch also has a kickstand to put on a table, and you can buy straps to attach it to the back of a car seat to play with friends on the go. The situation doesn’t always come up, but it’s a great feeling when it does. You haven’t lived until you see Smash Bros. with eight players late at night at a table at TGI Fridays.
The lightweight design makes it a lot of fun to play in bed or lay on a couch; we can’t imagine lying down while using a Wii U GamePad over our face. The Switch also has some really high-quality cases to carry the console, games and other accessories.
The Nintendo Switch has become the gold standard for portable gaming
Portable gaming systems have unfortunately largely disappeared. The PlayStation Vita was discontinued in 2019, Nintendo is shutting down the 3DS eShop in early 2023, and not many manufacturers are interested in building portable, handheld gaming systems.
However, there have been some innovations. The Steam Deck makes it possible for people to play high-end triple-A titles on the go in a Switch form factor, and the Analog Pocket makes portable retro gaming in the 2020s a joy.
These innovations show that the video game industry still has an interest in portable gaming. We look forward to seeing if a portable Xbox or PlayStation become a reality in the future.
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