So You Bought a Nintendo Switch; Now What?

A complete guide on getting started with your Nintendo Switch game console, including storage space, best games & more.

Nintendo Switch
Nintendo

Image via Nintendo

Nintendo Switch

The Presents are all opened, and this year somebody got you a Nintendo Switch. For the vast majority of 2020, these things were impossible to find, mostly due to people who wanted a casual video game console to fill the time carved out by the quarantine, reaching for the beauty and nostalgia of a plumber named Mario.

Now that you have a console that has had three years and some change to mature, with a collection of games that have continued some of Nintendo's more stored franchises, you’re sitting in an interesting position with a slick hybrid console.  But, what the hell do you do with the system now? You’re in luck; we’re here to help with that.

If you want to play a Switch game with two players, you are in luck.  The Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers are modular, meaning they can be detached from the console and be turned into two controllers. They can also be used on the console in handheld mode. The Joy-Con Grip provides a way to slide the controller into a traditional form factor.  The provided straps slide over the controller to have two separate Joy-Con controllers ready to play games as is.

That being said, getting a second controller may still be something you want to do. Depending on whether you plan on playing this console on your tv or going handheld there are a variety of options.

Nintendo Switch Joycon

Nintendo Joy Cons (L/R)

Purchasing another set of Joy-Cons means you can play two-player games where each player has two Joy-Cons or four-player games where each person has a single Joy-Con controller.  You’ll have to purchase another Joy-Con grip, but seeing how the grip is literally just a piece of plastic, it’s very easy to get one from a reliable third-party partner like Power A.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

If you are going to play this console primarily on your TV and are looking for a traditional controller experience, you can’t go wrong with the Switch Pro Controller. This is a solidly built controller that has a USB-C rechargeable battery with an insane 40+ hours of battery life.

Hori Nintendo Switch D-Pad Controller - Left

Hori Nintendo Switch D-Pad Controller - Left

One concession the Joy-Cons make in order to be modular is a lack of a true cross D-Pad. If you’re an old-school gamer and looking for precise inputs, this may be a problem on the go.  The Hori D-Pad controller fixes that problem by just being a left D-Pad.  This is a handheld mode only controller.  It’s a niche device, but maybe what you need if having four small buttons as a D-Pad is driving you crazy.

8bitdo GamePad SN30 Pro

8Bitdo Gamepad SN30 Pro

For anyone nostalgic for Super Nintendo, this is the controller for you.  The 8Bitdo SN30 Pro has a great controller layout made popular by the SNES, with the added benefits of two analogue controllers, which makes this controller functional with modern games as well. In addition to being a sick looking controller, it’s also functional. This controller is wireless with USB-C charging and has Amiibo support. It’s the perfect controller for old school games with a prominently placed D-Pad as well.

Hori Split Pad Pro

Hori Split Pad Pro

The Joy-Cons are great, but if you have large hands playing handheld mode for long periods of time can cause major cramping. The Split Pad Pro is a solution that takes the layout of a Nintendo Pro Controller and puts it on either side of your Switch in handheld mode.  Much like the other Hori controllers, this controller only works in handheld mode.

The Nintendo Switch comes with 32 GB of internal storage. That space will quickly be filled up with games and downloads, even if you are using cartridges.  In order to expand that memory, you need a MicroSDHC or MicroSDXC card.  Personally, I have upgraded my memory card about five times and wish I would have just started by buying a 500 GB card, but at the very least I’d suggest getting a 256 GB memory card.

You’re going to want to get a case for your Switch to carry around when you’re traveling or going anywhere with your Switch. The Switch is a bit big—not exactly something you can fit in your pocket. And while the screen is sturdy, it’s not the type of thing you want to leave exposed in a backpack. Getting a case with a few extra game slots and maybe room for some earphones, a USB-C cable, and brick to charge your Switch, and you’re good to go.

Nintendo Online

Nintendo Online

Speaking of games there are so many to recommend on the Switch.

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

There are many different Zelda games available on the Switch, but Breath of the Wild may be the best Zelda game made by Nintendo period.  The creators of Zelda were heavily inspired by The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and this can be seen in the game’s sprawling open world. Breath of the Wild nails exploration. There is so much to do and see, and it’s all set in a post calamity Hyrule. While this game came out on the Wii U, it is reason enough by itself to purchase the console, and the closest I’ve ever come to playing a perfect game.

Mario Odyssey

Mario Odyssey

Mario Odyssey plays how you remember Super Mario 64. This is Mario gaming polished to smooth sparkling gold. The Princess is kidnapped and Mario must rescue her once again with the aid of a magic hat. The hat mechanic allows you to take control of multiple Mario enemies ranging from a goomba to a T-Rex. If you ever liked a 3D Mario Game (Super Mario64, Sunshine, Galaxy), this is the game for you.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 is the most refined version of Mario Kart.  It doesn’t have mechanics that are game-changing as Mario Kart: Double Dash, and it isn’t as widely played and accessible as Mario Kart Wii, but all the mechanics from all of the other games are fixed, tweaked, and made perfect. All of the DLC from the Wii U version are here, making it a super fun game.

Ring Fit Adventure

Ring Fit Adventure

If you’re anything like me, the quarantine has not been kind to your waistline. This game does the seemingly impossible and makes exercise fun.  It’s an exercise RPG where the player (you) executes attacks by doing exercises that work different body parts. While this game was impossible to get for months after quarantine started, it’s much easier to obtain now. 

Undertale

Undertale

If you are into old-school SNES RPGs and want a fresh unexpected take on the genre, Undertale is a great game for you. Unline most RPGs, this game can be beaten in about six hours, which is great if you’ve got a busy life. It’s a game that warrants a second playthrough, and while I won’t give you any spoilers, I’ll just say the writing, game mechanics, and character development in this is a large part of the reason this has quickly become a new cult classic that stands alone from its inspiration.

Celeste

Celeste

Celeste is another game worth playing that tough as nails, but with a compelling storyline. If you are a fan of Super Meat Boy, Cuphead, or anything that could be described as “Nintendo Hard,” then I highly recommend giving this a try. While it’s difficult, the game is still fair. It is a game that makes you better at playing video games in general. A single level can have you die a hundred times in the span of half an hour, but with quick restarts and little to no downtime, it’s very easy to keep playing.

Untitled Goose Game

Untitled Goose Game

This game is not a graphical powerhouse, it is a terrific game. Untitled Goose Game is a low stakes stealth action game starring an unruly goose that terrorizes a small village in a quest to agitate everyone. The unique adaptive soundtrack sounds like a drunk baby playing piano at times—and I mean that as a compliment. The gameplay is worth your time. This roughly five-hour game doesn’t overstay its welcome but opens itself up to side missions and exploration, as well as multiple ways to solve puzzles.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

If you were on the Internet at the beginning of the pandemic, you’re aware of this game’s existence. Anybody that could get a Switch and a copy of this game were playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons.  For those who are unfamiliar, Animal Crossing is a town building simulator that the main draw is relaxing day-to-day tasks. This game is filled with hunting for fossils, fishing, catching bugs, planting flowers, decorating your house, and filling a museum, all while being under the crushing debt to a Raccoon. This is easily one of the most relaxing experiences on the switch and a game that warrants daily playing. 

Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2

If you like 2D Mario games (the first Super Mario trilogy, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros, etc.), this is the game for you.  The creators of this game decided to hand the tools to build your own Mario levels over to you, the player.  If building levels isn’t your thing, you can start with story mode and play 100 pre-made levels. When you finish that you can continue onto levels created by the community.

Because all of the 2D Mario games are slightly different, Mario Maker 2 lets you play and build levels that take place in the world of Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. U, and Super Mario 3D World.  

The Switch is a hybrid console built for gaming and fun. The console has been around for three years, which affords you opportunities to get games on the cheap because of regular Switch sales. Even if you don’t want to spend money out of the gate, you can still download Fortnite and Apex Legends (out later 2021) and play those massively popular games for free, straight out of the box.

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