Now that the Switch 2 has been revealed, with a Direct showcasing this new console next month, we think enough time has passed to declare the original Switch as Nintendo’s best console. Most fans won’t disagree with this, even those hipsters gassing up the Wii U’s eShop menu, as the handheld console hybrid has exceeded expectations and given fans the ultimate Nintendo experience.
If it were up to me, I would have just written “It put Persona 5 Royal on a handheld” a hundred times, but you dear readers deserve better.
The Switch is so great because it single-handedly revived interest in the handheld gaming market. While the 3DS and PS Vita were great handhelds, fans at the time felt these systems couldn’t compete with mobile games. However, the Switch blew that argument away, giving fans a ton of console-quality experiences on this handheld.
We also don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the Switch also started gaming’s new obsession with PC handhelds. Valve is currently leading the charge there with their Steam Deck, but Asus’ ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion GO are up there with it. It’s also fair to say that this inspired the rise of retro handhelds from Anbernic, Retroid, and PowKiddy.
Beyond inspiring a whole console movement, this system also regained the trust of third-party developers. Since the Wii U was considered a failure, you rarely see top-tier games from Capcom, EA, or any other major publisher. Now, the Switch has many third-party games that play excellently on this system, including Persona 5 Royal, Batman: Arkham City, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, and more.
Granted, it’s a shame that third-party publishers need to underpower some of their games to be playable on this system, as Bethesda’s solid DOOM ports have shown. It’s also a shame that some major games like Persona 3 Reload and Street Fighter 6 didn’t bother coming out, instead waiting for the system’s successor. Still, there is no contest when you compare the third-party games on this system to Nintendo’s Wii U.
Everything we’ve said has been great for new gamers, but Nintendo fans were rewarded for owning a Switch. Zelda: Breath of the Wild was just an appetizer, as gamers were fed a buffet of excellent exclusives. Metroid Dread, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Super Mario Odyssey, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and more. Things aren’t over yet, as the system will also get Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond later this year.
Older Nintendo fans were rewarded if they subscribed to the company’s online service. Although the service wasn’t very exciting at launch, the base membership now includes NES, SNES, and Game Boy games for the yearly price of $20. If you go up to $50, players get all that plus N64, GBA, and SEGA Genesis games and select DLC expansions for Nintendo exclusives, like the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
There’s so much to adore about the Switch that fans have grown numb to some of its weaknesses. No themes? Disappointing but not a deal-breaker. Generic eShop? It's lame but look at all of these quality games. Joy-Cons? Well, some tremendous third-party replacements can do the trick.
Honestly, the Switch is so good that we can’t blame fans for still picking one up when the Switch 2 arrives. Fans can pick up the original version, the V2 model for a better battery, the OLED edition for that same battery and a beautiful screen, or the Lite for handheld-only play. This system has a gaming library that most consoles can only dream of, even when you ignore all the shovelware that uses AI-generated art.
If all that isn’t enough for you, remember: Persona 5 Royal can now be played on a handheld. That’s all thanks to the Switch.