The Nintendo Switch was released in March 2017 and is one of the most popular gaming consoles. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann had nothing to do with the console for years – until he finally bought it himself and was surprised.
For those who want to game after work, there are plenty of options in 2022:
- He grabs a controller and sits down at the PlayStation or Xbox.
- Or he opts for the Steam Deck as a mobile alternative.
- Alternatively, he stays at the PC and switches from work to gaming.
- Another alternative would also be the Nintendo Switch.
Especially the last option, I laughed at for a long time. Because in my eyes, the Switch could never compete with the PC or PS5. At most, I watched my girlfriend catch dozens of pocket monsters in Pokémon: Shield or take care of her plants in a farming simulation. My girlfriend loves her Switch dearly and it is a constant companion in everyday life.
But since I bought the Switch myself, I see the handheld console in a completely different light. I would even call it my purchase of the year in 2022. You can read why in the following article.
The Switch is considered outdated and not very powerful in 2022
What was my issue with the Switch? The Switch has been criticized for a long time. The console is criticized for not having a bright enough screen and the controllers being more suited for children’s hands than for adult gamers.
The competition authority of the United Kingdom, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), referred to the Switch as a “family console” that cannot compete with PlayStation and Xbox.
The biggest criticism from fans and buyers, however, is that the hardware installed in the Switch is already outdated. Many games offer weak performance or run poorly on the Switch.
That’s why there have long been demands for a new version and corresponding rumors about a Nintendo Switch Pro. Many hope that Nintendo will use a better chip from Nvidia in the future and bring all the cool features to the Switch that PC gamers with RTX graphics cards benefit from.
I could generally agree with the criticism. Why should I invest more than 300 euros in outdated technology when a new version will eventually come?
Buying a Switch completely changes my view of the console
In the summer, I then bought the Nintendo Switch OLED for myself. This was mainly due to a really good offer. At around 260 euros for the OLED version of the Switch, I could no longer say no.
My first game on the Switch was actually the Metroidvania “Hollow Knight” and thus not an exclusive Nintendo title. I had already spent some hours on the game on PC. And I was genuinely surprised at how well the game works on the Switch, despite previously complaining about the weak hardware.
I jumped and fought my way through the green path, cursed multiple times about the tough trio of the Mantis Lords, eventually reached the beautiful City of Tears, and almost despaired at the Colosseum of Fools. But that was more due to my inability than the handheld. By now, I have spent more time in “Hollow Knight” on the Switch than in all the years before with the PC version.
The Nintendo Switch has achieved something here that even the PlayStation has never managed: I actually leave my computer off after work and sit down on the couch with the Switch.
It’s this “casual” approach that keeps me hooked on this little console, which I had previously completely underestimated. I miss neither current hardware nor high FPS numbers or high-end graphics with ray tracing.
I also love the Switch because it offers me uncomplicated gaming. For that, I’m happy to forego next-gen graphics that my PC or PS5 could deliver. There are only a few exciting exclusives, and many exclusive titles for PS4/PS5 have also been released on Steam by Sony.
However, the Switch is not perfect in my eyes, and there are plenty of things that bother me:
- I find the grips not haptic perfect and a bit too small for my hands. A colleague then recommended other grips for the Switch.
Bluetooth and the online mode of Pokémon Sword do not get along, which is quite annoying, as I then always have to resort to wired headphones. - I have to do without Discord and other tools on the Switch, and only a few games offer a proper voice chat. And that is also severely restricted.
- The Nintendo eShop has a terrible performance on the Switch and makes shopping absolutely no fun. The sorting function is also awful; Steam or the PS Store clearly have the edge there.
Not even the Steam Deck could dethrone my Switch
What about the Steam Deck? Since September 2022, I can finally reach for the Steam Deck as well. Compared to the Switch, the device from Valve seems way too big, and especially for somewhat demanding games, the battery drains very quickly. In the MMORPGs I tested on the Steam Deck, the casing also got very hot.
And if I want to connect the Steam Deck to the monitor anyway, I might as well start the PC, where I have significantly more comfort features.
After these experiences, I quickly returned to the Switch. Since then, I have been playing Hollow Knight here again or now also Pokémon Sword. Because everything is so easy on the Nintendo handheld:
- On the Switch, the games I want to play run smoothly and stably.
- Nintendo’s console does not stutter like the Steam Deck or feel as hot as a hot plate.
- When I am on the go, the Switch has a much more comfortable size than the Steam Deck and fits significantly better in my travel luggage.
In fact, there is one game that I ultimately preferred to play on the Steam Deck instead of the Switch or PC, and that is the Pokémon clone Temtem. It is simply less bug-ridden than on the Switch.
Anyone who has grown as fond of their Switch as I have should definitely check out the following tips that have helped me a lot. Especially the tip on how you can unlock multiple save slots in certain games was worth its weight in gold:
11 tips and settings for the Nintendo Switch that you should definitely know
