As a millennial, I have gotten to experience the evolution of video games almost in it’s entirety. And, in my personal opinion, the Nintendo Switch is one of the best video game consoles on the market. It’s namesake speaks to the fact that you can switch from playing it on your TV to handheld, which is the first of it’s kind. That, along with the many types of video games you can experience playing on the switch, was one of the main reasons I invested in one. It’s also considerably cheaper ($299 retail price) than some of the other game systems out there making it fairly affordable. I love mine so much that I decided to write a blog post about it, so here we are.
First, a little background on my personal history with video games. I was introduced to video games in the early 1990’s (what a time to be alive!) My cousins had an original Nintendo as well as an original PlayStation. We spent hours playing Dr. Mario and Driver, much to my Aunt’s delight (with the exception of the occasional fight over who’s turn it was). When the handheld Game Boy came out, everything changed. I remember saving up to buy a bright green Game Boy Color and the thrill of playing Pokémon Blue for the very first time. It truly was a gamechanger and that was only the beginning.
Since those days, numerous amounts of game consoles were introduced including various upgrades of Nintendo systems and handhelds. Full Disclosure: I have been an exclusive Nintendo user since my Game Boy Color days (with the exception of the iconic Sega Genesis), so the rest of this blog may be a little biased. After the Game Boy, I had a Nintendo 64 gaming console followed by a Wii and then a Nintendo 2DS handheld. I loved them all, but was often too busy to play all of the various systems and games that I had acquired over the years. By the time the Nintendo Switch was released I had all but given up playing video games with the exception of the COVID-19 shutdown in the Spring of 2020.
Being the Nintendo stan that I am, the Nintendo Switch had been in the back of my mind since they came out with Pokémon Sword/Shield in 2019. Fast forward to 2021 and I had started a new job, which not only allowed me more free time but also allowed me to pay off my car – the last bit of debt I had. At that point I knew what my debt-free gift to myself would be: A Nintendo Switch. True to my generation, I did a ton of research before buying one. I looked at everything from the best accessories to which games to buy. Finally, in the Spring of 2021 I bit the bullet and bought my first gaming console in over a decade – and it was the best decision I’ve made in years.
The Nintendo Switch is an amazing investment whether you are getting one for yourself or your children. In my opinion, the best part is the diversity of games you can get. Not only can you get the newest versions of classic Nintendo games, but they offer games from tons of different gaming consoles and platforms like Crash Bandicoot, Rollercoaster Tycoon and even The Lion King (a Sega Genesis Classic) from the 90’s! Another selling point for me was the option for online play. For as low as $20 a year, you can get an online Nintendo membership and play in real time with fellow Switch-owners. Plus you can get discounts on downloadable versions of your favorite games. Having Nintendo Online has been a great way to have fun and keep in touch with my friends and family in Ohio since I moved.
If you are considering getting a Nintendo Switch then this is blog post is a sign that you should buy one. In the 10 months that I’ve had one I have had hours and hours of fun, and it has more than paid for itself. Nintendo has truly outdone itself with this console from it’s design to the quality of graphics and beyond. You can’t put a price on the joy of feeling like a kid again when you play your old favorites and discover new ones. I hope you enjoyed my two cents on this topic. I’ve added an image with some of my favorite games at the end of this blog, and if you own a switch please comment to add what you love about it! Thank you.
<3 Ash
