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Noob dad has questions on what to buy for kids (self.switch)

submitted 2 years ago by PlutoniumAcid to c/[email protected]

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Hey all - sorry if these questions are very basic. I have absolutely zero console experience. I want to buy one Switch OLED for my 2 boys, for a roadtrip. The idea would be to use the desktop mode so they can play together, and also gets them the option to play single-player games one at a time.

Questions:

Do I need to buy more controllers? Are the 2 included enough for most 2-player games?
Can the OLED be charged in desktop mode? I read that the V1 cannot because the USB port is on the bottom edge.
What games are fun for 10-14 year olds that don't play Call of Duty and that sort? Is the included Mario Kart okay, or should I get some particular game bundle?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Some hopefully helpful answers:

the included controllers should be fine for the trip. They are called "joycons", so that is a good way to distinguish them, especially when talking about multiplayer. They aren't the most economic things in the world though, so you might want to consider getting two pro controllers, but if you decide your kids are going to make do with the included hardware, they should work fine.
The USBC port is indeed on the bottom, because this is where the TV docking station connects to it. The best solution is to have some kind of standh to ensure there is enough clearance to run the cable. Idk what its power consumption is, so I can't be much help if you plan on charging it from your car. I guess they're are licensed car chargers out there, although it seems like the current draw is a bit high for that sort of thing.
As for game recommendations, Mario Kart is pretty near the top of the list. I think for 10-14 year olds, the real killer app is going to be Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's a game where you fight other players using characters from other popular video game series. It's all about knocking each other off a stage though - no blood, gore, or realistic guns. Just be aware that they charge extra for a lot of the characters in the game, but it comes with a pretty wide selection of them with just the base game purchase.

Another bonus rec for more of a family games situation: clubhouse games: 51 worldwide classics is a really great and well made gaming collection. It can be surprising hard to find a good version of this type of thing because a lot of companies will try to take advantage of parents and families and rush really shoddy versions of monopoly or whatever to market. But the clubhouse collection has gotten a reputation for being very well done. Just to be clear though, this is a recommendation for if you want to have some kind of family board game night using the switch, NOT a recommendation for something 10-14 year olds would want to play on their own.