There are a lot of different ways to play on Nintendo Switch The main device slips into the included dock to play games on your TV, while you can also detach the Joy-Con for semi-portable gaming.
While the console might be a few years older than its rivals, being able to take a game on the go and then move it to your TV still has magic. This, plus some top exclusives, contributed to its huge success.
What is the Switch?
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid home and handheld console that enables you to play games in three different ways: connected to your TV, using its built-in screen as a monitor (called tabletop mode), or as a portable console. It also supports local multiplayer and face-to-face play with friends.
The console is backed by Nintendo’s expansive game library and has many exclusive titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Pokemon Let’s Go. The company also offers an online service called Nintendo Switch Online that enables you to save your game progress in the cloud.
What are the Joy-Cons?
The Joy-Con are two controllers that are part of the Switch console. They can be attached to the screen or slotted into the Joy-Con grip for a setup that is similar to a Wii Remote and Nunchuk. They also work individually as detached single-player controllers in supported games.
Each Joy-Con features Wii/Wii U Remote-esque gyro/motion controls and HD Rumble. They’re comfortable enough to hold for extended gaming sessions.
Nintendo has released a wide variety of colors for the Joy-Con, so gamers can mix and match to create custom controller pairings. The Joy-Con also have different button shapes and colors, making them fun to customize for a personalized feel.
How do I use the Joy-Cons?
The Joy-Cons are the primary controllers for the Nintendo Switch video game console. Each Joy-Con has an analog stick and several buttons when attached to the console, and can be used individually as wireless controllers when detached.
To use a single Joy-Con, hold it sideways and press the small button embedded in the rail that attaches it to the console (between SR and SL). A green light should begin to bounce. The Joy-Con will then appear on your device’s Bluetooth menu as a separate controller. To disconnect, visit the Settings section of your device and select the blue information icon.
How do I pair the Joy-Cons?
The process is similar to pairing wireless controllers for any other game console. First, make sure your Switch is powered on and has its Bluetooth toggle set to on. Then, locate the small black sync button on the side of the controller (it’s positioned between the SL and SR buttons) and hold it down until it begins to flash in a strobing pattern.
Once this happens, you can then select the Joy-Con you want to pair and follow the prompts from there. You can also use this method to connect any Joy-Con or controller you own as long as they support Bluetooth and are compatible with the Switch (or the Switch Lite). The same process works whether the console is docked or in tabletop mode.
How do I play games on the Switch?
There are a wide variety of games to choose from on the Switch. From family-friendly classics like Mario, Kirby and Super Smash Bros to more competitive titles such as Tetris 99 and Mario Kart 64.
The Nintendo Switch also features a surprisingly expansive library of games meant for older audiences. The colossal Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition offers a grim and gripping RPG experience, while Heaven’s Vault provides fiendish language-based puzzles in an intense point-and-click adventure game.
Advance Wars re-imagines Nintendo’s turn-based strategy series into something more akin to a military-strategy board game and is a must-play for anyone who loved the original Game Boy Advance title.
What is the Switch’s battery life?
The Switch has a 4,310 mAh lithium-ion battery and can run for anywhere from two-and-a-half hours to six hours, depending on the game you’re playing. But it’s important to keep in mind that even Nintendo’s estimate leaves room for error – different games will drain the battery at different rates, and frenzied, chaotic levels can require more power to render than calmer, peaceful ones.
You can extend the life of your Switch battery by turning it off or using Airplane mode, which disables Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (via Nintendo). And be sure to charge it at least three hours before your next gaming session.
Where can I buy a Switch?
The Nintendo Switch is a cutting-edge gaming console that can be used at home or on the go. It offers an immersive gaming experience with a vibrant OLED display and portable design.
Like all modern consoles, the Switch requires an internet connection to download software updates and downloadable content. These updates can be for the operating system or individual games.
The Switch has many exclusive games, including the popular multiplayer Pokemon franchise, the acclaimed Yoshi’s Crafted World, and the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise. There are also a number of independent games available for the Switch that can’t be played on other platforms, such as The Stretchers and the Box Boy franchise.
