Thanks for reading this Nintendo Switch guide on TendoSource!
I bought the Nintendo Switch at launch, and I have had so much fun with the system ever since. If you are planning on getting a Nintendo Switch as well, this handy guide will help you make the most out of your purchase.
Once you get a Nintendo Switch, I recommend getting a few must-have accessories, a couple popular exclusives, a handful of stellar digital titles, and a variety of free software to make your purchase complete.
Here is a quick outline of what I will be covering in this article:
- Must-Have Nintendo Switch Accessories
- Popular Nintendo Switch Exclusive Games
- The Best Nintendo eShop Digital Games
- Top FREE Nintendo Switch Games
Let’s dive into my top Nintendo Switch recommendations right now!
►MUST-HAVE NINTENDO SWITCH ACCESSORIES
You are going to need a few Nintendo Switch accessories to make your Switch purchase complete. I will be providing 2 top recommendations for your pleasure in this very guide.
If you want to know about the 9 essential accessories not included with a Nintendo Switch, read this guide I wrote just for you. It covers a variety of products that will 100% enhance your Nintendo Switch experience.
But enough talk.
Let’s check out 2 of my top Nintendo Switch accessory recommendations!
1) Screen Protector
A Nintendo Switch screen protector should be one of your very first purchases alongside your new hybrid console.
- The Nintendo Switch has a nice, high quality display that is also touch responsive. To keep the screen brand new, you will want to invest in a quality screen protector to defend against the elements, fingerprints, and more.
- You might even drop your Nintendo Switch from time to time, and a solid screen protector will help ease the fall just a bit.
But you won’t be touching the screen or playing in handheld mode, you say?
A screen protector is still a good investment, just in case your hybrid console tips over inside its dock due to random events, earthquakes, or accidentally being nudged over.
I purchased a glass screen protector to guard my Nintendo Switch’s screen. A glass screen protector is sturdier, thicker, and protects against damage much better than a plastic cover can.
I have had the same screen protector on my Nintendo Switch for nearly 3 years and counting and I highly recommend this brand. This is the exact same screen protector I own. It’s a good price and will provide peace-of-mind for years to come.
2) microSD Memory Card
Whether you are downloading digital games or buying physical copies for you Nintendo Switch, you will want to buy a microSD memory card.
- The Nintendo Switch is home to thousands of games and a lot of them require additional storage space in some shape or form.
- Games require storage space for their save files, extra content, patches, screenshots, and videos.
- Even more, some physical games require large amounts of data to be downloaded to your internal or external memory in order to play.
- On top of this, the Nintendo Switch is home to countless digital only exclusive games that MUST be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop to play. This means that additional storage is a must.
- And don’t get me started with how big file sizes are for some popular Nintendo switch games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Witcher 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, NBA 2K20, and Dragon Quest 11.
You get the point by now. Investing in a sizeable microSD card for your Nintendo Switch is something I highly recommend.
What Nintendo Switch microSD card do I suggest?
I purchased a 128GB card at launch and then replaced it a year or two later with a 400GB model.
This is a solid 128GB card I would personally purchase if you want something that will hold you over for a while.
And this is the exact same 400GB microSD I am rocking to this very day.
This 400GB card is the storage capacity I suggest if your budget permits as it allows hundreds of games to be downloaded (I have nearly 200 games as of this writing with about 130GB storage free).
The amount of games you will be able will vary but it is better to be safe than sorry.
The bigger the better, because hundreds of great games are launching on the Nintendo Switch every month and all will require space.
💡 ADDITIONAL GUIDES FOR YOU:
9 Essential Accessories Not Included With Nintendo Switch
Do You Need A Second Switch Controller For Multiplayer Games?
►POPULAR NINTENDO SWITCH EXCLUSIVE GAMES
Of course I can recommend The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for days, but I won’t.
If you want to check out the 3 best Nintendo Switch games every owner needs, I wrote a nifty article about my top 3 Nintendo Switch games for your enjoyment. Check it out!
Today, I want to recommend 2 other exclusive games to the Nintendo Switch you won’t want to miss.
1) Super Mario Maker 2
Mario games are always fun, and Super Mario Maker 2 takes the fun to another level.
Enjoy an entire story mode of levels created by Nintendo, play other creator’s levels from around the world, or make your very own levels to play and share.
Super Mario Maker 2 is great no matter what era of 2D Mario you enjoy.
This game includes many different Mario graphical and gameplay themes including
- Super Mario Bros. 1 from the NES
- Super Mario Bros. 3 from the NES
- Super Mario World from the SNES
- New Super Mario Bros.
- as well as a 2D theme based on Super Mario 3D World.
Super Mario Maker 2 is a must-have Nintendo Switch exclusive game that will provide hours of enjoyment whether you are a hardcore or casual Mario fan.
2) Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is a frenetic action game for up to 4 players.
Pick one of dozens of Marvel characters and battle through a story driven campaign with up to 3 friends in the same room or online.
This game is a nice change of pace from other title as it combines flashy moves, super hero gameplay, quick action battling, and varying difficulty levels to suit your tastes.
It also includes many popular characters from the Marvel movies so you can become your favorite superhero from the comfort of your living room only on your Nintendo Switch.
If you enjoy Marvel and action games, this is the exclusive Nintendo switch game for you.
💡 ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIVES FOR YOU:
- Astral Chain
- Daemon X Machnia
- Dragon Quest 11 S (includes exclusive features)
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
- Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee!
- Pokemon: Sword and Shield
- Snipperclips
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
► THE BEST NINTENDO ESHOP DIGITAL GAMES
With the Nintendo Switch exclusives out of the way, let’s check out 2 top Nintendo Switch digital games found on the Nintendo Switch eShop store (accessible from the Nintendo Switch homepage).
1) Stardew Valley
Are you looking for something a little more relaxing? You will want to download Stardew Valley from the Nintendo Switch eShop on day one.
I played this game for over 100 hours, and I do not plan on stopping anytime soon
What is Stardew Valley?
Stardew Valley is a relaxing farming simulator with high definition, clean, 2D visuals and a nice soundtrack.
Gameplay is centered around
- building your farm
- growing crops
- raising animals
- planting trees
- going fishing
- battling monsters in the caves
- selling goods
- exploring the game world
- completing quests
- and getting to know the citizens of the valley.
A packed game, for sure!
The best part of everything listed above? You can choose to do all or none of it.
Yup. Stardew Valley gives the player complete freedom to focus on one task or dabble in all the game has to offer.
Sometimes, I will spend one full in-game day on my farm while I will battle monsters from sunup to sun down the next day.
This is the best game to relax and play after a long day and to balance out the reflex and hectic gameplay of Super Mario Maker 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3.
Pick up Stardew Valley if you haven’t already.
2) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
The Ace Attorney Trilogy compliments my other recommendations by being entirely different (and wackier) than anything I listed so far.
This game is a HD remaster of 3 highly acclaimed visual-puzzle crime and law games crafted by the renowned Japanese company Capcom (makers of Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Resident Evil franchises among others).
The game is quirky, has crisp anime-inspired visuals, moody music, and funny characters.
Gameplay in all 3 games revolves around a young lawyer named Phoenix Wright and his assistant as they solve crimes in and out of the courtroom. The player is tasked with talking to suspects, visiting crime scenes, collecting evidence, and winning court cases by presenting findings to the judge.
All in a game-like manner that is easy to pick up and hard to put down.
This game is another great game to play after a long day with its laid-back gameplay (most of which is reading) and ncie music.
Make the Ace Attorney trilogy one of your first digital downloads from the Nintendo Switch eShop and you may end up being one happy camper.
💡 ADDITIONAL ESHOP GAMES FOR YOU:
- Akane
- Art of Balance
- Bastion
- Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle
- Graceful Explosion Machine
- Implosion
- King of Fighters series
- Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
- Pinball FX 3
- Voez
►TOP FREE NINTENDO SWITCH GAMES
And finally, you will want to download these 2 awesome FREE games for your new Nintendo Switch.
I could mention Fortnite or Paladins: Champions of the Realms, but these are two known quantities that you might have heard of.
Download these two, of course, but I want to focus on two others (and one is cheating! Read on to find out).
1) Super Kirby Clash
Super Kirby Clash is a free-to-start game set in the colorful, whimsical world of Kirby, but with extensive role playing game elements tossed in.
Yes! Super Kirby Clash combines the tried-and-true side-scrolling, platforming action style of past Kirby games with statistics-based gameplay, loot, crafting, gear, party members, and more.
The game centers around picking a Kirby class–two very different damage dealers, a healer, or magic user are all available–to do battle against a Boss in a small arena.
Each Boss fight is known as a “Quest” and each Quest can be replayed for more loot, experience points to make you stronger, and to get a higher completion medal.
Try getting a Platinum medal in each Quest for the ultimate challenge.
By the way, there are over 100 different quests to complete alone with computer controlled party members or with friends and strangers online from around the world so boredom will never strike unless you let it.
This is a really fun game I have spent a lot of time with and have only spent less than what it costs for a cup of coffee.
Super Kirby Clash is free to download with additional purchases to make the gameplay experience even smoother.
2+) Tetris 99, NES Games, Super Nintendo Games
Yes, Yes. This is the cheating answer to “free” games. But, hey, I did suggest Fortnite and Paladins along with Super Kirby Clash.
I put “free” in quotations because Tetris 99, over 20 NES games, and a growing library of 20 Super Nintendo games are all free . . . as long as you are a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber which I highly recommend.
The individual membership is relatively inexpensive compared to other consoles and provides a lot of value including dozens of free classic games, cloud saves, and online multiplayer.
Once you are a member, you can head to the Nintendo Switch eShop to download the addictive, online focused Tetris 99 and the two classic treasure-trove library of games from yesteryear.
►Conclusion: Switch Up Your Gaming!
Congratulations!
If you are getting a Nintendo Switch today, tomorrow, or in the near future, you are now equipped with my top recommendations for what you should snag along with your cool, new purchase.
Enjoy your new Nintendo Switch and happy gaming, friend!
By Wally
(Screenshots taken by me. Images sourced from product pages on the Nintendo website. Logos, characters, and images are owned by their respective owners)
“My Nintendo” Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 exclusive wallpaper image used; “My Nintendo” Super Mario Maker 2 exclusive wallpaper; Screen protector Image: Amazon product page.
