When friends come over on weekends, the worst part isn't deciding what to eat—it's sitting down and staring at your own phones. That awkward "Should we do something?" moment? I've been through it way too many times. Eventually, I realized instead of scrambling to find a movie or starting an online mobile game, it's better to just pull out the Switch and set up a mini tournament. Not the kind where you sign up and draw lots—just a few people grabbing controllers, trash-talking each other, and the loser buying bubble tea.

My usual routine goes like this: Saturday afternoon, cola chilled in the fridge, TV or portable screen set up. Four or six people is the sweet spot. Too few and it's not enough action; too many and some will be waiting in line until they fall asleep. Then comes the most crucial step—choose the game.

Choosing the Right Game Is Half the Battle

Not every game works for a tournament. If you pick one that requires half an hour of story, people will be gone in no time. My recommendation is to pick from party motion-controlled games or racing/fighting genres. Here's my tried-and-true Switch game recommendation three-piece set, tested countless times with the lowest failure rate:

First, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. No need to explain—zero learning curve, rules so simple even someone who can't read can play. Four-player battle, random items, track familiarity determines the winner—perfectly captures the tournament core of "everyone has a chance to win." Second, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This one has a slightly steeper learning curve, but if you set the rules to "all items on, dynamic stages," even newbies can luck out a few rounds—works like a charm. Third, you can pick the Just Dance series or Nintendo Switch Sports, great for switching things up once the vibe is already hyped.

If you're living with just one other person, or only one friend comes over, don't force a four-player game. The coziest two-player tournament mode I've tried is coop or taking turns challenging high scores. You want a two-player Switch game where you work together to compete. The Overcooked series (yes, the relationship killer) actually makes a great tournament item—you're not teammates, but you take turns doing the same level, comparing completion and remaining time. Whoever blows up the kitchen less wins—simple and direct.

How to Organize a Fun Little Competition

I never do that "best of three then rank by score" thing—too much like work. My method: set up a "king of the hill" system. First round: four-player free-for-all. The winner becomes the champ, and the other three each challenge them. One match per round. If the champ loses, they step down; the winner stays on. That way everyone gets to play, and no one watches the whole time. This works especially well with Mario Kart and Smash Bros.—wins and losses swap quickly, and comeback stories happen at any moment.

Also, you can pre-select characters or vehicles in advance, have everyone "blind pick," then use them. Before my friends come over, I have them pick their favorite characters or cars from the game catalog, then I save those setups as presets in the game. That way, once the party starts, no time wasted on picking and configuring—straight into the action, keeping the pace tight.

One more tip: after each match, quickly snap a photo of the results screen—whether by controller screenshot or phone photo. After a few rounds, you can stitch them into a 9-grid and share it in the group chat, or even make a simple game leaderboard—no need for Excel formality; just handwrite it on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge. Whoever wins the most buys bubble tea. A bet's a bet.

Solo Tournaments Aren't the Only Option

If you have the right number of people and the vibe is right, try team battles. My girlfriend and I often invite another couple over on weekends, and we play Splatoon 3 or Mario Kart team modes. The feeling is totally different from free-for-all—coordination and relay elements come in, making the screw-ups even funnier.

Of course, you have to accept reality: not everyone is good at action or racing games. I have a friend who can't handle the Pro Controller's left stick at all, but he's lightning-fast at puzzles and strategy. So we later added a round of Snipperclips or Baba Is You—those brainy puzzles—into the tournament lineup, and he became the dark horse. So don't stick to just one genre. Include a couple of indie game recommendations from co-op puzzle lists to bring in friends with different styles.

Lastly, here's a real tip: as long as your grand prize is "whoever wins decides what takeout we order," this tournament will almost never fall flat. Compared to just sitting around chatting or scrolling through phones, this kind of weekend—where you can move, shout, and blame each other—is exactly why the Switch is worth buying. Every game mentioned here you can browse slowly through the Nintendo game recommendations list or game catalog. Once you find your own rhythm, there are plenty of ways to spend your weekends.