On a weekend night, you turn on your Switch, wanting to play a few rounds of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online. Your friend list is full of gray avatars, and you're afraid of encountering veterans who pull off god-like lap times in ranked matches. You know that the Switch has a Tournaments feature, but you've never clicked into it—the unfamiliar rules, irregular match times, it all seems too intimidating.

Actually, you're overthinking it. Just last month, a friend dragged me into a casual Splatoon 3 tournament, and after it was over, I realized that Tournaments aren't something exclusive to esports players. They're more like an automatic matchmaking weekend party. Once you figure out three steps, you can jump in and have a great time.

Step 1: Find Your 'Cup of Tea'

Don't start by searching for names like 'World Championship'. Tournaments on Switch are very granular—there are official ones and player-made ones. My advice: filter by the game you've been playing recently, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or Mario Party. Matches with 16 to 32 participants and a duration of 1 to 2 hours are best for your first try.

I once tried a 64-player Splatoon 3 open tournament. Ten minutes in, I noticed the opposing team's gear setup was clearly a tactical squad. It wasn't unwinnable, but the experience was far worse than the 28-player 'Fun Turf War Session' I joined later—where skill levels were mixed, and even newbies were asking about rules. This low-pressure environment is the right place to enjoy Tournaments. If you want to see recent worthwhile competitions, check out some reliable Switch game recommendation lists—they often round up the season's popular events.

Step 2: Don't Fear the Rules, First Secure Your Entry Requirements

Many people get stuck here. Click into the Tournaments details page, see 'Rules: Best of 3', 'Item Bans: Boo', and start imagining all sorts of restrictions. Actually, you only need to confirm two things: first, whether your Nintendo Switch Online membership has expired; second, whether the match time conflicts with your schedule.

Other rules are secondary. Most casual Tournaments allow you to team up on the spot, or even matchmake solo. When I first joined a Mario Kart tournament, I didn't even check the 'Team Play' option and was automatically placed on the red team. As I raced, I heard my teammates yelling over voice chat, 'Blue shell coming, dodge!' The thrill of that real-time coordination felt much more genuine than ranked matches. If you play two-player Switch games like Overcooked! 2 or Snipperclips, Tournaments even have dedicated co-op matches that test teamwork rather than individual skill.

Step 3: Losing Is More Valuable Than Winning

This is my personal experience. The real value of Tournaments isn't about rankings; it's about meeting player communities you'd never encounter in regular ranked matches. For example, after I lost a Super Smash Bros. tournament match, the opponent added me as a friend and sent me two casual tournament groups he frequented. In those groups, people spontaneously organize themed matches every week—only using specific characters, limited stage difficulties, and so on. Many of these playstyles you simply can't experience in official modes.

In contrast, the point system in ranked matches actually discourages trying new characters. Tournaments are completely different—everyone is more relaxed, and experienced players are often willing to teach you a trick or two. For those who want to systematically understand differences between games, certain lesser-known titles in indie game recommendations, like Tetris 99, have a Tournament mode that's easier to pick up than mainstream AAA titles, making it better for beginners to build confidence. If you want more cross-game comparisons, community voting results on game ranking charts often reflect ordinary players' true preferences more accurately than official data.

Should You Spend Time on Tournaments?

If you only occasionally finish a single-player story and then turn off the console, Tournaments are optional for you. But if you have a sustained passion for a game, or want to find a regular online squad—especially for team games that require voice communication—Tournaments are almost the most direct entry point.

The only trap to watch out for is time management. Some matches require waiting online for 20 minutes after registration before starting, and quitting mid-wait will deduct reputation points. It's recommended to mute notifications, prepare some snacks, and avoid being called away to do dishes two minutes before the match starts. Also, if you want to get familiar with each game before participating, browse through the game encyclopedia's control instructions and difficulty ratings in advance—at least you won't face the embarrassment of 'not knowing how to use a special move' during the match.

Next weekend, don't stare blankly at the gray friend list. Open the Switch's Tournaments feature, pick a 16-player small competition, and jump in for a couple of rounds. If you win, consider it a bonus of fun; if you lose, you'll still make some new friends. Either way, it's a win.