A friend brings a Switch to your place and says, "Find a game to play." You scroll through the console and realize that besides Zelda and Odyssey, there's nothing you can immediately play together. I've been in this situation at least three times, and it's always awkward. Today, let's cut to the chase: what to choose, how to buy, and how to start playing quickly when this happens.

Step 1: First, figure out what kind of "two-player" you want

Many people get stuck at the first step of choosing a game because they haven't clarified that "two-player" actually comes in several types. Not every two-player game is suitable for you and your friend. If the other person doesn't play much, handing them Diablo 3 or Monster Hunter will probably fall flat. That's when you most need a reliable Switch game recommendation.

From my experience, I divide two-player scenarios into three categories:

Scenario 1: The other person is a casual player looking for lighthearted fun

In this case, Mario Party or Overcooked rarely fail. The beauty of Mario Party is that it requires no background knowledge—just hand over the controller and explain in one sentence: "Press A to play." The downside is that the physical cartridge price stays high, so digital versions on sale are worth considering. If you already have a Nintendo game recommendation list, party games like this should always rank near the top.

Scenario 2: You want to tackle levels together with some challenge

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an excellent choice here. The biggest advantage of the Kirby series is that skilled players can pick easy mode, while beginners won't die even if they choose Kirby. You won't get frustrated that your friend is holding you back, and your friend won't feel like you're showing off. If you're looking for more similar experiences, two-player Switch games in this direction are worth exploring.

Scenario 3: You want to play online with friends or across distances

This involves digital versions and membership issues. When my friend and I play Splatoon 3 remotely, the biggest hassle isn't the game itself but figuring out the online membership and the cheapest way to buy the game. Honestly, starting a family membership on your own costs over 200 yuan a year, and splitting it between two people isn't cost-effective. In that case, carpooling or sharing a membership is actually the most convenient, and the money saved can just buy another indie game.

From turning on the console to playing, you only need three steps

Many people think buying a digital game is troublesome, but once you get the hang of it, it only takes a few minutes. Let me use last weekend when I helped a friend buy Hollow Knight remotely as an example:

My friend said on WeChat that he wanted an indie game recommendation that was budget-friendly but engaging. I had him change his Nintendo account region to Brazil (which often has low prices) and then top up with a gift card. The whole process took about five minutes. The only thing to watch out for is that different regions have different exchange rates for gift cards—don't be tempted by cheap black-market cards, as getting your account banned isn't worth it.

If you don't want to bother, you can just use a credit card on the Hong Kong or Japan eShop. It'll be pricier but saves trouble. After purchasing, download and install, and you'll be playing in about ten minutes. If you buy games frequently, it's useful to build your own game ranking list; otherwise, you might impulse-buy during sales and never have time to play.

One more thing to check before buying

I've made this mistake several times: seeing a discount and buying immediately, only to find out after downloading that it doesn't support Chinese or that the controls are too complicated to enjoy. Now, before buying a game, I check a game guide to see real reviews from regular players—much more helpful than official trailers. This helps you avoid many "looks great but isn't" pitfalls.

Another easily overlooked point is storage space. Many friends buy a ton of digital games only to find the console out of space, forcing them to delete games. I recommend getting at least a 256GB memory card if you mainly play digital versions; otherwise, you'll have to re-download old games every time you want to play, which is really annoying.

Some final practical thoughts

When choosing games, don't take those "must-play masterpieces" lists too seriously. Everyone has different tastes. What your friend finds fun might sit on your shelf gathering dust for two months. Start with cheap indie games or demos, and once you know what you like, then budget for big titles—that's the most cost-effective way to play.

Oh, and if you often swap games with friends or want to split membership fees, communities like Xingba can indeed save a lot of hassle. You don't need to spend much effort comparing prices—just hop on when you see a good deal. After all, part of the joy of owning a Switch is picking games, but the bigger part is having someone to play with.