A friend messaged me last week: “The Tears of the Kingdom limited edition console is so beautiful, I want to buy it.” I asked him about his budget. He said he had none. But I knew he wasn't telling the truth—people who can bear to spend over two thousand yuan on a limited edition console usually don't come asking for advice.

That's why I decided to write this. Limited Edition has always been a tricky topic in the Switch community. On one hand, they look great; on the other, the gap between the premium price and actual user experience is something those who've fallen for it understand well. Today, I'll use a real purchasing process to help you decide whether it's worth it.

First, Figure Out What Kind of Person You Are

I broke down my friend's actual situation:

  • He already has a standard Switch, used for three years, with a few scratches on the screen but still playable.
  • He recently got an OLED TV and wants to try the image quality improvement in docked mode.
  • He commutes for an hour every day and wants to play two-player Switch games and gems like Hollow Knight from the indie game recommendations on the subway.

With these conditions, the question becomes: Buy the full Limited Edition console, or just a limited edition Dock or limited edition Controllers?

This distinction is crucial. Many people, when impulsive, only focus on the words “Limited Edition,” but once they actually get it, the parts that sit on the table, are touched every day, and determine your experience are the inconspicuous ones.

Scenario Demo: How to Choose Without Losing Money

I'll use the recently released The Legend of Zelda themed limited OLED console as an example (this one is the most typical and easiest to compare).

Option 1: Buy the Full Limited Edition Console

This set includes: OLED limited console × 1 + limited Dock × 1 + limited Joy-Con pair + limited wrist straps + limited carrying case. Official price is about 2599 RMB, but third-party sellers have already jacked it up to over 3000.

If you don't already have a Switch, this is the only rational choice. You aren't duplicating investments; everything you get is needed, just with a limited edition skin.

But if you already have a console like my friend does, this plan creates a spare old machine. His old standard Switch's second-hand value is around 800-900 yuan, meaning he effectively spends 2200 yuan on a new screen, a new dock, and a new set of controllers. Is it worth it? That depends on how you value the “limited design.”

Option 2: Buy Only the Limited Edition Controllers & Dock

Nintendo occasionally sells limited edition Joy-Con and limited edition Docks separately on the official website. For example, the Splatoon 3 themed Pro Controller and Joy-Con, and the Pokémon Scarlet & Violet themed OLED Dock were all sold individually.

Price-wise: a pair of limited Joy-Con is about 499 yuan, and a limited OLED Dock is about 399 yuan. Together that's under 900 yuan—saving at least 1000 yuan compared to the full console.

With this plan, my friend's question becomes: “My old console's screen has scratches, but after swapping to the limited Dock, the TV picture is exactly the same—so do I really care about image quality or just the appearance?” The answer is obvious.

Hidden Differences in eShop Purchases

There's another pitfall many don't know: Does the Limited Edition console come with eShop codes or game vouchers? Some limited bundles include digital versions of specific games or offer themed avatar items in the eShop. But most of the time, these bonuses are time-limited and tied to the console—once redeemed, they can't be transferred to a new account.

If you plan to sell your old console on a second-hand platform, remember to check if there's a Nintendo game recommendations list bound to your Nintendo account on it. Many people forget to unlink their account before selling, only to find that all their digital games in the library are gone when they log into the new console. This issue is often overlooked in game rankings discussions about limited editions.

Another practical tip: Spend any remaining eShop balance on your old console in advance, as balances cannot be transferred across platforms. Don't ask how I know—a friend of mine still has 200 yuan left on his old console after buying the Animal Crossing limited edition, and he hasn't managed to spend it yet.

Three Questions to Decide If You Should Buy

I won't draw conclusions for you, but you can ask yourself these three questions:

  • Do you currently have any Switch? No? Then go ahead and buy the full limited console for the theme you like—don't hesitate.
  • If you do, what condition is the screen and the controllers in? Decent condition → buy only individual accessories. Screen scratched or joystick drifting → replacing the whole console solves both problems.
  • Do you play mostly on TV or in handheld mode? Heavy docked use → a limited Dock is enough. Mostly handheld → limited Joy-Con or the limited console itself is the focus.

That's why in the end, I only helped my friend buy a pair of Tears of the Kingdom limited Joy-Con and a protective film from the game encyclopedia that was confirmed to be compatible. He didn't change his console, but every day he holds a pair of limited-edition controllers on his commute, and he feels “it's already worth it.”

You don't need to bring every Limited Edition home. Sometimes, changing just the part you touch most often is enough to make the joy last a long time.