Let's be clear upfront: The game ecosystem of the Switch is different from PS5 and Steam. Physical cartridges are expensive, digital copies are scattered across different regional eShops, plus Nintendo's membership system, family groups, and game trials. Many new players have no idea where to start when they first get the console. You're not alone.

This article isn't going to write a lengthy purchasing tutorial. Instead, it directly lists a practical checklist, pointing out the most common problems and corresponding solutions. Each item is short but truly useful.

1. How to buy digital games at a good price

  1. Don't just look at the Hong Kong region. Prices vary greatly across eShop regions. The Mexico, Brazil, and Japan regions often have exclusive discounts. If you don't mind cross-region operations, one account can save you a lot.
  2. Look out for Nintendo's "Game Vouchers" for first-party titles. The Japanese eShop occasionally offers Nintendo game exchange vouchers. The price of two vouchers is cheaper than buying two major titles separately, provided you are sure which two you want to exchange.
  3. Check reviews and game guides before purchasing. Many games look good on the cover but have terrible gameplay. Xingba's game guide directly includes real player feedback and ratings, which is more useful than reading official descriptions.

2. Two most reliable ways to find games

  1. Follow game rankings. Whether you just bought the console or have been playing for a year or two, game rankings are always the most time-saving filtering method. They don't just list sales numbers; they incorporate actual player approval rates, online team difficulty, and single-player playtime.
  2. Indie game recommendations can often be a lifesaver over big titles. Many people buy Zelda and Mario, then find their console gathering dust. At this point, indie game recommendations are needed to fill fragmented time—Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight, Hades. They are low-priced, highly replayable, and the Switch experience is comparable to PC.

3. Don't blindly buy for two-player scenarios

Many people think the Switch is all about family fun, only to find out that most major titles don't support local co-op. If you really need a game to play with friends or a partner, the following directions are more reliable:

  1. The most reliable two-player Switch games: Mario Party, Mario Kart 8, Just Dance. These games are easy to pick up, and no arguments when you lose.
  2. Don't buy purely single-player masterpieces like The Legend of Zelda to make do for two players. Many beginners are recommended to buy it, but their partner can't get involved at all.
  3. Xingba's Switch game recommendation column specifically marks "Supports local multiplayer" tags. If you're not sure whether a game can be played by two people, go check there first.

4. Is family membership sharing really worth it?

  1. Family membership is not just for show. If you plan to play Splatoon 3 or Mario Kart 8 online, or want to use the NSO classic game library, you do need to buy the monthly subscription.
  2. Car-pooling (shared membership) is a common solution. Xingba's family membership sharing service lets you form a family group with real players, averaging just a few dozen yuan per person per year. It's much safer than randomly finding a stranger online to share with—at least you won't get kicked out halfway.
  3. Note: The family group administrator cannot randomly add foreign players, otherwise Nintendo may ban the group. The members on Xingba are all domestic players, making communication easy and reducing the chance of issues.

5. An easily overlooked real-world issue

Many people impulse-buy when they see discounts on the eShop, ending up with a bunch of games they never have time to play. My advice: Set an annual limit for yourself. For example, buy at most two games per month, or only purchase when two recommended new Nintendo games are released. Many people in Xingba's community have shared their regrets about "buying but not playing"; you can check out others' lessons before making a purchase.

In the end, the joy of the Switch lies not in how many cartridges you own, but in the few games you actually play. Spending your limited time on the right choices is much more meaningful than blindly browsing the eShop discount section.