Just got a Switch, or turned it on after gathering dust for a long time? The most common issue isn't Joy-Con drift, but: you want to play a game and have absolutely no idea where to start.

The eShop page is a maze—garbled language, mixed discount info, and the Switch's built-in recommendations are practically nonexistent. You'll probably open some game ranking list and see timeless classics like Zelda and Odyssey, but the problem is—

Which one should I buy? Which one is right for today? Which one can I play with my partner? Which one is a hidden gem that won't break the bank?

Below, I'll walk through a complete game selection process using a specific scenario. Just follow along—no need to overthink it.

Scenario: Want to curl up on the couch with your girlfriend on the weekend and find a game to play together

Saturday afternoon, rain outside. You're sitting face to face, wanting to boot up the Switch and play something together—but one of you wants to use their brain, while the other just wants to press buttons casually without too much effort.

For this kind of need, the worst thing you can run into is a hardcore teamwork test like Overcooked—the outcome isn't usually a crash, it's an argument. You also can't just jump into a single-player RPG like Xenoblade Chronicles, because the second person can only stare.

So my first move is to check out specialized recommendations for two-player Switch games.

If you're searching for the first time, you'll likely see names like Mario Party, Just Dance, Kirby. The problem is, which of these games actually suits your current energy levels?

At this point, what's really useful isn't looking at cover art, but opening a game database—not the official one, but one compiled by community players. It will clearly list:

  • Does this game support split-screen on one console?
  • How high is the skill barrier?
  • Does it have Chinese language support?
  • How long does a round last?

For my needs this time—two people who want to interact without thinking too hard—after searching for a while, I settled on Snipperclips. This name isn't a hot pick on Nintendo game recommendations lists, but the comments in the database said, "Cooperative paper cutting, laughing until your stomach hurts." It's low difficulty, each round is about 10 minutes, perfect for killing time on the weekend.

Once you've decided on a game, the next step is: can you afford it?

You might think, thirty bucks for a first-party Nintendo game? No way. But you're overlooking a great category—indie game recommendations.

Nintendo's own Mario series rarely goes on sale, starting at around $60. But a frequently overlooked area in Switch game recommendations is actually indie games. For example, the Snipperclips we chose this time originally costs only a few dozen bucks, and with a discount it can be as low as twenty-something.

Plus, indie games often come in co-op versions, with unique art styles and creative gameplay. The only thing to watch out for: some indie games don't have great Chinese localization support. That's why it's important to check details in a game database—the database will note language support, so you don't have to guess from the English descriptions in the eShop.

By the way, if you're too lazy to hunt for discounts and afraid of overpaying, communities like SingBar often have people sharing info on digital game carpooling or second-hand cartridge trades, at prices lower than buying directly.

After choosing a game, there's another hidden pitfall: versions and bundles

Most people buy Snipperclips and start playing right away, only to find that DLC levels aren't unlocked, or the version doesn't support online multiplayer. This is one of the easiest traps when buying digital games. You usually won't see these details in game rankings, but they're discussed a lot in the community.

Specifically, my habit is:

  • After deciding on the game name, first search in the community for "Is [game name] worth buying?"
  • See if anyone says "Without DLC it's an incomplete game" or "The base game is enough."
  • Then decide which version to buy.

This time, after checking around, I found that the base content of Snipperclips is already enough for weekend fun—no need to buy DLC; it doesn't affect the core enjoyment.

Who is this method suitable for, and what are its limitations?

This process is suitable for:

  • Beginners who don't know what type of game suits them
  • Players looking for specific scenarios (two-player/solo/fragmented time) games
  • People on a budget who want to avoid duds

The limitation is: if you already know your taste extremely well—say, you only love playing JRPGs—then just go straight to the RPG list in Nintendo game recommendations and buy from there; no need to go through this whole loop. Also, comments in the database are subjective. Some people give negative reviews because "the controls are too complicated," but your own tolerance for complexity might differ, so you need to use your own judgment.

In short

Weekend on the couch, two people wanting to play together without fighting—first look for two-player Switch game recommendations to narrow it down, then check game database for details to rule out risks, and then find cost-effective options through indie game recommendations. Finally, glance at community discussions before purchasing to confirm the version and language. The whole process takes no more than ten minutes—much more useful than aimlessly browsing the eShop for an hour.

If your goal is to find a game you genuinely enjoy and avoid wasting money, following this process will almost never lead you astray.