Talking Point: Do You Have A 'Way' You Play Certain Switch Games?

I play the Switch once in a blue moon because I used to treat it like a home console, in which case I’d usually just be better off playing my PS5 if I have the time. I enjoy it a lot more as a handheld, Metroid’s been fantastic with proper headphones. It’s a little uncomfortable since I use the Pro controller and not the joy-cons attached to the console but it’s worth it.

Its on the TV until I need to go to the toilet. Then its portable mode for half an hour.

Because I am currently 99% blind in my one eye (waiting on cataract surgery) I play everything on my TV. When I could see I would have to say yes there was games i played soley on the TV. Diablo 2&3 come to mind. While things like Clubhouse Games i will play mostly on the go.

I play on the rooftop because that's what the cool kids do

There are just so many ways to play switch games, it's just an amazing little console...and yet... I always use it portable, like the third point of the article, minus the headphones.

I just love to sit down cozy on the sofa or bed and enjoy a good game in peace. It was great with the 3DS, an habit I tried with the Wii U, but that worked only for VC games (the screen was just too dark for some major detailed HD games) and now the switch is just the best for this.

I know some games should be played on a big screen with the best audio and all, but nothing beats for me the cozyness of some nice and comfy handheld gaming.

I don't play suspenseful games like Metroid during the day. That's it.

I mainly play on my bed, occasionally on the TV.

@stinky_t Yuck!

i cant play dread without streaming it now, or else feel the fury of the ever watchful omnipotent demigoddery of internet pandora.

Totally agree with Dread in a dark room and headphones. I'm after starting to play Monster Hunter Rise, in tabletop with a pro controller on the OLED and really enjoying this way to play.

Tetris 99 is part of my morning routine, along with strong coffee. It’s a great way to get the brain in gear

Anything 720p looks horrible on my OLED so portable only. I was gutted when I realised Pikmin 3 was 720p, such a beautiful game otherwise.

I have to dock my Switch for playing games since my Switch battery got drained quickly in handheld mode.
Also, during pandemic i cannot go to public places frequently so i spend my time by playing at home.

Metroid Dread = portable + headphones + a dark room + drifting joy-con bananza - this is my way unfortunately. Btw, do the challenge: try to hit this Emmi core with drifting joy-con. So much fun!

"I spend most of my gaming time playing tabletop mode loudly out in public".

On a roof or at a basketball court?

Docked with a pro controller.
I absolutely hate using the joycons.

I loved playing the Wii U on the tablet screen while doing something else, but then I hit 40 and my eyes decided they hate me. So with the switch it is mostly via the TV, and when traveling it is mostly Animal Crossing and Clubhouse Games which don’t require fine details.

You forgot another option, play big screen with PS5, Switch for portability. You have an option but it doesn't take other consoles into account

I really only use the dock for local multiplayer these days, when I'm playing something with my wife, or when the Switch runs out of battery and I want to be in the living room, but I'm too lazy to get my charger from the bedroom.

There are some games that look noticeably better on TV mode, like the Ori games, Fe, and Rocket League, but handheld looks good enough. The only game I actually switched to TV mode for graphics reasons was Abzu, because 1) handheld mode had a very boring look graphically and 2) that game is primarily about the spectacle.

I would prefer not to be tied to the TV, so I really appreciate when devs take the extra effort to make it look as good as it can be on handheld.

If the game has proper surround sound then it's on the big screen. Everything else is fine to play portable for me.

I play everything in handheld mode. I don't like sitting in front of my TV much nowadays.

Big fat TV as much as possible. Captain Toad is probably the main exception.

I know this isn't a Nintendo game, but there was only one way I could play The Last of Us Part 2: in the dark, door closed, over-ear studio headphones, alone, 2 feet away from monitor. It was perfect. I don't know if I'll ever have a sublime gaming experience quite like that ever again.

@Friscobay Nintendo does free repares for joycons, if you're interested. I've had to send mine in twice now and I've never paid a dime for it.

Donno if it's exactly what's being asked here but I do like to add bit of extra flavor for myself via special challenges when playing some older favorites or sometimes I just ignore certain features in games even if they would he helpful just because I disagree with the design choice. I'm very much planning to play the upcoming Triangle Strategy with a limited inventory for each unit, the prospect of every unit always having access to full inventory I don't like in a SRPG and its something that I first thought would ruin an otherwise (seemingly) good game for me but I figured I can just enforce the rule on myself and just use some good ol' pen & paper and keep track of my units' inventories on my own.

I don't have a TV and when I get access to one I am suddenly reminded how bad my eyesight has gotten. Portable all the way.

Always docked for me. Never really been a fan of hand held gaming, I get the convenience but I’d always want to see a game in all its glory on a big screen

Mostly portable these days and always naked

I only have a Lite so I couldn’t participate in the poll, sob sob 😭

Although I do think I’d like to play certain games on the tv, like BotW. But I’ll have to wait until I buy a phat switch for that …

As a “dad gamer” without a ton of time for gaming I almost always play in handheld mode. It’s just easier to find a few minutes here and a few minutes there to play wherever I’m at in the house…especially the hallway! I love sitting on an uncomfortable wooden bench in the entryway playing my switch but who doesn’t, right??

when I lived alone, I was more likely to play games in handheld.
but now I live with my girlfriend, and I play primarily on the TV (which has also led to a lot of cute "that game looks fun, can I try?" moments).

I will play every game I buy first in the big tv. I won’t boot a game up for the first time in portable. But then after a while I usually only play them portable because when I can actually get the living room tv I play my series x. Turns out my wife and child get first dibs. I don’t remember agreeing to that but it’s just how it goes.

I can't fish in animal crossing with the pro controller
So it's a handheld only for the most part

Answering here honestly, no

The first few years I swapped back and forth but now I almost exclusively use handheld mode. Only ring fit adventure really uses docked mode, and my first session playing skyward sword (then reverting back to handheld)

i play my extended battery Switch mostly on Handheld mode.

I've been portable only kind of guy since launch but I got a Pro Controller recently so I wouldn't need to give drifting Joy-Con to my friends, and now I'm playing games on TV because I'd forgotten how good it feels when you don't have to constantly fight against drifting sticks.

Since I got my Oled, it is almost a pure handheld for me!

It's mostly a mood and convenience thing for me, but I'll admit I'll have one or two habits with certain games. Mario Maker 2 and Breath of the Wild are my before bed games, so portable mode in bed for them. Animal Crossing is currently my wake up game, so portable mode on the bus to work there. Everything else I play whenever and however I feel like it.

There are a few games where I go back and forth between TV/handheld play, but, more often than not, most games fall into either the 'TV games' or 'handheld games' camp for me. Although there are far more of the latter.

I think, for example, I've only played Tetris 99 and Smash Ultimate on my TV a grand total of once each. Both games are vastly more appealing to me as handheld experiences, and I probably wouldn't play them at all if I had to sit at a TV while doing so.

Meanwhile, the Xenoblade games are pretty much only properly playable on the TV for me because of performance concerns, and stuff like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey just feel at home on a TV.

Something might change, but I get the feeling that, for Upcoming Switch games:

• Advance Wars 1 + 2 and Pokemon BDSP will be handheld only for me.
• I'm highly likely to spend 90% of my time with Shin Megami Tensei V on the TV, barring performance concerns or something. Ditto with Legends: Arceus and Mario + Rabbids 2.

I could definitely see myself 'switching' more with Metroid Dread and Splatoon 3.

And Tetris Effect is my dedicated toilet game going forward.

Mmm actually i do,
Smash almost always in handheld, also with indie games.
Zelda, and mario kart always docked. (Only zelda is 50/50)
First person shooters always docked.

I play the Switch version of Dark Souls Remastered while praising the sun, and while becoming grossly incandescent.

SOLAIRE NINJA APPROVED

I like to play with grandparents in the room, smiles on their faces, in a mostly white living room, lots of white furniture...completely normal

I play in all modes, no preference in general.Depends on where I am, really.

For most games 'convenience and mood' sounds about right for me. Though most of the time I just dock my Switch and play on my monitor while resting my feet on a stool. But since I have an OLED now I'm more inclined to play handheld while lying on bed or the couch. I also only use headphones when there are people around or if I'm outside. I mostly use speakers since I don't want to get into the habit of always wearing something in/over my ears for long periods (for hygienic reasons).

Also, I almost always play docked with a Pro Controller when playing games using Gyro. Handheld gyro gameplay is difficult for me so games like Splatoon, and some FPS games I just straight up dock the thing.

Docked on my 70 inch TV with Bluetooth headphones for ALL games. I do wish I could hook it up to my laptop screen.

Really depends on the surroundings for us. When the wife wants to join in, it's TV-mode if we're at home or portable if we're out of town (working in one city, living in another).
Though I do have extra-long bathroom breaks with FIFA, Quake or Deltarune, currently! And yes, I wash my hands!

I use handheld a lot more than I should. I should use docked more often, and I do occasionally use it, not with specific games though.

I mostly play portable right now, with everyone being home due to the pandemic, but there are times that I want to use a tv. New games, conematic games, pretty games. Though our nice tv got friend in a power outage, and we're currently borrowing a very very nice tv... From 2008

@Friscobay Why not just send the joycon into Nintendo, you’ll get it back like new for free in a few days? (Just saw that you’ve bought quite a few! Just send them back, N fixes then for free)

Generally speaking, I play my Switch a lot using Tabletop or Handheld. It's almost always circumstantial because I never have time to play on the TV. There are specific games where I simply cannot play on a certain mode.

With Splatoon 2, I play Tabletop or Docked strictly due to me using a Pro Controller. I cannot use Joy Cons for that game and I never want to again.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was an example of a game I simply did not want to play on the TV. The game was designed with a touchscreen in mind, thanks to the Wii U, so I played that game entirely in handheld mode.

Pokémon Let's Go was also another example. The controls of Tabletop/Docked were garbage and unnecessary considering the Handheld controls could've worked easily. I restricted myself to Handheld when playing that game.

Skyward Sword HD was an interesting one. I originally wanted to play on the TV to use motion controls, but due to circumstances, I had to play on Handheld. Before I knew it, I PREFERRED Handheld because I could attack so much faster with button controls than I could using motion controls.

Most games, I don't necessarily need headphones, aside from Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity. With music like that, I can't ignore them.

Metroid Dread is, for some weird reason, the first game I've played handheld.

Yeah, I play them a certain way. I avoid the cloud gaming. Isn't that right Kingdom Hearts?

My Switch (now OLED): I play 99% handheld. So my Dock is a glorified charger. I play 0,9% docked and 0,1% using the kickstand. However because of the better screen and kickstand on the OLED I can see those latter two switch places.

My Switch lite I play 100% handheld.

I tried playing my XBOX Series X handheld, but it's too heavy and it doesn't have a screen.

I played stuff like yugioh handheld, but if the graphics and music are good (like dragonquest), then TV!

Puzzle games with touch screen controls lying on a yoga mat on the floor. Metroid Dread in the living room late at night on the big screen, sitting on the same spot in the sofa where I last finished Super Metroid.

@Divinebovine My headphones are 100x better than my TV speakers, and my 4KTV is one of the earlier generations and doesn't have a very good screen. So playing docked really doesn't add anything for me.

However, recently I got myself a nice home audio system (headphones are still better) and I connected it to both my TV and my PC monitor (which is a lot better than the TV, just smaller)

Still playing handheld sitting at my desk with headphones is still 99% of the time preferable.

@InAnotherCastle this sounds incredibly comfy. I love lying on the floor. My wife thinks I'm crazy

The best exwmple ever of "need to play on tv" is Ring Fit Adventures (or any fitness/dancing game).

I usually play "portable at home", but there are very few times that I play on tv. I planning to play both Resident Evil revelations and Skyward Sword docked (I already have both, but only play a few minutes) but I may do this with a neck support

I’ve played table too a bunch on planes and trains, both multi and solo!

@Divinebovine yup it is. I tend to also enjoy lying on the floor to relax, doing nothing. The sofa is pretty much just for sessions of gaming that are so focused that sitting still doesn't feel like a waste of time 😁

Mostly handheld. With that said, I cannot play Splatoon in handheld mode as I tend to do poorly. It works well in table top though. Of course, fitness games like boxing and ring fit are on the big screen as well. BOTW is playable in handheld but that’s another that I much prefer on the TV. I miss the days is dedicated handhelds and consoles from Nintendo but I do admit that the switch does a decent job consolidating the two.

I play on the tv and the only time ive not done that is playing on a train a few times.

99% portable with a shallow grip style "housing". I even have an external charger that charges it (and compatible some of the phones and chromebooks in the household). So the dock has to be regularly dusted and cleaned.

Yes. Docked. Unless I'm not at home.then it's portable.

Its like in the sub-headline for me. I usually dont play the Switch in Handheld, but some games are handheld-only-titles imo, like Metroid Dread or the Splatoon 2 OctoExpansion or all the NES/SNES Classics.

@LordVal Interesting, as I love Splatoon but never liked the single player much. I’ve been thinking of getting the octo expansion. Do you use motion? For me, any game I like using motion on is a no go on handheld. Donkey Kong country on handheld is a real treat though, it looks bad on a big screen so handheld all the way.

If you have a vested interest in something you will tend to look at it more favourably. As does NL with Nintendo. Nothing wrong with that, but there's usually two sides to a coin.

You could well be describing the Wii U and the 3ds. Combining the two consoles to create a hybrid machine that meets in the middle, and Switches. But the trade off is what's missing at either end.

TV play is not so good on the Switch, for many games and the Lite is not as compact or pocketable as the 3ds. A better higher spec Wii U and an updated 3ds/2ds would have had more benefits than the Switch.

The Oled does make a difference when playing some games and if rumours are true that 4k is hidden somewhere in the there, that will help with the TV side of things. But the Lite is going to have a good bit of competition in the not so distant future and the 3ds would have been better placed to see them off.

Depends on the genre, although with the newish Bluetooth update I have been playing exclusively in headphones whether docked or portable. Headphones are a must for games with a killer soundtrack or horror games, got to be able to hear all of the atmospheric sounds as that really helps with the immersion. Typically for horror games I want to play them alone, in a dark but not pitch black room, I find that best for the spooks while keeping my sanity lol.

I play mostly at home, so almost always docked. If for whatever reason I am playing portably, I normally play indie games as the experience is not noticably different. I would much rather have new games experienced on a big screen, but repeat playthroughs are fine on portable, such as Metroid Dread.

@anzzjam same here. The single player in Splatoon 2 was a no go for me until I played it in Handheld. I dont like motion at all, but with the Octo Expansion and Handheld it worked out fine for me and now I Splatoon 2 only with motion controls even on TV.

Usually on the big TV on weekends, and handheld when my wife wants to use the TV at night.

I even have a Switch and a Switch Lite to play different games.

I usually play big games with heavy scenarios and/or motion controls docked on the TV. I tend to switch to handheld for long grinding sessions or any kind of repetitive gameplay (and, i agree, to play Metroid Dread in bed with a headset).

My Switch Lite is for when I move around outside, mostly to play indie games, ACNH or Pokemon games. I didn't buy it specificly for it, it was just my first Switch and i repurposed it after i bought the red box one.

I only have a Switch Lite but once I get the OLED I'll still only play in handheld. The TV is meant for the big consoles so not sure why anyone would have a Switch for the TV. The Switch being handheld is kind of the entire point. Playing big third party games and visual novels on a small screen is the entire appeal. If the Switch wasn't handheld then I'd have no interest and stick to my Playstation consoles. Before you ask, no I don't play Nintendo games all too often. I bought a Switch to play the same games (plus visual novels) I have for PS4 but on a smaller screen.

Whatever game it is, if it’s Tuesday after work it’s docked, muted, with Mystery Science Theater on my laptop and a bottle of wine on the end table.

I'd say 80% of the time it's docked (I just find having a big screen and audio more immersive, plus I prefer using my pro controller), but some games like Super Mario Maker 2, Tetris Effect and most puzzle games I find easier in handheld. I've never played tabletop and literally forgot that was even an option.

@JustMonika BOTW is not meant to be played on a handheld. It exists but the game was certainly developed to be played on a television. Same with Splatoon 2. 3rd party games sure, they play better elsewhere but 1st party? There is no dedicated home console anymore, so of course many games were designed with the tv in mind.

@MS7000 That makes sense to me.

My Switch is mainly docked, though I only play Taiko no Tatsujin games in tabletop mode due to a minor latency annoyance when played on TV.

I have a flexible tripod with a tablet support which sometimes I use the Switch with in my bedroom, but there are games that really deserve to be played on the big screen rather than on its small one.

I like to play my new OLED Switch handheld in the hallway as intended!

I mostly play handheld with headphones or without sound, but every once in a while I dock it and play only the TV. Usually for multiplayer sessions with my family.

However the Switch is my most played console however when I play in the living room I usually do it on the PS5.

I play on the TV primarily because I need to send both my pairs of Joycons in for repair for drift and can't afford a new pair as of now.

Since getting the OLED, I've been playing my new Switch in table top mode with a pro controller and blue tooth headphones. It's been amazing! I will probably play like this more often.

My OG Switch I only play in docked mode, especially for games that require it for performance reasons (e.g. Xenoblade Chronicles 2).

For retro games I usually play on my Lite.

@andykara2003 oh i did you see. Twice already. Still having the same issue. Still having « fun ». And 3 pairs of joy-con with literally the same drift. And yes, i am a Nintendo fan.

@B_Lindz I did it twice already.

Handheld guy so loving the OLED. Its really nice and premium feeling and love the slightly larger more widescreen feel to the screen. Happy with it. Haters gonna hate.

@YoshiTails me too. I think the switch knows what it is and what is possible in the current state of technology. The only way it could get better is ending the silicon shortage and allowing Nintendo to create a bigger better SoC.

@Friscobay Must be frustrating! Apparently the oled switch has revised joycons so hopefully we’ll be able to buy them at some point. Nintendo should have revised them much earlier.

Used to be i would play handheld because I was used to my ds but now its mostly tv

Nope. Metroid Dread is a "biggest TV in your house+ volume up+ dark blue lights" game.

Needs a "I have a switch lite" option since none of them fit for me.

I play my Switch 3 ways
At home, always docked.
When I feel like playing portable I don't, it is docked.
When someone takes over my tv, I move it into my games room where I dock it and play it on my other tv.
So docked, docked, docked

I guess I wanted a Nintendo home console.
Can't win them all I suppose

On the TV, I play everything on the TV.

Depending on the game I use those wireless game cube controllers. (Remasters/remakes of classic GameCube game or based on GameCube games etc)

I only play the Switch in handheld mode + headphones, it's pretty comfy

@nessisonett Maybe you could try a Binbok (I have it and I like it) or a Split Pad Pro (looks like some prefer it but I wanted a fully featured controller and the Binbok has gyro and rumble). I never tried a grip but they supposedly should help.

Anyway I know there's some demand for 4k or whatever but as of now the Switch has hardware more suitable for portable so portable is where it shines

This is how i use my switch, been playing it alot for a year, accidentally splashed water in it, since its out of warranty and i have some modest knowledge in repairing electronics i repaired it myself. After replacing the battery, cleaning the motherboard etc. i booted it up and reinitialized it. Then to my surprise nintendo PERMANENTLY BANNED my switch. When i called the hotline they told me the ban was due to me modifying the hardware of my switch. WTF i get banned for repairing my own stuff. So F you nintendo.

TLDR: i pirate all things nintendo now and will gladly teach all my friends how to do even it so they dont have to buy anything from this shiet company

The way is always on a TV and nothing else

I play Pokémon Sword in handheld only because I don’t want trees, grass, and other low res assets that would have looked good in Ocarina of Time but look like crap now to be blown up to full size on my TV.

It’s funny you should say that because I’ve been playing Skyward Sword as my weekend daytime game, albeit on the Wii, whilst my nighttime game with headphones in has been Tropical Freeze. 2D platformers work best in handheld mode I believe.

I imagine this would be the same if I had Skyward Sword on the Switch.

I played Hollow Knight in the summer evening one night outside with the fireflies IRL with headphones on, and it was so immersive and beautiful a feeling it became the “way to play” going forward.

I also really enjoyed playing Into The Breach in a “tabletop” mode with split Joy-Cons with my morning coffee, and will probably do the same if I end up to picking up Advance Wars.

@SonOfVon Love the avatar! I listen to ZP almost daily.

Playing with headphones? Yeah, right.

It's a 5.1 surround sound home theater system all the way, plus a 55 inch screen. The only way I play the Switch, or any other console (Wii, Wii U, GCN, and SNES Classic). I was in Hyrule for months when playing Breath of the Wild.

I have never used joy cons unattached from the Switch to play. I don't play in tabletop mode.
And I use I pro controller for TV play.

My joy cons fit like a glove, no movement. I think taking them off the Switch and reattaching them cause problems.

My only big way that I play certain games is that if a game only runs at 30fps I always play it on my smart TV so I can use de-judder and blur reduction to make the moving image look like 60fps. It is transformative for games like Breath of the Wild, Pikmin 3, Wind Waker (on Wii U), Animal Crossing New Horizons, Luigi's Mansion 3, Astral Chain, and really any game that's locked to 30fps. I hate playing those games in handheld because they look so blurry and crappy to me in motion.

Yoshi's Story will be so perfect for handheld play when out and about. Just like Yoshi's Island on GBA! I like slow paced non precision platformers for train journeys, etc. Also puzzle games (Tetris Effect is great)

I play my Switch about equally in docked and handheld mode. For games that don't require much focus, I tend to play them in handheld mode while having Netflix, Youtube, etc. on the big screen. Story focused games I usually play on the TV.
I only ever use (wireless) headphones when playing the Switch on the go. Sometimes it's a mixture of both depending on mood.
Sometimes games surprise me though. I fully expected to play The Great Ace Attourney Chronicles in handheld mode but I ended up playing the entire thing on my TV.

When I get home from a hard day at work I immediately pull out my handy dandy Switch and sit in a chair in the middle of the hallway. If I used a TV I wouldn't be able to enjoy my hallway.

Now I almost want the new Switch model just for the drastically improved stand/hinge...

@Torn This; a handheld/portable game system like the Switch magically transforms spaces that previously weren't gaming spaces into gaming spaces!

I also enjoyed gamepad mode on the Wii U, and remote play on the PS4/Vita.

@andykara2003 I’ll report on that. Usually drift happens 2 to 3 months of play.

For me personally, I play most of my time in handheld mode. But the thing is there are games that I feel are required to play on the TV. The most recent game that comes to mine was No More Heroes 3. It was a game that was designed to let the color and expression to be viewable in the best ways. An older Switch game would have to be Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition. I had the game on the Wii and the 3DS but the new look really captured me this time. Stuck through till the very end.

For most ‘big’ games my default preference is docked with surround sound and using pro controller. In reality I don’t get exclusive use of the tv so much at the moment so I often end up handheld, often with headphones. Hopefully that balance will shift back more towards docked in future! Although to me, despite some people arguing otherwise, that is the main reason I play mostly on the switch even though my son owns an Xbox: I don’t have to not play a game just because I can’t use the Tv.

There are also some games I prefer to play handheld such as Tetris 99.

Metroid Dread, to me, is a perfect handheld game. I don't know why. I like playing it on the TV too, but something about playing it handheld makes it feel more special. Maybe just my OG GameBoy Advance nostalgia?

@moodycat nooo dont give up on HD rumble