Topic: Playing the Switch in handheld mode downgrades the enjoyment?

Do you feel playing the Switch in handheld mode downgrades the enjoyment of the game? For example, seeing the big world of Hyrule and climbing the mountains in HD on the big screen is definitely more enjoyable than seeing it on a tiny screen. Do you prefer to play it on the TV or in handheld mode? I personally feel not having it on a big HD screen kind of ruins the experience a bit. Unfortunately it's the only way for me to play a game with a peace of mind during lunch at work since at home there's no telling when I will be called on by the wife to do something (One of the things I miss about my single life).

Not at all. But that's probably because I exclusively play my Switch as a handheld. I have no problem with playing BotW on a smaller screen, which is not that very small either. It still looks beautiful. It's also a lot more comfortable for me, I can literally play BotW at any time and any place I want.

I'm not too big into console gaming anymore. I like the portability convenience.

Definitely. I never enjoy games when using it as a portable as much as I do on the TV. That's not the fault of the system at all, though. It's the best portable system ever made IMO. I think it's just the nature of small screens in general. It could also be the fact that I've never really had a portable system before, and I haven't quite adjusted.

Plus, I always feel more imprecise when using the JoyCons in any fashion than I do when using the Pro controller.

I play almost exclusively in handheld, no enjoyment lost for me, played about 120 of my Zelda hours in HH mode

^THIS^

I've had a Switch from day 1 and still not plugged it into the tv.

It depends on the game, some are enjoyable in portable mode and others are not. It is always better on a tv screen with a pro controller, but some games are worth playing both ways. Being able to play games on the go is a big plus, yes, but for me this console is primarily a home console.

Ditto.

I find handheld to be a more intimate (steady ) experience, and with the screen less than half a metre from my eyes, the screen is plenty big enough.

Besides the resolution boost, I do kinda think those who insist on a large screen are kinda deluded. A 6 inch screen held 40cm away probably fills as much field of view as a 40 inch screen 3-4m away.

Nope. Most games so far play equally well on the TV and in handheld mode, and that especially applies to BotW. The tablet screen is more than large enough to do Switch games justice.

With that said, games that are heavily reliant on motion control inputs like Splatoon and ARMS are preferable on the TV, but I LOVE the fact that I can comfortably play them anywhere.

I don't normally enjoy home console games anymore because I hate being tethered to a TV when I want to play something, but being able to seamlessly switch between handheld and TV mode at my convenience has even allowed me to enjoy playing on the TV more. I don't feel like I have to carve time out of my life to play on the Switch. If I'm playing on the TV and have to step away for a while, I can just continue on the tablet screen.

Want to play a match or two of Splatoon 2 or Mario Kart but don't really want to bother getting into position in front of my TV? I can just grab the tablet and happily play in bed.

Normal home consoles just... don't do it for me anymore. This is too good.

For me, it basically comes down to the game and where I'm used to playing it on. Playing the one or so hours of Zelda in handheld mode felt weird because I'm used to playing it on tv. On the other hand, I play Minecraft and Mario Kart almost exclusively in handheld mode so when I sit there with my Pro Controller in hands and drive a round of good ol MK8, it feels weird, as if something is wrong without anything being actually wrong. Neither ruins the experience but it takes a while to get the hang on the controls and the feeling of the controller, I feel like. So during this re-orientation phase, it feels weird. It does not look weird or sound weird. It isn't just the handheld mode either for me, it's both handheld and tv that may feel weird at first but never to the point of ruining my gaming experience.

@Don It can depend on the game. A game like Lego City that has tiny text that was not really considered for the display size might ruin some enjoyment. But generally, not at all. If I've been playing a lot on TV, the handheld screen seems small and less immersive. OTOH if I've been playing a lot on the handheld, that one seems like the "normal" one and the TV seems disorientingly ginormous. I have to adapt to the other if I've been using one mode mostly. But generally it's fully enjoyable either way. It's more immersive on the big screen just because it's big, but it's not much less so handheld once your brain filters out the surroundings, you tend to focus on just what you see anyway.

I like playing in console because my LG OLED makes things look good, but I am find playing in portable and do it all the time.

It really depends on the game. Zelda is my big-screen jam, I like every detail on the TV and feel it's not as cool in handheld. Disgaea 5 looks and feels perfect in handheld. Mario Mart is almost an identical experience.

The beauty of the switch is that you pick handheld or console.

If I ever get a Switch I doubt I'll even bother connecting it to a TV. I already use my WiiU all by itself, no TV.

I find it really hard to enjoy gaming when I need to take time and set up a whole room for it. Portable all the way~

I enjoy it more to play on the big screen. Zelda is a good example. Feels also more comfortable.

Handheld all the way for me. I really just enjoy playing a game at my own leisure and desire without having to set things up for it. Having a handheld really is just nice for me, and I don't mind the smaller experience.

I played BOTW almost exclusively on the telly until beast 4 I think I must have only remembered about then that it portable and everything looked so small!!!! The writing was hard to see, the pics of weapons shields and powers were little icons. So yeah I feel your pain. But other games handheld are good and having that much power in a portable so good!

Breath of the Wild feels better on the big screen. i still played it a few times in mobile mode. Nothing wrong with it.
Now disgea 5 i mostly play in handheld mode. Just the perfect game to carry around imo.
So it depends on the game for me, but exploring a bit in Zelda works still fine on the small screen.
But the trial of the sword is more something for the pro controller+ big screen.

Not in my case. I own a 4K TV and as they already had said, the 900p look worse in a 4K screen than the 720p in the Switch 720p handheld screen, so it looks beautiful in handheld mode, although obviously smaller, whereas I do notice worse graphics on TV mode, slightly blurry.

Not that I care too much, especially when my "me" time is almost always on my way to work and at home I use the little time I have to give love to other home consoles.

Zelda I prefer on the big screen, but as often I get to play in handheld or not at all I think it adds to my enjoyment of the game.