Help with Christmas - "Switch" Stuff for 6 year old boy

[Bill_Bright]

Grandson... err... great-grandson (just saying that makes me feel really old!) is getting an Nintendo Switch from Santa this year. A different console is not up for debate/discussion so going there is not an option. I am assuming his mom and grandma are buying all the basic necessities to make it work. I am looking to pile on some cool extras.

He is 6 years old. I am looking for suggestions for games (age appropriate) or accessories (attachments, peripherals, etc.) to go with the console.

Do all games work in both regular and "Lite" (handheld) console?

I feel I need to get the popular games now - but fear I might already be too late!

Hopefully, these suggestions are based on personal experience with self or your own young ones - either what they really like now, or are begging to find under the tree this year.

Thanks.

 

[freeagent]

My youngest plays our switch the most, and he loves all of the Mario games, well most of them.. skip the party one..

Games work in both models, no worries there

I did put a glass screen protector on our console, good investment since the screen is plastic. If you do buy an upgraded controller, the Pro controller is where its at..

 

[wNotyarD]

Do all games work in both regular and "Lite" (handheld) console?

Technically speaking, yes. Practically speaking, any game that relies exclusively on joy-con motion (e.g. Super Mario Party) isn't recommended, as the Lite can't be hooked up to a TV nor it has a kickstand to play tabletop.

He is 6 years old. I am looking for suggestions for games (age appropriate) or accessories (attachments, peripherals, etc.) to go with the console.

I feel I need to get the popular games now - but fear I might already be too late!

Hopefully, these suggestions are based on personal experience with self or your own young ones - either what they really like now, or are begging to find under the tree this year.

As long as Mario is Mario, anything with him (bar Super Smash Bros, which while light-hearted is still a fighting game) is recommended (ESRB E10+ at most, but I'll only mention E titles). 3D World + Bowser's Fury for 3D while Wonder is the latest 2D platformer, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on the platform bar none (Booster Course Pass HIGHLY recommended). Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a puzzle game which may be interesting to develop thinking.
On accessories: a storage case is paramount, especially for the Lite. I don't actually know if your (great-)grandson will be allowed to carry the Switch everywhere, but for protecting it whenever out of the Dock (which the Lite doesn't have) it's a must, and the same can be said of a good grip/protective case (I really recommend Skull & Co here for both - MaxCarry and GripCase, their stuff is amazing). If there's interest of the family playing together, an extra pair of joy-cons and/or a Pro Controller is totally worth it (while two can play with the single pair of joy-cons that comes with a non-Lite Switch, I find it quite uncomfortable).

 

[Bill_Bright]

Wow, less than 30 minutes since I posted and 2 great (and very informative ) replies have already come in. Thanks.

I knew the Lite model did not have a stand, but didn't realize it could not be hooked up to a TV. I guess with no stand support, that makes sense. Don't need the kid walking off with the handheld still tethered to the TV.

I'm still waiting for my daughter to text me back telling me which model he's getting. I suspect the Lite just because it is portable.

Thanks again for quick and very informative replies.

 

[Macro Device]

I'd get him an exceptionally great lawyer just in case.

Jokes aside, is getting Pokémon games an option? Must be cool.

I'd also make sure to get backup cables and batteries and whatnot. And I'm not sure about screen quality but 6 y.o. is a very sensitive age, I really recommend consulting an ophtalmologist and in case it's rather a necessity, getting some eye safety (goggles, screen film, or screen time limiter) for the kid. I don't know how it's like to live with blurry vision thanks to my lucky genes but I don't think it's a picnic.

 

[wNotyarD]

Wow, less than 30 minutes since I posted and 2 great (and very informative ) replies have already come in. Thanks.

I knew the Lite model did not have a stand, but didn't realize it could not be hooked up to a TV. I guess with no stand support, that makes sense. Don't need the kid walking off with the handheld still tethered to the TV.

I'm still waiting for my daughter to text me back telling me which model he's getting. I suspect the Lite just because it is portable.

Thanks again for quick and very informative replies.

The non-Lites ARE portable, just bigger. That's what I meant with "whenever out of the Dock". It's the Dock that makes the portable Switch connect to the TV but the Lite isn't compatible with it, its USB-C is hardwired not to carry video out.

 

[Mac the Geek]

My son (now 9) has had his Switch for a couple years now. He usually bounces between Mario Kart 8, Animal Crossing, and one of the Lego games (currently Lego The Incredibles, which apparently includes a ton of cross-Pixar characters from Sheriff Woody to Lightning McQueen).

 

[Bill_Bright]

Screen time (for eyes, social isolation, and mind development) has been a subject of discussion. He has limits per day, but I will remind his mom and grandma (again) to be mindful of them.

The non-Lites ARE portable, just bigger.

He is fully capable of connecting USB and device power cables to things like a tablet or phone. My worry there is these ports are not always located on TVs where they are easily accessible by an adult, let alone a 6 year old. He shuffles back and forth between his house, grandma's house, and his other grandma's house. This is why I think he is getting the Lite version. But I'm still waiting for his grandma (my daughter) to tell me which device. I also am assuming he will be getting at least one game with the console. So waiting to hear about that too.

He does like anything to do with Legos. Thanks.

So far, I am looking at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe plus the Booster Course Pass, carrying case, and/or Lego games.

Thanks everyone.

 

[faye]

If you have any say in it I strongly recommend the "standard" or OLED Switch over the Lite - the joycons aren't the best built or reliable, but at least with models other than the Lite they can be replaced. If a joystick goes bad on the Lite it's a lot more trouble to fix.

 

[Bill_Bright]

If you have any say in it I strongly recommend the "standard" or OLED Switch over the Lite

I agree. But I only have such say if I am paying for the whole thing. And I am not spending $300 on a great grand kid. I am just a retired Air Force Master Sergeant on Social Security. I am not hurting for money but certainly not rich either.

I have 2 great-grand kids, 6 grand kids, and 5 kids (plus 3 kids-in-law) to buy gifts for. The 3rd generation down already gets the smallest chunk of the budget. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game alone is about what I was planning - budget wise - at that great-grand kid level.

Now if his mom and grandma spring for the standard console, then great. But not my call.

That said, thanks for the heads up on the durability issue with joystick on the Lite. If that is what he is getting, I will be sure to warn them about that too. But, sadly, still waiting for my daughter to text me back.

Okay - daughter called and she's going for the OLED version - but she's hoping to find a good "Black Friday" price. I still have to wait so I know which version and thus which game is included - but now I have lots of good suggestions to go by. Thanks again, folks. Much appreciated!

 

[cvaldes]

First-party age appropriate games would include 1.) Animal Crossing, 2.) the Legend of Zelda games, and 3.) the Mario franchise. Naturally there are several Pokemon titles if he's into that. Minecraft and Roblox are two third-party titles that are very popular with that age group.

A proper gamepad when playing in docked mode (outputting to a television) really is far better than the included Joycon controllers. Nintendo's own Switch Pro gamepad is generally considered the best conventional gamepad; it is rarely on sale, so you will likely need to pay full retail for that. Nintendo doesn't make much profit on the console hardware, they rake in the big bucks from software sales, peripherals, and merch.

He really should play Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) before Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023). For the Mario titles, Super Mario Odyssey (2017) is considered the best on the Switch. The newly released Super Mario RPG (2023 remake of the 1996 original) looks wonderful too.

The top selling Switch game is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which is a racing game that can be enjoyed single-player and multi-player (the latter mode includes local wireless play with up to 4 players on the same console).

Many of the gaming media websites are tracking Black Friday sales for Switch (and other platforms). Consult those first.

 

[Atomic77]

Nintendo Switch OLED is an awesome device. I have the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet edition. I don’t know how good the OLED being slightly bigger would be in the hands of a 6 year old boy.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Grandson... err... great-grandson (just saying that makes me feel really old!) is getting an Nintendo Switch from Santa this year. A different console is not up for debate/discussion so going there is not an option. I am assuming his mom and grandma are buying all the basic necessities to make it work. I am looking to pile on some cool extras.

He is 6 years old. I am looking for suggestions for games (age appropriate) or accessories (attachments, peripherals, etc.) to go with the console.

Do all games work in both regular and "Lite" (handheld) console?

I feel I need to get the popular games now - but fear I might already be too late!

Hopefully, these suggestions are based on personal experience with self or your own young ones - either what they really like now, or are begging to find under the tree this year.

Thanks.

All games should work fine on a "lite" model. Depending on his reading skill level, I can confidently recommend the Super Mario 3D World as well as the Mana Collection and Trials of Mana. Each of these worth the time and money to find.

 

[WhiteNoise]

We have the Lite model (my daughter's) and the OLED Switch (mine) and honestly they both rock. A 6-year-old won't care as long as you don't mind not being able to use it on a TV, (Which I find nice to do).

 

[ShiBDiB]

Also looking at getting my 6 year old one of these this year. Trying to talk the ex into getting him the non-lite version as I know he's going to want to play mario kart with other people.

 

[faye]

Also looking at getting my 6 year old one of these this year. Trying to talk the ex into getting him the non-lite version as I know he's going to want to play mario kart with other people.

Sell her on the repairability angle. Controller breaks on the Lite, it has to be sent off to be fixed. Controller breaks on the normal Switch, you get new Joycons.

 

[Hyderz]

Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars are great fun games with the whole family...
Add 2 more controllers for 4 player family mayhem

 

[1freedude]

While the Zelda games for Switch are some of the greatest games of all time, they are not gonna be enjoyable for a 6 year old. I know because I have a 7 year old who doesnt play Zelda on her brother's Switch, and she can read.

I recommend little things like stick bumpers, and stickers. Maybe a game chip case. Also, for the parent....we used an app to control the game and screen time. It works from anywhere, not just on the same network.

 

[sam_86314]

My seven-year-old sister loves playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8, and Paper Mario: Origami King. She also got into the Lego Harry Potter games.

She exclusively uses our Switch while it's docked. We have some PowerA controllers for it.

 

[Mac the Geek]

The Humble Store: Great games. Fantastic prices. Support charity.

Choose from thousands of games for PC, Mac, Linux, and Android while supporting a charity of your choice. New games added every day!

www.humblebundle.com

Humble Store has discounts on Switch games for the next six days.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Nintendo themselves usually has some great deals on games in their shop. I've bought a handful at super good prices.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Nintendo themselves usually has some great deals on games in their shop. I've bought a handful at super good prices.

Physical games are what Bill is likely looking for...

 

[Bill_Bright]

Well, an interesting twist - I had Thanksgiving dinner at my "other" daughter's house yesterday (due to various work schedules of other family members). And unbeknownst to me, they have a Switch console.

We played Guesspionage through the Switch and "Jackbox.tv" and each of our smart phones. There are tons of other games - Guesspionage is just one and is a trivia game where you play against each other and it was very entertaining.

Now, you all may be (probably are) saying, "no duh!" But it was all new to me. I had the preconceived notion that most of the games were oriented towards the much younger crowd but these questions were "Jeopardy" level trivia topics.

So while this thread is about my great-grandson getting a Switch, I am glad the user base can be much more diverse and the whole family can enjoy it too.

 

[wNotyarD]

Well, an interesting twist - I had Thanksgiving dinner at my "other" daughter's house yesterday (due to various work schedules of other family members). And unbeknownst to me, they have a Switch console.

We played Guesspionage through the Switch and "Jackbox.tv" and each of our smart phones. There are tons of other games - Guesspionage is just one and is a trivia game where you play against each other and it was very entertaining.

Now, you all may be (probably are) saying, "no duh!" But it was all new to me. I had the preconceived notion that most of the games were oriented towards the much younger crowd but these questions were "Jeopardy" level trivia topics.

So while this thread is about my great-grandson getting a Switch, I am glad the user base can be much more diverse and the whole family can enjoy it too.

Guesspionage is brilliant, as are many other games on the Jackbox Party Packs. All very much adult-oriented, though, even with family filters on.

 

[Bill_Bright]

All very much adult-oriented

If you mean "explicit" content unsuitable for younger audiences - I saw none of that. But my daughter might have enabled filtering for that.