Game on the go with this Nintendo Switch dock and charger combo. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
For Nintendo Switch gamers, it’s all about portability. But let’s face it: That Super Smash Bros. session can end all too early if you’ve forgotten to fully charge up the device. That’s just one of the problems solved by this $35.99 portable Nintendo Switch dock and charger.
Again, this is much more than a simple Nintendo Switch charger, but it does that job impressively. It uses USB 3.1 Type-C PD to deliver 36W of fast charging. Better still, you can game without fear of overheating or blowing your voltage thanks to a smart GaN chip that regulates the output.
Another major bonus? You can also use it to charge compatible phones and tablets.
But here’s the best part. While your Switch is plugged in and charging, you can use the HDMI port to route the feed to your smart TV or other monitor. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Monster Hunter Rise deserve a big-screen presentation. And this Nintendo Switch dock and charger lets you do just that. The HDMI port can accommodate 4K screens at an impressive 60 Hz, ensuring Switch gamers don’t miss any graphics details.
You get all that in a hub that weighs just a few ounces and is small enough to fit in your back pocket. There are many Nintendo Switch accessories that can enhance your gameplay, but this might be the only one you truly need for gaming on the go.
I love my Nintendo Switch so naturally I’m very excited for any official details about its successor that’s tentatively being referred to as the Nintendo Switch 2. And, if rumors of it being a souped-up version of what we already have do turn out to be accurate, that’s cause enough for celebration in my book. Well, aside from one thing.
The Nintendo Switch’s biggest problem (you know, aside from its subpar specs, awkward online features, and sluggish eShop) is that it’s severely lacking in sauce. Unlike Nintendo consoles of old, there’s no fanfare when you boot up the Switch. No pleasant background music, no welcoming splash screens, and more pointedly, no customizable menu themes.
Above all else, this is the one thing I want to see the Nintendo Switch 2 address. As a 3DS enjoyer (and a staunch Wii U defender), I’d love for Nintendo to bring back these aesthetically charming elements to really set itself apart from the cold, overly-clean dashboard of the PS5 or Xbox’s miserable implementation of Windows 11.
Variety’s the spice of life
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If you owned a Nintendo 3DS, chances are you downloaded at least one or two menu themes from its eShop. These were easily among the two-screened handheld’s best features, and what really set them apart was that they weren’t just static images.
Well, they did have a larger image on the top screen to tie the theme together, but each individual theme offered much more. They had music relevant to the theme installed (one of my personal favorites being the Ace Attorney Trilogy’s use of the first game’s iconic ‘Objection!’ track) and entirely unique menu icons based on the theme you’d selected.
The Nintendo Switch, by comparison, lacks all of this. Sure, there’s a dedicated ‘Themes’ menu in its settings, but for what? Your choices are, quite literally, black or white. There’s absolutely nothing joyous here; no pleasant backing track, no Miis aimlessly traipsing around a plaza – just a cold digital void where your massive backlog goes to die.
I hear you; handheld or docked, the Switch only has the one screen. Its themes can’t possibly be as dynamic or creative as they were on the 3DS. But to that I say, both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 would like a word. Sony’s previous-gen consoles absolutely excelled here, offering tons of dynamic (and often animated) themes accompanied by music. And on both, it was common to find themes with unique menu icons and sound effects. It’s all becoming something of a lost art, I fear.
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Now to play devil’s advocate, there’s a very likely reason as to why the Nintendo Switch is bereft of any kind of creative menu themes, and it all comes down to the system’s outdated processor. The Switch’s user interface (UI) may inspire nihility, but its sparseness does mean it’s at the very least easy to navigate. The 3DS’s themes, while lovely, did often cause a notable hitch in performance, with boot times suffering in particular. It’s possible Nintendo wanted to avoid this.
However, as mentioned, the most prominent rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 revolve around the console being something of a ‘Super’ Nintendo Switch. With improved specs, it should be possible for Nintendo to avoid performance bottlenecks brought about by more active menu themes.
Could Platinum Coin usage then be extended to menu themes on Nintendo Switch 2? Assuming Nintendo keeps its current online ecosystem intact with the next console, I think this would be an excellent way to incentivize folks to sign up to Nintendo Switch Online in addition to existing benefits like cloud storage, its retro game library, and DLC offerings.
This would be a fantastic opportunity to grow Nintendo Switch Online’s benefits while reintroducing some of the more charming features of past Nintendo consoles. I’ve little doubt that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be a winner; I just want to see the company once again embrace features like menu themes that genuinely set them apart from the competition.
March 10 is Mario Day, owing to the resemblance of “Mar 10” to the name of the world’s jumpiest plumber. It’s an occasion when Nintendo typically discounts games from the Mario universe, plus consoles and accessories. We’ve gathered up a list of the best deals below. Most of them will end by March 17, though some might sell out or expire a little earlier.
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Console Deals
Nintendo has said that console deals will begin on March 10. Retailers will be offering a $25 gift card with the purchase of a Nintendo Switch console. While specific details have not yet been shared, we anticipate that participating retailers will include Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
Photograph: Nintendo
It’s rare to see an outright cash discount on the Nintendo Switch OLED (8/10, WIRED Recommends). This model features a 7-inch display, an improved kickstand, and 64 gigabytes of internal storage. Our list of the Best Nintendo Switch Accessories has suggestions to help you trick out your new console.
Game Deals
Courtesy of Nintendo
This game is a WIRED favorite. It’s fun for players of all ages, no matter how much Mario Kart they’ve played before. You can whip red shells and banana peels at up to seven opponents.
What could be more fun than beating your friends in minigames as you race to get the most stars? Doing it on new levels with fresh RNG elements. Up to four people can play at once locally. Online play is offered, too, for folks with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Read more about the service here.
This fun multiplayer game can double as a home workout. If you’ve ever wanted to obliterate Toad in a game of tennis, it’s your time to shine.
Courtesy of Nintendo
Another WIRED favorite, Luigi’s Mansion is arguably the most fun you can have with a vacuum cleaner. There’s a fun couch co-op mode where a second player controls a spectral, gooey version of Luigi to help solve puzzles. And looting is fun! One or two players can game locally, and there’s an online version that supports up to eight.
This cozy platformer is like a puzzle-solving treasure hunt. You can beat stages alone or hand the controller to your couchmate for two-player co-op. We especially like Mellow mode, which makes gameplay just a bit easier and more relaxing.
This golf game supports up to four players. It features stylized courses and oodles of characters to play as—or against. Each character has their own special shot and special movement, plus a fun Battle Golf mode where the stakes are even higher.
Deals on Accessories, Toys, and More
Photograph: Walmart
Typically, free trials of Nintendo Switch Online are a week long, so this gets you an extra week. It’s not limited to new users either, so if you’ve had a trial membership before, this offer still applies. Like the name suggests, this service allows you to play games online. Read more about Nintendo Switch Online in our Gaming Subscriptions guide.
This deal is part of a larger Samsung sale. If you don’t have a microSD card in your Switch, this is a solid deal on a large-capacity card. It’ll add a ton of space to your console, and for less money than usual.
This basic controller doesn’t have rumble functions or some of the features that Pro controllers have, but the price is right, and it works just fine. It has a headphone jack and two programmable shortcut buttons on the back. Check out our Best Nintendo Switch Accessories guide for additional recommendations.
This Lego set includes a buildable course, plus Princess Peach, Lemmy, and Yellow Toad figurines. The Peach figure even has an LCD screen and a built-in speaker. You can pair the set with Lego Luigi and Mario to make a two-player game. Both sets are on sale for $48 as well, though they are discounted more frequently than the Peach set.
Mario Day, otherwise called MAR10 Day or just March 10, is upon us. This is the date to celebrate Nintendo’s iconic plumber. It’s not his birthday or anything, but rather a random day on the calendar that sort of looks like his name when spelled in a certain way. You know, like how Star Wars Day falls on May 4.
Still, Nintendo has been putting its corporate might behind the celebration since 2015, offering up Mario-themed experiences at the company’s official store, discounts on games and various contests. Retailers have also been following suit in recent years, marking down Nintendo products to coincide with March 10. With that in mind, here are the best deals for MAR10 that could very well elicit a “wahoo” or two.
Kris Naudus / Engadget
One of the marquee deals is for the Switch itself. There’s no actual discount on the console, but each purchase includes a $25 gift card from the retailer you bought it from. Participating retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Target and the promotion goes from March 10 through March 16. This deal applies to the OLED Switch, Nintendo’s latest and greatest console iteration, the original Switch and the Switch Lite. It’s the perfect way to catch up on Metroid Dread, Super Mario Wonder and, of course, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
There’s a major caveat here. The Switch is on its way out, with a replacement likely headed our way in the beginning part of next year, and we don’t know how long Nintendo intends to support the original hybrid console for after that. Still, the Switch has a massive back catalog worth exploring.
Speaking of that back catalog, many retailers are offering $20 discounts on a number of first-party Nintendo games. These include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and more. This brings the price down to $40 per game. There’s also a cool bundle available that includes a tropical-themed Switch Lite and a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for $200, available at both Target and Walmart. It’s not part of the MAR10 festivities, but it’s a good deal nonetheless.
The company has also doubled the free trial period for Nintendo Switch Online, from seven days to 14 days. This lets people play online, as the name suggests, but also opens up its catalog of retro NES and SNES games. Switch owners have until March 17 to activate the trial and it’s even available to people who have already tried the service in the past.
Finally, there are some real-world events for Nintendo die-hards. There’s a meet-and-greet with Mario and Luigi at the Nintendo Store in New York City, complete with plenty of giveaways and a screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. GameStop is also doing in-person giveaways on March 16.
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