The Nintendo Switch has given players unprecedented power over their own gaming experience.
Since 2017, Switch gamers have the option to play games one of three ways: on the TV via docked mode, in their hands via handheld mode, or with a controller on the handheld console via tabletop mode.
Even within docked mode, gamers can choose a variety of ways to utilize the controllers.
So, which method is your preferred way to play?
Docked or Handheld?
I asked this question to the Nintendo POW Block crew earlier this year, and the answers came back how I expected: mixed.
The great aspect of the Switch is it gives you the freedom to choose without limiting you. If life necessitates you to pull away from the TV, you can play via handheld.
I’m a bit of an old-school gamer in that I really enjoy playing on the TV. That’s not to say I won’t play handheld because I do, probably more so now thanks to a pair of active children.
I’ve always been about the experience while enjoying media. I want to get immersed in a movie, TV show, and my video game. For me, playing docked perpetuates that experience.
Handheld, on the other hand, is great for when I just want to play in bed or my wife is watching TV. I rarely take my Switch out of the home but I did bring it with me on a recent work trip. This allowed me to play on the plane and at the end of each day.
In that case, handheld was preferred largely because it was the only option.
Selecting Games for Each Mode
This brings me to which games are preferable in one mode or the other. Boss Rush Network writer extraordinaire Patrick Knisely wrote a great banter piece about whether where you play affects what you play.
Taking it a step further, I think the mode you play in can affect what you play.
There are certain games I refuse to play handheld. This includes games with large worlds such as Breath of the Wild, Dragon Quest XI, Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
Again, it’s all about the experience for me and I want to get sucked into these world when I play.
On the flipside, there are some games I purposefully play handheld. These games include Final Fantasy VII and VII, Hollow Knight, and any other game that might have dated graphics or just seem to fit better in handheld.
What Do You Think?
I fully understand this could be a moot question for some as they just play the games they enjoy. Others may have specific preferences when it comes to their game, similar to my approach.
There’s no wrong way to play the Switch. The right way is one that best fits your life and situation. That’s the beauty of this console.
So what do you think? What is your preferred method of playing the Switch? Do you have games you prefer to play in one way or the other? Let us know in the comments below or by joining our Discord.
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Nintendo Pow Block is Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network’s Nintendo podcast. Each week, Edward, Corey, and their friends from around the internet come together to talk about the week in Nintendo, including news, rumors, new games, questions, and the fan-favorite Snacktendo segment. Check out Nintendo Pow Block Live on Twitch every Monday night at 8:30PM Eastern / 5:30PM Pacific or on Podcast Services and YouTube Wednesday mornings at 7AM. If you enjoy the show, consider leaving us a five star rating on iTunes and Spotify. Thanks for listening to Nintendo Pow Block!
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Reblogged this on DDOCentral.
Great post, and lots of great points! I grew up playing console games, but after years of fighting for the TV with my family, I’ve been playing handheld for many, many years. I played my DS/DS Lite/3DS for a long time, and the perks of handheld have translated to my experiences with the Switch.
These days I play my Switch almost 100% of the time on handheld, even though I fully recognize that games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 would perform better in the dock. In rare cases I’ve played Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition and Fire Emblem Three Houses in the dock, but those were single sit down sessions and not full-on playthroughs.
Ultimately, being able to take my Switch on the go is so much fun! If it existed when I was a kid it would have been even more amazing. 🙂
I read somewhere that millennials have a hard time letting go of certain aspects in their life because so much has changed over their lifetimes. Console gaming on the TV is one of those for me. It just doesn’t feel right to me to play a game like Breath of the Wild in handheld. I think keeping them separate for so long fueled this for me but I am starting to branch a bit more into handheld gaming on other games. I’ve just not made the full leap yet.