It’s impossible to predict exactly what kind of deals we will see this year, but we can look to last year’s Prime Day deals for insight. Last year we saw the Switch on sale for $299 with a free portable charger at Walmart - that’s not a huge saving, but it was a nice freebie thrown in. We also spotted the Nintendo Switch bundled with 1-2 Switch and Mario Tennis Aces for $359 at Walmart. This was a nice saving when compared to buying them all individually.
Does Nintendo do deals?
Traditionally, Nintendo hasn’t been known for huge sales and massive discounts. It sells a quality product and it knows that people want it, so we rarely see huge price cuts on its games and hardware. That being said, we do often see great bundles on Nintendo consoles, games and accessories which offer fantastic value and there are still sales and price cuts - just don’t come in expecting to see the Nintendo Switch down to half price. We’re expecting better deals this year though, primarily because of the impending release of the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5 - Nintendo will have to compete with that new console buzz, so we expect more aggressive sales and deals. There’s also the Nintendo Switch Lite, the smaller, purely handheld version of the console that launched last year, too.
Current Nintendo Switch deals
Nintendo really nailed it this time around with the Nintendo Switch. It’s a fantastic game console that lets you play games on the TV, but then take things portable when you need to head outside. You can simply remove the tablet-like Switch console from the TV/charging dock, and play it anywhere you like thanks to the stand on the back, or attach the two controllers to the side of the console for a true handheld experience. Did we mention you can do this instantly without having to power down the console? If you’re a fan of Nintendo’s rich heritage of classic gaming brands, you’re spoilt for choice with Zelda: Breath of the Wild being one of the most highly-rated games of all time. Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Pokemon: Let’s Go and Bayonetta 2 are all essential titles too.
Check out our full Nintendo Switch review (opens in new tab).
Like the look of the games on the Switch, but not sure about this whole hybrid console thing? Then why not grab the Nintendo Switch Lite, a purely handheld games console version of the Switch. It still plays all the same great games like Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon, but it’s a cheaper and more focused machine. You’re sacrificing the ability to play on the TV, and there are no detachable Joy-Cons so multiplayer isn’t really a thing on the Switch Lite, but it’s a fantastic option if neither of those issues are a factor for you.
Check out our full Nintendo Switch Lite review (opens in new tab).
When you buy the Switch console, a pair of Joy-Cons is included that can be used to form a single traditional controller, or split in two to be used by two players – with the d-pad on the second controller working as replacement face buttons. If you want to enjoy four players at once though, (Mario Kart 8 (opens in new tab) is a must here), then you’ll need to pick up an additional pair. They’re not cheap, but we’ll track down the best price we can. We’ve highlighted the pairs rather than individual ones, as they normally cost $49.99 for one or $79.99 for two, which isn’t really what we’d call fair. If the Joy-Con grip you get with your new Nintendo Switch isn’t quite comfortable enough for longer sessions, then Nintendo has made a bespoke traditional-style controller. So if you’re wanting to spend hours at a time playing Zelda, or get the most dexterous performance against opponents in Smash Bros, this could be worth the admittedly rather pricey upgrade. There are cheaper third-party options available, which you might want to consider, although they generally lack the build quality of this official Nintendo Product.
Expired Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals
