Trending in the UK: Nintendo Switch 2 — what to buy with it and what to skip

Nintendo Switch 2 is trending across the UK tonight as pre-order frenzy meets first-week reviews. If you're picking one up, the launch accessories matter more than they did for the original Switch — the new dock pumps out more power, the Joy-Cons attach differently, and the game cards are physically different. Here's the buy-now list and the wait-six-months list.

I haven't owned the Switch 2 long enough to give a definitive review — three weeks at the time of writing — but I've gone through the typical accessory regret cycle twice now (original Switch in 2017, OLED in 2021) and the pattern repeats. Buy the basics on launch, skip the gimmicks, wait for third-party prices to settle.

Who needs a Switch 2 right now (and who can wait)

If you don't already own a Switch and you've been waiting for the right entry point, this is it. Backward compatibility means you get a decade of the original Switch library plus the new exclusives. If you have an nintendo switch oled and you're happy with the Switch library you've already bought, wait — the must-have Switch 2 exclusives are a thin list at launch, and prices on accessories will drop sharply by Christmas.

For families: the Switch 2 is the better buy than another OLED IF you can split the cost over a year. The new console handles split-screen better, the kids' library is huge, and the docked-mode picture quality jumps notably on a 4K TV. If your kids are already deep in animal crossing new horizons and the original Switch is working, hold for now.

The four launch accessories I actually use

A second pair of Joy-Cons. The console ships with one pair, and the Switch 2 Joy-Con attachment is magnetic this time — which means a switch 2 joy con pair from Nintendo (not third-party) is the safe buy. Third-party magnetic Joy-Cons exist but the magnet alignment has been hit-or-miss in reviews. Spend the $90 here.

A switch 2 microsd express card. The Switch 2 uses MicroSD Express (a newer, faster standard) — and your old Switch MicroSD card will work but at reduced speed, meaning longer load times. SanDisk and Samsung both make 256 GB Express cards in the $50–$70 range. Don't buy a 1 TB unless you're certain you'll fill it; the price-per-GB drops a lot over the first year of any storage format.

A switch 2 screen protector. The new screen is reportedly scratch-resistant but $8 of insurance is worth it for a $500 device. Tempered glass installs in about two minutes if you've done it before — easier on the Switch 2 than a phone because the screen is flat and large.

A switch carrying case hard sized for the Switch 2. The original Switch cases don't fit; the new console is slightly larger. Hori and Nintendo both make official hard cases for $25–$35. If you travel with it, this is non-negotiable — the screen is the most fragile component on the console.

What to wait six months on

Pro Controller. The Switch 2's Joy-Cons in the grip are actually serviceable for most games — better than the original Switch grip ergonomically. A switch 2 pro controller is great for fighting games and certain shooters, but Nintendo's launch price ($80) will likely drop by 20% within six months as the 8bitdo ultimate switch 2 and other third-party alternatives hit shelves at half the price.

Themed cases and skins. The "Mario edition" and "Zelda edition" launch cases are pure markup. The same hard case in plain black costs $20 less. Get the plain one.

External hard drive. The Switch 2 supports external storage but it's only for screenshots and older Switch games — current Switch 2 games must install to internal or MicroSD Express. A 1 TB external HDD is roughly useless for the new console. Skip unless you have a specific reason.

Capture card. The Switch 2's built-in clip recorder is significantly better than the original — captures longer clips, edits on-device. Most casual streamers don't need a elgato hd60 x capture card anymore. If you stream professionally, you already know whether you need one.

Three game choices for the first month

I'll resist ranking the launch lineup — too early — but three categories have proven safe bets on every Nintendo launch:

A first-party Nintendo flagship. The launch Mario or Zelda title (whichever happened on the launch window) is usually the biggest exclusive of year one. Pre-order the nintendo switch 2 mario launch title if you're already a Nintendo fan; you'll play it for 30+ hours.

A third-party port that wasn't possible on Switch 1. Watch for a switch 2 elden ring or similar AAA title that the OG Switch couldn't run — these tend to be the best demonstration of the new hardware. They also tend to drop in price faster than first-party Nintendo games.

An indie. The Switch 2's library will fill out with eShop indies over the first year. Don't buy the first ones at full price unless reviews are unanimous; many appear on Steam at 40% less six months later.

What I wish I'd known before opening the box

Transfer your data BEFORE you sell the original Switch. Nintendo's account migration is one-shot and you'll lose save progress on the original if you do it wrong. Read the Nintendo support page step-by-step before starting.

The kickstand is sturdier this time, but the new Y-shape can wobble on uneven surfaces. A portable gaming stand for around $20 is more stable for tabletop play, especially if you and a friend are sharing the screen.

Battery life claims are best-case. Real-world heavy use (3D games at full brightness, wireless headphones connected) is 2.5–4 hours. Plan accordingly — a usb-c power bank 20000mah keeps you playing on flights or long train rides. The Switch 2 charges from any 30W+ USB-C source.

If you've already bought Nintendo Switch Online for the original, your sub carries over. The expansion pack with N64/Genesis games is worth the upgrade if you play retro on the bigger Switch 2 screen — see other ways to stretch home setups for parallels.

For most people, the basic accessory list — second Joy-Con pair, fast MicroSD Express, screen protector, hard case — covers everything you'll actually need in month one. Everything else can wait until the second wave of options arrives and prices stabilize.