If you're keeping an eye out for Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals when the time comes in 2020, TechRadar is the place you'll want to bookmark as we'll be bringing you the very best offers as they appear.
The Nintendo Switch may have saved the Japanese company. Not long ago, there were rumors of Mario, Link, Samus and the like appearing on other platforms – such was the disappointment of the Wii U last generation.
Fast forward to today, three and a half years from the Switch's launch, and the console has taken the gaming world by storm. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up in just a couple of months, is now a good time to pick up a Nintendo Switch?
Is the Nintendo Switch right for you?
For the uninitiated, the main Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console. It offers full handheld play, and the ability to "dock the console" to continue playing on your TV (unless you’re using the handheld-only Switch Lite).
It's less powerful than the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, but even if you're looking to play solely on a TV it's still well worth the investment.
That's mostly down to the software lineup, which is incredible. Games on the Switch tend to fall into four categories, and each is absolutely rammed with worthwhile content.
The first category is obvious - Nintendo's own games. Fighting title Super Smash Bros: Ultimate is the finest multiplayer game around today, while Super Mario Maker 2 offers unlimited levels and creativity. This year's Paper Mario game shows that classic series still mean a lot to Nintendo. Meanwhile, the oft-discussed Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a true marvel years later, despite landing on the Switch (and Wii U) at launch.
Speaking of the Wii U, the second category is Nintendo's own ports from that system. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze are all fantastic titles given a second chance to find an audience on a console that seems to be in everyone's hands. Even in 2020, Nintendo is porting Pikmin 3 to the console from Wii U – enhancing the library of games as a result.
Next up are indies, and they number in the hundreds. Many of the best independent games can be found on Switch, from the excellent Dead Cells, to Hollow Knight, to one of the TechRadar team's favorites, Into The Breach. There are too many to name, and the same can be said of the final category of Switch games: the ports.
"When is it coming to Switch" has become almost a meme at this point, but some publishers have offered impressive support. Bethesda has ported Skyrim, Wolfenstein II (and Youngblood) and Doom to the console, with Doom Eternal coming at some point. The Witcher 3 is another high point.
Free-to-play looter Warframe plays excellently on Switch, too, while Diablo 3 is just as addictive as ever. You may have no desire to play these titles again, but being able to take these huge games on the go feels magical.
That's not all, either. Nintendo Switch Online is starting to offer incredible value for money – even if it could be better. Costing less than half the price of PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live, the service offers online functionality (albeit not as fleshed out as other services) as well as the ability to play both NES and many SNES games on your Switch - either handheld or on the go. Sometimes, too, Nintendo does free trials of games as part of your membership, with Pokken Tournament getting a few days of free play earlier in 2020.
If you're the type of gamer that's looking to play games on the go, or want a bunch of huge games to stuck into on your TV, then the Switch is an excellent option for your next console.
Is Black Friday the right time to buy?
So, should you buy a Nintendo Switch over Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2020? While Breathe of the Wild 2 is coming out at some point and a slew of 3D Mario remasters are rumored, the Switch isn't having its best year of software in 2020. Instead, more games are reportedly coming next year, along with a possible superior 4K Nintendo Switch unit.
That's one potential reason to wait. But for most people, the base Nintendo Switch unit will be worth it, minus any possibility of extra power the next unit will see. Especially now that the software library on Switch is so vast.
Over the past three years, we've not seen huge Nintendo Switch Black Friday discounts (the savings have been relatively small, and sold out incredibly quickly), but that could change in 2020 depending on available stock. This will definitely be a great time to get a Switch bundle, where for the usual retail price of the Switch, you can get a game or two thrown in for nothing. Just avoid overpriced bundles that toss in accessories you don't want.
The Switch Lite, meanwhile, got a few modest $20 savings during the last Black Friday. You might see similar deals this year.
If there are great Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals to be had, we'll be sure to let you know and you can feel safe in the knowledge you've bagged yourself a top console for less.
