Leave a Comment / December 11th, 2025 / Jason Ganos

Nintendo Switch 2 Holiday Buyers Guide | Best Switch 2 Deals Available

News, Switch, Switch 2

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It’s hard to believe the holiday season is here once again, and I’m sure many of you have a Nintendo Switch 2 on your own wish list or your kids’. Lucky for you, this is one of the best times to snag a Switch 2, along with games and accessories, as retailers across the internet have discounted just about everything—including the console itself!

Here’s everything you need to know to get the best deals if you’re picking up a Switch 2 for the very first time, plus a few helpful tips on getting it set up and transferred before you wrap it up and slide it under the tree!

(Nintendo Wire is a member of the Amazon and Walmart affiliate programs and may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.)

Switch 2 Consoles

 

Picking up a Nintendo Switch 2 console is pretty straightforward, but you might have a few questions before grabbing one for yourself or a loved one. If you already own an original Nintendo Switch, the good news is that nearly every Switch title is backward compatible with the Switch 2 — and some even offer free upgrades to take advantage of the new hardware. Most controllers and accessories work as well, but keep in mind that original Joy-Con controllers cannot physically connect to the Switch 2 tablet, as the new system uses completely different rails and connectors.

Here are the options available right now:

What does the Switch 2 offer visually?

Unlike the original Switch, which capped out at 1080p, the Switch 2 can output:

  • 4K at 60hz (60 frames per second)

  • 1440p at 120hz (120 frames per second)

  • HDR support for dramatically improved contrast and color

HDR—or high dynamic range—allows a TV to display much brighter highlights and much deeper dark areas at the same time. When done well, HDR makes an image far more vivid, realistic, and eye catching than a standard non-HDR picture.

For more details, check out our Switch 2 – TV buyers guide here.

MicroSD Express Cards

 

You might not think you’ll need one right away, but the Nintendo Switch 2’s 256GB of onboard storage fills up fast. With some games pushing 90GB each, you’ll definitely want to invest in additional storage sooner rather than later. Unlike the original Switch, the Switch 2 uses a much faster (and slightly more expensive) MicroSD Express card. It’s extremely important that you only purchase cards labeled MicroSD Express — standard MicroSD cards will not work on the Switch 2.

Luckily, several Express cards are still discounted at Amazon:

 

Switch 2 Accessories:

 

While the Switch 2 comes bundled with a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, you may want to pick up a few extra traditional controllers — or another set of Joy-Con 2 units — if you have more than two players in the house. The good news is that most first-party Nintendo Switch controllers, including the excellent Pro Controller, work on the Switch 2 with no major issues.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind, though. The Switch 2 features a dedicated “C” button used for game sharing, which isn’t present on the original Switch Pro Controller. The new Pro Controller also includes two additional programmable buttons on the back. These aren’t required for gameplay, but they’re nice extras to have.

Aside from those differences, your original Pro Controller should work just fine. But if you’re looking for new Switch 2 accessories and controllers, here’s what’s available.

You can also snag a wide variety of Switch 2 cases featuring fan favorites from Mario, Metroid, and Pokémon. Just keep in mind that original Switch cases won’t fit the new hardware — the Switch 2 is slightly larger, so you’ll want a case designed specifically for it.

 

Switch 2 Game Chat

 

For those of you out of the loop, one of the biggest upgrades to the Nintendo Switch 2 is the addition of Game Chat, a high quality way to voice chat, share screens, and even video chat with friends. The system includes a built in microphone for standard audio chat, but if you want to jump into video calls, you’ll need to pick up a compatible USB camera and be enrolled in Nintendo Switch Online starting on March 31st 2026. (The service is free until then.) If you have questions about how this feature works, I highly recommend checking out our dedicated article on Game Chat right here.

 

 

Switch 2 Games:

Black Friday may be over, but several  Nintendo Switch 2 games are still discounted on Amazon, with some titles dropping as low as $30. You can check out the full list of discounted games here.

Here are a few standout deals we spotted:

 

But if you’re just looking for a list of the most popular Switch 2 games to put under the tree this year, here are the top-selling titles of 2025 so far from Amazon.

 

As mentioned above, original Switch titles are compatible with the Switch 2, so if you’re looking to pick up older games that still shine with updated graphics and resolution, you can find a full list of titles with free upgrades here.

System Transfer

Now that you’ve snagged your brand-new console, how do you get it set up? If this is your first Nintendo Switch, the process is simple: just power it on, connect to your Wi-Fi, and follow any system update prompts the Switch 2 gives you.

 

If you’re transferring data from an original Nintendo Switch to a Switch 2, the process is a bit more involved. Fortunately, Nintendo has put together an easy-to-follow video that walks through every step. You can watch it above!

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Jason Ganos

Written by Jason Ganos

Nintendo super fan since birth, Jason is the creator of Amiibo News and editor-in-chief at Nintendo Wire. One of his life goals is to provide the latest Nintendo news to fellow gamers with his natural know-how.