Is the Switch worth it if you're not interested in it as a handheld?

considering picking one up for christmas now mario is (almost) out. but i'm not interested in the portable aspect, it'll just sit under the tv alongside my playstation and xbox.

seeing as though its ability to switch between docked and handheld modes is one of its main selling points, am i still going to get value for money if it remains docked? is it like buying a convertible car but never driving with the top down? help me out please gamespot!

@Macutchi: Of course you are gonna get value still. Think about the handheld aspect as an awesome plus. But the real value is in the awesome exclusive games for the Switch that you are going to be able to play. If you are interested in the games it does not really matter if you are going to use the handheld aspect or not.

I barely use it as a handheld and i still really love it.

Absolutely it is!

I have always hated playing games on a handheld, so I could not care less about the handheld aspect when I purchased the Switch. For me, the Switch was a home console and I bought it because it was going to have awesome games which it has delivered.

What ended up surprising me was that I actually use the handheld aspect much more than I ever expected to because it is such a great design. Like I said, before the Switch, I have always hated playing games on a handheld, so like you, I was planning for it to just sit under my TV all the time, and while that is still how I use it the most, I was surprised to find that I also enjoy it in handheld mode as well.

So, maybe you might also end up using it in handheld mode more often than you expect when you get it like I did, but even if you don't, it's still worth it for the great games that it has.

@Macutchi: I'm more interested in the handheld part, that's why I don't have it yet. The battery life is putting me off the current version of the device.

there's not a vast amount of games yet though. zelda, mario, xenoblade coming before xmas. beyond that there's a handful of ported wii games like mario kart. so that, coupled with not using a major part of its functionality is why i was asking if it represents value for money. what games are you playing that you'd recommend?

@storm_of_swords: thanks dude, you never know i guess i t's possible that i'll use it occasionally as a handheld, it's just they've never appealed to me before so i'm assuming the same here. i tried a gameboy and gamegear back in the day but they didn't take and i've never felt the need to give the concept a try again since

If you already have a ps4/xbox1 than maybe no. But if you don't, you will have a lot of games available plus the super exclusives.

Absolutely - it has some great games that you can't get on your PS and XBox. Also, I would note that while you *think* you won't use the portability, you might find yourself doing so. I don't commute on a train or bus... I normally have no need for a handheld, as I see it. But with the Switch portability takes on certain added convenience: you might be playing on your TV, and find your wife wants to watch a show, and you can just unplug the thing and keep playing. Like to sit out on the porch or balcony? or laze around in bed? these are perfect cases where I've found the "handheld" mode is actually really unexpectedly nice. Without leaving the house, I find the portability useful. And when you want the big screen, just drop it into the dock and keep gaming

It really depends on what you like. I play it in handheld 90% of the time. If you play it as a console, make sure to get a Pro controller. it feels so, so good.

Well I was actually thinking about the ones that are going to come out that you already mention like Mario and Xenoblade.

Of course my favorite is Breath of The Wild right now.

You can always wait until there is more exclusive games that really interest you. If you already have another console or gaming PC if may not be worth it for you as of now.

I also enjoy the handheld mode in home. I do not like to play outside. But I found myself playing in bed with the handheld mode a lot.

Depends on your game taste, if your not botherd about the switches USP then treat like a normal.nintendo console

If you can't live without there first parties then it's worth it, if your like me and are not bothered by any of there first party (mild interest in Zelda a side ) then it's a no.

For me I'd say No

Yes, I think so. I want to get one very soon myself and don’t plan on using it in portable mode much if at all either. There’s already a good number of games for the system that I want to play that are or will be very shortly available.

@Macutchi: for the exclusives it has now or for the future exclusives. personally i want it for the handheld part. like the ps4, xbox one, i dont see it worth the bother as a console.

It has a docked mode which makes it like a regular console. I LOVE the handheld mode, and I never use it in docked.

That's the beauty of it though, versatility! Play it how YOU want it.

well this was easy, thanks for the comments everyone. message seems to be it's worth it as a standalone console but don't assume you won't find use for it as a handheld either.

just priced one up on amazon -

switch + pro controller + zelda + mario + mario kart = £465.83 / $613.12 (for anyone stateside). does that sounds reasonable?

just checked my ps4 cost me £433.76 for a ps4, gta v, alien isolation. last of us and shadow of mordor. switch sounds a little pricey but not too bad in comparison i guess

@ArchoNils2: just saw on system wars you're playing mario odyssey. hope you're having fun, looks amazing

@Enragedhydra: To be fair, two of those games are on Metacritic's top ten videogames of all time. That might change the equation a little bit.

There's also heaps of indie games an less-major releases to pick up at the moment (like the surprisingly excellent Mario+Rabbids, or Splatoon 2), plus a lot on the horizon.

Nope.

You are paying and only using 50% of functionality.

Nintendo should release a tiny console version, but hey, inequality is rife in this world.

that's the nature of buying a new console that's only been out ~6 months though really.

waiting until there's 10-15 games i want (which aren't multiplats that i can get on another system) might take some time. meanwhile i'm missing out on zelda and mario

Originally, I might have said "no". However, since Breath of the Wild they've released a plethora of amazing games that can be enjoyed with or without the handheld style.

2017 was epic for Switch, and 2018 is starting to look just as promising, the Switch is worth it no matter how you play.

@Macutchi: It depends. I road tested the switch just as it released and as I stated then, battery life is a problem if you want to use it for handheld gaming. If you dont, do you really need to spend THAT much money, for games that are more expensive than on PC and other consoles, for a last gen experience? Admittedly Zelda and Mario are a great plus but is a total of 2 top games enough?

Now, if you are satisfied with all those aspects, then I see no reason why you shouldnt buy it. If not, then hold off till mid next year when you can possibly get it for cheaper.

I think the "last gen experiences" should still count for something. Here's a list of games I think are worth getting on Switch now or in the near future

Doom/Skyrim Portable

Octopath Traveler

BotW

MK8

Mario Odyssey

Splatoon 2

Arms

Sonic Mania

Snake Pass

Stardew Valley

Rayman

Axiom Verge

Mario + Rabbids

Steamworld Dig 2

Shovel Knight

Xenoblade Chronicles

LA Noire

Rime

Syberia 2

Rocket League

Some of those are exclusives, some are multiplats, but there's great variety there, and many of those feel like a perfect fit for the platform to me

As someone who keeps it docked exclusively, I'd say it's worth it.