Why be loyal to any console manufacturer? Simply put, you should invest a console that has the games you want to play. Else the console will collect dust.

I’m 37 and just got the switch after a long, long time away from gaming. Very interested as well!

The best part about the switch is that I can play short bursts and put it away immediately without losing my spot. Key feature when you have 2 kids under 3.

Loving BOTW and Stardew Valley so far. Bought Tears of the Kingdom but playing BOTW first.

I totally get that the joycons are really different than what you’re used to. I’d like to urge you to give them a decent shot though. There is something indescribably comfortable about lounging on your couch with your arms in any position you want while playing games. It just feels luxurious. Sometimes I’m leaning back with one arm behind my head, sometimes I’ve got one hand on my lap and my other resting on my dog nearby. It just feels good.

Stardew Valley! My wife (who is normally not a gamer) and I have put 100+ hours into our splitscreen co-op game. It’s very, very fun. :-)

Honestly, though, your list represents hundreds of hours of gaming. So unless you put in some major hours on the reg, I would just focus on what you have instead of what you want to add.

• Pikmin 3 Deluxe
• Pikmin 4
• Super Smash Bros Ultimate
• Monster Hunter Rise
• Splatoon 3

If you’re into the Zelda lore, and like hack and slash. I’d recommend both Hyrule Warriors.

Definitive Edition you’ll play with a lot of familiar characters, I absolutely love tearing through enemies using the Skull Kid or Young Link who transforms into the Fierce Diety and just obliterates everything in his Path.

Age of Calamity is in the era of BOTW and it’s a bit more polished and if you liked the characters in that game, you’ll love to play as them. Just parrying guardian lasers with Oborousa, Riju and Link is fun but challenging. And I absolutely love brining down a Lynel with Hetsu.

I’d also recommend Super Mario 3D World (includes Bowser’s Fury). Lots of fun, but shorter levels and Bowser’s Fury is kind of it’s own open world.

My only regret with the Switch was not getting it earlier in the console’s cycle. I’ve put so many hours into BOTW, TOKTK, both Hyrule Warriors, Mario Odyssey and Smash Bros.

If you like RPGs, I believe you can play all of the Xenoblade Chronicles games on Switch now (besides X, which is an offshoot anyway).

Granted, these three games will take a good 300 hours to beat. But they are excellent. If you simply don’t have time for that (and that’s totally understandable), then watching a big recap of XC1 and XC2 and playing XC3 could also work. I don’t know if I’ve cried harder in a game than I did in at least two occasions in XC3. It was easily my favorite game of 2022.

If you like strategy games, then Fire Emblem: Three Houses is my favorite on the Switch, there. There’s a newer Fire Emblem, but it’s not as good (so I hear).

Pikmin 4 is right around the corner as well. There’s a demo you can try to see if it’s up your alley.

Overcooked would be a good game to play with your wife.

Celeste is a good platformer. Shovel knight too.