The Nintendo Switch, codenamed “NX”, is a hybrid console/handheld gaming system, best known for its detachable controllers, as well as its interchangeable nature, allowing players the choice to play games entirely handheld, or connected to a TV for a more traditional experience.
The system itself is a self-contained gaming tablet, capable of playing physical games releases on game cards, digital releases through the Nintendo eShop, and interfacing directly with its USB-C port to connect wired controllers, USB hubs, and even bluetooth adapters.
With the Nintendo Switch, gaming becomes more convienent, as many popular console series like Borderlands, Final Fantasy, and even Read Dead Redemption become entirely portable experiences, without sacrificing any of the gameplay found on other consoles.
There are currently three hardware models in the Nintendo Switch family of consoles: the original Nintendo Switch, the Switch Lite, and the OLED Switch model, each of which are capable of playing the same lineup of games, though Lite models lose the ability to output to a TV.
The Nintendo Switch is also succeeded by the Nintendo Switch 2, which has more powerful hardware, as well as its own lineup of Nintendo Switch 2 games, but retains compatibility with much of the original Switch’s games and controllers.
Note: this page is about the hardware and features of the Nintendo Switch. To view our covered games, please visit our Nintendo Switch Games page.
We currently have the following resources and guides available for the Nintendo Switch:
Silence, Rumors, Success: The History of the Nintendo Switch