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My final word on Genki, I promise
If you’ve ever wanted to play Nintendo Switch on your iPad, there’s just one more Genki gadget you’ll want to check out this Black Friday. It’s the Shadow Cast 2 – a super cheap capture card that’s best used to play on a range of different screens. The newer model means latencies in all but the fastest platformers are reduced considerably, and picture quality doesn’t take as much of a hit either. I use it to hook up a Covert Dock to my iPad for the full tabletop experience.
Genki Shadow Cast 2 | $49.99 $39.99 at Amazon
The Genki Covert Dock Mini is also on sale
If you’re looking for an even smaller dock, allow me to introduce you to the Genki Covert Dock Mini. It drops the USB-A port of the larger model featured below, and kicks the charging power down to 20W, but if you want the lowest price and the smallest footprint possible it’s still well worth a look.
Genki Covert Dock Mini | $39.99 $31.99 at Amazon
Personal Pick: Genki Covert Dock
I find myself singing about the Genki Covert Dock every Black Friday – it’s a regular in these sales and, compared to the full official dock, it’s already excellent value at MSRP. The adapter-sized plug-in features a USB-C, HDMI, and USB-A port, which is everything you need to connect your system to any TV you find. That’s a game-changer for anyone who, like me, takes their Switch on the go and often finds themselves missing the big-screen experience.
Genki Covert Dock | $59.99 $47.99 at Amazon
PSA: Best Buy has $75.99 off Nintendo Switch bundles… but there’s a catch
Best Buy has some of the best Black Friday Nintendo Switch bundles on the market right now, but you’ll need to head in-store to grab them. Both the $349.99 and $299.99 models are included in these offers – and that’s with the free copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online included. That means you can pay just $224.99 for the standard edition bundle and $274.99 for the OLED version – just check your local store still has stock before you make the trip.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has never been cheaper
Tears of the Kingdom may not have launched to the fever-pitch fervor that Breath of the Wild did, but it’s still one of the best Nintendo Switch games on the market. Like the original game, it’s steered well clear of discounts over the course of its life, but with Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals hitting so hard this week it hasn’t quite escaped Best Buy’s sales shelf. I thought we might see some solid savings on the sequel this November, but I wasn’t prepared for a brand new record-low price. A $30 discount takes us down to a fantastic $39.99 rate here – impressive considering I’ve only ever seen it dip to $45 once in the past, and that was earlier this month.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | $69.99 $39.99 at Best Buy
Hori Split Pad Pro vs Nintendo Switch Joy-Con: which should you buy?
Both the Hori Split Pad Pro and official Nintendo Switch Joy-Con are on sale right now, and there’s only a $20 price difference between the two. I’ll admit, I generally use the Split Pad Pro whenever I’m playing handheld mode and if you mostly play single player without a dock, I’d recommend you do the same. However, that playstyle isn’t going to fit everyone.
If you want to maximize your wireless multiplayer options, then the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con are the better buy this week. Hori’s version doesn’t have any wireless functionality baked in – it only works when attached to the Switch itself or via a separate attachment accessory. It’s also worth noting that those who rely on rumble or gamepad gyro controls should steer clear of the Split Pad Pro. There’s no haptic feedback in here and the only motion controls you have open to you are those baked inside the tablet itself. If you’re looking at games that require controllers to be removed from the device (ie Just Dance, Switch Sports etc.) you’ll be stuck here.
On the flip side, Hori’s cheaper alternative is much more comfortable than the Joy-Con, with its larger shape, bigger grip size, and full button layout. The thumbsticks are wider and provide a more precise feel overall to boot.
Sonic fans are covered this Black Friday
While some Sonic games aren’t quite at their lowest ever prices yet, Amazon has a record-breaking discount on Sonic X Shadow Generations. The October release has sailed down to its lowest price yet, with its first major discount dropping $20 from the $49.99 MSRP. That’s excellent news for any long term fans of the series, though newbies will still have a great time exploring Shadow’s adventure.
Sonic X Shadow Generations | $49.99 $29.99 at Amazon
Personal Pick: Hori Split Pad Pro
The Hori Split Pad Pro generally only ever hits $42.99 during even larger sales events like Black Friday – and that’s the price I’m seeing at most retailers right now… most. Walmart has dropped below the $40 barrier in the lead up to the main event, offering the Joy-Con alternative for just $38.99.
I have the Split Pad Pro attached to my console whenever I’m playing in handheld mode – it’s the best Nintendo Switch controller from a comfort perspective. I find regular Joy-Con just a little too small and thin to be truly comfortable for longer periods and the chunkier form factor and softer curves of Hori’s model feels far more secure. Not only that, but I’ve noticed that the thumbsticks feel a lot better under the hand as well – plus you’re getting those back buttons and turbo functions included. The Split Pad Pro is much cheaper than a set of Joy-Con, even at their current sales price – but you are making some sacrifices.
While they slot straight onto the side of the handheld like Ninty’s controllers, each Split Pad Pro half only works when connected to the device. That means you can’t break these up for wireless multiplayer endeavors or use them while docked without the attachment piece (sold separately). You do also miss out on rumble which I found a little sad during my time with Pokemon Legeds: Arceus.
Overall, though, if you’re prioritizing comfort in a larger set of controls there’s nothing beating Hori right now.
Hori Split Pad Pro | $49.99 $38.99 at Walmart
Save $15 on The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
It might have only hit the shelves a couple of months ago, but The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s price has been shifting since launch. These offers have primarily come from Woot, first drifting down to the low $50s, then skipping below that threshold for a $47.99 rate and finally settling at today’s $44.99 record-low price. That’s a fantastic offer for a newly released Nintendo Switch game – I only ever see first party titles dropping a few bucks off their launch prices in the first few months.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | $59.99 $44.99 at Woot
Don’t need a Pro Controller? Joy-Con are cheaper than ever at Walmart
Of course, the Pro Controller is only going to make sense if you mostly play on the big-screen. If you’re after a more portable gamepad, you’ll want to get yourself a pair of Ninty’s finest. Discounts on official Joy-Con are hard to come by – I only ever see savings during Black Friday, and even then the last few years have been a little dry. That’s why this $20 discount on the Neon Red / Blue controllers took me by surprise. You’ll find them for just $59 at Walmart right now – the lowest price I’ve ever seen.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con | $79.99 $59 at Walmart
Should you buy the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller?
I’ve bought exactly three Nintendo Switch Pro controllers in my life – I loved my first one so much I grabbed a second for multiplayer purposes, and then a puppy destroyed it. Rest assured, this controller is so integral to my setup it was replaced the same day. The official gamepad feels fantastic in the hands, offer far tighter and more precise thumbsticks than Joy-Con, and still packs all the Switch’s baked in features. That’s more than I can say for the cheaper third party alternatives I’ve dabbled in over the years – this gamepad has the weight and texture to prove its worth.
I’d recommend the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to anyone who regularly plays in docked mode. Yes, the Joy-Con grip is convenient (and free with the console), but those smaller controllers and harsh edges wear on the palms over time.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller | $69.99 $49.99 at Best Buy
My favorite Nintendo Switch game is now $15 off at Best Buy
Mario and Zelda can do as they wish, I’m more interested in The Hero. I’m a serial game hopper, but I kept at Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age for about 150 hours on my first run through, and I’ve gone straight back in for more since then. It’s everything I love about turn-based combat and more, and now Best Buy has a $15 discount on the digital download. That means you can grab it for just $34.99 right now – cheaper than both Amazon and Walmart’s current $50 prices.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age | $49.99 $34.99 at Best Buy
Who has the best Switch game deals so far?
While Best Buy is certainly in second place, it’s actually Woot offering the biggest Black Friday Nintendo Switch game deals right now. The Amazon-owned discount site has been flying high on rare discounts across new releases and heavier savings on some more classic titles. While I’d recommend shopping between the two sites to make sure you’re getting the best price possible, Woot’s selection is larger and much more varied than Best Buy’s today. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Hyrule Warriors are all wins for Woot, but Best Buy has the classics in Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odyssey at record-low rates.
Which Nintendo Switch should you buy?
If you’re going ahead with your Nintendo Switch purchase this holiday season, it’s worth looking at your options. At the cheapest end of the scale we have the Switch Lite, a handheld-only device with a smaller, lower quality screen. This device isn’t to be slept on, though. If you don’t need to dock your console and you want to spend as little as possible, it’s still an excellent way to play through Ninty’s catalog for less. It’s also great for kids as the all-in-one design makes it a lot more durable and the smaller size is easier for little hands.
Then we get to the two main devices. It’s important to remember that the standard Nintendo Switch packs the exact same internal power as the OLED model. The only differences between the two are the slightly larger display, made with an OLED panel for better contrast and more vivid colors, a wider kickstand, and more internal storage. The battery life can also eek out a little further in the OLED model due to that more efficient display technology.
Which should you buy? In my mind, this answer is simple.
If you plan on mostly playing in docked mode, I’d get the original standard edition. You won’t be using that OLED display and the performance between both models is identical when hooked up to a TV.
If you plan on mostly playing in handheld mode, you’ll want that OLED screen. It’s a real upgrade from the original device (I swapped mine out at launch and it was well worth it), making games pop brighter on a larger display.
Read more: Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch
Should you buy a Nintendo Switch this Black Friday?
We’ll start off with the basics – should you buy a new Nintendo Switch console this Black Friday? It sounds like a simple question – do you want to play Ninty’s exclusive games? Do you want the hybrid handheld / docked experience? But there’s a new face looming in the crowd. The Nintendo Switch 2 will likely hit the shelves next year, with current announcement rumors pitting March as the first month we’ll hear about the next console. It’s also now confirmed to be backwards compatible – so all the Black Friday Nintendo Switch game deals available today will be fully playable on the new system.
The Switch 2, however, is likely to be considerably more expensive than today’s consoles – especially when you factor Black Friday bundles into the equation. The next device is currently rumored to land at somewhere between $400 and $500 – a leap from the standard edition’s $299 MSRP. If you’re not fussed about the faster processing and visual jump we’ll hopefully see from the new model, I’d still recommend jumping in on this year’s offers. The Nintendo Switch has never been cheaper, and its bundles have never been more valuable. Now’s the best time to dive into this catalog.
However, if you’re looking to upgrade from Switch Lite I’d recommend holding off. You’ve already got a way to play the latest games, and that cash is going to be put to better use when heading towards a console with a bigger upgrade.