TL;DR
- The Hardware: If you’re still on the OG Switch, the Switch 2 is finally here and worth the upgrade for the performance boost alone, but keep your old Joy-Cons—they still work.
- Top Games (Ages 5-8): Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
- Top Games (Ages 9-12): Mario Kart World and Splatoon 3.
- The "Must-Have" App: Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your phone immediately. It is the only way to manage screen time without a nightly argument.
- The Safety Catch: Nintendo’s "clunky" online system is actually a safety feature. It makes it harder for strangers to talk to your kids, which is a win for us.
We’ve officially hit that weird transition period where the "old" Switch is basically the family station wagon—reliable, but showing its age—and the Switch 2 is the shiny new thing every kid is asking for. If you’re standing in the aisle (or scrolling Amazon) wondering if you should pull the trigger on an upgrade or if your 7-year-old even needs a console yet, I've got you.
The Switch has always been the "Goldilocks" of gaming. It’s not the high-octane, "I’m-going-to-scream-at-strangers" vibe of a PlayStation or Xbox, but it’s a massive step up from the "brain rot" loop of mindless iPad games.
As of late 2025, the math has changed.
If you already own an OLED Switch, you’re still in a good spot. Most new games are still coming out for both, but the Switch 2 is noticeably faster. We’re talking about Pokémon Scarlet actually running smoothly instead of looking like a slideshow.
What parents need to know about the Switch 2:
- Backwards Compatibility: Yes, your massive library of physical and digital Switch 1 games will work. This is the biggest relief for our wallets.
- Storage: It finally has decent internal storage (256GB), but it uses a new type of card called "Micro Express." Don’t let the salesperson talk you into an expensive one yet; the internal space will last a few months.
- Battery Life: Here’s the "no-BS" part: in high-performance mode, the Switch 2 eats battery for breakfast. If you’re taking this on a flight, you need a power bank.
Ask our chatbot for a comparison of Switch models for your specific family size
Unlike Roblox, which can feel like a chaotic digital mall where someone is always trying to sell your kid a virtual pet, Nintendo games are usually "complete" experiences. You buy Super Mario Odyssey, and that’s it. No one is asking for your credit card every five minutes to buy "Skins" or "V-Bucks."
It’s also the only console that still values "couch co-op." You can actually sit down and play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with your kid. It’s one of the few digital activities that actually feels like a family board game night rather than everyone retreating to their own corners of the internet.
Ages 5-8: The "No-Frustration" Zone
At this age, we want games that have "Assist Mode." Nintendo is the king of this.
- This is the gold standard. If they play as Yoshi or Nabbit, they don't take damage. It lets them enjoy the "Ohio" weirdness of the levels without crying because they fell in a pit.
- It’s adorable, it’s 3D, and it’s very forgiving. Plus, Kirby turning into a car is a core memory in the making.
- Great for kids who want variety. It’s like a collection of mini-games wrapped in a theater theme.
Ages 9-12: The Social & Creative Zone
This is where they start wanting to play "with friends," which usually means Fortnite or Minecraft.
- The new 2025 release. It takes the classic racing and adds a bit more of an open-world feel. It’s the current "cool" game at school.
- Is it teaching entrepreneurship? Kind of. It’s definitely teaching them that if you want a bigger house, you have to sell a lot of sea bass to a raccoon. It’s a great "wind-down" game before bed.
- It’s a "shooter," but with ink. It’s fast-paced, stylish, and lacks the toxic "voice chat" culture of other shooters because Nintendo effectively blocks it.
Check out our full list of cozy games for kids who need to de-stress
Parents often worry about "who is my kid talking to?" On the Switch, the answer is usually "nobody."
Nintendo’s online system is notoriously clunky. To use voice chat, you usually have to use a separate app on a smartphone. While gamers complain about this, for parents, it’s a feature, not a bug. It means your 10-year-old isn't hearing 19-year-olds use "creative" language in the middle of a match.
However, Roblox and Fortnite are available on Switch, and they use their own chat systems. If your kid is playing those, Nintendo’s built-in protections won't save you. You’ll need to set those up individually.
If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app is the best in the business.
You install it on your phone, link it to the console, and you can:
- Set a hard "Bedtime": At 8:00 PM, the console simply goes to sleep. No "just one more level" negotiations.
- View "Play Time" summaries: You’ll get a weekly report. If you see 15 hours of YouTube and only 2 hours of Zelda, you know it’s time for a conversation about "active" vs. "passive" screen time.
- Whitelist Games: You can set age ratings so they can't even download a "Teen" rated game without your PIN.
Check out our step-by-step guide to Nintendo Switch parental controls
- Under 6: Limit to "handheld" mode under supervision. The Switch is a bit heavy for tiny hands, and they will drop it.
- 7-10: This is the sweet spot for the "Switch as a reward" system. Use the app to lock the console until homework is done.
- 11+: This is when they start asking for Nintendo Switch Online to play with friends. It’s a safe entry point into online gaming, but keep the "Friend Code" system strictly to kids they actually know in real life.
The Nintendo Switch (and now the Switch 2) remains the most "intentional parent-friendly" console. It’s designed for fun, not for data-mining your kids or keeping them in a gambling loop of loot boxes.
If you’re worried about "brain rot," steer them toward the "first-party" Nintendo games (anything with Mario, Zelda, or Kirby). These games are basically interactive puzzles that require actual logic and motor skills. If they’re spending all their time in the "Free to Play" section of the eShop, that’s where the "draining the bank account" risks live.
- Audit your current tech: If your OG Switch is gathering dust, check the trade-in value toward a Switch 2.
- Download the app: Even if you don't use the limits, the data on what they’re playing is eye-opening.
- Pick a "Family Game": Buy a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree and play it this weekend. It’s the best way to see how your kid handles winning and losing in a controlled environment.
Ask our chatbot for a curated list of Switch games that teach problem-solving