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submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by atomicpoet@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world

That’s right, for hardware that’s now eight years old and never got a price discount. It currently sells for C$400 – but they’re about to jack the price.

There are Android tablets that are much cheaper than the Switch, more powerful, more battery efficient. Also, play games better.

Yet, Nintendo is jacking the price.

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[-] simple@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

There are Android tablets that are much cheaper than the Switch, more powerful, more battery efficient. Also, play games better.

You're not really suggesting that playing mediocre android games on a touchscreen tablet is the same market as a handheld gaming device with controllers

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

No, I’m suggesting that it’s 2025—not 2017 anymore.

Android gaming is now very good, with many excellent titles available at an affordable price.

What’s more, you can play them very easily with an actual controller.

[-] simple@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

Android has a couple high-profile indie games like Stardew Valley and some rare ports of older games, that's it. I wouldn't call it very good. and unless you're willing to shell out $150+ for a great telescopic controller there's no way playing on the tablet would be comfortable.

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The OP is really blowing smoke up Android's ass when it comes to the quality of native Android games. Most "top" mobile games are freemium crap riddled with microtransactions.

What it does have, however, is emulators. Including one for the Switch itself. Paying $350 for decade-old hardware and $80 for games is just bad value compared to a $300 used S21 and $0 games.

[-] simple@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

If we're going by piracy logic then you can buy a $200 used Switch and hack it to download games for free. I genuinely don't think a phone or tablet would ever be a good experience. nobody is going to play with touch controls, it doesn't let you play games on the TV, the emulator has compatibility issues and bugs, not to mention how most phones throttle hard when they get warm. I'm not buying this discussion at all.

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Take a look at GRID Legends Mobile and tell me what on the original Switch looks better than this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItnOLA7-Er4

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Oh, there's no doubt about that. I'm not disagreeing that Android has some good-looking games. The problem is that games like GRID Legends Mobile are the exception, not the rule.

The Switch is crap, yes.
The Play Store is also overwhelmingly crap, though.

If you exclude all of the mobile games from both stores, the Switch simply has a better catalog of games.

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Let's be real.

Android's problem isn't lack of good games. Nor is it performance of hardware. It's discoverability.

But really, that's also the problem of every storefront. Steam too has a lot of legendary games. But they're also hard to find because shitty asset flips are so abundant.

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yeah, I agree with you on that.

If discoverability was better, I'm sure Android would get way more ports of good games. With the way it is right now with shovelware and Google pushing microtransaction-riddled crap over one time purchase games, though, it's treated as a second-class platform because it's not nearly as profitable as other platforms.

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Wrong-o. Android has Genshin Impact, GRID Autosport, Pascal’s Wager, Sky: Children of the Light, The Banner Saga Trilogy.

And they outperform the Switch with hardware that’s less expensive.

[-] simple@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago

Android has Genshin Impact, GRID Autosport, Pascal’s Wager, Sky: Children of the Light, The Banner Saga Trilogy.

...So basically mediocre Android games and rare ports of older games. Nobody is buying a handheld console to play these.

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Buddy, you’re completely out of touch with reality.

The Android gaming market is leagues larger than Nintendo’s—and it’s not even close.

Better games, better hardware than the original Switch. Other than first party titles, there’s no reason nowadays to buy an eight-year-old Switch.

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

You're comparing apples to oranges.

The mobile gaming market is leagues larger than every other market combined. That doesn't mean the games are even remotely comparable to console games.

It's an entirely different target audience. Mobile games are focused on quick sessions and design patterns designed to encourage spending money on microtransactions. Games made for the traditional gaming market are mostly designed for longer play sessions with more mechanically complex gameplay. I as well as many others prefer the latter.

Nintendo's store is full of shovelware, but at least you'll find more traditional games than just ports of indie hits. Or, buy a Steam Deck and enjoy something better than both.

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

To me, this is one of the funniest things in gaming culture right now.

I mean, have you looked closely at most Nintendo releases lately? They often feel like glorified indie games. They just happen to have big-budget marketing that indie developers lack.

Meanwhile, people act like Nintendo is some untouchable giant of innovation. Let’s be real: when was the last time a Mario game genuinely pushed boundaries? Nowadays, most releases are cash grabs riding on nostalgia and brand recognition.

No one, and I mean no one, is out here mistaking Mario Kart World for a visually groundbreaking, ambitious masterpiece like Black Myth: Wukong.

Maybe instead of throwing shade at indie devs, you should appreciate that indies often deliver fresh, daring experiences Nintendo no longer risks taking.

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Which part of my comment was denigrating indie devs? Indie games are great. Android gaming is currently not.

If I'm looking for a good non-mobile game, I don't go looking in the mobile game store. I go looking on PSN or PC, where the focus is on the kind of game that wasn't designed as a phone-first experience.

The fact that Android has some good traditional games or ports of indie gems isn't something inherent to Android. The overwhelming majority of those games were on PC or console first.

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Android doesn't just have ports of good indie games, it's got lots of indie games that originated on mobile first -- only later ported to console or PC.

Examples: Alto’s Adventure, Monument Valley, Endurance, Désiré.

If you're unaware of these games, it's not because Android as a platform sucks for gaming. It's because discoverability is simply bad.

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago

What android games would you suggest?

[-] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Genshin Impact, GRID Autosport, Pascal’s Wager, Sky: Children of the Light, The Banner Saga Trilogy.

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago
[-] jacksilver@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

There is also dead cells, slay the spire, monster train, disable immortal, etc.

However, those are also all playable on switch too. Technically you can emulate the switch on android, but I think this brings up the biggest flaw in gaming on android; you're either emulating or streaming for most good games.

this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
165 points (100.0% liked)

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