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I grew up sliding cartridges and discs into video games consoles. I’ve since bought a bunch of mobile games, and that has changed the way I game even after returning to a dedicated game console—a Nintendo Switch 2. It’s digital only for me.
No More Switching Cartridges to Switch Games
When I’m ready to game on a smartphone, I tap on the game icon, and away I go. I don’t have to get up and walk to the shelf on the other side of the house. I don’t have to remember to grab the case with all of my games before heading out the door. I don’t have to slip open a plastic door, pop out a cartridge, and slide another in like I’m constantly swapping out microSD cards.
On the Switch 2, I have the option to choose between physical copies of some games or going all-in on digital, like on a phone. I get the arguments in favor of preferring physical, but the experience of digital games has won me over.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s latest hybrid home console, with more powerful graphics and processing, a larger 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR, and more online features.
Game Cases Take Up Too Much Space
On my Android phones, all of my games, no matter how many I have, can always fit in my pocket. I don’t need to get my phone a larger carrying case. I don’t need to free up shelf space in my home. I don’t have to decide whether to keep all the cases the games come in.
In college, I had a tall bookshelf solely for storing games. I wanted people to see my collection. As an adult, I have friends with multiple shelves dedicated to games, DVDs, and more. I’ve realized that it doesn’t quite give the impression I thought it would. I’ve come to prefer a more spacious home, and now that my gaming systems are portable, I want to keep them as lightweight and easy to grab as I can.
I Rather Buy Games Through a Digital Store
ThePlay Store is not an ideal marketplace, whether you’re shopping for apps or games. But at the end of the day, I prefer tapping an icon in the Play Store than having to get in my car and head to the store. I live in a rural area, and as much as I appreciate the experience of shopping at a game shop, it’s a drive. Digital stores save me the hassle.
The eShop is not only very accessible, but I know I can always find exactly the game I want, no matter how indie or obscure.
Nintendo’s storefront admittedly suffers from some of the same issues as mobile app stores. It’s not necessarily easy to discover what to play next, and there is sadlyan abundance of shovelware on the eShop. Even worse—some of these games are outright scams.
But like on the Play Store, I don’t head to the eShop often to look for something new to play. I turn to outside sources for that. I find it rather fun to watch YouTube channels likeSwitchUpandSwitchCornerto see which hidden gems are on sale in the eShop each week. I often check Steam first for the reviews, then head to the eShop to add games to my wishlist. This is similar towhat I do to discover good Android gamesto play next.
You Don’t Own Mobile Games Either
The Switch 2 has reinvigorated conversations around video game ownership. Those who buy physical carts get to physically own their games. Those who buy digital copies are only buying a license, one that can be revoked at any time. Thing is, this has long been the state of affairs for mobile gamers, as well as for the majority of PC games purchased on Steam and elsewhere. Digital media, in general, is one where you don’t own the files, and you can’t resell what you’ve bought.
I take actions, where I can, to avoid DRM. I primarilypurchase books and comics from DRM-free sources. I remove DRM from books I purchase elsewhere and don’t do business with storefronts who don’t provide the ability to export my library. I still opt topurchase MP3s rather than stream music, because ownership matters to me. But those options aren’t available in the same way for gaming, and I’ve made my peace with that for now.
eShop Sales Are Often as Cheap as Mobile Games
Part of what I love about mobile gaming is the value proposition. My gaming dollar goes a long way on a phone. $80 doesn’t buy me a single game—it buys me enough games for a year. Whether I’mfinding gems in the Epic Game Storeor looking forMonument Valley-inspired titles in the Play Store, I know I can get multiple games for under $10.
I’ve been surprised to find that shopping on the eShop isn’t that different. I bought games likeFigmentandThe Forest Quarteton sale forless than they cost on my phone. A majority of my Switch games cost me well under $10. Many were less than $3. Just like on Steam, I can add games to my wishlist and wait them out. The deals will come.
Many of My Favorite Games Are Only Available Digitally
Ultimately, the video game industry has already changed, and most of the games I want aren’t available on a cartridge. While I’m surprised to see that a physicalGRIScart does exist for the Switch, the same can’t be said forTimelie,Paper Trail, orCaravan SandWitch. Some of the first games I bought for my new console were digital-only titles likeAspire: Ina’s TaleandFe.
As for Switch 2-exclusive titles, my two favorites thus far have both been digital-only releases:Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the GoddessandFast Fusion. My system also came with a digital copy ofMario Kart World.
Some Switch games, likePode, which I bought digitally for just over $10 to play with my daughter, had a limited run in physical form and are now exceedingly rare.Podecan be found for upwards of $99 onAmazon. That suddenly prices this game over that ofDonkey Kong Bananza, the kind of game I save up for and only buy a few of each year. At these prices,Podeis not exactly a digital exclusive, but it might as will be.
I made the transition to digital-only gaming years ago, back when I started viewing my smartphone as a viable gaming platform, when I tried out devices like the Steam Deck, and when using services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW. I get whymany like to purchase physical carts, but as for me, I prefer digital. After all, I partly chose the console I did due to all thatthe Switch 2 and my Android phonehave in common. Now if only we could build up consumer protection laws for digital goods.
