Top 7 Gift Ideas for Nintendo Switch Owners in 2023

Sometimes getting someone a gift for their birthday or during the holidays can be quite stressful. Unless they give you a wish list of things that they would like buying that perfect gift can feel like an unachievable goal.

However, if you know that the person you are shopping for enjoys playing video games and you know which video game console they own that information might provide you with what you need to know in order to get them the perfect gift.

If the person you are shopping for owns a Nintendo Switch there are a lot of terrific gift options that are available to you. In an effort to help make your shopping easier we have created a list of our top gift ideas for Nintendo Switch owners along with some information and links for each idea so that you can find the perfect gift.

Here is Our Countdown of the Top 7 Gifts for Nintendo Switch Owners in 2023:

#1 Games

The first item on our countdown is the most obvious one on our list. Every person who plays video games is always looking forward to the next great game they want to purchase or the new games that are coming out, but unless they gave you a list to work off of knowing which game to buy can be difficult, which is why we didn’t put this idea at the top of our list.

If you know which game you are looking for you also need to decide if you want to purchase a physical copy or a digital copy of the game. Getting a physical copy means that you are buying the actual video game cartridge that must be inserted into the Nintendo Switch console in order to play the game. If you purchase a digital copy of the game you will get a code that allows a person to download a digital copy of the game onto their console. Both digital and physical copies of video games allow the player to experience the game in the same way but both physical and digital copies have their own unique pros and cons. Most gamers have a preference for physical or digital copies, but in situations where isn’t a clear preference, you might be interested in reading our article titled, Physical Video Game Copies vs. Digital Copies – Which is Better?

If you are looking for ideas about which video game title you want to buy click here to see the top games for the Nintendo Switch in 2023.

#2 Memory Card for Additional Storage Space

After talking about getting new video games is a great time to talk about the next item on our list, a memory card, to expand the available storage space.

The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite both have 32GB of internal storage, which isn’t a lot. Meanwhile, the new Nintendo Switch – OLED console has 64GB of storage, which sounds like a lot. But the fact is that the 32GB or 64GB of internal storage space that comes with these consoles isn’t enough to store very many games along with your game save data.

You must remember that part of that 32 or 64 gigabytes of storage space is taken up by the console’s operating system. In fact, the operating system for the Switch takes up approximately 4GB of storage space and by the time it is all said and done you are left with about 25.9GB of space for digital game downloads, apps, and your game save data. With the large size of today’s video games, it is possible to completely use up all your available storage space with just two digital game downloads.

Thankfully, all the different versions of the Switch console come with a memory card slot that can be used to easily expand the storage capacity. The Switch consoles can accommodate microSDHC or microSDXC cards with capacities of up to 2TB. My best advice is to find that sweet spot where maximum storage space meets with affordability and opt for a 128GB or 256GB microSDXC card. Those cards as well as other compatible cards with different capacities are shown below.

If you don’t get one of the cards shown above please check out our article, Nintendo Switch SD Card Max Size and Other Considerations as getting a card that doesn’t have the proper specifications will negatively affect the performance of the Switch consoles.

Note:  In all fairness, if you never download digital games and only buy and play physical copies of games a person might be able to make it work without getting additional storage for their Switch. That said we are in a time where buying digital copies of games is becoming more and more commonplace, with some games only being available in digital format. So to think that you will never download digital copies of games or run out of storage space is probably a bit unrealistic. You can read our article about the pros and cons of physical vs. digital game copies if you want to learn more.

#3 Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

 

If you are buying a gift for a Mario Kart fan and would like to find something different, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit game might be just the thing you are looking for. With the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit game you can turn your home into a Mario Kart course of your own design.

After setting up your course you can control your Kart with your Nintendo Switch and then watch as it reacts to what’s happening in the game as you boost and drift your way to victory. Your course actually comes to life on-screen with a view from right behind the driver’s seat. You can play by yourself or with up to 3 friends as long as each person has their own Nintendo Switch system, the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit game, and a Mario kart or Luigi kart.

Here is a video that shows you what to expect from Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit:

#4 Accessories

The number 4 item on our countdown is a great idea – especially for people who recently purchased or received their Nintendo Switch.

If the person you are buying for just got their Switch they are probably already thinking about getting some accessories for their console. Yes, a person has everything they need to start using their Switch when they get the console, but there are many things available to customize the console or make the gaming experience better.

Most accessories will fall into one of the following categories (click on the links to see the available options):

• Controllers
• Headsets
• Chargers
• Mounts, Brackets & Stands
• Thumb Grips
• Hand Grips
• Carrying Cases and Game Storage
• Faceplates, Protectors & Skins

You can click here if you want to learn more about the different types of accessories available for the Nintendo Switch along with things you should consider when buying each one.

#5 Nintendo eShop Card

It is a sad thing to give or receive a gift that never gets used, but sometimes it happens. The great part about Nintendo eShop Gift Cards is that it is a gift that everyone with a Nintendo Switch console will be able to make use of and that is why it is the number 2 item on our countdown.

You can use the Nintendo eShop Gift Cards to purchase and download new games and apps right from your Nintendo Switch console.

You can buy gift cards that will give you a digital code that can easily be added to a person’s Nintendo eShop account in seconds so they can be ready to purchase a new game or app right away. You can also get an actual physical gift card. They both should work equally well.

No matter what denomination you are looking to give you can find gift cards ranging from $10 to $70 dollars. You can purchase Nintendo eShop Gift Cards from Amazon by clicking here.

That brings us to our #1 idea in our countdown…

#6 Nintendo Switch Online Membership

The Nintendo Switch Online Membership is a subscription service that allows you to play multiplayer games online, gives you access to play classic NES games, saves your game data to the cloud, and gets you access to special offers.

This service launched on September 18th, 2018. Prior to that date, online gaming with the Switch was free. So the main reason the vast majority of people buy a Nintendo Switch Online Membership is for online gaming. It should also be noted that you can only play some games online and if you want to take advantage of multiplayer games (including playing with friends online) a Nintendo Switch Online Membership will be required.

Below is a video that gives a nice overview of the Nintendo Switch Online Membership.

Nintendo Switch Online Memberships are sold for both individuals and families.

The individual memberships can be purchased on Amazon in 2 different time durations with the longer duration offering the best value:

• 3 Month
• 12 Month

If you have multiple people in the same household who use the Switch family memberships are really the way to go as they offer the best value and can accommodate up to 8 Nintendo Account holders. Family memberships are only available in 12-month durations, which as of 2021 currently cost $34.99. Unfortunately, these family memberships are not available for purchase at places like Amazon. However, you can get around this by purchasing a $35 Nintendo eShop Gift Card, which you can redeem in the Nintendo eShop for a Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership. You can buy one of these gift cards here.

When considering buying a Nintendo Switch Online Membership as a gift you might worry that the person you are shopping for already has a membership. Well, if the person you are buying it for has had their Switch for any significant amount of time they probably do have a membership already, but don’t let that keep you from buying a membership. If you buy a Nintendo Switch Online Membership For someone who is already a member, they can simply hold on to the membership and add it to their account when the current one expires. The fact of the matter is that most people who have memberships will continue to buy them year after year. So the gift of a membership is sure to be used eventually.

Special Note About Nintendo Switch Online Memberships: During the fall of 2021, Nintendo announced a new offering in addition to the regular Nintendo Switch Online membership, the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, which is also available in both individual and family memberships.  This new membership option gives you added benefits on top of the regular Nintendo Switch Online membership. Those benefits give you access to select games from the Nintendo 64 system as well as SEGA Genesis games, which can be played locally or online with up to 4 people. Plus, Animal Crossing fans will be excited to get access to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC, which is normally priced at $24.99, for no additional cost.

If you aren’t sure if the person you are shopping for would like the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership remember that Nintendo Switch Online members can change over to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack at any time and receive a pro-rated discount, which is based on the number of days remaining in their current membership. This can be very helpful if you are a current Nintendo Switch Online member or if you are simply unsure about whether you want to buy the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack instead of the standard Nintendo Switch Online membership. So my advice would be to stick with the standard Nintendo Switch Online membership unless the person you are shopping for specifically asks for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

We wrote an article about Nintendo Switch Online vs Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack if you want to compare and contrast the differences between the two types of memberships.

#7 Racing Wheel

Does the person you are shopping for love playing racing games? If so, then you need to check out a racing wheel like the PXN V9 Racing Wheel! Not only can you use it with the Nintendo Switch, but this cross-platform wheel can be used on your PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, and Xbox series S/X. Its 6-speed shifter is great for playing truck games or practicing driving, but the gear shifter doesn’t support racing games, The pressure-sensitive pedals simulate the feel of a real racing car. Made with high-quality materials the PXN V9 Racing Wheel is backed by a 12-month warranty.

A racing wheel is a perfect gift for someone who loves to play racing or driving games as it helps to give the player a more realistic and immersive experience when playing these types of games. A racing wheel also makes it easier for the player to control the car and make turns, which can lead to better lap times and overall performance. If you know someone who loves to play racing games on their Nintendo Switch, a racing wheel is a terrific gift for them.

If you want to browse through more Nintendo Switch racing wheels click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully, our countdown helped you pick out the perfect gift for the Switch owner in your life. However, if you don’t know which game they want the most or which accessory they might need, remember that you can’t go wrong with either a Nintendo eShop Gift Card or Nintendo Switch Online Memberships – with both options being something that you can be certain will be used.

Bestselling Nintendo Switch Accessories in 2023

Bestselling Nintendo Switch Games in 2023

Last update on 2023-05-28 at 18:54 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API