Nintendo Switch vs. iPad for gaming?

[ackmondual]

I suppose my mind is mainly made up. However, I'd like to hear other thoughts on this.

Apple Arcade (AA) does seem to be interesting, but it seems like many of the games are already available elsewhere (mind you, at full price, barring sales), and sometimes, it takes a while to get onto AA. Their list of exclusives seems to be decent.

Am a Nintendo fan at heart, but FWIW, in the many years since I got an iPod Touch 3, upgrading through to an IpT5, and adding an Ipad Air (1/1st gen from 2013), I had a lot of fun on there too.

 

[magicman32]

I suppose my mind is mainly made up. However, I'd like to hear other thoughts on this.

Apple Arcade (AA) does seem to be interesting, but it seems like many of the games are already available elsewhere (mind you, at full price, barring sales), and sometimes, it takes a while to get onto AA. Their list of exclusives seems to be decent.

Am a Nintendo fan at heart, but FWIW, in the many years since I got an iPod Touch 3, upgrading through to an IpT5, and adding an Ipad Air (1/1st gen from 2013), I had a lot of fun on there too.

I guess my only beef with iPad gaming is I cannot and will not (I’ve tried) game without a controller. I just can’t do it and enjoy it. I need that that tangible feel and precision a controller offers. At least in terms of serious games that need a controller. Not these little time killers that thrive without one.

I so looked forward to the last Mario Kart that came out on mobile, and none of the myriad of negatives even registered with me as I couldn’t get past the piss-poor (IMO) touch/motion controls and moved on after 5 minutes.

I hate it. Can’t do it.

Full disclosure: I no longer have a Switch but I did at one time. So yeah, I’d take that every day of the week.

 

[noobinator]

Nintendo switch a thousand times over. It’s been my favorite system in a long time.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

The choice is too easy, Nintendo FTW. I wouldn't even think twice about that decision. I've owned a Nintendo Switch since 2018 and it's an awesome little system. Plus I can play all the Nintendo 1st party games.

 

[Oohara]

There just aren’t as many good games for the iPad. I still don’t feel like I’m getting any real value out of my Apple arcade subscription.

 

[Awesomesince86]

This isnt even close. One is a dedicated gaming device with far superior games.

 

[Joho2078]

Switch all day

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

The ONLY pro for the iPad, would be battery life. Other than that, Switch all day.

 

[5105973]

lol I just got finished playing on my Switch. I used to play puzzle games and mystery games on phones but those were Samsung phones. I had a free subscription to Apple Arcade but couldn’t find anything I wanted to play. Back when Fortnite was still on the iPhone, I saw the kids play a lot of that on their XR’s. But now they’re back on the Switch.

I just asked the kids. They like iPad games but too many require payment to advance the game so they lose interest because I won’t let them make in game purchases very often.

 

[applefan19]

Nintendo switch a thousand times over. It’s been my favorite system in a long time.

What games?! I just bought one. Upgrade from original Wii.

 

[Abazigal]

I suppose my mind is mainly made up. However, I'd like to hear other thoughts on this.

Apple Arcade (AA) does seem to be interesting, but it seems like many of the games are already available elsewhere (mind you, at full price, barring sales), and sometimes, it takes a while to get onto AA. Their list of exclusives seems to be decent.

Am a Nintendo fan at heart, but FWIW, in the many years since I got an iPod Touch 3, upgrading through to an IpT5, and adding an Ipad Air (1/1st gen from 2013), I had a lot of fun on there too.

Switch undeniably has the better games catalogue. It’s basically a console in the palm of your hands.

However, I got a switch lite earlier this year (thought I would have extra time to play while locked down at home), but I found the screen too small for my liking. The games store is also not supported in my region (Singapore), so I had to jump through a couple of hoops to select a US store and make payment via paypal.

I downloaded a couple of games (the various Darkstalkers games, Streets of Rage, Minecraft dungeons), but lost interest in them fairly quickly. Maybe I am just too old for this genre of games. I dunno.

Haven’t touched the switch lite in months (also partly due to work). I heard that the Switch might get a refresh next year and maybe I will go for the full console version and give it one more try.

The advantage of the ipad is its responsive touchscreen and larger display. I am recently hooked on a card game called “Slay the Spire”, and gameplay is basically optimised for a larger tablet. Replayed “Grimvalor” earlier this year and 120hz on my iPad Pro with a game controller was an awesome experience as well.

But you will be hard pressed to find great games to play. There are a couple, but they all pale in comparison to what you will find on the switch.

 

[noobinator]

What games?! I just bought one. Upgrade from original Wii.

I play with my son and here’s what we play lately: Breath of the wild, Mario odyssey, Luigis mansion, Mario kart, smash bros and my son plays a few racing games.

 

[minimo3]

iPad is fine for casual games (card, puzzle, side scrollers and even some RTS) but Switch is far and away the leader when it comes to “serious” games. The amount of detail put into the character development, storyline, gameplay, progression for games like Breath of the Wild will probably never be found on iOS.

Apple made a strategic error early in the life of the App Store by promoting free to play games and establishing the $0.99 price point. This helped to grow the catalog of apps quickly but it meant that no serious AAA game would come to iOS. It costs $20M to develop and another $10M to market a AAA game and you have no guarantee it will be a hit. With users conditioned to $0.99 games on the App Store there’s no chance of a top tier developer taking that risk unless Apple underwrites the endeavor with an in-house or first party studio like Sony does with Naughty Dog, Santa Monica studios, Guerilla games.

 

[scottcampbell]

Get a Switch and never look back.

 

[iSheep5S]

Alternative!

Android tablet of any power and size, Xbox one controller and Roms.

The originals were the best anyway.

 

[delsoul]

Not even a close one. Nintendo Switch. Apple Arcade is nice to have a few casual quick fun games but as far as REAL DEAL gaming, the Switch is an entire different league. Video games made for video gamers

 

[danmart]

I think it does depend a lot on the games you want to play. I bought a Switch to basically play Breath of the Wild and it’s a fantastic game. But I haven’t really been grabbed by other games on the platform and it went unused. This became a problem because, if you don’t use the Switch on a fairly regular basis, then the battery completely dies and it won’t play on power either at that point. Mine is now an expensive paperweight.

I found the screen too small for mobile play of games needing precision, too. My use-case (in the before times) was that I travel a lot for work and would take the Switch with me to game of an evening in my hotel. Where games were available on both platforms it would be better to play (for example) Dead Cells on my iPad using a Bluetooth controller than using the Switch hand-held.

I would agree that iOS as a market doesn’t support proper AAA games very well at the moment. But that is starting to change. Whilst XCOM2 and Disgea 1 are both older games they both play very well on my iPad Pro. And whilst Apple Arcade hasn’t hit the heights I was hoping it would there are a growing number of decent games there, too.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

For mobile gaming, I would get an iPad, simply because I think the screen on the switch is too small and frankly not of very good quality. If you plan on just a bit TV gaming, I would definitely get a Switch.

That being said, if you want anything other than casual gaming, puzzles, and the few AAA games on the iPad, the Switch is the way to go. But if you get a Switch, and you aren't a dwarf or child, be prepared to shell out for a properly sized controller.

And if you in general like Nintendos AAA productions, well, then the choice is clear. You won't ever regret getting Super Mario Odyssey or Breath of the Wild, and there's a countless quality RPG productions available on the Switch too.

 

[ackmondual]

I think it does depend a lot on the games you want to play. I bought a Switch to basically play Breath of the Wild and it’s a fantastic game. But I haven’t really been grabbed by other games on the platform and it went unused. This became a problem because, if you don’t use the Switch on a fairly regular basis, then the battery completely dies and it won’t play on power either at that point. Mine is now an expensive paperweight.

What was the idea here? You knew Zelda BotW was a "must get", but then kinda hoped there would be other titles of interest? Was this all during its initial launch?

I've actually purchased very few consoles and handhelds, but one criteria is there has to be at least 5 to 10 first party (including exclusive) games I'd be interested in. Then as a bonus, another 5 to 10 other games I'd be interested in. Since I don't "keep up with the joneses", BotW counts as exclusive since I don't have a Wii U, let alone played it on there.

Hmm, I'm curious now, so...
Mario Odyssey, New SMB Wii U Deluxe
Zelda BotW, Zelda Links awakening, Cadence of Hyrule
DKC Tropical Freeze
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Luigi's Mansion 3

Not interested in Mario Kart 8, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate single player isn't all that great, then this one would be "take it or leave it"

 

[danmart]

What was the idea here? You knew Zelda BotW was a "must get", but then kinda hoped there would be other titles of interest? Was this all during its initial launch?

Pretty much. I bought the new Mario game, too, but it gave me motion sickness when I played it.

This isn’t the first time this has happened with me - I bought an N64 to play that generation’s Zelda game but no other titles for it. I was hopeful that things would be better with the Switch since third-party support seemed stronger, but it didn’t pan out that way. In combination with the mobile form not being quite as satisfying as I hoped it would be, the result was that I would rather game on my iPad or XBox1.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don't have a switch but I'd imagine a dedicated console would be better than something which is a multi purpose device. Also the switch has access to high quality first party games, not mobile version knock offs or casual games.

 

[hovscorpion12]

As far as gaming on iPad goes, we now have Stadia/Amazon Luna and GeForce Now. AAA gaming in the cloud. I would say both iPad and Switch are now evenly matched, unless your playing Cyberpunk 2077 with your iPad on GeForce Now with Ray Tracing

 

[Heat_Fan89]

As far as gaming on iPad goes, we now have Stadia/Amazon Luna and GeForce Now. AAA gaming in the cloud. I would say both iPad and Switch are now evenly matched, unless your playing Cyberpunk 2077 with your iPad on GeForce Now with Ray Tracing

They are not evenly matched. The Nintendo Switch is an underpowered hybrid console. The number one reason to buy a Nintendo Switch is to play Nintendo’s first party games. You can’t play any of the current Switch Mario or Zelda games on Stadia or any other platform.

 

[Awesomesince86]

Im surprised this thread is still going on. Its no contest that the Switch is a better gaming device. Its a dedicated gaming device FFS.

 

[danmart]

Its no contest that the Switch is a better gaming device. Its a dedicated gaming device FFS.

Is it better for gaming than a PC?