Player Two Co

Gifts for Nintendo Switch Fans

The Switch has the friendliest, most giftable line-up in gaming. Here are the games everyone loves, a real controller upgrade, and travel extras — with a live price on each.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

The Nintendo Switch is the easiest console to buy gifts for, because its games are bright, family-friendly and universally loved — a 6-year-old and a grandparent can enjoy the same ones. Add a comfortable controller upgrade and a case for playing on the go, and you’ve covered nearly every Switch owner.

Almost everything here is rated E or E10+, so it’s safe for kids, and we show the rating on each game. If they already have a big library, a Nintendo eShop gift card lets them pick something new with no risk of a duplicate.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

A giant, critically adored adventure and a genuine event game. If your gamer is into big open-world exploration, this is the prestige gift — the one they'll be thrilled you knew about.

Best big adventure
$61.90 · See it on Amazon

$69.9912% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds, and almost no Switch owner will be sad to get a second copy for parties.

Best for anyone
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Coziest pick
$51.58 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Nintendo Mario Party Superstars

Nintendo Mario Party Superstars

The best board-game-and-minigames party pack on the Switch. If the gift is really 'something the whole family can play at Christmas,' this is it.

Best for groups
$53.99 · See it on Amazon

$59.9910% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

A big upgrade over the little Joy-Cons for any serious Switch player — more comfortable, longer battery, and the pad they'll reach for every time. A treat gift that lands.

Best gear upgrade
$74.00 · See it on Amazon

$79.997% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

A protective case is the practical, always-useful gift for anyone who takes their Switch out of the house. Officially licensed, holds games too, and cheap enough for a stocking.

Most practical
$14.99 · See it on Amazon

$19.9925% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Nintendo eShop Gift Card

Nintendo eShop Gift Card

When you're not 100% sure what they own, a store card is the honest, can't-go-wrong answer. This lets any Switch owner pick their own games and add-ons — no risk of a duplicate.

Safest bet
$50.00 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best big adventure

Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

A giant, critically adored adventure and a genuine event game. If your gamer is into big open-world exploration, this is the prestige gift — the one they'll be thrilled you knew about.

Great because

  • One of the highest-rated games of the decade
  • Enormous — hundreds of hours of exploration and building
  • Feels like a premium, thoughtful gift

Keep in mind

  • Deep and involved — not a casual pick-up-for-ten-minutes game
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 10 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip for a very young child or a total newcomer — it rewards patience and exploration.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Best for anyone

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds, and almost no Switch owner will be sad to get a second copy for parties.

Great because

  • Zero learning curve — pick up and play in seconds
  • Up to four people on one Switch, so it's an instant party
  • The best-selling Switch game ever; it's beloved for a reason

Keep in mind

  • A very online player may already own it
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if you know for certain they already have it (most Switch owners do eventually).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Coziest pick

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Great because

  • Completely relaxing — there's no failing or losing
  • Wildly popular with people who don't consider themselves gamers
  • Hundreds of hours of gentle, creative play

Keep in mind

  • Slow-paced by design — not for someone who wants action
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they specifically want a fast, competitive or action game.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best for groups

Nintendo Mario Party Superstars

The best board-game-and-minigames party pack on the Switch. If the gift is really 'something the whole family can play at Christmas,' this is it.

Great because

  • Built for four people laughing on the couch
  • Classic boards and 100 minigames anyone can grasp
  • Great for mixed ages — kids and adults compete evenly

Keep in mind

  • Less fun solo — it really wants a group
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they mostly play alone — this shines with company.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Best gear upgrade

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

A big upgrade over the little Joy-Cons for any serious Switch player — more comfortable, longer battery, and the pad they'll reach for every time. A treat gift that lands.

Great because

  • Far more comfortable than the default Joy-Cons
  • Long battery life
  • Feels like a genuine upgrade

Keep in mind

  • Pricey for a controller
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Gear
Works with
Nintendo Switch (and PC over USB/Bluetooth)
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they only play their Switch in handheld mode.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Most practical

Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

A protective case is the practical, always-useful gift for anyone who takes their Switch out of the house. Officially licensed, holds games too, and cheap enough for a stocking.

Great because

  • Protects the console and holds game cards
  • Officially licensed
  • Inexpensive and universally useful

Keep in mind

  • Confirm it fits their model (regular, Lite or OLED)
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Accessory
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite & OLED
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they never take their Switch anywhere.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Safest bet

Nintendo eShop Gift Card

When you're not 100% sure what they own, a store card is the honest, can't-go-wrong answer. This lets any Switch owner pick their own games and add-ons — no risk of a duplicate.

Great because

  • Impossible to get wrong — they choose
  • No worry about duplicate games
  • Available in several amounts

Keep in mind

  • Feels a touch less personal than a wrapped game
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Gift card
Works with
Any Nintendo Switch account
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if you'd rather give something they can physically unwrap.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

Which Switch game for which person?

Match the game to the mood. For a party or family, Mario Kart and Mario Party are instant crowd-pleasers everyone can play. For someone who wants to relax, Animal Crossing is a calm, no-pressure favorite. For a serious player who loves exploring, the huge Zelda adventure is the prestige gift. Then round it out with gear: the Pro Controller is far comfier than the little Joy-Cons for TV play, and a case protects the console for anyone who travels with it.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best Nintendo Switch game to give as a gift?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the single safest pick — nearly anyone can play it, it's great with a group, and it's the best-selling Switch game ever. For a relaxing gift, Animal Crossing; for a serious player, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Will a Switch game work on a Switch Lite or OLED?

Yes — standard Switch games work across the regular Switch, the Switch Lite and the Switch OLED. (The Lite is handheld-only, so games that require detached controllers or TV mode are the rare exception, which we'd flag.) Accessories like cases, though, are model-specific, so check the fit.

Should I buy a physical game or a download code?

A physical cartridge is easy to wrap and can be resold or lent; a download code or eShop card is instant and can't be lost. If you're not sure which games they own, a Nintendo eShop gift card is the safest — they choose. See our how to gift Switch games guide.

Is a Pro Controller worth it as a gift?

For anyone who plays their Switch on the TV, yes — it's much more comfortable than the small default Joy-Cons and has longer battery life. For someone who only plays in handheld mode, it's less useful.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Nintendo — Nintendo eShop Cards — Nintendo's own page on eShop cards: funds add to a Nintendo Account balance to spend on games and DLC in the eShop; cards are sold in fixed amounts (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Nintendo Support — How to Redeem a Nintendo eShop Download Code — Nintendo's official redemption steps: open the eShop, choose Enter Code, and enter the 16-character code, or redeem online — a Nintendo Account is required and the balance is region-locked to the account's country (accessed July 22, 2026)

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