Parents' Guide to

1-2 Switch

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Fun but shallow collection of multiplayer mini-games.

Game Nintendo Switch 2017
1-2 Switch Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • 1-2 Switch Screen #1
  • 1-2 Switch Screen #2
  • 1-2 Switch Screen #3

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

Plert
Plert Adult
March 16, 2018
age 9+

Nintendo Fun (1 2 Switch)

I think that this game is great for all ages. Once you get to an age, where you can easily understand the way to play this game, it is amazing and super fun. I do not recommend the cow game though for young children. Thanks!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

1-2 SWITCH is a collection of 28 multiplayer party games, where each gamer holds one of the small Joy-Con controllers that ship with the new Nintendo Switch system. Examples include playing baseball, boxing with an opponent, rocking a baby to sleep, and more. Some games require players to look into each other's eyes and wait for a verbal cue to be shouted out of the television or, if on the go, out of the Nintendo Switch itself. As a launch title, 1-2 Switch was designed to show off the new system's capabilities at home or on the go. Depending on the game, different technologies are at play in the Joy-Con controllers, such as motion control, HD rumble (vibrating controllers), and the IR (infrared) Motion Camera.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (6):

This mini-game collection might be fun for a while, but it won't last for very long. 1-2 Switch is very entertaining in group settings, but the lack of depth in these mini-games -- and the fact that you can't play solo -- means you likely won't be playing this game for months on end. That said, many of the 28 mini-games are very fun. Nintendo did a great job not only in the variety of experiences but also focusing heavily on human interaction, such as looking into each other's eyes and waiting for audio cues. Whether you're facing each other in a cowboy shooting duel or playing a virtual game of table tennis, you'll have an amusing challenge. Plus, the sheer silliness of some games will no doubt crack you up; try milking a cow, eating a sandwich, shaking a soda bottle, and rocking a baby to sleep. Fun for virtually all ages and skill levels, these party games are a riot.

Many of the mini-games let you unlock some added difficulty (such as the Wild West-themed quick-draw host yelling out "File!" or "Food!" instead of "Fire!" to trick each player into shooting their gun), but the fun of these shallow games does fade over time. It would be great if Nintendo rewarded players with new mini-games that could be downloaded for free to keep things fresh. Another issue is that if you're in a party setting, it can be tough to hear some of the audio cues coming from the game. Overall, 1-2 Switch is a solid B-grade title that has a ton of breadth but very little depth. It's a great showcase of the Nintendo Switch hardware, especially the Joy-Con controllers, and really is a good launch title. Just don't expect to have the same enthusiasm for this cartridge a month from now -- unless you've invited over friends who haven't yet played it and you'll enjoy their reaction to these often silly multiplayer challenges.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about screen addiction. With the Switch, players can take the console with them anywhere they go, so how do you set limits on the amount of time you play games? How do you know that you can put away the game or the controller when it's easy to hop into one more match?

  • Discuss mini-games. Are these more fun than longer, more involved games? Should these have been included in a larger game with an overarching plot?

Game Details

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