$40 games, $60 controllers, and a Mario Kart console bundle
Nintendo is mostly focusing on big-hitters for Black Friday 2019 – Switch games that have, and will, continue to sell well for years to come. Case in point: the main hardware bundle this year is a $300 Nintendo Switch console that throws in a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (normally a $60 title).
That deal kicks off November 28, 2019 at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop.
Is there a catch? Well, kinda. A word of caution: this particular Nintendo Switch is the older model, HAC-001, with an expected battery life of 2.5 to 6.5 hours (certain games hog the battery more than others). The newer Switch model, HAC-001(-01), has an approximate battery life of 4.5 to 9 hours.
If you expect to primarily play your Switch in portable/handled mode, that comparison is definitely worth weighing. The newer battery makes a noticeable difference. Otherwise, if you’re a TV player first and foremost, this might not be much of a factor for you. How do you tell them apart? The older Switch model has a product serial number starting with “XAW”; the newer model’s serial begins with “XKW.”
If you’re hoping for a deal on the portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite, I wouldn’t expect much from Black Friday. The system is too new to warrant any crazy deals yet. That said, for $200, it’s still a great buy if you resonate with handheld gaming (or just want a secondary Switch for your household). Amazon has the Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta Edition in stock, along with the gray, yellow, and turquoise Lite.
In terms of physical Switch game sales this Black Friday, we’re looking at:
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- Kirby Star Allies
- Mario Tennis Aces
- Octopath Traveler
- Splatoon 2
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Super Mario Party
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
These games will be on sale for $40 – that’s $20 off – at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop starting November 27, 2019. Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild are the must-haves, but you (arguably) can’t go wrong with the rest of that list aside from maybe Super Mario Party. (It’s fine, just a bit underwhelming. Also, Mario Party games tear families apart.)
As for digital Switch game sales, Nintendo’s Cyber Deals are now live in North America.
Those stores will also have the Poké Ball Plus – an optional accessory for Pokémon Go, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, and Pokémon Sword and Shield – for $20 on November 28. That’s 60% off.
Lastly, Amazon, Target, and Best Buy will have Switch Joy-Con controllers marked down to $60 on November 27. That might not sound like a deal, but these things usually go for $80. Yes, it’s ridiculous.
If you’re a prospective Switch owner, keep an eye out for deals on microSD cards, too. It’s been two years, and I’m still using a 200GB SanDisk MicroSDXC memory card. No complaints.
(Check out Xbox’s Black Friday and PlayStation’s Black Friday deals too.)