Nitro Deck

Even if you have just invested in an OLED variant of the Switch console, it seems that the games are absolutely the most important thing, and that it perhaps doesn't lean into cutting-edge features. It is increasingly difficult to distract from the fact that the Switch console is relatively antique. That's not to say that some forms of technology can be more timeless than others, and Nintendo has never been interested in competing at the edge of what's possible.

So, what do you do if you love the games on the Switch but are tired of the hardware? You get yourself a Nitro Deck, a kind of mobile dock that you click the actual screen from your OLED or standard Switch into, and then you get, in a number of ways, a kind of Switch 2.0.

Okay, so it's less practical and comes in a kind of sturdy plastic frame with a USB-C port at the bottom, which accepts the display module, and adds a kind of handheld experience all around with D-Pad, face buttons, triggers - the whole thing. In addition to that, there is a built-in stand at the back, if you would like to have it standing on a table, for example, four remappable buttons, and analog sticks are Hall Effect, which means that they will never, ever, exhibit so-called "drifting", which has proved to be a recurring problem with regular Joy-Cons.

On the back there is also a USB-C port that lets you charge while you play (which is necessary since it uses the console's own port), as well as display out, so you can send the signal onto a screen at the same time.

It's all top notch, and producer CRKD clearly knew exactly what they were going for, because the Nitro Deck oozes intentional design, and both comfort and mechanical precision as a result of the better grip and the more responsive buttons can be felt the same.

But, let's take the bull by the horns here. A Nitro Deck undeniably makes your Switch heavier - it weighs 272 grams on its own. It also makes it bigger. I would argue that the comfort will be something similar to a Steam Deck, which is great, but it no longer fits in normal Switch bags. That's why it suddenly doesn't cost £50, because with CRKD's bag, which is naturally designed with Nitro Deck in mind, the price is £90. However, it still feels like a nice price.

In addition, you can no longer simply remove your Joy-Cons and play with the screen in front of you on a table, or give it to a friend, and thus you sacrifice some core functionality for a better solo gaming experience. You can carry the regular Joy-Cons with you, but still.

However, when you sit with Nitro Deck in hand, it is clear that you get something for those sacrifices, namely a far, far better experience across most games when you play alone. We have played Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with Nitro Deck, so it's hard to go back, even if you get a slimmer, more portable and more versatile profile.

But at the same time, it's hard to avoid paying for something that removes many of the original advantages of the Switch console. No Amiibo support also only makes it worse, and it must be said, in addition to the fact that the sides are not removable, that it becomes much heavier and must be transported in a specially designed bag. But if you are serious about Switch use, and primarily play on the couch yourself, then this is something quite special. It's just a shame that one's use has to be so specific before it makes sense.