Kid Like Excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2

I’ve been a video game fan since my parents bought me a Nintendo 64 for Christmas many years ago. That love for the company has grown through every console and handheld since. That love of Nintendo has definitely been passed down to my kids as well, and their excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2 is infectious.

As adults, the business of video games seems to get in the way of actually enjoying the product. The price is too high, how am I going to afford it? The games are too expensive, how many of them can I reasonably get this year? Nintendo games never go on (deeply discounted) sale! All of these comments obviously flood my brain as well as I think about the Nintendo Switch 2, and while I have not yet had the chance to preorder my own, that hasn’t stopped my kids from going crazy and looking forward to June 5th.

Obviously, as adults other responsibilities come into play when you think about purchasing a new video game console. If you want the Nintendo Switch 2 bundle with Mario Kart World, maybe a Pro Controller, and the camera for Game Chat, you are well over $1000.00 CAD. That’s a price tag worth thinking about. But honestly, I wish that sometimes, the noise would fall away and we would all look forward to the Nintendo Switch 2 with a childlike exuberance.

My kids are stoked. My youngest, who will be turning 7 in September, is incredibly excited for Mario Kart World. He’s been playing a ton of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the past few weeks, and while he is absolutely terrible at the game, the bright colors, whimsical characters, and beautifully detailed worlds are all he needs to get excited about another entry. Further, the concept of an open world is amazing to him. One of his gripes every time we play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is that he cannot go anywhere he wants to; that won’t be a problem in Mario Kart World. I cannot wait to see him take the game for a spin.

My middle child is super enthused for Donkey Kong Bananza. He never had the privilege of playing the last great 3D Donkey Kong game, Donkey Kong 64, and while I’m disappointed I’ve still not found a good way for him to enjoy that experience, I’m still excited to see him take Donkey Kong for a spin. Donkey Kong has always felt different than Super Mario, and while folks have argued at length whether this is the Super Mario Odyssey 2 everyone wanted or not – obviously it is not Mario, I know that – I think it’s different enough that my kid is going to get to try out a new character in a 3D space. That’s exciting for me, and exciting for him.

Having kids and reviewing video games has been a blessing. Even when my colleagues rip a game to shreds for being lackluster, I get a different opinion on the experience as I watch it through the eyes of my kids. Having kids gives me a unique perspective on everything from games to consoles, every time I sit down to write I feel like I get a unique perspective. And today, I’m just going to be excited for my kids, because they are so excited!