Black Friday is here, and Nintendo has entered the fray. And for once, it’s managed to shave the prices down by a considerable amount*. It makes sense. This is Nintendo’s last chance to clear out the shelves before pulling the rug out from beneath unsuspecting families with the announcement of the Switch 2.
For most, a successor console looming over Black Friday would be a severe handicap. But Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up called) will be backward compatible. That should keep the Switch’s games from going stale ahead of the announcement. Hardware is a little trickier, but if you’ve been holding out to pick up a Switch for Tears of the Kingdom, there won’t be a better (or cheaper time).
A deal with the Devil Nintendo
From standalone consoles to accessories to games to bundles that combine them all together, it’s available on Nintendo’s South African store here. From what we’ve seen, the best deals concern the consoles themselves and their accompanying bundles (see *), although deals on Nintendo’s controllers are always welcome.
The largest bundle for R10,800 includes a Switch OLED, a choice of game (no Tears of the Kingdom), joy-con controllers, one Amiibo, and a single plush of your choice. Great, right? Yes, but what Nintendo doesn’t mention is that you can choose between a regular OLED model, or the OLED that already comes bundled with Super Mario Bros. Wonder and a 1-year subscription to Switch Online. The choice is obvious.
Choosing the most expensive Switch possible will not increase the bundle’s price. It is locked into a fixed rate of R10,800 no matter your choice of game, plush, or console. This is the case for two of the three bundles – the OLED and Switch Lite bundles. The bundle that contains a regular v2 Switch does not offer a choice. Without further ado, here are Nintendo’s bundles prices:
If it’s just the console you’re after, Nintendo has those too:
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Wondering which console is most up your alley? The most important factor to remember is that all three models include the same internal hardware. The regular Switch is just as powerful as the other two but misses out on the larger OLED display that makes handheld Nintendo gaming a pleasure. If you don’t plan to play handheld, the regular Switch will suit you just fine. Those buyers who will only play handheld? You’ll want to consider a Lite model, though remember that these cannot connect to a Switch dock at all.
We’re not going to list Nintendo’s entire Black Friday catalogue, which spans 17 pages, but have instead picked out some of the better deals on offer that are worth checking out:
- Nintendo Switch Pro controller – R1,300
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (physical) – R1,200
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – R1,200
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Set – R500
- Amiibo Zelda 4 Set – R800
- Pokémon Die-Cast Ball Replica – R1,500
Nintendo’s Black Friday deals open today, 25 November, and runs for one week until Monday, 2 December.
*considerable by Nintendo’s standards.