At long last, Nintendo has shown off the Switch 2, and I’m convinced it signals the death of handheld consoles. To clarify, I don’t think the Switch 2 will perform badly or that it itself will be a failed console. However, a second hybrid console from Nintendo likely means that the days of getting a dedicated handheld device like the Game Boy or DS are likely over. And, if that’s true, I think it would be a real shame.

the Switch 2 on the horizon, I think I have to accept that I’ll no longer have a new handheld console to look forward to.

Switch 2 Is Likely The End For Nintendo's Handheld-Only Consoles

Another Switch And No Other Handhelds Signals Nintendo Is All-In On Hybrid Consoles

In previous console generations, Nintendo typically had its home console and a handheld running parallel to it, and there were occasionally some games that could interact between the two. Back in 2020, Nintendo officially discontinued its 3DS systems. The online store shut down in 2023, and by 2024, almost all online capabilities have been turned off, with the exception of some Pokémon add-ons. With the Switch 2 announced and no word on a follow-up to the 3DS, it seems clear that Nintendo is all in on the Switch and won’t be making any smaller consoles to go along with it.

I won’t pretend this doesn’t make total sense. The whole point of the Switch 2 is that it can serve as both a handheld and a home console. Releasing a second handheld device would essentially be itting that the Switch 2 doesn’t properly serve both its intended functions. That said, I would argue that it doesn’t. At the least, it’s lacking some attributes of other handheld consoles that I think were essential to their appeal.

The Switch Lacks Important Qualities Of Older Handheld Consoles

The Switch Is A Bit Too Big To Be Comfortably Portable

In one regard, there are currently a lot of ways to play games on a handheld device. Aside from the Switch, there are options like Valve's Steam Deck along with a variety of handheld devices that come loaded with retro games. However, neither of these avenues truly fills the role that older handheld consoles played.

Both the Switch and products like the Steam Deck are a bit larger than I’d like from a handheld console. While it’s not so large that it’s hard to play, I don’t really like to bring my Switch on public transportation the same way I would a DS. I also felt the need to buy a case for it when I travel, an issue I didn’t have with the more portable handheld systems or ones that fold up to cover their screens.

Another issue I have when trying to play my Switch on the go is battery life. Maybe it’s because I’m rocking an original model, and maybe it’s getting old, but my Switch does not last very long on a charge. So, even if I’m taking something like an Amtrak where I have a little more space to play my Switch, it’s not likely to sustain a long trip without needing to be plugged in. While the same was true for the 3DS, Nintendo’s older handhelds seemed to have much better battery lives.

Officially, Nintendo promises 2.5 to 6.5 hours of gameplay from a single charge on the launch model and 4.5 to 9 hours on the revision.

And yes, I recognize that my Switch isn’t going to last as long as a Game Boy because its games take a lot more power to run and display. However, that’s my point. If the Switch can’t reliably be used as a portable handheld device because its games eat up too much battery, then I don’t think it’s doing a great job as a replacement for handheld consoles.

Handheld Consoles Were A Great Affordable Option

The Switch Has A Higher Barrier To Entry Than Nintendo’s Previous Handhelds

Right off the bat, I want to quickly acknowledge that a lot of criticism that I’m going to levy at the Switch is also somewhat applicable to the 3DS. The 3DS was much more expensive than Nintendo’s previous handheld consoles, and it was only about $50 cheaper than the Switch when it first came out. In general, I think many of my issues with the Switch as a handheld stem from the 3DS. Just know that, when I discuss the affordability of Nintendo’s handhelds, I’m mostly not referring to the 3DS.

Looking at Nintendo’s older handheld consoles, they were all much cheaper alternatives to the home consoles of their same generation. For example, the Game Boy Advance was about $100 when it first came out, which was around half the price of the Nintendo Game Cube. Aside from the consoles, the games themselves were also more affordable. New handheld games tended to be around $20-$30 cheaper than console games.

When I was younger, I couldn’t usually afford new console games when they first came out. I’d rent some from video stores or check them out from the library, and for a stretch, I was making liberal use of GameStop’s generous seven-day return policy for used games. During that time, I really appreciated having handheld games as a cheaper alternative.

Games that were previously handheld staples like the main-line Pokémon games now cost $59.99, nearly as much as most major console releases, and also receive paid DLC. Of course, the Switch does get some great games at lower price points. Stardew Valley, for instance, is only $14.99, and I’ve played that much longer than several games I bought for over $60. That said, the Switch still has a higher barrier to entry due to the cost of the console itself.

Handheld Games Are A Lost Art

Hardware Limitations Helped Foster Creative Game Design

My disappointment in the death of handheld consoles doesn’t just stem from my enjoyment of their portability and affordability. I also really liked the type of games that were developed for them. While there was plenty of shovelware, games like the Pokémon series, Golden Sun, and Ace Attorney are some of my all-time favorites, handheld or otherwise. Though not as high on my list, I still enjoyed how games like Nintendogs were designed to so perfectly fit their handheld consoles.

Once the Switch came out, it felt like there was less emphasis on making games purely for the handheld experience. There are some, like Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp and Metroid Dread. For the most part, however, my best handheld experiences on the Switch have been with indie games like Hades that weren’t necessarily designed to be a strictly handheld experience.

In some ways, the Switch, and presumably Switch 2, are a big step up from old handheld consoles. They can nicer graphics and bigger games, and having more indie titles available through the store is a huge plus. That said, the limitations that older handheld consoles had also bred a lot of creative games that made the most of the platform they were on. As the way we play video games slowly becomes more homogenous, I can’t help but mourn the loss of the old handheld gaming landscape.