In 2017, Nintendo released the Nintendo Switch–a revolutionary gaming console that doubled as a handheld. I was super excited for that release since the handhelds are my favorite. Playing the same console on the big screen or in my hands was the best of both worlds for me.

We weren’t able to preorder the console back then. I was working, but Kris had taken the day off and she scoured many stores to see if they had the Nintendo Switch in stock. Did she get one that day? I genuinely don’t remember. But we ended up with one regardless.

With handheld consoles, Kris and I always had our own going all the way back to the Game Boy Color. Since the Nintendo Switch allowed for multiple profiles, we didn’t see the need to get two consoles. After all, we didn’t each have our own Nintendo Wii, Wii U, GameCube, etc.

Although, it was difficult to own one Nintendo Switch between the two of us for a few reasons.

One, we always had our own handhelds so we could play certain games together, such as Pokemon. We loved playing through the regions side by side and trading Pokemon to fill our dexes. It was disappointing to play through Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go, Pikachu! individually. 

Two, we both travel a lot for our petsitting business. When one of us was away, who would get to keep the Switch for the week? It was like some weird custody battle.

Three, I get game review codes from Pure Nintendo Magazine. I’m sure you can imagine the amount of GB space I took up on our shared Switch.

But we managed. We were lucky to have one Nintendo Switch at all. 

Then, in 2019, Nintendo decided to create a handheld version of the Nintendo Switch–the Nintendo Switch Lite. Why? I’m not entirely sure considering the Switch was already portable. However, the Switch Lite is… well, lighter. It’s smaller and somewhat easier to bring places with you in that regard.

In true handheld fashion, Kris and I each scored a Nintendo Switch Lite. This left us with three Switches total between the two of us. Excessive? Probably.

We didn’t mind though. I now had my own Switch to pack all those game review codes onto without eating all the GB. We could also play through the Pokemon games together and actually trade Pokemon once more since we didn’t have to be on the same console. We also took our respective Switch Lites with us whenever we had a petsitting gig.

And yet, after so many years of flip-flopping between getting a second Nintendo Switch, we ended up with one anyway.

Our cousins each got their own Nintendo Switch Lite and never played their Nintendo Switch again. (They’re still hardcore Nintendo Wii players.)

Thus, they gave us their Nintendo Switch. Now, Kris and I each have our own Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. Still excessive? A little.

Now it’s 2025 and the Nintendo Switch 2 has been released. With its high asking price, and the fact we already have four consoles of the Switch 2’s predecessor, we told ourselves we’d get one.

And we did. We weren’t able to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2, but our brother-in-law’s friend did. When he didn’t receive it the day it came out, he went to the store, and snagged himself one in person. So, when his preordered one arrived, he gave it to us. (We paid him for it, of course!)

Now we had five Nintendo Switches between the two of us. I swear we blinked and now they’re everywhere in our house.

But we have one more now, because we can’t be stopped. And it’s all thanks to Pokemon once again.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A released this month. As with all Pokemon games, Kris and I wanted to playthough the game on our own but experience it together. Instead of biting the bullet and one of us getting a Nintendo Switch copy while the other got a Nintendo Switch 2 copy… Kris and my parents preordered the Nintendo Switch 2 Pokemon Legends: Z-A bundle for me for my birthday.

Now, between the two of us, we have six Nintendo Switches–one Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch 2 each. 

Excessive? Absolutely.

Do we regret our decisions? Absolutely not.

Do our wallets regret our choices? Probably.