Why Does Nintendo Online Suck?
Nintendo Online sucks mostly due to it’s lackluster offerings. Compared to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live, Nintendo Online has little to offer. While the base service is considerably cheaper than the others, it comes with much less content and features.
In my experience Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros, and Animal Crossing are the main games to really benefit from Nintendo Online. The rest only gain an advantage if you have friends with Nintendo Online too. We got our Switch for local multiplayer games not online multiplayer games.
Getting the expansion pack adds to the game library and content, it’s also very expensive at $50 per year. Plus it still doesn’t add much to newer games. Sure you can get the downloadable content (DLC) with the subscription but if you ever cancel you lose access to the DLC. In my experience just paying a one time fee for DLC is the better option.
Disadvantages
- Limited features: In my experience, Nintendo Online does not offer as many games or services as other gaming platforms, such as Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus. There are fewer online multiplayer options and limited chat features. Nintendo requires the installation of a phone app for voice chat.
- Lack of dedicated servers: Unlike other gaming platforms that have dedicated servers to ensure smooth online gameplay, Nintendo Online typically relies on peer-to-peer connections, leading to more lag and connectivity issues.
- Sparse library of free games: While Nintendo Online does offer a selection of free games to subscribers, the library is relatively small and lacks newer games compared to Xbox or PlayStation.
- Inconsistent performance: Some users have reported connectivity issues, slow download speeds, or frequent disconnections while using Nintendo Online services. Which are only amplified by wireless connections for the Switch.
Advantages
The primary advantage of Nintendo Online is connecting with remote friends. If your friends are not able to visit you in person, Nintendo Online is a good way to connect and play games together on your Switches.
Other than that, there really isn’t a good reason to get the service.
Summary
It is important to note that these criticisms are based on my experience. Since we have enough local players we’ve opted to abandon the Online service. While Nintendo regularly updates and improves their online services, I doubt it would change my mind about the service.
FAQ
Why Does Nintendo Online Suck brought to you by David M.
I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.
