The Best Nintendo Switch Deals January 2020: Switch Lite, Games, Accessories, And More

We’re still waiting to see what Nintendo has planned for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. The company’s only confirmed upcoming first-party games for the year are Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX. That’s certainly lacking compared to previous years, and we still don’t know if Bayonetta 3, Metroid Prime 4, and the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will make it out this year (we wouldn’t count on any of them). While you wait for more news from Nintendo, it’s a good time to pick up some new accessories and clear out your backlog, and to help you do that for cheap, we’ve rounded up the best Nintendo Switch deals available right now.

There are now two Switch consoles on the market: the original Nintendo Switch and the smaller, handheld-only Switch Lite. Normally sold for $300 and $200, respectively, these consoles rarely see discounts larger than $20 off, even during major sales events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. However, you can find surprising deals at places like Ebay and Google Shopping, so we recommend checking those sites if you’re not finding any great markdowns at Amazon or Best Buy.

Amazon and Walmart tend to have the best prices on Nintendo Switch games, and Amazon, in particular, will quickly price-match stores like Best Buy and Target if they have a major game sale. If you’re looking for a discount on a brand-new Switch game, it’s worth checking your local Walmart store–the company has started offering select newly released games for $10 off as early as release day, but it’s an in-store-only promotion.

You should also know there are two models of Switch to look out for, with the only major difference being battery life. The original model was around from the launch of the Switch in March 2017 to the middle of August last year, when the new model started rolling out. The difference in battery life is fairly high; according to Nintendo’s website, the original model has a battery of 2.5 to 6.5 hours depending on the game, while the new model has a battery life of 4.5 to 9 hours. At a glance, you can tell the difference by the box art: the new model has an all-red background and has the Joy-Cons on the right, whereas the old box art has the Joy-Cons on the left. Just in case, make sure to check the model number of the unit itself–the model should say “HAC-001(01)” on it, while old models will omit the part in parentheses.

Overall, Nintendo is pretty stingy when it comes to discounts, and now that the holidays are over, deals on Nintendo Switch consoles and games are few and far between. That said, there are still some solid discounts to be had, and we’ve gathered them below. This story is updated regularly as we spot more notable deals, so be sure to check back regularly.

Quick look: Best Nintendo Switch deals

Nintendo Switch console deals

Nintendo Switch (new model)

Deals on the updated Switch model are hard to come by, but there’s usually a minor discount going on somewhere. If you’re a first-time buyer with Google Shopping, you can get a Switch for $280 if you use the coupon code JANSAVE20 before February 2. Otherwise, you can get a new model at Amazon for the standard $300.

Nintendo Switch (old model) bundle with Mario Tennis Aces and 1-2-Switch

If you’re not too picky about battery life and don’t mind picking up a pair of games with your Switch, Amazon has a good deal. This bundle includes an older-model Switch, Mario Tennis Aces, and 1-2 Switch. Both games are going for $50-$60 at most retailers, so if you were looking to get both of those games, this bundle could save you between $50-$70.

Nintendo Switch Lite

As the latest model of the Switch, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal on the Switch Lite right now. For a limited time, you can get one for $183 over at Ebay–almost 10% off. Even better, if you’re a first-time shopper with Google, you can get it for $177 if you use coupon code JANSAVE20 until February 2.

Best Switch game deals

Tokyo Mirage Sessions

Major deals on Switch games are hard to come by compared to deals for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One games. Google Shopping has a slick promo going on that can save you quite a bit of cash on Switch stuff, but only if it’s your first time buying with them. Luigi’s Mansion 3, for example, is $43.44 with the promo code JANSAVE20 until February 2. Meanwhile, Amazon continues to have solid discounts on new games, including this month’s Tokyo Mirage Sessions re-release for $50, less than a month after launch.

*discounted pre-order

Best Switch accessory deals

Samsung 256GB Switch-Compatible Memory Card

Samsung’s line of microSDXC EVO memory cards work with Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite, making them indispensable for anyone who wants to load up tons of games on their Nintendo console. Amazon is currently selling the 256GB of their cards for $38, making them one of the best ways to expand your Switch’s storage space before Black Friday.

Check out more of the best Switch accessories on sale below.

Best Switch Online membership deals

Switch Online is Nintendo’s monthly membership that grants access to online multiplayer, save data cloud backup for most (but not all) games, and a selection of over 40 NES games and 20 SNES games, as well as the ability to buy official NES and SNES controllers compatible with Switch. Nintendo Switch Online is far cheaper than Sony or Microsoft’s online subscriptions–an annual individual subscription sells for $20, while a family plan for up to eight Nintendo accounts is $35–but it’s still another expense added to the ever-growing pile of Switch-related purchases.

There was an excellent Amazon Prime deal that gave subscribers one year for free, but that promotion has since ended. As of right now, we’re not seeing any straight-up discounts on Switch Online–but there is a bundle we recommend. Popular Switch Online game Tetris 99 has gotten a physical release, and it includes 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online. Not only that, but you’ll get all current and future DLC for the game. That bundle will cost you $30.

For more savings, be sure to check out our roundups of the best Xbox One deals and best PS4 deals available this month.