Games are created to entertain and, to a degree, act as an escape from our everyday lives—busy and stressful. Some choose PC gaming as their go-to since it can act as a station for work and play; some select consoles to focus on gaming, while others choose a more accessible medium, mobile gaming. All are great tools to tap into the games we love, but sometimes, we extend our medium just to play the same game we enjoy so much. This is why I shall share my experience playing the same games on two different platforms.
For additional context, I will cover two titles: Stardew Valley and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, both on PC and on Nintendo Switch.
My sister recently purchased a Nintendo Switch, which we share from time to time, and while browsing for titles, I came across two cherished games I previously played on PC, Stardew Valley and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. She didn’t know what to buy so she quickly agreed. One thing I must point out is comfortability, and by golly, I enjoyed playing on the Nintendo Switch. There is something charming about the handheld, and I am all for it because, for Stardew Valley, it feels like it was made for casual gaming on the bed.
From BrainPOP Official GIPHY
So whenever I have downtime from work, instead of starting up Stardew Valley on the PC, I gravitate to starting it on the Nintendo Switch instead. Although it took longer to access, the controls for the game felt exact and snappy.
After some time, I did want to try Stardew Valley on PC to see the difference, and it felt much more like a chore with a mouse and keyboard. Yes, I was able to access controllers quicker. My dungeon runs were much healthier as I could run around and dodge the bats, and I noticed a performance boost. But, honestly, it just made me miss the Nintendo Switch more.
Since I mentioned performance, let us focus on that aspect as well, this time for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game can run on Nintendo Switch, but I cannot play 30 minutes of it. Why? To sum it up, let’s say I was spoiled. The game was released in 2011 and still looks gorgeous on PC. After playing 300+ hours on it, I can wholeheartedly say I love the game. So it should be the same if I switch up the platform, right? Not right. It may run, but I consider it unplayable.
From The Witcher Official GIPHY
I can be comfortable while starting up, but I just can’t take the low resolution of it. It may sound off, but I am being completely honest. The sound and controls were also the same, but the graphics didn’t immerse me. Playing on the Nintendo Switch made me just want to hop into its PC version.
Verdict: It really depends on the type of game. If you were to ask me, playing casual games on a handheld is goated as it allows you to be fully relaxed on your bed or the couch. If the game requires power, let it be on a device that can run it optimally. Yes, the Nintendo Switch has the game option available, but lower resolution awaits you. It boils down to preference at the end of the day and if you can fully enjoy the game.
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EDITOR'S NOTE
This article is part of our social experiment on nextupgrade.ph. We call it: "So I Tried It" (stylized via hashtag as #SoITriedIt).
#SoITriedIt is a special series featuring the personal experiences of the Next Upgrade Editorial Team as we embrace the smart home lifestyle ourselves. As we take that first step to do things better and smarter, we hope we will inspire all of you to jumpstart your smart home journey.