1-2-Switch

1-2-Switch (2017) is a series of party games that use the Switch Joy-Con controllers in imaginative and unusual ways. Although it looks like a novelty, the focus on physical motion and activity rather than just what's on the screen makes this surprisingly engaging.

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Play in most of the minigames is usually multiplayer and involves holding the Joy-Con controllers to mimic a real-life activity. From wild-west duels, cow-milking competitions to copycat dance-offs this is about quick reactions and careful motions. More than that, it's about being a bit silly and laughing together.

There are 28 different minigames, most of which involve two players, who each use one of the Joy-Con controllers and are often encouraged to look at each other rather than the screen during gameplay.

Stand out games in the collection are the cow milking challenge where you motion the controlled in an up and down direction to draw milk from the cow's udders. Then there is the virtual eating game that uses the camera in the end of the Joy-Con controller (yes there's one in there) to get one player to make chomping motions with their mouth to eat lots of different food. There's a game that uses the precise vibration feedback of the controller to get you to "feel" how many balls are trapped inside as you tilt it from left to right.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked 1-2-Switch 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated a year ago.