Would you believe it has been 7 years since the launch of the Nintendo Switch?

On March 3rd 2017, the Switch launched across Europe and the rest of the world, with one of the highest rated and best selling Zelda games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the system has gone on to sell an unprecedented amount, played host to some of the best first-party Nintendo releases ever, and has one of the longest lifespans of a console in Nintendo’s history.

And better yet, the journey isn’t over! With strong third-party support, a constant slew of indies, and plenty of first-party releases in the immediate future such as Princess Peach Showtime, Endless Ocean and Paper Mario, with more on the horizon such as Pokémon Legends Z-A, the Switch is as strong as ever!

But it wasn’t all roses. Prior to the Switch release, it was a tense time for Nintendo and avid fans, as the fate of the Switch wasn’t certain, given that we had just endured the Wii U, a system which had just barely managed to crawl to the finish line as the worst selling Nintendo home-console to date, after 4 years on sale. Propped up in its final year on sale by some quickly cobbled together first-party releases such as Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival and Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, the Wii U felt like a bleak time for Nintendo and its fans, and the Switch really did feel like a make or break situation.

But here we are in 2024, where the Switch currently stands as the third best selling system of all time, behind the Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2, the system plays host to two of the highest-rated Zelda games ever, two Splatoon entries, what is essentially an entirely new Mario Kart in the Booster Course Pass, and peak platforming, both 3D and 2D, with Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Bros Wonder. And that’s to name just a few.

By combining handheld and home console divisions, the Switch enjoys mainline Pokémon games alongside the likes of Pikmin 4, by investing in their many different approaches to gaming, people can enjoy ‘hardcore’ gaming such as Metroid Prime Remastered, while also enjoying Wii-era style experiences such as Ring Fit Adventure and Nintendo Switch Sports. And by regaining the support of third-parties, all of this Nintendo goodness can be enjoyed while also experiencing the likes of Skyrim, Hogwarts Legacy and Samba de Amigo: Party Central!

Nintendo haven’t been in such a strong position since the Super Nintendo days, and this isn’t some immature ‘console-war’ bait, I don’t own stocks in the company, and I don’t get paid to sing their praises and write about them week to week, I’m just an avid fan, and relieved to know that we will continue to get quality Nintendo titles for years to come thanks to the success of the Switch.

How has your time with the Nintendo Switch been? Why not head over to our forums and talk about your experiences. Or if you’re feeling nostalgic, why not see our excitement first-hand, in the 2017 thread ‘Nintendo Switch Launch Day’!

Have you had a Nintendo Switch rooftop party yet?