Is Nintendo‘s Online Family Membership Worth It? A Super Fan‘s Definitive Guide
In my expert opinion as a lifelong Nintendo super fan: Yes, the Nintendo Switch Online family plan is absolutely worth the reasonable $35 annual price for households with multiple gamers. For online multiplayer access, nostalgic classics, family sharing perks, and solid entertainment value across accounts, it‘s a must-have. Keep reading as I break down everything this subscription has to offer the gaming families and friend groups of the world.
An Overview of Perks: What‘s Included for My $35?
First, let‘s quickly recap what the Nintendo Switch Online family membership provides across up to 8 Nintendo accounts:
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🎮 Online multiplayer gaming
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🕹️ Library of 100+ classic NES & SNES games
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☁️ Cloud backups for game save data
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🎁 Special offers like Tetris 99 and Pac-Man 99
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📱 Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app
If you aren‘t familiar with Nintendo Switch Online yet, those are the core benefits shared with the $20 individual membership too. But by paying just $35 annually, your family or friend group gets everything listed above in a handy shared package.
How the Family Membership Saves Households Money
Now, let‘s compare the savings versus buying individual memberships. The family option provides huge value:
| Number of Members | Family Cost | Individual Cost | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $35 | $20 | -$15 |
| 2 | $35 | $40 | $5 |
| 3 | $35 | $60 | $25 |
| 4 | $35 | $80 | $45 |
| 5 | $35 | $100 | $65 |
| 6 | $35 | $120 | $85 |
| 7 | $35 | $140 | $105 |
| 8 | $35 | $160 | $125 |
As you can see, the more family members added, the more you save compared to individual memberships. With a full 8 members, you save a whopping $125 annually!
To match competitors like Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus at $60/year, you‘d need at least 3 or 4 members signed up. So Nintendo‘s family deal provides big savings for larger households.
Recommended for Families, Couples, Roommates, and More
Based on the perks and value above, here are the types of users I recommend the family plan for:
👪 Families with kids – One membership can cover the whole household playing online and classic games! Parental controls help manage kids‘ accounts too.
👫 Couples – For just $35, why would two gamers pay for individual memberships? The family plan saves money.
🏡 Roommates – Whether it‘s college dorm mates or friends getting an apartment, the family plan lets you split the cost and share in the fun.
🎮 Friend groups – For you and your gaming buddies who hang out and play Switch games together. Family sharing of digital titles is perfect.
⛺️ Travel buddies – For vacations, road trips, flights, etc. Play multiplayer games together and keep boredom at bay.
And because you aren‘t locked into all 8 spots, even smaller families can benefit. The family membership consolidates subscriptions for simplified payments and renewals.
Special Perks of the Family Membership
Besides the obvious cost savings, here are some special advantages unlocked for families and groups:
👪 Household Library Sharing
Purchase digital games on one parent account, and the whole family‘s consoles can play them through [primary/secondary console] sharing. It makes buying games a breeze.
⏰ Parental Control App
Parents can manage kids‘ gaming habits with handy built-in tools to limit play time, set restrictions, and monitor activity. No more arguments over turning the Switch off!
🎮 Local Wireless Multiplayer
By linking family accounts, you can experience awesome local wireless gaming sessions together. Just sync up multiple Switch consoles in the same room!
🎮 Share Console Accessories
With multiple Switch consoles in a household, accessory sharing is a breeze. Swap Joy-Cons, Pro Controllers, and accessories between family members.
🕹️ Nostalgic Multiplayer Fun
Revisit classics you loved as a kid with family and friends! Games like Super Mario Kart, Bomberman, Contra, Double Dragon…the retro options are endless.
🔄 Easy Renewals
No juggling 8 different renewal dates. Just one family membership to remember for the year. Streamlined convenience.
Whether you want to relieve parents‘ headaches or enjoy gaming with loved ones, the family plan has extra perks that make multiplayer gaming effortless.
But Is the Expansion Pack Upgrade Worth it?
With the new Expansion Pack upgrade, you can get access to Nintendo 64 and Genesis games, plus DLC extras for Animal Crossing and Mario Kart 8. But at $50 more per year, is it worth bumping up from the base family membership?
In my opinion, it depends on your family‘s retro gaming interests:
👍 Worth it for: Households who grew up on Nintendo 64 and want that sweet nostalgia fix of Mario 64, Zelda, and more. The early access to Animal Crossing DLC is tempting too.
👎 Not as worthwhile for: Families without much nostalgia for N64/Genesis eras. Casual gamers who mainly want affordable online play.
Since the Expansion Pack is optional, my advice is to start with the base family plan. Then if your family is craving those extra retro games, you can always upgrade later! $35 per year is already a good value.
Managing Family Accounts Like a Pro
With so many users under one membership, proper family account management is important. After years of experience, here are my pro tips:
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Use parental controls – Set reasonable playtime limits, purchase approval requirements, and monitor gaming activity.
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Share eShop passwords – Letting kids buy games will require inputting the account holder‘s password.
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Agree on "house rules" – Gaming schedules, rating limits, chores required…set expectations upfront to avoid fights.
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Communicate as a family – Discuss game wishes, online safety, new releases, etc. Get everyone‘s voice heard.
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Mind the auto-renewal – Disable this in eShop if you don‘t want surprise membership charges down the road.
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Check play activity – Use parental controls app to see gaming time, titles played, and more details.
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Review account settings yearly – As kids age, adjust restrictions and allowances accordingly.
With some organization upfront, the family membership experience is smooth sailing! Just stay involved, communicate, and check in periodically.
Real-World Family Switch Success Stories
Don‘t just take my word for it—here are some first-hand examples of families thriving with the Nintendo Switch Online membership:
"We have 3 kids and the family plan is a lifesaver. They can all play Splatoon and Mario Kart online together, which they love. My wife and I also play after the kids go to bed too!" – Robert S.
"My college roommates and I all chip in $5 each to cover the cost of the family plan. Being able to share and play games online together makes study breaks way more fun!" – Samantha P.
"Between traveling for sports with my 2 kids and keeping them occupied on long car rides, the Switch family plan is worth every penny. The nostalgic games keep everyone happy and entertained!" – Julia T.
"My partner and I love playing co-op games together both at home and on-the-go with the family plan. It‘s become our favorite day off activity and couples bonding experience." – Ryan L.
The family membership enables gaming anywhere, anytime together. Whether kids or adults, the ability to play multiplayer wirelessly and share digital games is incredibly convenient.
The Verdict: A Must-Buy for Households of Gamers
For only $35 annually, the Nintendo Switch Online family membership offers tremendous value and convenience:
🎮 Online multiplayer gaming on multiple consoles
🕹️ 100+ classic NES and SNES titles
🎁 Special free games
☁️ Cloud save data backups
📱 Smartphone parental controls app
🤝 Easy digital game and accessory sharing
💸 Big savings over individual memberships
If you have a family of gamers with even 2 or more Nintendo Switch systems, the family membership is a no-brainer. It consolidates costs while unlocking premium online features. From kids to parents, couples, roommates and more, the family plan enables effortless gaming time together.
While casual individual gamers can stick to the cheaper solo membership, the family option brings all the benefits of Switch Online to households under one affordable subscription. For online multiplayer, nostalgic classics, family sharing perks, and solid entertainment value across accounts, it‘s a must-have.
So after weighing the pros, cons, savings, and real-world value, my expert verdict as a Nintendo super fan is clear: the Nintendo Switch Online family membership is absolutely worth it for most gamers.