How do you use your Switch/SteamDeck?

My Switch never leaves the dock.

I actually don't even think I could play it otherwise at the moment cause one of the joycons is real fucked up.

I play my Switch undocked probably about 60-70% of the time, but I've never played it outside. I've taken it with me to play in other buildings that aren't my home, but I don't use public transit, and playing it outside seems like a good way to get robbed around where I live.

I flip flop. I used to bring it on all my commutes, but now that I have a car and a job a couple of minutes away, there's no need. I'll still bring it to work for dinner breaks from time to time. And there are plenty of times I'll play handheld even though I'm at home because I'd rather play in bed than sit in front of the TV.

Not in recent years (for obvious reasons), but the Switch is basically my airplane console. I live on the opposite side of the planet to my family so several times a year I'm catching a 20+ hour flight each way to go see them, and that's where I think the switch really shines.

I'd use it in handheld if my partner wants to play PS5 or watch a netflix show I don't care about, so I can sit on the couch with her still. I wouldn't play anything with a strong narrative though, it was mostly fooling around in animal crossing or picross.

I use at as a home console 95% of the time and only use it rarely as a mobile console.

I use it 99% at home, but almost never on the TV.

Basically docked only for the first two years of my having mine because of the lack of ergonomics with the standard joy cons. Grip cases only gave me a few extra minutes before my wrists would start hurting when trying to play a game that needs a lot of button presses, like Smash Ultimate or Devil May Cry 3. Using a cellphone-esque mount with the pro controller was a great idea in theory, but failed due to the sub-optimal weight distribution since the Switch is heavier than a phone. I was only on the fence with Hori's Split Pad Pro due its compromises; specifically that it can only be used portability due to the lack of wireless functionality. And I wasn't aware of Skull & Co or Satisfye until late last year.

But, finally, binbok's joy cons has made handheld use significantly more viable, so now I'm finally using the damn thing as a hybrid console after two years of experimenting.

I personally prefer to treat them as home consoles while keeping their condition intact after playing.

I never cared for the portability, I use Nintendo portables because they have great, unique games. Especially during the GBA era they kept 2D gaming alive with titles like Castlevania, Mega Man and Final Fantasy tactics just to name a few when all home consoles where chasing 3D. That's why I'm not interested in the Steam deck.

I don't need to be gaming all the time. My commute to work is about 50 minutes, but the problem is that I have to switch subways midway. I don't want to game for 10 minutes and risk missing my stop. The subway is also often packed, and I wouldn't call it dangerous but shit can happen that you want to keep an eye out for.

And when I'm on a plane or some other longer ride, I've also got ebooks, music and podcasts, movies and shows on my tablet that you can consume passively. When I'm at my parents the Switch is nice to have, but that's only a few days a year.

Though that sometimes when I'm bored at home, I'll go to the cafe to play a round or too, but I get self-conscious if I stay there for too long without ordering another drink.

I mostly played it docked, though it did come in handy during a trip to New Orleans last summer when a huge storm ripped through and I was stuck in my hotel for a few hours. After that trip though (and a lot of before that trip) I barely touched the thing, at some point it wound up on the floor for months and when I finally docked it again it didn’t power on, which was sad and I’m not sure what could’ve happened but…it was just sitting there on the floor for about six months.