My Nintendo Switch no longer collects dust

I love my Nintendo Switch. It’s a fantastic hybrid console that I can play on the big screen or on the go. In that respect, it has a distinct advantage over its console rivals as being incredibly versatile. It also has a plethora of fantastic titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Metroid Dread and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Likely seriously, what is there not to love about this awesome system?

However, there is one major stumbling block for me, and that’s my chronic arthritis which has caused so much damage to my hips that it has rendered me physically disabled. Over the years, that arthritis has also spread to my hands. This, as you can imagine, causes a lot of discomfort and pain but with my best efforts, I never try to let it get in the way of my favourite hobby of playing video games.

Check out the CRKD Nitro Deck+ trailer below!

For the most part, I can cope playing on my PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X without too much bother, especially when wearing my compression gloves. Both controllers have a more comfortable button layout than most other controllers requiring little finger movement, they also have an ideal weight and density making it more comfortable in my hands. But for whatever reason, it’s different for the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. I do have a pro controller, and that’s great, but I prefer to play my Nintendo Switch in handheld mode and whether it's the more cramped layout of the analogue stick and XABY buttons, I can never use the Joy-Cons for much longer than five to 10 minutes at a time without my pain kicking in instantly.

For that reason, I play my Nintendo Switch far less than I’d like to and that frustrates the heck out of me. I love The Legend of Zelda series and Metroid Dread but it takes me an age to get through these games due to my disability. I even purchased a snazzy Tears of the Kingdom Hori Split Pad and while I can get more game time than the standard Joy-Con, 20 to 30 minutes is a real push. I’d pretty much given up hope of having proper gaming sessions on my Nintendo Switch, as I do with my PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. That was until I was sent the CRKD Nitro Deck+.

CRKD/Nintendo

At first, I was dubious about the four-button placement just under the right analogue stick on the CRKD Nitro Deck+. In an instant, my hand started to cramp as I moved from analogue stick to button press during gameplay. Then it dawned upon me that the CRKD Nitro Deck+ has four programmable buttons on the back. This was a game changer for me because without even realising it, I was playing Sonic Superstars for close to an hour and the only reason I stopped playing was because tea was ready. The sturdy, thick design of the CRKD Nitro Deck+ also helps greatly, because I can grip the device comfortably and my hands rest perfectly.

I can’t overstate how important this is for me. Don’t get me wrong, my arthritis still hurts a lot when gaming, but for the first time in years, I know that I can play at least an hour on my Switch (maybe more) without being too worried about the physical pain it will cause. Put it this way, it’s taken me years to get through The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and I’m now at its final battle and I can genuinely look forward to finally playing Tears of the Kingdom, thanks to the CRKD Nitro Deck+.

I cannot say for sure whether or not you’ll get the same experience using the CRKD Nitro Deck+. I can only speak from my own experience. That being said, if you suffer from a similar disability as I do, CRKD Nitro Deck+ might be your best bet yet to change your game too. You can read our review of the CRKD Nitro Deck+ for an in-depth analysis. Now, if you excuse me, I’m off to play Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.

A review sample of the Nitro Deck+ was provided by CRKD.