Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch | A Cozy Gamer Review

My official review of Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, which one should you get for cozy games? Been collecting my thoughts over the last 6 months and excited to share all my thoughts on these two consoles!
.
hi, my name is Kat and I'm a cozy gamer living in the UK. My favourite games are farming simulators, open world adventure games, and narrative heavy, decision-based games.

if you like my content, it would mean the world to me if you'd subscribe and like the video! I'm on a mission to make any game cozy, so grab your tea or coffee, and let's get to gaming.

Music Lawrence Walther & Less Gravity - Serene

❤ Cozy AF. Designs and Apparel:

💖 socials:

🛒etsy store:
twitch overlays, photo presets, and planners!

[katbyday]

I am not a tech person and I've already realised I said DVI when I meant Display Port! (no clue where I got that from lmao) Thank you for watching, let me know what are your thoughts so far on Steam Deck?

[Sleepystitcheskim]

I have both and love both but I reach for the steam deck more now because the indie cosy games are often cheaper on steam, their sales are usually better.

[josephshatrowsky]

One thing that sounds trivial Is I wish the switch had an achievement system. So when you beat hard games or you do challenging feats you have something to show.

[CarmenRodriguez-tkcl]

I have both and I think you nailed the explanation. Nintendo is great for what it does (Zelda, Mario, etc) so I’ll always have a Nintendo console, but steam gives me access to virtually EVERY other game and is perfect for performance in a handheld console. I don’t like sitting at a desk to game, so the steam deck has opened the realm of games I can play now!

[jane]

I love that you talked about the aesthetics it's important to me too and on the topic of aesthetics your channel is very aesthetic and unique which makes it memorable I love the lightening u have it's very cozy ✨ thank you and keep going 💕

[VictorRodriguez-zpdo]

12:54 - You can get discord in the deck in desktop mode, also steam comes with it's own social hub where you can call and chat with your steam friends.

This is a certified hood classic

[amberharris]

I have switch and I ❤ I’ve always been a Nintendo girl. So my switch has a special place for me but might get a steam deck as well.

[jamesbrick]

Steam Deck's ability to emulate almost every game in existence including the old 70s 80s Nintendo games is mind blowing. It's like every new handheld console is released, Steam Deck became an automatic comparison as if it's a benchmark.

And also the community and 3rd party hardware for Steam Deck is getting very big, actually too big for other handheld console to compete.

[jonservo]

You know until I got the steam deck I had no idea there was a whole subgenre of YouTubers that covered "cozy games". Its been nice to find recommendation videos that aren't all first person shooters lol
Also definitely get both if you can, I have the steam deck to travel with and play all my steam titles and the switch for Nintendo's first party games.
Plus for me personally the steam deck has better ergonomics. I almost never played the switch in handheld mode. Even though I don't have large hands the small joycons would give me cramps after about half-an-hour.

[michaelmoceri]

I have both.

I used to play Nintendo and Playstation. Since Sony started moving their titles to PC, and then the Steam Deck came out, I picked up a Steam Deck instead of a PS5. Now I feel like Switch plus Steam Deck gets me the most access to the greatest variety of games. Because I enjoy handheld, and I'm okay with 1080p while docked.

There are some options for shell swaps for the Deck now. I have a transparent purple back from Jsaux on mine. There are some full shell swap options, but they seem like way too much effort.

[TaeKwonMoe]

I have both and I am back to my Switch. It's just so compact for traveling and good on batteries. Playing Red Dead Redemption again on it. I am sure I will go back to steam deck again, but for now I am back to my first love.

[VidVayder]

My predicament is that I already have a Nintendo Switch and I STILL want a Steam Deck 😩

[MeanEmcee]

Really love the work you put into this video Kay- definitely got my eye on your channel. Had my eye on the Deck for a while, especially with its current discount, but I’ve been on the fence on getting one since I also have a PS4 and Switch, and am worried I may be overdoing it on gaming systems. Still, it’s been on my mind a lot more since my current computers can’t run indies very well, and I’m between either the deck or double dipping on some indies with my console setups.

[annabelholland]

I have the Switch since 2020 (before ACNH) and are planning on getting the Deck in two months time for my birthday. I mostly play Switch exclusive games (and prefer physical copies), namely Mario plus both Zelda's and Splatoon's and have over 1000 hours in ACNH. For PC, I have Stardew Valley, Sun Haven, Coral Island, My Time at Sandrock, City Skylines, CSGO, etc, some of which are also on the Switch. Can't believe the Deck has only sold like 5m copies so it must be a powerful, but underrated console.

[AngelaLSullivan]

I learned so much! Gosh, that price is a real obstacle, but I so agree with the comments that Steam sales are just soooo incredible for indie/non-Nintendo games! If I had a PC/Steam Deck, I think I would also always grab that first rather than the Switch, even though I adore my Switch and play it daily!

[RealziesCuts]

The best decision is the settle for both. Do it by settling for the 64 gig deck & No OLED.
You will not regret it

[cheezypocket]

Thought i’d give my two cents lol. I’ve had both the steam deck and the switch. i don’t have the switch anymore but i do have the steam deck that i got from my bf for christmas. i LOVE nintendo but i’m a huge retro gamer when it comes to nintendo games. I prefer the steam deck because i love being able to play pc games with my friends without having a pc. i’m a huge traveler so it’s AWESOME for that. i usually play pretty “low end” older games like oblivion, duke nukem, etc. but even when i play a larger game like tower unite it runs super good. and i get the chance to emulate the retro games from nintendo that i love. personally i had the switch mostly for retro games, so i thjnk having the deck is a game changer for me. Thanks for this video btw! lots of love

[Arkin]

I know this is an older review but I do have one nitpick to point concerning the resolution factor between the two systems. While hardware resolition (pixel density) is the same between the two systems, the functional resolution likely will not be. The Switch often renders games well below the 720p native resolution for a reasons such as performance stability and/or battery life. Thusly the same game across both systems can look significantly different even when you wouldn't expect this to be the case (example Triangle strategy on the switch next to the Steam deck version has muddy/blurry visuals).

It seems a point that is commonly missed in these comparative reviews between the two but likely would influence peoples' thoughts on which to buy or at least which system to play a game on if they own both already. I actually think this is a misunderstanding around the switch which explains why people want an updated Switch 2 to have a 1080p screen resolution despite the battery hit this would cause for portability purposes. 720p already looks great on on a 7 inch screen. It's just that many switch games don't render at 720p.

[seachel.dunk]

Thank you! One cozy gamer to another, thank you so much! I had noticed that all the games I’m most excited about come out on steam so much sooner than my switch. I do not wait well. And several only come out for steam and never switch. With the switch being ready for gen 2, I’m seriously thinking I may change over. 🤔

[Teisharocz]

Love my Steam Deck! My sister uses my switch since I don't play it anymore