What This Companion App Actually Does
Nintendo Switch Online is the smartphone companion to your Switch or Switch 2 console. It lets you check which friends are online, add friends via friend code or QR code, browse screenshots and videos uploaded from your system’s Album, and tap into game-specific services for a handful of supported titles like Splatoon 3, Splatoon 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It’s aimed squarely at people who already play those online-heavy games and want extra stats, schedules, or in-game perks without having the console turned on.
Where It Actually Earns Its Keep
For the supported games, reviewers consistently say the app delivers real value. One user called it ‘a nice little companion app’ that’s worth downloading if you play Splatoon or visit friends in Animal Crossing, noting you don’t need to be a hardcore player to get something out of it. Splatoon fans specifically praise being able to track battle and Salmon Run stats, see which weapons they excel with, and check stage schedules. Animal Crossing players like the turnip price tracker and quick item search, and appreciate sending custom designs and in-game messages remotely.
The Voice Chat Problem Everyone Mentions
The single biggest complaint across reviews is communication. You cannot simply text a friend a quick message like ‘hey, you up for traveling?’ — the app only lets you attempt a voice call, and several users say that feels awkward or intrusive for casual contact. Worse, multiple reviewers point out you generally need to already be playing a game online before you can connect a voice call to friends, which defeats the purpose of a standalone companion app. As one reviewer bluntly put it, if you don’t play Splatoon or a game with in-app chat support, the app is ‘useless otherwise.’
Smaller Annoyances Worth Knowing About
Beyond chat limitations, there are smaller gripes: one Animal Crossing player noted their creator code won’t update no matter how many custom designs they upload, forcing them to share a passport screenshot instead. Another reviewer suggested Nintendo build out a fuller companion experience — browsing the eShop, purchasing games, watching trailers, and managing friends all in one place — implying the current app feels feature-thin compared to what’s possible. If you don’t own a Pro Controller or similar with mic support, voice options shrink even further.
Who Should Bother Installing This
If you regularly play Splatoon 2 or 3, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Smash Ultimate, or the Switch 2 Zelda editions, this app adds genuinely useful stat-tracking, scheduling, and remote features at no extra cost beyond your existing Switch Online membership. If your friend group is entirely on Switch and you were hoping for an easy text-based way to coordinate play sessions, you’ll likely find it clunky and limited to voice calls that only work mid-game. It’s a solid, narrow-purpose companion app — not the all-in-one hub some players clearly wish it were.
