There is nothing more shameful than playing video games in public, but somebody has to thwart Void Co., and Bananza happens to be a very long game. Yes, it’s true, games today are unbearably long and are jam-packed to the brim with stuff to do, and the only way to ever complete a game 100% is to take it with you while you go about your day.
The reality of taking your expensive Switch 2 outside is nerve-racking. Especially with the costs of everything going up these days, it would be nice to have peace of mind that the costly hardware won’t get damaged when you have it rattling around in a backpack or duffel bag, as it gets mixed in with tools, cables, and your lunch. And then when you open the damn thing, it comes crashing down onto the scorching hot concrete.
Thankfully, there are options for a superior and more secure storage option for your Nintendo Switch consoles. You’d never think you’d need one, but when you finally get a travel case, you can’t imagine not having one. Want to take gaming on the go with a bit more style while shamefully collecting bananas, stars, or headshots? Check out our PlayTrek Travel Case review!
PlayTrek™ Travel Case
Manufacturer: Turtle Beach
Price: $29.99
I love me some Nintendo products. Donkey Kong happens to be my favorite Nintendo character, even with Seth Rogan doing his voice, I still adore the ape. There is no such thing as a bad DK. I also want to take care of my grossly expensive Nintendo products, and that’s tricky while going out and about, especially for someone like me who finds himself on the road often.
Thankfully, I can travel easily with my Switch 2 hardware zipped up in this stylish travel case. The first thing I noticed was the slick Donkey Kong Country-inspired art, influenced by the silhouette levels in Returns. The illustration itself is nicely designed with DK and Diddy on-model and accurate to their in-game appearance.
The composition and flow of the art are especially nice and aesthetically pleasing, faithfully transporting me to the moments I loved from that game. The lenticular effect is not as deep as I’d like, and appears quite shallow. The idea was to give the impression of DK and Diddy hauling ass through a jungle, but the effect is weak.
Never mind the DK art emblazoning the casing; the real question is, does it work? This is an excellent case that does exactly what you’d hope. The outer shell is very rigid, and the handle has enough space and a rubbery grip on it that even a greased-up gorilla could firmly grasp it without it slipping through his fingers.
Inside the case is a mould that perfectly contours to the undercarriage of a Nintendo Switch 2. It will also fit an OLED model Switch and the classic launch version, too. The cloth lining kept my Switch 2 dry from the intense, humid Florida weather and wicked away the sweat from my gnarled, moist hands.
Strapping in my Switch 2 is self-explanatory, with the flap velcroing to keep it from rattling around in the case. The flap almost covers the entire screen and is made from a soft cloth with a rigid board inside for stability. As if buckling your hardware wasn’t good enough, the flap doubles as game cart storage, holding up to twelve games.
I love my physical games. Physical media is the last freedom we have before everything is consolidated to the point we own nothing. The boys at Turtle Beach understand how important this is and thoughtfully included straps made from flexible material, holding the carts firmly, even when you shake the case around. It doesn’t matter if they’re classic Switch carts, Switch 2 carts, or even the repugnant game key carts; this case will hold them.
The only drawback to this case is that the storage compartment is only big enough to hold a few smaller accessories. Things like earbuds, screen cloths, or a pack of condoms will fit, but you won’t be able to squeeze the AC charger in there. If the case were longer, there could potentially be a space to house the large, box-like charger, but as it is, gamers will need to make sure they’re going on with a full charge since the Switch and Switch 2 consoles only last about five to six hours.
The form factor, durability, protection, and the slots for games make this a worthy case for gamers who feel like their Switch 2 is too expensive to leave the house. Having a space for the charger might be asking for too much, but thankfully, USB-C chargers can be shared among hardware, so if you have one extra in your car, you probably will be fine without taking the main console’s charger on the go.
Don’t settle for something plain that won’t protect your fresh gear. For its price, it will last a lifetime and comes in a Mario flavor, too. There are plain styles for people with no sense of epicness, but you can’t go wrong with any of the PlayTrek cases.
PlayTrek™ Travel Case was reviewed using a unit provided by Turtle Beach. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.
