are all games disc/carts or are there digi downloads too?
Yep, releases are dual format (physical/digital) since 3DS.
what good kid-oriented multiplayer games are out there? animal crossing seems up their alley as do the mario-type games so that seems obvious enough.
Overcooked 2 is a really fun indie focused on local multiplayer. Snipperclips is inexpensive and fun the first time through.
For first party, Smash/Kart/Animal Crossing of course. If you're looking into multiplayer Mario action, I'd recommend the 2D New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe over the upcoming Super Mario 3D World. But who knows, maybe your kids prefer 3D over 2D.
ARMS might be good but I can't vouch for it myself.
edit: do you have to pay for local multiplayer or just the nintendo online thing? dumb q i know but nintendo is kinda dumb sometimes.
Nah just gotta pay for online. But you should consider springing for a Nintendo Switch Online family plan.
- Online multiplayer (obvs)
- Selection of 50+ NES games, some retrofitted with local/online multiplayer
- Selection of 30+ SNES games , some retrofitted with local/online multiplayer
- Tetris 99 for free (excluding DLC)
- Mario 99 for free (for a limited time)
- Cloud Saves in most games (including, finally, Animal Crossing)
- The iOS/Android app is starting to get some features, mostly for Animal Crossing (like catalogue search and reaction triggering)