Eric Song
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If you're still on the hunt for a Switch 2 console, here's a rare opportunity to get one at a discounted price. In fact, this may very well be the only Switch 2 deal we'll see for 2025. AliExpress is offering a genuine Nintendo Switch 2 console for just $428.99 after you apply a $100 off coupon code "AEUS100" or "USAFF100" during checkout. Alternatively you can bundle it with the Mario Kart World game for just $452.11 after the same coupon. Both consoles ship free locally from the United States and arrives within 1 to 2 weeks, however you will still have to pay local sales tax.
The catch? Although these are genuine Switch consoles, they are Hong Kong imports. Like all Switch consoles, they are region unlocked, meaning you can play them in the US without any problems. You'll also be able to select English as your default language just like any console you buy here. They'll come with a Hong Kong style plug, but a US adapter is included. Imported consoles do not get a US-based Nintendo warranty. AliExpress does include a 90-day free returns window for the Switch 2 console and a 15-day free returns window for the Mario Kart bundle.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is on Sale at AliExpress
Brand new, genuine, imported, region unlocked units
The Mario Kart World game that comes with the bundle is region locked
Although the console itself is region unlocked, the Mario Kart World game voucher is region locked. To redeem the download voucher on a US-based account, one of the reviews mentions a workaround:
"Item arrived promptly and exactly as described. Just be aware that because these units are from Hong Kong, you will need to change the region of your Nintendo account temporarily to Hong Kong to get the Mario Kart code to work. The game works just like normal, once the code is redeemed, and you can easily change the region back."
The Switch 2 console was released on June 5. It is backwards compatible with nearly all Switch 2 games as well as the original Joy-Cons and Switch Pro controller, although the new Switch 2 controllers offer more functionality. In his Nintendo Switch 2 review, Tom Marks sums up the Switch 2 as "a vital but unexciting upgrade to a console I already love."
Two major Switch 2 video games have been released: Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. Logan Plant reviewed Mario Kart World and wrote that "Mario Kart World may not make the most convincing case that going open-world was the boost the series needed, but excellent multiplayer racing, incredible polish, and the thrilling new Knockout Tour mode still more than live up to its legacy." Mario Kart World currently sells for $79 if purchased separately, so it makes a lot of sense to buy it as a combo with the console for only about $23 more ($57 in savings), even if it means going through the workaround process mentioned above.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the Only 10/10 Masterpiece of 2025
Not only did we rate Donkey Kong a 10/10, it's the only game we've given a Masterpiece rating so far this year. In his Donkey Kong Bananza review, Logan Plant writes that "The leader of the bunch is finally back to kick some tail in Donkey Kong Bananza, a brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey and a smashing return for a classic Nintendo character. Granted there isn't too much competition in the way of Switch exclusive games for 2025, this has been a fantastic year so far for console gaming in general. We've seen some of the best games released in recent history, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Death Stranding 2, and Doom: The Dark Ages, all of which got close to a Masterpiece rating but didn't quite hit the mark. That's not to say that Donkey Kong Bananza is necessarily better than those other games since, after all, different people have reviewed each of these games, but it's a testament to just how outstanding Donkey Kong Bananza is on its own merits to have achieved that score.
Can I trust this AliExpress listing?
That is a good question. AliExpress is an overseas online marketplace, and just like any marketplace, you just can't expect each and every seller to be legit. This particular seller, Lucky Tech Store, has been in existence since October 2024, and sells PlayStation and Nintendo Switch consoles as well as other electronics. Several reviews have already confirmed they've received a legit console, albeit an international version. AliExpress offers guarantees, including a token discount if the package is delayed, and a complete refund if the package is lost, damaged, or not delivered within 20 days after you place an order.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.