The Nintendo Switch has been out for three years now and between the hybrid design of the console and the exclusive games that are released on Nintendo’s flagship product, the Switch is quite possibly the best console to use for parties when groups of friends get together and want to play a game.

Xbox usurped the crown from Nintendo in the glory days of Halo and LAN parties, but Nintendo wrestled the top spot back with the Wii, and the Nintendo Switch is the next iteration in a long line of party-friendly gaming consoles. Here’s what makes the Nintendo Switch so perfect for when friends and family get together.

10 Portability

First things first. The Nintendo Switch is ultra-portable. This is not the same thing as carefully packing up your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, finding appropriately-sized towels to gently nestle the console while stuffing in your games, controllers, and necessary cabling. It’s not duffel-bag delirium or backpack bulk. The Switch is a handheld marvel with all of the requisite hardware able to fit into a small package. If the party is at your place, then no worries because everything is ready to go, but if it’s at someone else’s house, you’ll want to take the Switch.

9 Hybrid Design

One thing that’s important to remember is that not everyone is a gamer. At a party, you might have to demonstrate the controls or the objective in a certain game, and there’s no better way to do that than with a Nintendo Switch.

Need to talk to a single person that doesn’t understand how to play? Fine, just keep the Switch in hand and pass it between the two of you while you explain the particulars. Need to address the group to describe game mechanics? Dock it and show everyone what’s what while the Switch is connected to the TV.

8 Controllers

No matter who you’re playing with, the fewer controls they have to remember the better. That’s why the Joy-Cons are so great. There are few buttons to focus on, and so many games are designed with that in mind, so it’s simple to just pass the Joy-Con controllers around and start playing. The smaller the obstacle to gaming, the more people will enjoy it. Parties are supposed to be about fun, which means no one wants to learn what the levers on the Xbox Elite Controller do or what controls are bound to what keys on your gaming rig.

7 Game Cartridges

The more games you bring to a party, the more options you have for people to choose from. And while so much of gaming is going digital, physical copies of games are still very much a thing. So the smaller the better. And it doesn’t get much smaller than the game cartridges for the Nintendo Switch.

You can fit eight of them in a hard shell compartment the size of an eyeglasses case. Much better than stuffing over-sized discs into that duffel bag.

6 The Games

Now we’re to the best part. There’s one big reason why the Nintendo Switch is the best console for parties. And it’s not because of how cute the Pokémon or the Goombas are. It’s because of the games. The exclusive Nintendo titles and series that are available on the Switch are designed for more than one person. It’s designed for friends and family. It’s designed for a social experience. That’s why they are so good. And that’s why the Nintendo brand has endured for so long and with such dominance.

5 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Racing, anyone? How about racing that involves slinging shells and blasting past your friends with mushrooms? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is already a great game, but get some of the plastic wheels to house the Joy-Con controllers, and then it’s good times for everyone.

It’s not a hard game to understand and just about anyone can play it. Change the speed and difficulty depending on the skill of the players and enjoy classic Mario worlds as you drive around the courses.

4 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Need to let off some steam? Grab a controller and start playing some Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The games finish quickly, which means it’s perfect for switching out between players at a party, and the matches are always fun. Items or no items, the brawl is real and the melee is a wonderful mess. All of the classic Nintendo characters and cameos from other video game franchises clash in this epic fighting game. This is the game to prove that you are the best fighter out there.

3 Super Mario Maker 2

While it may not seem like a great party game at first glance, Super Mario Maker 2 will let everyone relive their childhood with classic Mario levels and user-created masterpieces that will challenge even the best platformer.

Grab some drinks and some snacks and see who is the most agile and determined party-goer. Race to see who can beat a level the fastest or trade-off turns while everyone else cheers in the background. It’s a great time to let the nostalgia and the good times take over.

2 Mario Tennis Aces

Want to work up a sweat? Mario Tennis Aces will let you do just that. While it may not be as robust a game as the Wii Sports that everyone knows and loves, it’s still a fun time for players to compete. Take turns or host a tournament of games as everyone at the party tries to channel their inner Roger Federer or Serena Williams. While the hosts are serving up snacks, serve up some aces in this fantastic tennis game.

1 Super Mario Party

Ah, the classic. One of the gems in the Nintendo crown. Super Mario Party is one of the most accessible party games ever made, and it will have the whole room laughing as avid gamers and newcomers alike struggle to win during absurd mini-games or groan as another player snatches the nearest star. The game relies just as much on luck as skill, so there’s an opportunity for everyone to have a good time. Super Mario Party is emblematic of what makes the Nintendo Switch such a good console for parties.

NEXT: 15 Best Video Games With Female Protagonists