Where to buy the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart bundle: Check inventory on Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart – CNET [CNET]

This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2020, CNET’s gift picks with expert advice, reviews and recommendations for the latest tech gifts for you and your family.

The clock is ticking, and you’ve got less than 20 shopping days until Christmas. If your goal is to purchase the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart Bundle, you’re going to have a hard time finding it in stock at its normal retail price of $300, but it’s not impossible. We know, because at least one person at CNET was able to snag the gaming bundle deal at Amazon, and we also saw it in stock at Walmart — yes, only briefly. It’s out of stock everywhere as of Sunday morning, but we’re keeping track of inventory and will be updating as more stock arrives. 

For starters, let’s talk about what you get in the box with the new $300 Switch Mario Kart bundle:

• The “version 2” hardware with red and blue controllers (it has better battery life than the original 2017 Switch).
• A download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (a $50 to $60 value)
• A download code for three months of Nintendo Online (an $8 value, this enables online multiplayer and access to dozens of free retro classic games from the NES and SNES library)

In other words, you’re getting the same great hardware that can connect to a TV or be played in your hands, with some free games thrown in. Even if you’re brand-new to the Switch, you can grab a Joy-Con controller and jump into a Kart race right out of the box. Then, because much of the Switch library is digital, you can download a digital version of any game your heart desires.  

The bundle became “available” at most major retailers — Amazon, Target, Best Buy and GameStop — on Sunday, Nov. 22. But it immediately went out of stock everywhere (at least online), and will likely continue to be so. (We say it’s “out of stock” if you can’t get this Nintendo console bundle at the normal $300 price; there are plenty of third-party resellers happy to sell it to you for hundreds more.) To that end, we’re also keeping tabs on the inventory on the “regular” Nintendo Switch — same exact hardware, but no bundled digital codes (scroll down). And keep in mind that we’ve recently seen Switch games drop to as low as $15 to $30, so you could put together a nice gift bundle of your own.  

Check the links here to see if the bundle is in stock at major vendors. But be warned: If you spot it, you’ll want to act fast — we saw stock sell out at Amazon and Walmart within minutes. Right now, there’s no indication of any scheduled inventory drops from retailers, but we’ll keep updating this page with any news about this Nintendo Switch bundle.

Note that there’s also another new Nintendo switch bundle selling for $299 that includes the console, a case and a 12-month free subscription to Nintendo Online. Not as exciting as free Mario Kart, but at least it’s available. You can also get your hands on a Nintendo Switch bundle, with a Fortnite-themed console and a few thousand V-Bucks thrown in. 

Read more: Best Nintendo gifts that aren’t a Nintendo Switch  

Nintendo Switch Mario Kart Bundle

Nintendo Switch consoles (not the Mario Kart bundle)

These come with the same Switch hardware, but without the bundled digital codes in the versions above. The Switch is available with red and blue controllers, gray controllers or in an Animal Crossing edition (a design based on the game, but without that title included).

---

Amazon

---

Best Buy

---

GameStop

---

What’s a good price for the Switch?

The Mario Kart bundle is the best deal on the Switch. Otherwise, you should consider yourself lucky if you find it at its normal list price of $299. With bundles and used consoles selling for $400 or more, paying “only” the suggested retail price is a win on this product. The Switch Lite is $199 — and somewhat easier to find — but that model can’t be connected to a TV for big-screen gaming.

Read more: The best Nintendo Switch games for 2020

---

CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest promo codes from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.