[Aerroon]

Yes, and you need the switch to play that Nintendo game in the first place. Thus forcing you to buy the piece of hardware.

[consteval]

... was there ever a point in time where you were able to play a console game without the console? Was the game magic?

You only need one (1) switch. I can play smash with 8 people, on my couch, and 7/8 DO NOT have a switch. You need at least one (1) switch because the game cartridge cannot magically be projected onto my TV.

This is how it's always been and, in nintendo land at least, has only gotten better. I mean, I certainly couldn't play 8 player anything on the NES.