I recently decided to get a Nintendo Switch here in Bangkok and went on a journey of research which I wanted to share. In the end, I purchased it from ISquareSoftGames in MBK but found a range of options out there.
Real or Fake?
One of my major concerns was about buying fake systems or games. I was initially a bit nervous about buying video games in Bangkok I’m not interested in fake copies and perfectly happy to buy real versions. This meant I did a lot of research to see where legitimate systems could be found.
There were a lot of fake copies of games and systems available both online and in stores. Often these were easy to tell as prices were ridiculously low or the products didn’t look correct, such as wrong logos, no boxes etc.
As such, all of the ideas below are, to the best of my knowledge, real versions.
Online Options
There are lots of websites that offer video games for sale in Thailand. My first stop was to the website Lazada which is like a Thai version of Amazon. It has an English version and plenty of products. You can see customer reviews and contact shops. I would reccommend this as a cheaper place to get games and systems compared to many physical stores. However, choose a shop with plenty of customer reviews and feedback to see if they do deliver.
Shopee is another website similar to Lazada. The only negative is they don’t have an English version so you’ll need to use a translation service if you don’t speak Thai. However, Shopee had cheaper prices than Lazada for the Nintendo Switch and it was from here that I found ISquareSoftGames.
There are also online stores of famous video game shops such as Nadz Project, which are probably the best known in Thailand for video games. I found their prices to be more expensive for the hardware but for games they are pretty reasonable. Their website is available in English and is good for pre-orders.
Physical Shops
As mentioned just above, Nadz Project have several stores in Bangkok such as at Central Ladprao, Siam Square and Terminal 21.
MBK is a famous mall in Thailand. However, it’s infamous for the amount of copy software and clothes on sale. What you do have on the sixth floor are three video game stores that sell legitimate consoles and games. This is where IsqaureSoftGames are based. There are two other shops next to them which look similar although I didn’t speak with them.
A lot of shopping malls around the country also have electronic sections. Many of these will offer video games. These are sometimes in IT stores but often little stalls offer games too.
If you’re after a PlayStation then Son stores in big shopping malls often have a small selection of games and consoles.
ISquareSoftGames
So why did I choose this shop? I contacted them and they were helpful, had the cheapest prices I found and were happy to help me set up my console. I wanted to see it first before buying and they helped out.
I would be happy to recommend them in person or online. They speak English and Thai.
