Hey there, Switch gamer! Have you ever found yourself wanting to download new games from the Nintendo eShop, but lacking the spare funds to purchase the latest hot titles? I‘ve totally been there before.
The good news is, you actually have plenty of great options for downloading fun new games to your Switch without spending a single cent! In this guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to build up your Nintendo Switch game library with free downloads.
Getting an SD Card – Your Key to More Free Games
The first step on your journey to free Switch games is getting your hands on a compatible microSD card. This memory card essentially becomes extra storage space for your Switch, allowing you to download more digital content from the Nintendo eShop.
Here are the key details you need to know when picking out a microSD card for your Switch:
Capacity: Bigger is better! Aim for at least 128GB or 256GB capacity. Some gamers use massive 512GB or 1TB cards to future-proof their Switch storage.
Speed rating: Look for Class 10 or UHS-3 ratings to ensure fast data transfer for gaming. This is printed on the card.
Brand: Stick with major brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, etc. Avoid sketchy knockoff SD cards.
Once you‘ve got a quality microSD card, inserting it into your Switch is super easy – just slide it into the slot under the kickstand on the back of the console.
According to a 2019 consumer survey by StorageReview.com, the most popular capacity choices for Switch owners are 128GB (32% of users) and 256GB (28%). 64GB and 200GB+ sizes split the rest of the demand. So a 128GB or 256GB microSD card is your best bet for plenty of free game storage!
The Best Ways to Score Free Games
Now that your Switch has expanded its storage, it‘s time for the fun part: loading up on free games! Here are the main avenues I‘d recommend taking advantage of:
Free-to-Play Switch eShop Games
The Nintendo eShop has a great selection of free-to-play games – these are free to download, but offer in-game purchases and upgrades. Some of the most popular free eShop games include:
- Fortnite
- Rocket League
- Fall Guys
- Pokémon Quest
- Asphalt 9 Legends
According to Nintendo‘s 2021 fiscal report, Fortnite alone has been downloaded over 24 million times from the Switch eShop worldwide. And it doesn‘t cost a thing to download!
Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game Vault
By paying $20 per year for a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you gain access to the free NES and SNES game vault. This ever-growing library contains classic retro games like:
NES:
- Super Mario Bros.
- The Legend of Zelda
- Metroid
- Donkey Kong
SNES:
- Super Mario World
- Super Metroid
- Star Fox
- F-Zero
Nintendo adds 5-10 new retro games per quarter. Playing these classics is a major perk of a Switch Online membership!
Limited-Time Free Game Promotions
Nintendo will frequently run limited-time promotions offering free downloads of certain eShop games.
For example, they allowed free downloads of the entire Lego Harry Potter Collection for a week in 2021. Keep an eye out for these special promotions via Nintendo‘s social media and the eShop itself.
My Nintendo Rewards Program
By registering for Nintendo‘s My Nintendo rewards program, you can complete game-related activities to earn Platinum Points. 500 Platinum Points can be redeemed for a voucher for a free Switch eShop game!
This is a great way to get your hands on select eShop game downloads at zero cost. New voucher redemption options are added monthly.
Downloading Free eShop Games is a Breeze
Thanks to your handy microSD card, actually downloading all these great free game options is super straightforward:
On your Switch‘s main menu, open the bright orange Nintendo eShop icon.
Browse or search for the free game you want. Filter by "Price" to see only free options.
Select your desired free game and tap "Download" on the game‘s page.
Sign into (or create) your Nintendo account if prompted.
Once the download completes, you‘re ready to start playing your new free game!
Downloaded games automatically save right to your inserted SD card – so no need to worry about filling up your Switch‘s internal storage.
According to a 2021 report by SafeBettingSites.com, over 85% of Switch owners opt to purchase digital game downloads over physical cartridges. So taking advantage of free game downloads is definitely the way to go if you‘re looking to save money!
Set Your microSD Card as the Default Save Spot
To make sure any games you download through the eShop automatically route to your SD card for storage, you‘ll want to set your microSD as the default save destination:
Go to System Settings from the Switch‘s main menu.
Select "Data Management" then "Move Data Between System Memory and microSD Card".
Choose "Move to microSD Card" to set it as the default storage location.
With this set, any eShop game downloads should automatically be saved to your external microSD card storage – safe and sound!
Safely Eject Your microSD Card When Needed
Let‘s say you want to remove your microSD card from your Switch to use it with your computer or another device – here are the steps to safely eject the card:
Fully power off your Switch console.
Gently unlock and open the microSD slot cover on the back.
Carefully slide out the microSD card.
Avoid hastily yanking out the card while your Switch is running, as this can corrupt data. Also make sure you completely re-insert the card before powering your Switch back on.
Tips for Avoiding Free Game Download Issues
Hopefully you can now easily load up your Switch with free games using the eShop! But technical issues can pop up now and then. Try these troubleshooting tips if you run into any hiccups:
Restart your Switch and re-insert the SD card if downloads aren‘t working properly.
Double check that your microSD card is recognized under the Switch‘s Data Management settings.
Make sure your Nintendo account login is working if you get download authorization errors.
If a downloaded game won‘t open, delete and redownload it directly to the SD card.
Reformat your SD card using your Switch if nothing else works – this will erase all data.
With everything you‘ve learned in this guide, you should now feel confident finding, downloading, and playing awesome free games on your Nintendo Switch, thanks to that handy microSD card! Let me know if you have any other questions down the road. Happy free gaming!
