How to Add Games to Your Nintendo Switch: Every Method Explained

There are four ways to get new games onto a Nintendo Switch: physical cartridges, buying from the eShop, sharing within a family group, and linking a game account. Each has different costs and limitations — here is how they all work.

Method 1: physical cartridges

Insert the cartridge and play. No downloads needed for most titles, and you can resell the game later. Downsides: you pay full retail for new releases, digital-only titles do not exist on cartridge, and you have to swap cards every time you switch games.

Method 2: Nintendo eShop

Create a Nintendo Account, add a payment method, and buy directly from the console. Games are tied to your account forever and download automatically. This is the most convenient method — and the most expensive, since first-party games almost never drop below $50.

Method 3: linked game account (the budget method)

A game account is a second Nintendo Account, purchased with a library of games already on it, that you add to your console alongside your main profile. Here is the process:

• Buy an account bundle — you receive the login credentials after payment.
• On your Switch: System Settings → Users → Add User → sign in with the purchased account.
• Open the eShop once with the new user to register the console, then download any game from the account's library.
• Play the downloaded games from your own main profile — save files stay on your profile.

Important rules for game accounts

To keep the account (and your warranty) safe, follow the offline-only rule:

• Play included games in offline mode — do not sign the purchased account into online services.
• Never make purchases, add funds, or enter payment details on the purchased account.
• Do not change the account email, password, or profile settings.
• Use your own personal account for online multiplayer and your own purchases.

Which method should you use?

For day-one releases you cannot wait for: eShop or cartridge. For building a large library on a budget: a game account is unbeatable — bundles in our catalog work out to a few dollars per game, delivered instantly with a replacement warranty. Most of our customers combine methods: a game account for the library, their personal account for online play.