How to Play Nintendo Switch Offline: Complete Guide

The Switch was designed as a portable console, and the vast majority of its best games work perfectly with no internet connection. This guide covers what works offline, what does not, and how to set up a console for reliable offline play — including when you are using a purchased game account.

What works offline

Almost everything single-player: Zelda, Mario Odyssey, Pokémon (story mode), Metroid, Stardew Valley, Hades, and thousands more. Local multiplayer — Mario Kart split-screen, Smash with friends on one console — also needs no internet. Digital games you have already downloaded launch fine offline.

What needs the internet

• Online multiplayer (requires Nintendo Switch Online on your personal account).
• The eShop and game downloads.
• Cloud save backup and some in-game events.
• First-time download of a digital game — you need internet once, then you can play offline indefinitely.

Setting up offline play with a game account

If you bought a game account, the workflow is: connect to the internet once to add the account and download its games, then play offline. Concretely:

• Add the purchased account as a new user and download the games you want.
• Set your console as the primary console for that account so games launch without an online check.
• Play the games from your own profile — saves belong to your profile, not the game account.
• Keep the game account itself offline afterwards: no online services, no purchases. This is also what keeps your replacement warranty valid.

Airplane mode is your friend

System Settings → Airplane Mode turns off all connectivity with one toggle. Handy on flights, and a simple way to guarantee a game account never accidentally touches online services while you play.

Want a library worth playing offline? Our account bundles include the biggest single-player titles on the platform — check the catalog for current listings.