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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteYou can’t send a game directly as a gift through Nintendo eShop. Nintendo’s recommended alternatives are a prepaid Nintendo eShop Card or, for select titles, a download code bought from an authorized retailer. Choose a card if the recipient should decide what to buy; choose a game code if you want to give one specific title.
Can you gift a Nintendo Switch game through eShop?
No. Nintendo Support says it is not possible to send a gift through Nintendo eShop, on-device or off-device: Nintendo’s gifting guidance.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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eCash - Nintendo eShop Gift Card $100 | Digital | Nintendo Switch | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![$50 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51klpGvEKML._SL160_.jpg)
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$50 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code] | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![$20 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41XOVFRcBIL._SL160_.jpg)
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$20 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code] | $20.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![$70 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41X4G-NILVL._SL160_.jpg)
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$70 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code] | $70.00 | Buy on Amazon |
A digital game purchased through Nintendo Store is tied to the buyer’s Nintendo Account and sent to the console selected during checkout. Nintendo says the purchase downloads automatically to that system, rather than providing a transferable code. To give a game to someone else, use an eShop Card or a retailer’s code for a specific supported game.
Choose between an eShop Card and a game code
| Gift option | What the recipient gets | Best for | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo eShop Card | Funds for the recipient’s eShop account, to spend on a later purchase | Letting the recipient choose a game | Card market and denomination, and how the card or code will be delivered |
| Game download code | A code for one specific game, when a code is available | Giving a particular title | That the retailer is authorized, the title has a code available, and the code suits the recipient’s market |
Give an eShop Card for flexibility
An eShop Card adds funds to the recipient’s account; it does not buy or reserve the game you have in mind. Nintendo’s guidance recommends cards as a gifting alternative. Its Play Nintendo guide lists $10, $20, $35, and $50 denominations, but those are listed amounts, not a guarantee of current availability in every market. Check the card’s current terms and the recipient’s country before purchasing.
#1 Best Overall
- eCash - Nintendo eShop Gift Card $100
Give a game code for a specific title
Nintendo says authorized retailers sell download codes for select games. Availability is not universal, so check whether the particular title is offered as a code before relying on this route. Buy only from an authorized seller and verify the code’s region or market restrictions; Nintendo’s guidance does not establish that codes work across regions.
Check region and redemption requirements
Before buying either option, confirm the country associated with the recipient’s Nintendo eShop and read the seller’s redemption terms. The cited Nintendo guidance does not promise universal cross-region compatibility for cards or game codes, and the available products and payment options can vary by market.
Rank #2
- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
For direct purchases on Nintendo.com, Nintendo’s Americas FAQ lists Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. It says a Nintendo Account must have accessed eShop on a Switch or Switch 2 at least once; the buyer selects a console and the purchased game downloads there. This is the buyer’s purchase flow, not a way to transfer a game to another account.
To redeem and download a digital game, the recipient needs a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, a Nintendo Account, an internet connection, and access to Nintendo eShop. Check the applicable Nintendo support page for the recipient’s country, since regional rules differ.
Rank #3
- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
Why not buy the game on your own account?
Nintendo’s digital-shopping guidance describes a purchase as being sent automatically to the buyer’s selected system, with no code supplied. That means an ordinary Nintendo Store purchase is not a gift code that can be passed to another person. Nintendo’s documented gifting alternatives are an eShop Card or an authorized retailer’s code for a select game; using someone else’s account credentials is not a recommended gifting method.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Buying and redeeming the gift
- Ask what the recipient wants. Choose an eShop Card if they should pick a game, or look for a code if you want to give one particular title.
- Confirm the market. Check the recipient’s country and the card or code’s stated redemption region before paying.
- Use a legitimate seller. For a specific game, confirm the retailer is authorized and currently offers a code for that title. For a card, check its denomination and delivery method.
- Deliver the card or code securely. Follow the seller’s instructions for email or physical delivery; do not assume a Nintendo Store game purchase will produce a code to forward.
- Have the recipient redeem it through Nintendo eShop. The recipient needs a Nintendo Account and an internet-connected Switch or Switch 2 with eShop access. Follow Nintendo’s instructions for their region.
Nintendo lists existing account funds, eShop Cards, and Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers among ways an account holder may pay for eligible software. A Game Voucher is a purchase method for the account holder, not a transferable gift code, so it is not interchangeable with a retailer’s download code.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
