Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf you want games you can download for $0 on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo currently separates them into two groups: free-to-start games and Nintendo Classics applications. The first group includes games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, and Pokémon UNITE. The second group is free to download but requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to access its libraries.
This is the current U.S. list and pricing picture shown by Nintendo. Store availability, catalogs, membership prices, and game support can vary by region and change over time.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Free-to-start Nintendo Switch games
Nintendo’s official category is Nintendo Store → Games → Free-to-start games. Nintendo describes these titles as downloadable and playable “for free” on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Nintendo currently labels the following entries Free download with a Regular Price of $0.00:
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
- Fortnite
- Apex Legends
- Overwatch
- Rocket League
- Sky: Children of the Light
- Fall Guys
- Pokémon UNITE
- Disney Speedstorm
- Pokémon Café ReMix
- Super Kirby Clash
- Palia
- Brawlhalla
- Ninjala
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
To find them on Nintendo’s website, open Home → Nintendo Store → Games → Free-to-start games. The page includes filters for Order status, Redeem code, Top picks for you, and Store support.
What “free-to-start” means
“Free-to-start” confirms that the initial download costs nothing; it does not mean that every title is permanently free of optional spending. Monetization differs by game. Some may offer cosmetic items, downloadable content, subscriptions, battle passes, or other in-game purchases.
The reliable Nintendo-store facts are the Free download designation and the listed $0.00 regular price. Check each game’s store page and parental-control settings before allowing purchases.
Free Nintendo Classics downloads through Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo also lists these Nintendo Classics applications as Free download with a $0.00 regular price:
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
| Application | Nintendo-listed date | Membership access |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics | September 18, 2018 | Nintendo Switch Online |
| Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics | September 5, 2019 | Nintendo Switch Online |
| Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics | October 25, 2021 | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack |
| Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: MATURE 17+ | June 18, 2024 | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack |
| Game Boy – Nintendo Classics | February 8, 2023 | Nintendo Switch Online |
| Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics | February 8, 2023 | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack |
| Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics | June 5, 2025 | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack; Nintendo Switch 2 only |
| Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics | February 17, 2026 | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, with the required Virtual Boy hardware option |
Nintendo says the complete Nintendo Classics collection contains over 150 classic games. The catalog is curated, and its contents can change. The application itself is free to download, but the game library is a membership benefit rather than a permanent purchase.
Which subscription is required?
- Nintendo Switch Online: NES, Super NES, and Game Boy libraries.
- Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, SEGA Genesis, and Nintendo GameCube libraries.
Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics is available only on Nintendo Switch 2. Virtual Boy games require Virtual Boy for Nintendo Switch 2/Nintendo Switch or the Virtual Boy (Cardboard Model) accessory.
How to download and play the free games
Free-to-start games
- Open Nintendo eShop on your Switch or Switch 2.
- Search for the game, or use Nintendo’s Free-to-start games category.
- Select the game and choose the download or free-download option.
- Open the title from the Home screen after installation.
Nintendo Classics
Nintendo documents two ways to launch the libraries:
- Open the Nintendo Switch Online app from the system Home screen and select a classic game.
- Download the applicable Nintendo Classics application from Nintendo eShop, open it from the Home screen, browse or search its library, and select a game.
You need the membership tier associated with the library. After the games have been made available on your system, Nintendo Classics can be played offline, but the console must connect to the internet periodically to verify that the membership is still active.
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
What happens when Nintendo Switch Online ends?
Downloading a Nintendo Classics application does not permanently grant access to its library. When the membership ends, locally stored save data remains on the system, but access to the classic-game libraries is tied to an active membership. Nintendo also notes that library availability can change.
For the current U.S. prices shown by Nintendo, annual membership costs are:
- Nintendo Switch Online individual: $19.99 per year
- Nintendo Switch Online family: $34.99 per year for up to eight Nintendo Accounts
- Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack individual: $49.99 per year
- Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack family: $79.99 per year
Prices and plan details are listed on Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch Online page.
The seven-day trial
Nintendo’s standard Nintendo Switch Online free trial lasts seven days. It does not include Expansion Pack membership, so it does not provide access to Expansion Pack libraries such as Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy, or GameCube.
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
The trial cannot be redeemed by a Nintendo Account that already has an active Individual or Family membership. Unless automatic renewal is canceled, the trial changes into a one-month automatically renewing membership at the then-current price; Nintendo currently lists the standard individual membership at $3.99 every 30 days.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Free demos are not free games
Nintendo has a separate category for Games with free demos. A demo is a limited preview, not a free full game, so it should not be counted in an all-free-games list.
Nintendo’s current Switch landing page lists examples including Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Metroid Dread, Pikmin 4, Princess Peach: Showtime!, and Sea of Stars under free demos. These are separate from the free-to-start titles above.
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Quick guide: which option is right for you?
- You want a game with no subscription requirement: Start with the free-to-start list, then review that game’s own purchase terms.
- You want retro games: Download the relevant Nintendo Classics application, but choose the Nintendo Switch Online tier that includes its library.
- You own Nintendo Switch 2: You can also use the GameCube Classics application, subject to the Expansion Pack requirement.
- You are considering a trial: The seven-day standard trial covers standard Nintendo Switch Online only, not Expansion Pack games.
- You want a full commercial game for a limited test: Look at Nintendo’s free-demo category, but do not treat a demo as a free complete game.
Bottom line
The clearest current answer is Nintendo’s own Free-to-start category: it includes 14 $0.00 downloads, from Fortnite and Apex Legends to Pokémon Café ReMix and Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel. Nintendo Classics applications are also free to download, but their libraries require the appropriate active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Neither category guarantees that all optional content is free, and free demos are a separate category altogether.
Quick Recap
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.
