Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFor Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games, download from Nintendo eShop on your console. In supported countries, you can also buy many digital games on Nintendo’s Store website and send them to a selected console. If you want a cartridge instead, Nintendo’s catalog includes physical games too. The right option depends on your country, the title, and whether you want a digital or physical copy.
Official ways to get Nintendo games
| Option | What it offers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo eShop on your console | Buy or download digital games directly through the console’s official store. | You need a Nintendo Account and an internet connection. Availability and payment methods depend on your region. |
| Nintendo Store website | Buy eligible digital games online and send the download to a selected console. | Website purchases are limited by country and title; not every eShop game can be bought on the website. |
| Physical game from a retailer | Get a physical copy rather than downloading the game. | Check that the game and its format are compatible with your console. |
Nintendo describes eShop as its official digital store for Switch 2 and Switch. See Nintendo UK’s eShop overview and Nintendo’s game catalog.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
How to download a game through Nintendo eShop
- Connect your Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch to the internet.
- Open Nintendo eShop and choose the Nintendo Account you want to use.
- Search for the game and open its product page.
- Follow the prompts to purchase the game or redeem it, then wait for the download to begin.
Nintendo’s instructions for purchasing or downloading eShop content explain the console flow and available funding options. An eShop card is one optional way to add funds; check Nintendo’s regional guidance for payment methods and card availability in your country.
Buying a digital game on Nintendo’s website
Nintendo’s website purchase flow requires a Nintendo Account. After purchase, the game is sent to a console you select. Nintendo’s Americas support page lists Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the United States for this service; if you are elsewhere, check your regional Nintendo Store.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
- Sign in to your Nintendo Account on Nintendo’s Store website.
- Find the game and check its product page for a Direct Download, Pre-order, or voucher option.
- Choose the supported purchase option and select the console for the download.
- Make sure that console is online and has enough free storage for the download.
Nintendo says website purchase availability varies by title. If the game page does not show a supported purchase option, that game is not available for purchase through the website. Read Nintendo’s Nintendo.com digital-purchase FAQ, website purchase and pre-order instructions, and the list guidance for games available online.
Account, console, and storage details
Digital purchases are associated with your Nintendo Account
Nintendo says digital software is tied to the Nintendo Account used to purchase it. Its current guidance for Switch 2 and Switch describes virtual game cards for up to two consoles that can load them. On a console that cannot load a virtual game card, the account holder must be online to play the digital game, and other users on that console cannot play those digital games. Review Nintendo’s digital game purchase and virtual game card guidance before choosing which account and console to use.
Rank #2
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
- A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
- Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
Check free space before downloading
Digital games need available storage on the console. If you need more room, Nintendo’s Play Nintendo guide says an officially licensed microSDXC card can add storage for digital content. Check your console model’s requirements and the card’s compatibility before buying one; see How to Shop Digital.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you still download games for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U?
Nintendo ended new purchases through the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops on March 27, 2023. If you never purchased a game for one of those systems, you can no longer buy it through those eShops. Nintendo says previously purchased software can still be redownloaded for the foreseeable future, but that is not a promise of permanent availability. See Nintendo’s purchase assistance guidance.
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- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
The Switch and Switch 2 download steps above do not establish how every other older Nintendo platform handles downloads. Check Nintendo’s support information for the specific console and region you have.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Which option should you choose?
- Choose eShop on the console if you want to search and buy directly on a Switch 2 or Switch and have an internet connection and Nintendo Account.
- Choose the Nintendo Store website if you prefer buying on a computer or phone and the title and country support website purchases.
- Choose a physical copy if you prefer a cartridge or want a non-digital purchase; Nintendo’s catalog includes physical as well as digital games.
- For 3DS or Wii U, distinguish between redownloading a game you already bought and trying to purchase a new one: new eShop purchases have ended.
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.
