On Nintendo Switch, the usual way to start a separate Pokémon playthrough without replacing your progress is to create another Switch user profile and launch the game under that user. That gives each user its own save data; it does not add a second save slot to one profile. The official sources cited here do not explain why Pokémon generally limits a profile to one save.
Why Pokémon saves are tied to a Switch user
Nintendo says Switch save data is stored in the console’s system memory and, in most cases, is associated with the user selected when the game is played. In a 2018 press conference Q&A, Game Freak director Shigeru Ohmori described the practical result: “You can have multiple accounts on the Nintendo Switch, so each account can have its own save file. For example, if you have siblings they can play on their own accounts.” Read the Q&A transcript.
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Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokemon Shining Pearl - Nintendo Switch Shining Pearl Edition | $52.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! - Nintendo Switch | $53.87 | Buy on Amazon |
That confirms separate saves for separate Switch users, not multiple save slots within one user profile. Nintendo’s general guidance and Ohmori’s statement do not give a reason for the one-slot-per-profile arrangement. Claims that it exists to prevent cheating, protect trading, or work around a technical limit are not established by these sources.
How to start another playthrough without deleting your save
- Create a separate user on the Switch. From the HOME Menu, open System Settings, then Users, and choose Add User. Follow the on-screen prompts.
- Launch the Pokémon game under that user. When the console asks who is playing, select the new user. The new user’s game progress is separate from the existing user’s save.
This is an account-level workaround, not a second slot in the original profile. The 2018 explanation establishes the separate-user behavior generally; for a particular Pokémon title, check its current instructions if you need title-specific details.
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- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
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What other options do—and do not—do
| Option | Creates another game save? | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Another Switch user | Yes, a separate user-associated save; not an additional slot under the original user | Starting an independent playthrough |
| Pokémon HOME | No | Storing and transferring Pokémon among supported games, subject to compatibility and transfer restrictions. HOME can access compatible save data for other users on the same Switch; Nintendo’s transfer flow asks you to select a game and user. Nintendo’s Pokémon HOME FAQ and transfer instructions explain the process. |
| microSD card | No | It cannot store Switch save data. Nintendo says saves are kept in system memory and cannot be saved or copied to microSD. Nintendo’s Data Management FAQ |
| Save Data Cloud | No | Backup and recovery where supported, not another in-game slot. Support varies by title; Nintendo Japan’s list, dated July 30, 2026, identifies games that do not support the feature. Check the current list for your game and region: Nintendo’s Save Data Cloud support page. |
What remains unknown
The official material cited here explains how separate Switch users can have their own saves, but it does not state why Pokémon games generally do not offer multiple slots within one profile. It also does not establish that every Pokémon game, including older titles and every platform version, follows identical save rules. For the Switch workflow, a second user is the supported distinction to keep in mind; HOME transfers Pokémon, while cloud backup availability depends on the game.
Pokémon HOME’s role is Pokémon storage and transfer between supported titles, not duplication of a game save. Its features and restrictions are described by The Pokémon Company.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Don the role of a Pokémon Trainer as you travel through Kanto
- Discover a new species of Pokémon with the Pokémon Lets Go series
- Catch Pokémon in the wild using a gentle throwing motion with either a Joy-Con controller or a Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits
- Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one
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- The Pokémon Shining Pearl game brings new life to this remade classic with added features
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- Test your style and rhythm in a Super Contest Show
- A reimagined adventure, now for the Nintendo Switch system
Rank #2
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
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