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These are the best free Nintendo Switch games available
A round-up of the best free Nintendo Switch games of the year, split across free-to-play games, game demos, and Nintendo Switch Online.
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Even though the Nintendo Switch is the cheapest of the current generation of gaming consoles, it’s still good to know that buying a full-priced game to take it for a spin isn’t essential. Similarly, if you already own one, there are a number of ways to pay nothing or a little to access a range of the best games available on the Switch.
While rumours of the 4K-capable New Nintendo Switch Pro continue to swirl and the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom approaches, scroll on for the best free games on Nintendo Switch.
*Pricing and deals only accurate as of last page update.
Joy-Con drift? 8BitDo's mini gamepad has never heard of it.
From $29.95 (25% off)
Heaps of storage for your Switch
Free games? Have all the free games in the world.
From $88.61 (44% off)
We haven’t just created a list of the best free Nintendo Switch games. Click on the corresponding link below to check out our lists of the best free games for Xbox, PlayStation and PC:
Best free Nintendo Switch games
If you want the best free Nintendo Switch games, you’ve got these three options:
- Nintendo eShop free-to-play games
- Nintendo eShop demos
- Nintendo Switch Online subscription
Best Nintendo eShop free-to-play games
Instead of calling them “free-to-play” games, Nintendo prefers to call them “free-to-start” games, which feels more honest in terms of the expectation that you’ll be tempted to spend money in-game to unlock additional content (even if it’s only cosmetic).
Below is our pick of the top 10 free-to-start games on Nintendo Switch:
- Apex Legends
- Rocket League
- Pokémon Café Mix
- Pac-Man 99
- Asphalt 9: Legends
- Fallout Shelter
- Tetris 99
- Super Kirby Clash
- Brawlhalla
- Warframe
Exhausted all the Nintendo eShop's free titles? We've sorted the treasure from the trash and rounded up the best Switch games across seven categories: multiplayer, open-world, RPG, FPS, platformer, relaxing and fitness.
Best free Nintendo Switch demos
At the time of writing, there were close to 400 Switch games with free downloadable demos. Head to the Nintendo eShop to check out our pick of the top 10 free Nintendo Switch demos playable today:
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Metroid Dread
- Monster Hunter Rise
- Triangle Strategy
- Kirby Fighters 2
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
- Moving Out
- Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
- Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Best free Nintendo Switch Online games
Like the respective PlayStation and Xbox networks, you need to pay for an online subscription to play multiplayer on Nintendo Switch. Called ‘Nintendo Switch Online’, the multiplayer subscription service also includes access to an expanding list of free downloadable Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games.
Signing up for the Nintendo Switch Online service currently costs either $5.95 a month, $11.95 a quarter or $29.95 a year. At the time of writing, there were 63 NES games and 55 SNES games that are totally free to download and play as part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Best free Nintendo Switch Online NES games
Here’s our pick of the top 10 free NES games that come with a Nintendo Switch Online:
- Double Dragon
- Donkey Kong
- The Legend of Zelda
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Yoshi
- Metroid
- Kirby’s Adventure
- Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
- Kid Icarus
- Clu Clu Land
Best free Nintendo Switch Online SNES games
- Prehistorik Man
- Super Tennis
- Super Mario Kart
- Kirby’s Dream Land 3
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Super Metroid
- Star Fox
- F-ZERO
- Super Punch-Out!!
- Donkey Kong Country
Best free Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack games
Back in 2021, Nintendo introduced a second tier to its online offering. Branded as the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, this pricier subscription service includes everything that a Nintendo Switch Online membership gets you plus access to an expanding list of Nintendo 64, Sega Mega Drive, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games.
Rather than pay month to month, this upgraded tier of Nintendo's online service is only available on a yearly plan that costs $59.95. At the time of writing, there were 29 Sega Mega Drive games, 22 Nintendo 64 games and 9 Game Boy games that are totally free to download and play as part of a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
Best free Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo 64 games
Here’s our pick of the top 10 free Nintendo 64 games that come with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership:
- Super Mario 64
- Lylat Wars
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Mario Kart 64
- Banjo-Kazooie
- Pokemon Snap
- Paper Mario
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- GoldenEye 007
- F Zero X
Best free Nintendo Switch Online Sega Mega Drive games
Here’s our pick of the top 10 free Sega Mega Drive games that come with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership:
- Golden Axe
- Shining Force
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Gunstar Heroes
- Altered Beast
- Toejam & Earl
- Earthworm Jim
- Castlevania Bloodline
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Phantasy Star IV
Best free Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy games
Here’s our pick of the top 10 free Game Boy games that come with a Nintendo Switch Online membership:
- Tetris
- Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
- GARGOYLE'S QUEST
- Game & Watch Gallery 3
- Alone in the Dark - The New Nightmare
- Metroid II - Return of Samus
- Wario Land 3
- Kirby's Dream Land
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (coming soon)
Nintendo Switch Online alternatives
Nintendo's online gaming subscription isn't the only membership of its kind out there. Check out the the table below for a round-up of some of the other options and how they compare in terms of value for money.
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