What happens when you buy a game on eShop?

Once you've completed your purchase, your game will automatically download to the console associated with your Nintendo Account. To download the game, your Nintendo Switch console must have enough memory space available and it must be turned on or in sleep mode (with an active internet connection).

Are Nintendo eShop games permanent?

Do digital games stay on Nintendo Account? Purchases on the Nintendo Switch eShop are tied to the Nintendo Account that made the purchase. You can register one primary console per Nintendo Account. Once you've registered a primary console, your digital purchases can be played by anyone that uses the primary console.

How does buying digital switch games work?

Downloadable software that you purchase is tied to your Nintendo Account and can be played on your primary Nintendo Switch console and, under certain conditions, other Nintendo Switch consoles where you link your Nintendo Account.

Can games bought in Nintendo eShop be played offline?

Yes, As long as you have the console on the dock [or not] and connected to the internet (with no other games running in the background), the console will download updates or games in sleep mode.

Can I download a Nintendo game if I already purchased it?

To redownload the game, launch the Nintendo eShop using the Nintendo Account that originally purchased the game, select your user icon in the top-right corner to access the shop settings, and highlight Redownload. Select the game in the list of previously purchased titles, then select the orange icon to redownload.

Nintendo Switch: How To buy a Game from Nintendo eShop for beginners.

What happens if you buy a game you already own on Switch?

Use the Nintendo Account that purchased the game to redownload the game in the Nintendo eShop. Launch the game again from the Nintendo eShop HOME Menu. As long as the console is activated for the Nintendo Account that owns the game, anyone on the console will be able to play the game.

Why can't I download a purchased game on Switch?

Check Data Management in the Nintendo Switch System Settings to verify that there is enough space on your system to complete the download. If there is not enough space, delete some content. Check Redownloads in the Nintendo Switch eShop (in your account information).

Do eShop games transfer?

If you do not have access to the original console, you can still transfer your Nintendo Account and digital games to a different Nintendo Switch console and make that console your account's primary console. Follow these steps to complete this process.

How do I download games from eShop?

Can you buy Nintendo Switch games online and download them?

Buy digital games here and download them directly to your Nintendo Switch™ system (no code required)! Plus, shop physical games, sales, new releases, and more.

Is it better to buy physical or digital games?

Much of it comes down to personal preference. If you like having shelves lined with your games that you can browse and reminisce, you'll want to go for physical. If you prefer the convenience and speed offered through digital purchases, and don't want game boxes lying around, then you'll want to go digital.

What happens if you buy a Switch game digitally and physically?

If you have both physical & digital, the switch will play the game from the cart when the cart is inserted. The switch doesn't care where the game comes from. The save data is stored separately from the game on the Switch's internal memory.

Do digital Switch games expire?

Download codes purchased from retailers do not expire. However, download codes given out for a specific promotion, such as Pokémon distributions, will usually have an expiration date.

Is Nintendo shutting down the eShop?

The Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems and the Wii U system will no longer be available as of March 27, 2023. Once the shop closes, you won't be able to purchase digital games (including a variety of past Pokémon titles) for those systems.

Is Nintendo eShop closing on Switch?

No, the Nintendo Switch eShop will still work just fine.

Is Nintendo removing eShop?

As of August 29, 2022, it is no longer possible to use a Nintendo eShop Card to add funds to an account in Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

How do I access purchased games on Switch?

Visit the Nintendo Account website, and sign in to your Nintendo Account. From the profile settings, select Shop menu. Select Purchase History. A list of the transactions associated to your Nintendo Account will appear here, as well as any promotional or bundled download codes included with your purchases.

How many games can a Switch hold?

The standard Nintendo Switch has 32 GB of storage, allowing you to store and install around 4-8 games, including large games like Zelda. However, if you have the option for a Switch with 64 GB of storage, you can store double the number of games, up to 8-16.

How do I put games on my Switch eShop?

Select Nintendo eShop on the HOME Menu to launch the Nintendo eShop. Select the account you want to use. Select Enter Code on the left side of the screen. Enter the 16-character download code.

Can I refund eShop games?

We are unable to provide refunds or exchanges for mistaken purchases. Please be sure to read the game descriptions and check out the screen shots available through the Nintendo eShop before making purchases. We also encourage you to visit nintendo.com for information about the games available for our systems.

Will I lose my game progress if I get a new Switch?

Your save data will be deleted on the source console. *Save data is stored on the console you're currently using. In order to play games with your latest save data on multiple systems, you'll need to transfer the save data each time you use a different console.

Will I lose my Animal Crossing Island if I get a new Switch?

What is transferred to the new console with a full island transfer? When a full island transfer is completed, all island save data, progress, animal neighbours, residents, residents' inventories and homes are transferred to the new console. No Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data will remain on the original console.

Can you sell your game cards on Switch when you bought them on Nintendo eShop?

Games can't be shared, traded, or sold

You can't simply share, trade, or sell the games you purchase on Nintendo Switch when you buy them digitally. They are tied to your system, for better or worse.

Can I refund a game I just bought on Nintendo Switch?

We are unable to provide refunds or exchanges for mistaken purchases. Please be sure to read the game descriptions and check out the screen shots available through the Nintendo eShop before making purchases. We also encourage you to visit nintendo.com for information about the games available for our systems.

Are there downsides to digital Switch games?