You just spent 300 bucks on a console. Maybe more if you grabbed the OLED model. Now you’re staring at the eShop and realizing that Nintendo really likes their "Nintendo Tax," with games from five years ago still sitting at a crisp $60. It’s a lot. Honestly, it’s a bit much for most people’s monthly entertainment budget. But here’s the thing: you don't actually have to spend a dime to build a massive library. Learning how to get free games on the Switch is basically an art form of navigating the eShop, timing your gold points, and knowing which "free-to-play" titles are actually worth your time versus the ones that are just glorified mobile ports designed to bleed you dry with microtransactions.
Gaming isn't cheap. We all know this. But the Switch is unique because Nintendo has leaned surprisingly hard into the "freemium" model recently.
The eShop Search Filter is Your Best Friend
Most people just scroll the "Great Deals" section. That’s a mistake. If you want to find the stuff that costs zero dollars, you have to be more intentional. Open the eShop, go to "Search/Browse," and look for the price range filter. Scroll all the way to the bottom. There’s a "Free" category right there. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people miss the "See More" button that reveals literally hundreds of titles.
We aren't just talking about demos here.
There's a massive difference between a "Software Demo" and a "Free Download." A demo is a teaser. A free download is the whole experience. You’ll find heavy hitters like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rocket League right at the top. These are the gold standard. They don't require a Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) subscription to play online, which is a huge detail people often overlook. Usually, you need to pay for NSO to play games like Mario Kart online, but for these specific third-party free-to-play giants? You just download them and go.
It’s a loophole that makes the Switch a much more viable "budget" console than people give it credit for.
Why "Free-to-Start" is a Trap You Should Watch Out For
Nintendo uses this weird phrasing: "Free-to-Start."
It’s their polite way of saying the game is going to nag you for money every five minutes. Pokémon Café ReMix and Super Kirby Clash fall into this bucket. You can play them for free, sure. But they use stamina systems or "energy" bars that refill over time. If you’re a patient person, these are great. If you’re not, they’re a test of your willpower. I’ve seen people spend more on "free" Kirby stickers than they would have on a full $60 game.
Stay disciplined.
The My Nintendo Gold Points Strategy
This is the most "pro" way to get paid games for free. Every time you buy a physical or digital game, you get Gold Points. For digital purchases, you get 5% back. For physical, it's 1%.
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Here is the trick: you have to manually claim points for physical cartridges. Insert the game, hit the "+" button on your Joy-Con, and select "Earn Points." These points are literally cash. 100 points = $1.00. I once saved up enough points from buying physical copies of Zelda and Mario to buy Hollow Knight—one of the best games on the system—entirely for free. It’s basically a slow-motion cashback program. If you have a shelf full of games and haven't clicked that "+" button, you’re literally leaving free money on the table.
Nintendo Switch Online: Not Free, But...
Okay, NSO costs $20 a year. It isn't free. But if you already have it for Splatoon or Animal Crossing, you have access to a massive vault of "free" games that most people forget to download.
The NES, SNES, and Game Boy apps are included in the base tier. This isn't just a handful of titles; it's a curated library of the greatest hits of the 80s and 90s. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, and Kirby’s Dream Land are all there. If you upgrade to the Expansion Pack, you get N64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance. Is it "free"? Technically no. But if you’re already paying for the service, these games don't cost you an extra cent. It’s effectively a library of 100+ games for the price of a couple of pizzas.
Exploring the "Demos That Carry Over" Secret
This is a niche strategy, but it's brilliant. Some developers release massive demos that allow you to play the first few hours of a game, and then—this is the kicker—your save data carries over to the full game if you ever buy it.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age has a demo that is roughly 10 hours long. 10 hours! That’s longer than some full-priced games. You can play a significant chunk of a masterpiece RPG for free. Monster Hunter Rise and Pikmin 4 also have meaty demos. If you’re bored on a Saturday and have no money, downloading a "Long Demo" is the smartest way to get a premium experience without hitting the "Buy" button.
The Ethics (and Dangers) of Homebrew
Let’s be real for a second. If you search for how to get free games on the Switch, you’re going to run into "Homebrew" or "Modding."
I have to be the bearer of bad news here: unless you have an unpatched V1 Switch from 2017, modding is a nightmare that involves soldering tiny chips onto your motherboard. And if you go down the route of piracy? Nintendo is ruthless. They don't just ban your account; they "Super Ban" your console. This means your Switch can never connect to Nintendo servers again. No eShop. No system updates. No online play.
It turns your $300 console into a brick that can only play offline games. Honestly, it’s just not worth it. The risk-to-reward ratio is terrible when there are so many legitimate ways to play for free.
Finding Giveaways and "Mistake" Pricing
Keep an eye on Twitter (X) and Reddit. Specifically, subreddits like r/NintendoSwitchDeals. Sometimes, publishers like QubicGames or No Gravity Games run "chains." They’ll give away one game for free, and if you download it, you get the next game in their catalog for free the next day. I’ve seen people pick up 10 indie games in a row during Christmas promotions just by checking the eShop daily.
Also, look for "Price Errors." They happen. Occasionally a game that should be $15 will be listed for $0.00 due to a glitch. These usually get patched within an hour, so you have to be part of those online communities to catch them in real-time.
The Best 100% Free Games Right Now
If you want to start playing right this second, here are the heavy hitters that actually feel like "real" games:
- Warframe: It’s basically "Space Ninjas." The amount of content here is staggering. You could play for 500 hours and not see everything, all without paying.
- Fall Guys: Great for short bursts. It's chaotic, fun, and the "Battle Pass" is optional.
- Dauntless: If you like Monster Hunter but don't want to pay $60, this is the free alternative.
- The Finals: A newer addition to the competitive scene that brings destructible environments to the handheld.
- Fallout Shelter: A great "management" game that works perfectly with the Switch's touchscreen.
Actionable Steps to Build Your Free Library
Stop browsing the "Featured" page. It’s designed to make you spend. If you want to maximize your library for zero dollars, do this:
- Check your Gold Points. Go through every physical cartridge you own, hit "+", and claim those points before they expire (they usually expire one year after the game's release).
- Filter the eShop by "Price: $0 - $0." Download the big ones like Rocket League and Warframe immediately.
- Download the "Big Demos." Start with Dragon Quest XI or Pikmin 4. You’ll get 5-10 hours of gameplay for free.
- Join the Deals Communities. Follow accounts on social media that track eShop price drops. This is where you’ll hear about the "10 days of free games" giveaways that indie publishers love to do.
- Use the Wishlist. When you see a game you want, "Heart" it. Nintendo will email you the second it goes on sale. Sometimes, those sales bring games down to $0.01, which you can then cover with a single Gold Point.
Building a collection doesn't require a massive bank account. It just requires a bit of patience and knowing where Nintendo hides the "Free" button. Focus on the high-quality free-to-play titles and the Gold Point system, and you’ll have more games than you actually have time to play.