The Nintendo Switch offers an unparalleled gaming experience, allowing you to enjoy games big and small, no matter whether you’re on the couch or on the go. That said, the best Switch games rarely receive a discount. Thankfully, plenty of other developers have made some amazing single-player and multiplayer games on Switch that you can play absolutely free. That can make the wait for all the upcoming Switch games easier, but only if you know which ones to pick. Plenty of free games out there aren’t worth your time and are better left alone.
Keep in mind that although all of the games below are free to start, they all feature microtransactions in one form or another. However, we restricted our picks only to games that have ethical microtransactions (no pay-gating or anything like that). We’ve also included a range of genres, from the best party games for Nintendo Switch, to shooters, puzzle games, and more.
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Apex Legends
78%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
Apex Legends needs no introduction. It’s the larger-than-life battle royale FPS game that has continued to take the world by storm since it launched in 2019. Now, though, it’s available on the Switch. Although Apex Legends doesn’t look its best running on Nintendo’s handheld, it’s still the full, fat experience that’s available on consoles and PC, and it’s free to download and start playing. If you haven’t played Apex Legends, you take control of one of several legendary characters in the Apex Games. It’s a 60-player battle to the death where you’ll have to use your special character abilities and any guns that you can find to survive. Unfortunately, the Switch version doesn’t have cross-save or cross-progression, but you can still use all of the characters and weapons available in the game.
Pac-Man 99
76%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Arcade
Developer
Arika
Publisher
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release
April 07, 2021
Pac-Man 99 is the next classic-turned-battle-royale. Like Tetris 99 and, formerly, Super Mario 35, Pac-Man 99 is a battle royale game based on the classic Pac-Man experience. You and 98 other players just play Pac-Man. But instead of competing for the top score, you’re trying to survive. Each time you eat a Ghost, you send phantom Pac-Men to other players, and if they run into them, they’ll slow down for the rest of the game. On the flip side, if they eat one while going for a Ghost, they’ll get a speed boost. Although it can get repetitive quickly, Pac-Man 99 is great for a few rounds whenever you have a little bit of downtime. Even better, the free mode is the best part of the experience. You can pay $30 for some extra skins and a couple of variations of score attack modes, but Pac-Man 99 shines with 98 other players on screen.
F-Zero 99
71%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Racing
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
September 14, 2023
Look, you can’t blame us for putting all the 99 games on this list when they just continue to be so good. Once again, Nintendo picked the least likely franchise to make sense as a battle royale and made it not only work but rock. F-Zero 99 isn’t the new entry in the series many of us wanted, but more than a worthy replacement. Putting us back on the tracks from the SNES original, you will race down the track boosting, clashing, and using new attacks to stay at the front of the pack. This game also has Mini Prix and Grand Prix modes that cycle into the game on rotation, plus team battles and pro tracks every day to keep your racing experience fresh race after race.
The New Denpa Men
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Genius Sonority
Publisher
Genius Sonority
Release
April 21, 2024
The New Denpa Men is a game as weird as its name suggests. You will collect mysterious Denpa Men who are spawned from radio waves (yes, you read that correctly) that you need to catch almost like Pokémon. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses that you need to consider when building a team to go on adventures through different stages to find treasures and battle monsters. Besides the RPG combat, you can also do some light decorating on your island, go fishing, and customize all your individual Denpa Men. If you get some friends together you can even team up to catch unique Denpa Men.
Pokémon Quest
68%
Platforms
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure
Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Release
May 29, 2018
There are plenty of free Pokémon games on Switch that all look and play completely different. Pokémon Quest almost looks like a fan game or Minecraft mod, but it is an official game in the monster-catching franchise. Set on Tumblecube Island, this game features blocky versions of the original 151 Pokémon now called Pokéxel. You aren’t a specific trainer, but control your team of monsters to beat levels and fight wild Pokémon to add to your team. It isn’t quite as deep as the mainline RPGs, but a cute and fun way to spend some time with the OG lineup of Pokémon.
Sky: Children of the Light
70%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
ThatGameCompany
Publisher
NetEase Games, ThatGameCompany
Release
July 11, 2019
Coming from the team that made Journey, Sky: Children of the Light is a very different game mechanically but has a similar vibe to it. You are exploring a vast landscape where you can run into other players at random as you venture through the land. You can either join up with these strangers or continue on your way alone. There are puzzles to solve and the entire mystery of the world and your place in it to try and figure out. The less you know going in, the better your experience will be.
Jump Rope Challenge
54%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Sport
Developer
Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
June 15, 2020
Odds are you won’t spend all your time playing Jump Rope Challenge, but it is a neat little experiment and a fun way to add some movement to your day. It is essentially just a jump rope counter with a cute little bunny avatar that motivates you and keeps track of your score. You can even play with a friend, too!
Palia
75%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Singularity 6
Publisher
Singularity 6
Release
December 14, 2023
There’s no free version of Animal Crossing, but you can get your life simulation fix with Palia. This game is still technically in beta but is fully featured enough to sink dozens of hours into. Besides being a massive farming and crafting game, it is also meant to have some MMO elements where you inhabit the world with other players to work together. Currently, the game allows for cooking, fishing, crafting, farming, mining, hunting, and more. World events can happen at random, and there is a small story to work through that will no doubt be expanded upon as the game gets updated. We wouldn’t suggest investing in any of the microtransactions, but it could be a solid game to follow if you love these types of experiences.
Pokémon Café ReMix
Platforms
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle
Developer
Genius Sonority
Publisher
The Pokémon Company
Release
October 27, 2021
If you would rather just take care of and enjoy the company of your little pocket monsters instead of battling them, Pokémon Café ReMix could be the best Pokémon game for you. This game teams you up with your favorite Pokémon to run a café where you need to solve little puzzles to create drinks for your patrons. This is a match-style puzzle game, but not in the ridged grid system you’re probably used to. Instead, you need to match at least three of the same Pokémon faces as they are all jumbled on screen. It’s just as addictive as the best puzzle games, has tons of levels, and a generally chill vibe you can relax to.
TETRIS 99
82%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Arcade
Developer
Arika Co., Ltd., Alper Sarıkaya
Publisher
Nintendo, Nintendo of America, Nintendo of Europe
Release
February 13, 2019
Tetris 99 is the free game on Nintendo Switch (now that Super Mario 35 is gone, at least). Although you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play, the game itself is free to download. Unlike a traditional Tetris game, 99 has you facing off against 99 other players in a battle royale. If you get a double, triple, or a Tetris, you send some junk — unfinished lines — to your opponent, filling their board and potentially sending them back to the main menu to start a new game. There is something so visceral and frantic about battling head-to-head with other players in Tetris. Thankfully, if you want a more relaxed experience, that’s available, too, in the form of the Big Block DLC. It’ll run you $10, but considering the base game is free, it’s an easy sell.
Fortnite
68%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
Epic Games
Release
July 25, 2017
Fortnite might be the biggest shooter game in the world, and it’s available for just about every platform, including the Switch. You can easily link your accounts in-game, allowing you to carry over your progress from PC, PS4, or Xbox One (even mobile, if you’re an Android Fortnite fiend). Battle Royale and Creative modes are available on Switch, though Save the World is not. Although you’ll need an internet connection to play Fortnite, you don’t need Nintendo Switch Online. Fortnite is one of a few exceptions to Nintendo’s paid online subscription.
LEGO Fortnite
73%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Adventure
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
Epic Games
Release
December 07, 2023
If regular Fortnite is a bit too complex or violent for you, give Lego Fortnite a shot. This game is more of just a pure Lego survival game than a Lego version of the battle royale. While there are a bunch of new cosmetics to work with, it does sync up with the skins you have in Fortnite to give you a ton of Lego personalities to start with if you’ve amassed a collection already. It might not be as deep as Minecraft, but there’s still plenty to do, craft, and build. It’s a fun and bright world to explore either alone or with up to seven of your friends.
Warframe
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Digital Extremes
Publisher
Digital Extremes
Release
March 25, 2013
Warframe isn’t just one of the best free Nintendo Switch games, it’s one of the best free games in general. This third-person shooter/slasher single-handedly proved that free-to-play games can come with AAA quality and a load of free content, establishing the same business model that other entries on this list follow. The game functions similarly to Destiny 2. In Warframe, you take control of one of more than 30 Warframes, armor units that have their own abilities and customization. You can then take your custom character out on various short quests, either alone or with up to three other people. As you progress, you’ll be able to unlock new weapons, items, and worlds, each of which offers dozens of hours of gameplay.
Fallout Shelter
64%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
June 14, 2015
Fallout Shelter came out of nowhere, announced and released during a Bethesda E3 press conference in 2015. Originally just released for iOS devices, the game has since been ported to Android, Windows, PS4, Xbox One, and, most importantly, Switch. No matter if you’re on your TV or on the go, you can build and manage your Fallout vault. Rather than focusing on the dangerous nuclear wasteland outside the vault, Fallout Shelter focuses on what happens inside. In the game, you’re the overseer of a vault, tasked with managing your population, building new rooms, and ensuring you have enough resources to survive. Although the setup is similar to “idle” games like AdVenture Capitalist, Fallout Shelter has a surprising amount of depth.
Brawlhalla
68%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Fighting, Platform, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Blue Mammoth Games
Publisher
Blue Mammoth Games, Ubisoft
Release
April 30, 2014
Brawlhalla is a Smash Bros.-like fighting game — just a little worse and a whole lot cheaper. It features the same eight-player arena battles of Smash Bros., but without the nostalgic Nintendo characters in tow. Instead, Brawlhalla offers a long list of Legends, with eight free ones cycling through your roster each week. You can purchase all of the Legends, but since they’ll all be available for free at some point, it won’t give you an in-game edge. That’s what’s most impressive about Brawlhalla — it has microtransactions, but not to the point that it feels pay-to-win. All of the characters feel balanced, so you could easily spend hundreds of hours in Brawlhalla without spending a dime. Furthermore, the game supports cross-play between PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Switch, so you’ll always be able to find a game.
Rocket League
83%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Sport, Indie
Developer
Psyonix
Publisher
Psyonix
Release
July 07, 2015
It’s not often you see a paid game make the jump to a free-to-play model, but that’s what Rocket League did in 2020. It used to be one of the best cheap Switch games at around $20, but now, it’s free to start playing. The usual free-to-play monetization practices apply, however. Rocket League sells a battle pass, and there are various different skins you can purchase. However, the move to a free-to-play model has some upsides, too. Rocket League now has full cross-platform support, allowing you to team up with players on other consoles, as well as continue progressing regardless of the system you’re playing on. Thankfully, that’s really all that changed with the change in monetization. Rocket League is still the same bombastic, tire-burning sports game that it was before. And it pairs perfectly with the Switch. Jumping in and out of games, particularly in handheld mode, is a treat. If there’s any free Nintendo Switch game you should have, it’s Rocket League.
Fall Guys
78%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Sport, Indie
Developer
Mediatonic
Publisher
Devolver Digital, Epic Games
Release
August 04, 2020
Following Rocket League‘s footsteps almost exactly, Fall Guys originally was a paid release before going free-to-play and launching on all systems. That, of course, includes the Nintendo Switch, where this colorful and wacky battle royale feels most at home. This game has you compete in various obstacle courses in various rounds until only one victor reaches the crown. The physics are loose and unpredictable in all the best ways, making it fun even when you lose due to the sheer absurdity of what’s going on.
Super Kirby Clash
76%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Adventure, Arcade
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
September 04, 2019
Super Kirby Clash is an expanded version of Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, a free-to-play fighting game on the Nintendo 3DS. In a radical change to the Kirby formula, Super Kirby Clash is focused entirely on boss battles. You can choose your hero Kirby, team up with up to three other friends, and take down a long list of bosses. Nintendo makes no bones about it, however, labeling Super Kirby Clash as a “free-to-start” game. Unlike Tetris 99, you’ll need to eventually pour some money into Super Kirby Clash if you want to get everything out of it. That said, if you’re looking for a quick time killer, Super Kirby Clash is a great option.
Paladins
74%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Strategy
Developer
Hi-Rez Studios, Evil Mojo Games
Publisher
Hi-Rez Studios
Release
May 02, 2017
Many free-to-play games mirror the formula of popular paid titles (we’ll get to another one in just a minute). Paladins fits in that category, taking the MOBA-inspired shooter formula of Overwatch and setting it in a free-to-play realm. There are 44 champions, and like Brawlhalla, they’re rotated into a free roster each month. You can, of course, purchase access to all of the champions. Like other MOBA games, Paladins demands your team have a balanced roster. Champions are split into four classes: Front Lines, Damages, Supports, and Flanks. Having each champion playing their ideal role is a sure route to victory, forcing a level of teamwork that would make even the most competitive shooters blush.
Overwatch 2
65%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Release
October 04, 2022
We can’t talk about hero shooters without giving Overwatch 2 a spot, especially since the sequel has gone fully free-to-play. This game takes the entirety of the first, changes up the formula to be five on five, and tosses in some new modes, heroes, maps, and a battle pass system. While the giant roster is intimidating to look at if you’re coming into the game fresh, the onboarding process does make it a lot less intimidating and gradually lets you figure out the mechanics of the game before making you pick between the over 30 unique heroes in the game. That huge roster ends up being the main appeal, though, since every single one has their own style, personality, abilities, and roles in matches. No two matches ever feel quite the same and are always a blast with friends.
Pokémon Unite
71%
Platforms
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
MOBA
Developer
Timi, Tencent Games
Publisher
The Pokémon Company
Release
July 20, 2021
Like Super Kirby Clash, Pokémon Unite is another “free-to-start” game from Nintendo. This spinoff is the first time the series, and Nintendo as a whole, has attempted to breach the MOBA genre. This is normally a very deep and intimidating genre, dominated by the likes of League of Legends and DOTA 2. However, Pokémon Unite makes things very approachable for newcomers. You play on teams of five as your favorite pocket monsters, with 36 currently in the game, in 10-minute matches where the team with the most points at the end wins. You start off at your base level Pokémon, but level up and evolve, learning new moves and buying items to improve your stats to fight the enemy team and wild creatures on the map.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
74%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Simulator, Strategy, Card & Board Game
Developer
Konami
Publisher
Konami
Release
January 18, 2022
If you were a child in or around the 90s and loved CCGs, Yu-Hi-Oh! no doubt crossed your mind at the very least. Even if you never got into it in its prime, playing Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is the perfect entry point into this surprisingly solid card battler. Not only will you save a ton playing it virtually instead of investing in cards, plus having to find local players to duel, but the game is constantly updating and adding new cards and ways to play. Learn the basics in single-player, then challenge opponents around the world in online battles.
