Switch game prices range from $20 to $70, depending on the publisher, the game's age, and where you buy it

Most new Nintendo games cost $60. Games from other publishers on the Switch typically cost $40 to $60. Older games, smaller titles, and games on sale can cost anywhere from $5 to $40. The Nintendo eShop (the digital store built into the Switch) shows the full price before you buy, but physical games at retailers like Target, Walmart, and GameStop sometimes run cheaper, especially a few months after release.

The price you pay depends partly on what you're buying. A brand-new Mario or Zelda game from Nintendo itself will cost $60. A smaller indie game made by a three-person studio might cost $15. A game that came out two years ago might be $30 now. Nintendo games hold their price longer than games from other publishers — a Switch game that cost $60 in 2020 might still cost $50 today, while a PlayStation game from the same year could be $20.

Key Takeaways

  • New Nintendo-published games cost $60; games from other publishers range from $40 to $60.
  • Smaller indie games and older titles often cost $15 to $40, and prices drop further during sales.
  • Physical games at retailers sometimes cost less than the eShop, especially a few months after release.
  • Nintendo games rarely go on sale and hold their price much longer than games from other companies.
  • The eShop shows the full price before purchase, but you cannot return digital games once you read them.

Where the price differences come from

Nintendo sets the price for its own games — Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. These are $60 games, and Nintendo rarely discounts them. A copy of Breath of the Wild released in 2017 still costs around $60 new.

Other game publishers — Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Bandcamp, Square Enix — set their own prices for games they sell on the Switch. A game like Doom Eternal or The Witcher 3 might launch at $60, but these publishers often put games on sale after a few months. A game that cost $60 in January might cost $30 by June.

Indie developers (small studios or solo creators) price their games lower because they have smaller budgets and smaller teams. A game like Hollow Knight or Celeste costs $15 because the studio spent less money making it. These games are still full, complete games — the lower price reflects the development cost, not the quality.

Digital versus physical: where to find the best price

The Nintendo eShop is the digital store on your Switch. You buy a game, read it to your console, and own it as long as your Nintendo account exists. The eShop price is what Nintendo or the publisher sets, and you cannot return or resell a digital game once you read it.

Physical games are cartridges you buy at stores. You can resell them, trade them, or give them away. Retailers like Target, Walmart, and GameStop sometimes price physical games lower than the eShop, especially for games that have been out for a while. A game might be $60 on the eShop but $45 at Walmart. You can also buy used physical games, which cost less — a used copy of a $60 game might be $30 or $40.

The eShop does have sales, but they are usually smaller discounts (10 to 30 percent off) and happen less often than sales on other platforms. If you want the lowest price, check physical retailers first, especially for games that are not brand-new.

Games that cost less than $20

The Switch has thousands of games under $20. Many are indie games: Stardew Valley ($15), Celeste ($20), Hollow Knight ($15), Hades ($25). These are complete, full-length games, not demos or lite versions. Some are puzzle games, some are adventure games, some are rhythm games — the genre does not determine the price.

You will also find older games at lower prices. A game that launched at $60 five years ago might now cost $20 or $30. Games published by smaller publishers often start at lower prices too. The eShop has a "Browse" section where you can filter by price, which makes it straightforward to see what is available in the $5 to $20 range.

What affects the price you actually pay

The publisher sets the base price. Nintendo games are almost always $60. A game from Ubisoft might be $60 at launch but $20 six months later. An indie game might be $12 from day one.

The retailer affects the price too. The eShop shows one price. GameStop might show a different price. Amazon might show another. Physical retailers sometimes have sales that the eShop does not. If you are willing to buy a physical copy, you have more options to find a lower price.

The age of the game matters. New releases cost full price. Games that came out a year ago cost less. Games that came out five years ago cost even less — unless Nintendo published it, in which case it might still be full price.

Sales and discounts happen, but they are unpredictable. The eShop has a "Sale" section, but Nintendo games rarely appear there. Games from other publishers go on sale more often. If you see a game on sale, the eShop will tell you the original price and the discount percentage.

Subscription services and game bundles

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription service ($20 per year for the basic plan, $50 per year for the Expansion Pack). It includes access to a library of older Nintendo games — NES, SNES, and Game Boy games — but not modern Switch games. If you want to play Mario Kart 8 or Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you still have to buy them separately.

The Expansion Pack tier ($50 per year) adds access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, plus some DLC for certain games. It does not include new releases or most modern games. It is useful if you want to play retro games, but it does not replace buying individual games.

Some games come with DLC (downloadable content) that costs extra. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a DLC pass that costs $12 and adds new tracks. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has no DLC. Whether a game has DLC is listed on the eShop page before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Nintendo Switch games ever go on sale?

Games from other publishers go on sale regularly — sometimes 20 to 50 percent off. Nintendo's own games rarely go on sale, and when they do, the discount is usually 10 to 20 percent. If you want the lowest price on a Nintendo game, buy a physical copy from a retailer, because they sometimes discount physical games more than the eShop does.

Can I return a digital game if I do not like it?

No. Once you read a digital game from the eShop, you cannot return it or get your money back. Nintendo's policy is that digital purchases are final. If you are unsure about a game, buy the physical version instead, so you can resell it if you do not like it.

Why do Nintendo games cost more than games on PlayStation or Xbox?

Nintendo games hold their price because they sell well and stay popular for years. A Mario game from 2017 still sells copies today, so Nintendo has no reason to discount it. PlayStation and Xbox games go on sale more often because the publishers use sales to move older inventory. The Switch also has fewer games overall, so each game stays in demand longer.

Are used Switch games cheaper?

Yes. Used physical games cost less than new ones — sometimes 30 to 50 percent less. You can buy used games at GameStop, local game stores, or online marketplaces. Used games work exactly like new games. The downside is that you are buying from a reseller, not the original publisher, so there is no warranty, though physical cartridges are durable and rarely fail.

What is the cheapest way to build a Switch game library?

Buy physical games and resell them when you finish, or trade them with friends. Buy indie games on sale during eShop sales events. Watch for price drops on games that are six months to a year old. Check physical retailers like Target and Walmart before the eShop, because they sometimes have better prices on physical copies. Avoid buying games at full price on the eShop unless you know you will play them for a long time.