Minecraft on Nintendo Switch costs $19.99 and does not go on sale often

The standard edition of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch is $19.99 in the Nintendo eShop. This is the price Nintendo sets and maintains — the game rarely drops to a lower price, even during holiday sales or eShop promotions. You buy it once and own it permanently on that console.

The price is the same whether you buy it as a digital read through the eShop or as a physical cartridge from a retailer. Physical copies sometimes appear used or discounted at second-hand shops, but the official new price stays at $19.99 across all channels.

Key Takeaways

  • Minecraft for Nintendo Switch costs $19.99 and is purchased once, not as a subscription.
  • The game is available only through the Nintendo eShop as a digital read or as a physical cartridge from retailers.
  • Price discounts are rare, and the game does not participate in most Nintendo eShop sales.
  • You need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to play multiplayer with other people, but that is a separate subscription from the game itself.
  • The game works on all Nintendo Switch models — the original, the OLED model, and the Switch Lite.

How to buy Minecraft through the Nintendo eShop

Open the Nintendo eShop on your Switch by pressing the X button from the home screen, then selecting the eShop icon. Search for "Minecraft" in the search bar at the top. The official Minecraft listing will appear — it shows the Mojang Studios logo and displays the $19.99 price.

Select the game and choose "Purchase." You will be asked to confirm your Nintendo Account and payment method. The game downloads when ready after purchase and appears on your home screen. You can start playing within minutes, depending on your internet speed.

If you do not have a payment method linked to your account, you can buy a Nintendo eShop gift card from most retailers and redeem it through your account settings. This is often faster than entering a credit card directly.

Buying a physical cartridge instead

Physical copies of Minecraft are sold at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and other major retailers for $19.99. The cartridge is the same game as the digital version — there is no difference in features or gameplay. The only advantage is that you can resell it later or trade it to someone else, which you cannot do with a digital purchase.

Physical cartridges sometimes appear at lower prices at used game stores or online marketplaces, but these are second-hand copies. New cartridges from official retailers are priced at $19.99, matching the eShop.

What you need beyond the $19.99 purchase

The $19.99 covers the game itself. To play the game at all, you need a Nintendo Switch console and a copy of Minecraft. To play multiplayer — meaning with other people online or on the same console — you need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. This is a separate subscription that costs $20 per year for the basic plan or $50 per year for the Expansion Pack.

Local multiplayer (playing with someone sitting next to you on the same console) does not require Nintendo Switch Online. Only online multiplayer does. If you are playing alone in single-player mode, you do not need the subscription.

The Expansion Pack includes access to additional content like texture packs and skin packs, but these are optional cosmetic additions. The base game is complete without them.

Minecraft Realms — an optional paid feature

Inside Minecraft, there is an optional service called Realms that costs $7.99 per month. Realms is a private server where you and up to ten friends can play together on the same world at any time, even when you are not all online at the same moment. This is different from regular multiplayer, where everyone has to be playing at the same time.

Realms is not required to play Minecraft. You can play multiplayer with friends for free using the standard multiplayer mode, as long as you have Nintendo Switch Online. Realms is only worth the cost if you want a persistent world that stays running even when you log off.

Price comparison across platforms

Minecraft costs $19.99 on Nintendo Switch, which is the same price as on PlayStation and Xbox. On PC, the Java Edition costs $26.95, while the Windows 10/11 Edition costs $19.99. Mobile versions on iOS and Android are free to read but have in-app purchases for cosmetics.

The Nintendo Switch version is identical in gameplay to the console versions on PlayStation and Xbox. The main difference is that the Switch version runs at a lower resolution and frame rate due to the hardware, but the game itself is the same.

When the price might change

Nintendo rarely discounts Minecraft, and there is no pattern to when or if a sale might happen. The game has been $19.99 since its release on Switch in 2017. If you are waiting for a price drop, it may not come — it is safer to assume the price will stay the same.

The only exception is occasional bundle deals where Minecraft is packaged with a Switch console or with Nintendo Switch Online, but these bundles are not common and are usually only available during specific retail promotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Minecraft on Switch Lite?

Yes. Minecraft runs on all Nintendo Switch models, including the Switch Lite. The game plays identically on each model, though the Lite has a smaller screen. You still need the $19.99 purchase and Nintendo Switch Online for multiplayer.

Do I lose the game if I delete it from my console?

No. Once you purchase Minecraft, it is tied to your Nintendo Account. You can delete it from your console to free up storage space, then read it again later for free from the eShop. Your game progress is saved to the cloud if you have Nintendo Switch Online.

Can I share Minecraft with another person on the same console?

Yes. Anyone with a profile on your Switch can play Minecraft after you purchase it, as long as your account is set as the primary account on that console. They cannot play online multiplayer unless they have their own Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Is there a free trial of Minecraft on Switch?

No. Nintendo does not offer a free trial or demo of Minecraft on Switch. You must purchase the full game to play it. Some retailers may have return policies if you change your mind within a short window.

What is the difference between Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons?

Minecraft Dungeons is a separate game that costs $19.99 and plays differently — it is an action game with dungeons and combat, not the open-world building game that Minecraft is. Make sure you are buying the correct one for what you want to play.