You've finally decided to pull the trigger. Maybe it’s the neon blue and red Joy-Cons calling your name, or perhaps you're eyeing that sleek OLED model with the vibrant screen. You get to the checkout, your wallet feels a little lighter, and a sudden, nagging thought hits you: does Nintendo Switch come with any games? Honestly, the answer is a bit of a bummer for most people.
Standard retail boxes—the ones you see sitting on the shelves at Target or Best Buy—usually contain the console, the dock, the controllers, and the cables. That’s it. No Mario. No Zelda. No Pokémon. If you tear open that box expecting to jump straight into Kart, you’re probably going to be staring at a very pretty, very empty home screen.
It's a weird shift if you grew up in the 90s. Remember the SNES? It came with Super Mario World. Even the original Wii had Wii Sports tucked into the sleeve. But Nintendo, like most modern tech giants, has largely moved away from the "pack-in" model. They know their franchises are system-sellers. They know you’ll pay $60 for Breath of the Wild because, well, it’s a masterpiece.
Bundles Are the Real Exception
Now, don't lose hope just yet. While the "standard" SKU is empty, Nintendo loves a good seasonal bundle. These are your best bet if you're looking for an all-in-one purchase.
Usually, around Black Friday or the winter holidays, you'll see the classic Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle. This is the big one. It’s almost always the standard Switch (not the OLED) paired with a digital download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and maybe a few months of Nintendo Switch Online. It’s a great value, but it's often limited to specific times of the year.
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Then there are the "Special Edition" consoles. Think the Animal Crossing: New Horizons edition with the pastel green and blue dock, or the Splatoon 3 OLED with the graffiti-etched back. Here’s the kicker though: most of these do NOT include the game. You’re paying for the custom hardware art, not the software. It’s a common trap. You spend $350 on a Pokémon Scarlet and Violet themed OLED only to realize you still have to drop another $60 to actually catch a Sprigatito.
Always read the fine print on the box. If it doesn't explicitly say "Full Game Included" or "Download Code Inside," you're buying a very expensive paperweight until you hit the eShop.
The Secret World of Free-to-Play
So, you bought the console, you have zero dollars left, and you’re wondering if you’re stuck staring at the settings menu. You aren't.
The Nintendo eShop has a surprisingly beefy selection of games that cost exactly nothing to start. We aren't just talking about trashy mobile ports either. You can download Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys, and Warframe immediately. These are massive, high-quality titles. If you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can be playing within the hour.
Pokémon Unite is another big one. It’s a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) that’s surprisingly addictive. Then there's Apex Legends, though, fair warning, it runs a bit rough on the Switch compared to a PC or a PS5. The point is, the "out of the box" experience can still involve gaming if you're willing to go digital and don't mind the free-to-play grind.
Nintendo Switch Online: The Retro Goldmine
If you decide to pay for the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) subscription—which is way cheaper than PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass—you suddenly unlock a massive library.
It’s basically an emulator in your pocket.
The base tier gives you access to a huge catalog of NES and SNES games. We’re talking Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Metroid. If you spring for the "Expansion Pack" tier, they throw in Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, and Game Boy Advance titles. For a lot of older gamers, this is actually better than getting a single new $60 game. You get decades of history instead.
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Why Doesn't Nintendo Just Include a Game?
It feels greedy, right? But from a business perspective, it's about price points.
Nintendo wants to keep the entry price of the Switch as low as possible. By selling the console "naked," they can hit that $299 (or $199 for the Lite) sweet spot. If they forced a game into every box, they’d have to charge $350 or $360.
There's also the "choice" factor. If I’m a hardcore RPG fan, I might be annoyed if I'm forced to pay extra for a racing game I don’t want. By selling them separately, Nintendo lets the consumer curate their own start. It’s a bit of a corporate excuse, but it’s the reality of the 2020s gaming landscape.
Don't Forget the "Hidden" Costs
If you're asking does Nintendo Switch come with any games, you should probably also be asking what else it doesn't come with.
- MicroSD Card: The Switch has pathetic internal storage. The standard and Lite models have 32GB; the OLED has 64GB. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is about 16GB on its own. Buy a game or two digitally, and you’re out of space. You’ll need to buy a microSD card (128GB or 256GB is the sweet spot) almost immediately.
- Screen Protector: Especially for the original and Lite models, which have plastic screens that scratch if you even look at them funny. The OLED has glass, but it's still worth protecting.
- Pro Controller: The Joy-Cons are "fine," but they are small and prone to "drift"—a mechanical failure where the joystick moves on its own. Most people eventually want a real controller.
Physical vs. Digital: Which Should You Buy First?
If you're starting from scratch, I always suggest buying at least one physical game.
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Why? Resale value.
Nintendo games are notorious for holding their price. You can buy Super Mario Odyssey today, play it for six months, and sell it on eBay or Mercari for maybe $10 less than you paid. If you buy it digitally on the eShop, that money is gone forever.
However, the eShop has "Deals" sections where indie gems go for pennies. You can often snag games like Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley, or Celeste for under $10. These are arguably better than many $60 AAA titles anyway.
Practical Next Steps for New Owners
If you just walked out of the store with a brand-new Switch, here is your immediate game plan to ensure you actually have something to play:
- Check for a Pack-in Code: Look inside the box for any cardboard inserts. Sometimes retailers like Costco or Sam's Club bundle a game as a separate physical "add-on" that isn't inside the actual Nintendo box.
- Create a Nintendo Account: You can't even look at the eShop without one. Do this on your phone or computer first; it's much faster than typing with a controller.
- Download the "Free" Heavy Hitters: Head to the eShop, go to "Search," and filter by "Price: Free." Download Rocket League and Fortnite immediately just so you have something to test the hardware.
- Look for Demos: Many of Nintendo's biggest games (like Pikmin 4 or Kirby and the Forgotten Land) have massive free demos. These often let you play the first hour or two and even carry your progress over if you eventually buy the full version.
- Invest in a "Switch Online" Trial: Most new consoles come with a 7-day free trial code for Nintendo Switch Online. Use it to play the SNES classics for a week while you wait for your physical games to arrive in the mail.
Buying a Switch is an investment in a library, not just a piece of plastic. While it sucks that it doesn't usually come with games, the sheer volume of free content and the portability of the system usually make up for that initial "empty box" sting. Just make sure you budget an extra $60 to $100 for your first "real" adventure.