We update the selection of free games to download in the Nintendo Switch eShop, such as Rocket League, Ninjala, Pokémon Café, Fortnite, Warframe …
If you have entered this article it is surely for two reasons: the first, that you have a Nintendo Switch or are planning to get one soon; the second is that you want to play quality video games for free. You have come to the right place, we assure you. At FreeGameTips, we want you to be able to access a catalog as extensive as possible without going through the box (as we have already done with PC and PlayStation 4), without necessarily resorting to those other great titles of, in this case, the Nintendo hybrid.
In this list you will find titles of many types. Some of them are multiplayer, such as Dauntless, Fornite, Rocket League, Warframe or Realm Royale; Others are designed so that you, alone, can enjoy free experiences that in many cases have little to envy of the games we see in stores; to highlight, Fallout Shelter or Asphalt 9: Legends.
Of course, the nuance of “free game” is full of meanings and nuances in the current video game industry. The developers do not earn money from the air, unfortunately, but they look for ways of monetization and amortization of these productions in ways where we end up winning all: they win because they facilitate access to everyone; and the player wins by being able to measure how much he spends and what he wants to do it as long as we stick to the free to play business model, free games with integrated purchases. [ACTUALIZADO: enero de 2021]
The best free games for Nintendo Switch: popularity and quality
With all said, we are going to review in this report the best free video games for Nintendo Switch in 2021, which we will update as we can add more games; Either because Nintendo Switch Online has given more gifts to its subscribers or because other publishers have joined it.
Warframe
Warframe
A true multiplayer phenomenon. As if it were a Destiny, the game invites you to discover a world full of activities, customization and action in a ruined solar system. The Origin System, Tenno, awaits players with a community that already has millions of players, a title that has been reinvented to the point of not requiring payment at all to enjoy a complete experience.
to download
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Fortnite: Battle Royale
It is already one of the greatest video game industry phenomena of all time. It needs no introduction: it is the battle royale of fashion. The Epic Games game offers its star mode at no cost; In addition, all micropayments are for the battle pass or to get skins. Tens (hundreds) of hours ahead in a title that has no end.
to download
Super Kirby Clash
Super Kirby Clash
It’s not Super Smash Bros., but it feels like one. Nintendo’s pink ball brawler is free and has a very simple premise: date your cake. Do it alone or accompanied by a multitude of characters, tools such as swords, hammers, magic or lightning … Of course, as in many other online Nintendo games, it is necessary to be subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online if we want to make use of the online multiplayer mode.
to download
Pokémon Quest
Pokémon Quest
This is a mobile game with a version for Nintendo Swith, literally. It’s not the best in its category, but Game Freak’s Bucket Island adventure is quite addictive. We have different Pokémon that move by themselves through various levels, while we only have to worry about making the movements. By making use of the P stones we can improve their performance in combat. The objective? Get all.
to download
Realm royale
Realm royale
Another alternative battle royale to Fortnite. In this case, it is the battle royale version of Paladins, the shooter from Hi-Rez Studio. As in many other titles of the genre, we find multiplayer games with up to 100 players on a map of enormous dimensions: weapons, strategies, climate changes … there can only be one left. We can choose between five classes. The Switch version is really well done.
to download
Fallout Shelter
Fallout Shelter
There may be a full-fledged Fallout on Nintendo Switch in the future. Meanwhile, strategy enthusiasts have here a more than valid solution to play in the universe of the Bethesda saga. We will have to control a last generation Vault-Tec underground shelter with a multitude of human beings, who must be kept as happy as possible and protected against any kind of danger. A quarantine, wow.
to download
Paladins
Paladins
If it has more than 25 million players… it will be for something. This shooting and fantasy title is a shooter with Champions, weapons, magic and defense of a kingdom where our character can be fully customized. What you can’t customize is your aim, so it takes a lot of training. Each Champion has its own control and characteristics, in addition to the card decks, one of the most interesting functions of the game. By the way: all paid items are cosmetic.
to download
Asphalt 9: Legends
Asphalt 9: Legends
Do you have Asphalt 9 on your mobile? Here you will have, then, practically the same. Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini and a long list of luxury vehicles with which we can compete in many locations. Race alone or with your friends on more than 40 tracks and more than 50 cars. Arcade control so everyone can play and a story mode with — grab the bucks — over 800 races. Not too bad for free.
to download
Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor
Tencent Games is a company capable of everything. They have resources and know how to allocate them in designing games of all genres. In this case, a title with 35 heroes in 5v5, 3v3 or even 1v1 multiplayer battles. You can even play solo in the so-called Hook War. In China it was a great success that continues to drag millions of players; in the West, little by little, a huge community has been carved out.
to download
Dauntless
Dauntless
Inspired by Monster Hunter and does not hide it. The result is more than remarkable, it must be said. A monster hunting and survival game where, as Slayer, we must get hold of huge Behemots, which are devouring the earth. Teams of up to four players with customizable and upgradeable characters through weapons, armor, and seasonal events. An action RPG developed by Phoenix Labs that, to be honest, we think is one of the best on this list.
to download
Ninjala
Ninjala
After delaying its launch to this month of June, the title of GungHo Online Entertainment is presented as a competitive action game where we will play ninjas of all kinds. With the spirit of Splatoon, this proposal – which adds more than two million players in a few days – is being one of the sensations of Nintendo Switch this course. Fast games await us in Ninjala, with various game modes, a multitude of content that we can unlock simply by playing and some production values that it is hard to believe are offered at no cost. Parkour, action, defense, reflexes and scenarios with a lot of verticality. Absolute recommendation.
to download
Fantasy Strike
Fantasy Strike
This fighting game developed by Sirlin Games, responsible for many of its components in Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, was successfully funded on Kickstarter, but the crowded genre has prevented it from shining with a traditional business model. Those who have played it rate it as very good; Now it becomes a free game under a free to play model with five game modes without paying a single euro: Quick Online Game, Online Ranked Game, Training Mode, Versus CPU Mode. There is a subscription model that gives us access to additional modes such as Arcade and Survival Mode, but if we don’t want to pay (there are micropayments for cosmetic items) we don’t have to: all the characters are unlocked from the ground up.
to download
Pokémon Café Fix
Pokémon Café Fix
The Pokémon universe doesn’t stop with spin-offs either. Since the month of June this cafeteria management title with fun mechanics for all audiences has been available totally free in the eShop; an experience only in portable format since we have to play with the touch screen. Our task is to receive orders and prepare recipes for smoothies, desserts and other elements of baking, only with a common denominator: Pokémon. Create and manage your own store solving puzzles and, now that a few months have passed since its launch, with more content than ever. Dozens of hours of play without paying.
to download
Rocket league
Rocket league
The successful title of Psyonix was reconverted at the end of the year with a new business model, free to play. The company is now part of Epic Games, but that has not prevented it from being exclusive to its platform, far from it; in fact, now there is cross-play between platforms, there are seasons and a lot of content that, we assure you, does not require us to pay if we do not want / can. Rocket League is still as fun and essential as ever, especially since the last patches were applied: now it looks better in portable mode. If you like to hang out, be it online or offline, be it alone or with friends, in these football matches where we play with a car, surely Rocket League is one of the best names on this list.
to download
DC Universe Online
Let’s talk about MMO. The dominant genre on PC also has a place on Nintendo Switch with this free game set in the DC universe. Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Joker and countless other characters come together in this story-driven adventure across Gotham, Metropolis, Titans Island, and more. Create your hero or villain and fight against characters from all over the world, it is one hundred percent online. It is a game of weight, that you necessarily need an SD to play.
to download
SMITE
Another multiplayer title with more than 25 million players. This online title presents us with a Battlefield where we have to be a God, and there are more than 90 gods of Pantheons. Play as iconic characters such as Ares, Thor, Hercules, Wukong or Medusa, among others, with a host of events, varieties of skins and updates every fortnight. The game has several game modes, not just one; for those who seek competitive, there is, always maintaining a large dose of strategy.
to download
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Champions
Warhammer comes to Nintendo Switch with this fast and tactical card game, one of those easy to understand but difficult to master. Alliances, missions, rivals and strategies everywhere. The objective is to create our own digital deck, although it is also possible to scan physical cards and upload them to our game. Age of Sigmar has thousands of players, so in 2020 it should not be difficult to find a game.
to download
Deltarune: Chapter 1
From the creator of UNDERTALE, this new RPG presents us with a different world where we can create our own avatar, make friends and enter the darkness. It is only the first chapter and it is one hundred percent free, here without surprises or micropayments. More episodes are coming soon. In short: if you liked Undertale, play it; if you like it and you didn’t play Undertale, you know what it’s about …
to download
Brawlhalla x Tomb Raider
This free-to-play fighting and platforming brawler had really surprising initial success. Now it brings together millions of players and allows you to participate even in ranked games or with friends. His collaboration with Tomb Raider makes it even more interesting than before; it has more than thirty characters available. Valhalla opens its doors at no cost and with more content updates available than ever.
to download
Gems of war
You could not miss a puzzle and gem game on this list. Mixed with role-playing, the game proposes an adventure full of missions with more than 300 different soldiers. The gameplay is clear: solve puzzles by matching the colors of the pieces. The more mana we accumulate, the more powerful the attacks will be. More than 30 kingdoms and 350 missions available with weekly events and daily bonuses, plenty of reasons to play every day if we like.
to download
Pac-Man VS
PAC-MAN VS. Free multiplayer version is, as its name suggests, the independence of the multiplayer mode of the title, NAMCO MUSEUM. We will put ourselves in the shoes of Pac-Man and we can challenge other players with the classic mechanics that we all know, only that in this case it is mandatory to always do it with other users online.
to download
Eternal Card Game
More card games, which are never enough. If you are looking for something like Heartstone, the fight for the Eternal Throne of this title is what you are looking for. The positive thing about the title is that all game modes and all cards can be unlocked without paying a single penny. They say it themselves: there are no traps. It is completely free and does not stop adding new content every month. Ideal for gaming in portable mode.
to download
Warface
A new multiplayer bet with more than 80 million players around the world. PvP matches with over 50 maps and an assortment of over 200 customizable weapons. There is also PvE mode to play with our friends in the fight to end a tyrannical megacorporation and the zombie menace in Chernobyl. We can even head to Mars to take down robotic monsters.
to download
Dawn of the breakers
Released in 2018 and particularly popular in Japan, this title proposes action-based gameplay with collectible characters. Its story mode allows you to play with friends or cooperatively in different arenas with up to 6 simultaneous heroes. The goal is simple: kill all the Ghouls with all kinds of techniques.
to download
GALAK-Z: Variant S
This action RPG features special combat and gameplay options to get the most out of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con. Shooting, weapons, armor and helper bots to improve our ship. Create squads with these bots to face other players and get special rewards. Dozens of levels totally free and a role-playing touch that doesn’t go bad at all.
to download
Stern Pinball Arcade
We finished with pinball. This arcade title includes eleven different boards from the biggest manufacturers, trustworthy recreations to transmit the experience of the original boards in the palm of our hand. A game designed to be enjoyed alone, ideal for portable mode and available now on Nintendo Switch.
to download
If you are a subscriber of Nintendo Switch Online
Tetris 99
We love the battle royale variant of Tetris. You need to be a subscriber to Nintendo Switch Online if you want to play it at no additional cost. In addition, it now includes more game modes, not just the battle royale with 99 players. You have Marathon and individual challenges to spend hundreds of hours with. Is this the game that you would take to a desert island?
to download
NES and SNES Game Catalog (Nintendo and Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
One of the exclusive features of Nintendo Switch Online is that you can access a huge library of games that you can enjoy cooperatively and with online functions from the catalog of both systems. Nintendo’s 8-bit and 16-bit consoles take on special prominence in a list where there are dozens of classics that do not go out of style. In addition, from this July 15, the mythical Donkey Kong Country will be available. The original 1994 game is coming to service with its more than 100 original levels, collectibles, bonus stages, and clashes against K. Rool’s crew.
