There’s been a lot of heat around Nintendo’s new game cards for the Switch 2. Last week, the company detailed features for the upcoming console and, along with it, confirmed that the hardware will use new cards that come in two different versions.
The first version of the card is a standard Switch 2 Game Card. When you purchase it, you’ll get the game on the card and you can slot it into the console, install the game and play it. Of course, you’ll need to download some of the game updates that might be available for the title.
The second card is what Nintendo is calling the Game-Key Card. These are essentially physical game cards similar to your standard cards, but there’s a big difference; these cards do not physically have the game data on the storage. Instead, inserting the Game-Key Card into your Nintendo Switch 2 will initiate the download for the data, which also will need to be installed physically onto your console before you can play the game.
Right now, Nintendo has confirmed that various Switch 2 games are either standard cards or Game-Key Cards. Donkey Kong Bananza, for example, is a standard card. However, Street Fighter 6 is a Game-Key Card, so you’ll need to download the game once you slot the card into your console.
While the world is making a big deal about this Game-Key Card, let’s not forget that up to now, we have had worse. If you have picked up various original Switch games, you have likely had the infamous “Code in Box” purchase. These games were simply physical game boxes with a crappy download code in them, which you had to redeem on the Nintendo eShop in order to register and download the game.
After this code was redeemed, the game box and, to be honest, the game, had zero value. It was likely one of the worst ways to purchase a Switch game. Sadly, many studios went this route and physically shipped games with codes in the box.
The Switch also had the “Download Required” games, which were essentially the same as the Switch 2 Game-Key Cards. These games were physical boxes with physical cards that you could slot into the Switch. However, even though they included some game data, players weren’t able to actually launch the game until it downloaded the remainder of the software.
So while this Switch 2 Game-Key Card sounds like the end of the world to players, original Switch owners should be conditioned to this practice. If anything, the new approach is a lot better than a piece of paper with a download code on it. It at least comes with a card, and you can resell the game to someone else— something you can’t really do with a code that has been redeemed on your account.
Of course, it is still annoying that you’re spending R1799 on a game only to get an empty card that needs a download before you can play it. But I would take that over a printed piece of paper any day. You also need to remember that not every Switch 2 game is a Game-Key Card. At the moment, very few have chosen to go this route.
Even the larger game, Cyberpunk 2077, ships on a 64GB Switch 2 Game Card, and you don’t need to download the full game to play it. There will likely be updates to download and install, though.
I understand the negativity surrounding these Game-Key Cards, however. First off, we have the price and the value of these cards with no data. But you still own the game and can resell it after you’re done with it.
Mario Kart World is not a Game-Key Card title
Secondly, the concern around the longevity of these digital game downloads is valid. Nintendo has been known to remove games and entire stores from the internet, so what happens in 10-15 years’ time when the company pulls down the Switch 2 eShop? Will this card still trigger the download should dust off your Switch 2 and you want to play them?
Thirdly, storage is a problem. With only 256GB of on-board storage on the Switch 2, and only 256GB MicroSD Card Express options available, these Game-Key Cards require downloading the games to your Switch 2 storage. Keep in mind that even cards with the game data on them need to have this data copied and installed onto the Switch 2 storage to play them. However, due to you always having the card, you can simply delete the game and install it again by slotting it into the console.
These Game-Key Card versions might see players hanging onto the download files in fear of having to redownload the game all over again should they delete it.
So to round it up; two card versions, both will take up Switch 2 storage space. Game-Key Card needs to download the entire game when inserted into the console – the other needs possible game updates installed. Both can be resold.
In closing, I think this feature isn’t as bad as the internet is making it out to be. Let’s not forget how gamers are often spening thousands on Collector’s Editions only to get a SteelBook with a download code in the box. Death Stranding 2 is one of these examples. Sony has done this multiple times in the past with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Forbidden West, God of War. Digital code format is the real problem here.
Here’s a list of confirmed Switch 2 games and whether they are Game-Key Card versions. Keep in mind that some games listed “Digital Game” might have physical versions but at the time of writing, these listings weren’t available.
All Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card Games
Game-Key Cards in Bold
First-Party Games
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – Full Game on Card
- Mario Kart World – Full Game on Card
- Donkey Kong Bonanza – Full Game on Card
- Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV – Full Game on Card
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition- Full Game on Card
- Hyrule Warriros Age of Imprisonment – TBC
- Drag X Drive – TBC
- Kirby AirRiders – TBC
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A – TBC
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – TBC
Third-Party Games
- Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighter Edition – Game-Key Card
- Split Fiction – Digital Game
- Hogwarts Legacy – Digital Game
- Hitman World of Assassination Signature Edition – Digital Game
- Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster – Game-Key Card
- Deltarune 3 and 4 – Digital Game
- Civilization VII – Digital Game
- Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition – Full Game on Card
- Survival Kids – Digital Game
- Enter the Gungeon 2 – Digital Game
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade – Digital Game
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess – Digital game
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S – Digital Game
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Full Game on Card
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition – Digital Game
- Fast Fusion – Digital Game
- Fortnite – Digital Game
- Arcade Archives Ridge Racer 2 – Digital Game
All TBC
- Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
- Tamagotchi Plaza
- Shadow Labyrinth
- Wild Hearts S
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
- Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
- Borderlands 4
- Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
- EA Sports FC
- Hades II
- Madden NFL
- Project 007
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
- WWE2K
- NBA2K
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Goodnight Universe
- Two Point Museum
- Witchbrook
- Marvel Comic Invasion
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Reanimal
- Professor Layton and the New World Of Steam
- Human Fall Flat 2
- The Duskbloods
Catch up on the local Switch 2 pre-order details and pricing here.
