What are the best free Switch games? Nintendo may seem pricey, and with the Switch 2 now on its way, you may be worried that gaming is getting a tad too expensive. We'll worry not because there are actually a ton of titles that you can play at no extra charge on the system. From shooters and platformers to multiplayers, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
That said, many of the best Switch games that also happen to be free still require an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription, so take that into account before reading our list of recommendations below. And then, we also have to point out that most of the new upcoming Switch games and upcoming Switch 2 games cost a pretty penny, so if you're looking for recently released games, you are a bit strapped for choice. With that in mind, we've also included some games that are listed as what Nintendo calls "free to start." You're likely familiar with the concept as they are video games where you can "start" free of charge, but perhaps there are cosmetics and the like that cost money. There is, however, no requirement to spend any money.
Now, without further ado, read on below to find out the greatest free titles currently available this year. From the likes of Fortnite to Sky: Children of the Light, we've gathered together our picks of the best free Switch games that you can play right now.
10. Warframe
Developer: Digital Extremes
Released: 2013
First up, there’s the small matter of Warframe, one of the best free-to-play shooters of the last few years that has seemingly effortlessly ported to Switch. Predictably, the adventures of the Tenno aren’t quite as sharp as they are on PS4, but that won’t stop you from marveling at just how slick and fluid the shooter action is here and wondering how on earth so much of it is absolutely free. A little like starting a TV show in the middle of season five, Warframe is initially intimidating, but once you’ve chosen your Warframe and your skills, everything seems a little easier to understand, and you can concentrate on the glossy PvE-ness at hand. Think impressive free-to-play Destiny on Switch, complete with grind, and you’re on the right murderous space track.
Read our Warframe review for more information.
9. Pokemon Quest
Developer: Game Freak
Released: 2018
If you’ve ever asked yourself what might be cuter than regular Pikachu, the answer might just be a version of the electric mouse Pokemon turned into an adorable fat cube. It’s obviously not a replacement for Pokemon Let’s Go. Still, the joyously square Pokemon Quest is a charmingly relaxing way to get a hit of the original 151 as you battle your way across Tumblecube Island. There aren’t any Poke Balls here, but don't panic. Instead, as you fight Pokemon across the world, you’ll unlock ingredients to cook stews. Thankfully it’s not Poke-meat, so bear with us. Rattle these tasty treats up over the fire of your customizable base camp, and you’ll attract new Pokemon to join your party. There’s not quite the depth of one of the full games, but that’s definitely not the point here. Did we mention that all 151 are irresistible in cube form? And there are stews?
Want to catch 'em all? Check out our list of the best Pokemon games.
8. Apex Legends
Developer: Respawn
Released: 2019
Apex Legends is an incredibly fun battle royale that allows you to pick a character based on their skill set. If you're more of a run-and-gunner, you might enjoy a character like Bangalore, who can set off smoke bombs to hide her tracks and rain down a barrage of bombs on enemies. If you like to play things more tactically, you can always try out Wattson, who can build electric perimeter fences to help keep enemies away from certain areas. As another free-to-play game available on Switch, you can hop in right now and give another battle royale a spin.
Read our five-star Apex Legends review for more details!
7. Arena of Valor
Developer: TiMi Studio Group
Released: 2016
Arena of Valor - it's the video game formerly known as Realm of Valor and Strike of Kings, and it was the first MOBA to arrive on the Nintendo Switch. It has its problems (mainly queue times and features that are available on mobile but not on the Switch), but it's still a great game to jump into. There's nothing like playing a MOBA on your couch, am I right? With multiple gameplay modes, including 5v5, 3v3, 1v1, and a "Hook Wars" mode, there are tons of different ways to get into Arena of Valor. Arena of Valor is accessible and enjoyable, with a fairly simple control scheme and some truly enjoyable gameplay. And it's free.
For more recommendations, read our list of the best MOBAs to play right now.
6. Sky: Children of the Light
Developer: Thatgamecompany
Released: 2019
Sky: Children of the Light from Journey developer thatgamecompany is hard to describe succinctly. The developer calls it a "social adventure," and it certainly is that, but it's also a third-person adventure game with seamless multiplayer, effectively making it an MMO of sorts. The whole point is to soar around and explore a beautifully animated world in order to -- as the developer puts it -- spread hope "through the desolate kingdom to return fallen Stars to their constellations." It's musical, magical, and well worth your time. And free!
Check out our list of the best multiplayer Switch games.
5. Super Kirby Clash
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Released: 2019
A HD version of the largely ignored Team Kirby Clash Deluxe on 3DS, this multiplayer actioner is a surprisingly in-depth RPG. It turns out that there’s far more to Kirby than just inhaling everything he sees, and in Super Kirby Clash, you must choose between the Sword Hero, Hammer Lord, Doctor Healmore, and Beam Mage classes to take on Kirby bosses. It’s a little heavy on the requirement of Gem Apples - the game’s in-app purchases and rewards for performing quests - but the online battle system is brilliant fun, and upgrades genuinely feel like progression. Plus, if you don’t want to go online, AI friends fill in almost too well for each brawl, proving that you don’t need real humans after all. Just spherical, colorful blobs with swords. Yay.
You can check out more cute titles with our list of the best Kirby games next.
4. Overwatch 2
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Released: 2022
Say what you want about Overwatch 2, but the fact remains that it's inarguably the best free hero shooter on Nintendo Switch. Constantly evolving, and not always in ways that the community likes or wants, Overwatch 2 scratches a certain kind of itch that other games on the Nintendo Switch just can't. We could argue all day about whether there was any need for it to exist when the original Overwatch was right there, but exist it does, and it makes for a perfectly fine -- though not extraordinary -- experience.
Overwatch 2 isn't the best shooter by any means, but to find out more, read our Overwatch 2 review.
3. Brawlhalla
Developer: Blue Mammoth Games
Released: 2017
Even among fighting game fans, Super Smash Bros: Ultimate can be divisive. The brand of gravity-wrangling, weapon-raining combat might not be for you, even if you ‘enriched’ your youth every available quarter into Street Fighter II. And that’s where the excellent Brawhalla comes in. It’s a free, immediate, beautifully designed fighter that will give a clear sense of how you’ll manage Smash’s frenetic combat. But more than this, it’s an excellent standalone scrapper in its own right. There’s a huge selection of characters, pixel-perfect platforming, and an active, engaged community. And if anything, the crisp design and cartoony presentation might actually be easier to parse than Ultimate’s boisterous and explosive design. The bad news, though, is that this means you'll have no excuse when a cartoon Viking smacks you into oblivion with an axe.
2. Fortnite
Developer: Epic Games
Released: 2017
Introducing Fortnite at this stage feels a bit like being the person at a party acting like the MCU is a little-known series of indie movies that only they know intimately. The good news, though, is that Fortnite fits on Nintendo Switch like a certain apocalypse-causing glove from the aforementioned not-so-indie movies. Whether you’re handing Epic Games your credit card details or not, the colorful 100-player carnage runs beautifully on the handheld at 30fps and fully supports cross-platform play. As battle royale games go, nothing can compete with Fortnite’s constant evolutions to keep the world playing, making it still one of the most exciting games to arrive on Switch. That Nintendo’s console can happily stand alongside its bigger brothers and still deliver a perfect hit of cinematic chaos is a feat worth flossing about.
Read our Fortnite review for more information on this classic.
1. Tetris 99
Developer: Arika
Released: 2019
If you think Battle Royale Tetris sounds like a fever dream as a genre, you're not entirely wrong. It just shouldn't work but, somehow, 99 Tetronimoe spinning players all desperately trying to reign supreme as the music gets faster and faster is one of the most exhilarating multiplayer experiences in years. Maybe it’s the fact that you can choose to attack only the weakest of players or just the glorious idea that all those decades of lone block spinning are finally paying off, but Tetris 99 has managed to effortlessly become one of the best free games on Switch. It’s definitely not the calmest experience on this list - you’ll need to get to 8 for that - but as tests of your reaction times go, it doesn’t get much better than blocky Battle Royale. It's worth noting that while it is technically free-to-play, you will need a Nintendo Online subscription.
Check out our list of the new games to stay on top of all the latest titles coming to Nintendo's console. Or check out our guide to all the Switch exclusives you can play right now.
