Video games are an expensive hobby. Whether you’re buying a brand new console or the latest release, filling your digital library with the latest games can be expensive. Fortunately, that is starting to change. In recent years, more and more publishers have started adopting the free-to-play model, allowing players to dive right into great Nintendo Switch games without paying a penny.
We’ve dug in and compiled a list of some of the best free-to-play titles available for Nintendo Switch. This allows you to enjoy great games without putting too much stress on your wallet. From battle royale and fighting games to management sims and platformers, take a look at 14 of the best free-to-play titles available on this console.
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fortnite
Perhaps the largest free-to-play game available today, Fortnite has grown from an ambitious multiplayer shooter to a cultural behemoth. The goal of the game is simple. Be one of the last to beat his 99 other players in free-for-all battles. You must wander into a huge world, find guns, build structures, eliminate other players, and quickly track down some gear. Meanwhile, the boundaries of the map begin to shrink and you are converged into the central arena, where you fight for the winner’s crown.
On paper, Fortnite is a pretty standard battle royale shooter, but over the years its scope has gone far beyond the genre. Whether it’s new game modes, crossover cameos, in-game concerts, movie screenings, or interactive events, Fortnite is now a multimedia sensation. All Fortnite multiplayer modes are free to play, with microtransactions limited to cosmetics and the Season Battle Pass.
read our article Fornite review or check out more games like fortnite.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Combining the colorful mascot platformer with the battle royale genre, Mediatonic’s Fall Guys was first released in 2020. Since then, it has become free-to-play, opening up to new players who want to experience their own brand of multiplayer platformer mayhem. Enjoy all Fall Guys multiplayer modes for free, including paid content exclusive to the in-game cosmetics store and a unique unlockable Premium Season Battle Pass.
For those new to Fall Guys, the game turns 100 players into clumsy bean-shaped competitors in a high-stakes game spread over a series of increasingly difficult rounds. Fight each other on the show. Think of it as Human: Fall Flat meets Takeshi’s Castle. The last remaining player wins and takes home valuable points that can be redeemed for new costumes, emotes, and more. Fall Guys has grown exponentially in the years since its debut, with the game going through multiple seasons and adding a variety of new stages.
read our article Fallguy review.
rocket league
A chaotic fusion of arcade racing and football, Rocket League has been a staple of the free-to-play scene since moving to this model in 2020. Up to 8 players pit themselves against each other as they try to launch a giant soccer ball. Rocket League is easy to learn, but hard to master, as you use small race cars to get to the finish line of your opponents. Players must work effectively as a team, defend their opponents and score goals in style.
With a huge community, Rocket League is undoubtedly one of the most popular multiplayer titles in gaming today. It’s also frequently updated, with developer he Psyonix adding new seasons, events, game modes, and decorations on a regular basis. All Rocket League multiplayer modes are free, and players can purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store.
read our article Rocket League review.
apex legends
After developing Titanfall and its sequel, Respawn Entertainment entered the free-to-play battle royale realm with Apex Legends. Set in the same world as Titanfall, his Apex Legends adapted the genre with a twist to create a team-based hero shooter-mix battle royale.
After choosing a hero from a large roster, players gather in squads of three and use their unique abilities to defeat rival teams and become the final squad. Since its launch, the game has been updated frequently, adding new seasons and game modes. All multiplayer modes in Apex Legends are completely free and unlock heroes with currency earned while playing. As for microtransactions, players can purchase cosmetics and unlock heroes instantly upon payment.
read our article Apex Legends review.
overwatch 2
Overwatch 2, the second installment in Blizzard’s acclaimed multiplayer, team-based hero shooter, welcomed a slew of new players when it launched in late 2022. Focusing on 5v5 battles, the player selects a hero and uses the character’s abilities to battle the enemy team. Back up your teammates and win the match.
Overwatch 2 is an ever-evolving experience, and Blizzard adds new events and updates the game frequently. All of Overwatch 2’s multiplayer modes are free to play, but heroes can be unlocked by playing matches (or hero can unlock them all for his one-time fee via his pack). can be released). Microtransactions are limited to unlocking cosmetics and purchasing Season Battle Passes.
read our article Overwatch 2 review.
warframe
One of the longest running entries on the list, Warframe was first released in 2013. In the decade since, Warframe has become a console staple, offering users a free-to-play sci-fi action RPG with a lengthy main campaign. -Paced third-person combat, fully integrated co-op, extensive customization and deep exploration.
For those looking for a game that will keep them immersed for hours, Warframe is a solid choice. It’s constantly evolving with frequent updates, giving you a constant stream of new things to do, planets to visit, and missions to perform. Warframe is completely free to play, but microtransactions are limited to cosmetics.
read our article Warframe review.
fallout shelter
Originally released as a tie-in with Fallout 4, Fallout Shelter is a management sim that puts players in the role of a Vault overseer. This prestigious position gives them the ability to create, manage, and ultimately operate one of the franchise’s iconic vaults, providing food, housing, and keeping its residents happy. can. Along the way, they’ll need to create facilities, gather resources, battle enemies, and send residents into the wilderness on missions.
Fallout Shelter is completely free-to-play, and microtransactions are limited to purchasing loot crates containing new residents, pets, weapons, resources, and bottles of Nuka-Cola Quantum to speed up your activities.
read our article Fallout Shelter review.
super kirby crush
Bringing Nintendo’s adorable mascot back for another adventure, Super Kirby Clash is a team-based brawler for up to 4 players where Kirby and his companions battle various bosses. Playable with both friends and his AI his partner, the game features his four different classes with unique abilities.
Nintendo promoted Super Kirby Clash as a “free to start” game, implying that players would eventually hit a paywall, but the campaign is completely free. Microtransactions are limited to gems, Apple’s in-game currency that allows you to purchase upgrades, stickers, and support items. However, Gem Apples can also be obtained by playing the game, so you don’t need to buy Gem Apples to earn Super Kirby Crush credits.
pokemon quest
Reimagining the iconic Pokémon series as a loot-centric action-adventure game, Pokémon Quest is a unique interpretation of one of Nintendo’s most original traits. This game takes the player to Tumble Cube Island. A new realm filled with cube-shaped Pokémon known as Pokecells. Your job is to explore the island, defeat wild pokecells, train new pokecells, and manage your home base.
The core Pokémon Quest content is completely free-to-play, and microtransactions are limited to upgrades that speed up progress.
read our article Pokemon Quest review Or see our guide. best pokemon game.
The Elder Scrolls: Blaze
The Elder Scrolls: Blaze, a free-to-play dungeon crawler set in The Elder Scrolls universe, lets players become one of the last surviving members of The Blaze to rebuild a town. , challenge various quests. Blades ditches the open-world format of other Elder Scrolls games for a linear action RPG where players raid dungeons for loot and experience. He can then use the resources he finds to rebuild his hometown and create a personal settlement to house his new NPCs and additional quests.
In addition to the main campaign, Blades also features an online PvP and endless dungeon mode that allows players to traverse endless randomly generated levels to gain experience and other rewards.
All three modes of The Elder Scrolls: Blaze are free to play. However, it’s worth considering that the game has been heavily criticized for having to wait on long in-game timers that are only accelerated by purchasable currency, and for intrusive microtransactions that slow progress.
read our article The Elder Scrolls: Blaze review.
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a free platform fighting game focused on tournaments between fierce warriors where you can test your might against AI opponents and other online players. Choose from a vast roster of timeless and legendary heroes and fight in both free-for-all and team-based combat across several modes.
All Brawlhalla maps are free to play from Jump, and you can purchase new fighters with the currency you earn while playing the game. When it comes to microtransactions, the focus is on instantly unlocking cosmetic items and new fighters.
Just Dance (2023)
Please note that the free version of Just Dance 2023 only includes two songs: “Sweet But Psycho” by Ava Max and “Dynamite” by BTS. The rest of the game’s tracks are unlocked by paying the full version.
Both songs, though, are enough to give you a taste of the latest in Ubisoft’s annual motion-based dance series. For those who haven’t joined before, Just Dance teaches players to dance to their favorite tracks and challenges them to follow set routines and stay in tune with the music. If you can keep up with the song, you can earn points, so you can mark a high score and challenge your friends.
Yu-Gi-Oh!master duel
Konami believes it is the definitive video game adaptation of the iconic trading card game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a free-to-play version of Yu-Gi-Oh. Equipped with the latest rules and cards. In addition to the multiplayer mode where players can challenge their decks against online opponents, Master Duel also has a solo mode, giving newcomers to the game the chance to learn the basics.
The base game of Master Duel is completely free, and microtransactions are limited to purchasing new card packs.
Sky ~Children of Light~
From the creators of 2012’s Journey, Sky: Children of The Light is an online, open-world social adventure that lets players explore stark landscapes. Like Journey, this game is also about connecting with other players, where players meet, interact and become friends without saying a word.
Along the way, they begin solving puzzles and uncovering the mysteries of the world of Children of the Light and their place within it. The campaign is completely free-to-play, and in-game microtransactions are limited to cosmetics.
read our article Review of Sky: Children of the Light
Looking for more free games? Check out our guide to the best free PS5 games, or take a closer look at how to play Minecraft for free.
