Can You Gift A Game On Switch?

Yes, you can gift a game on Switch through the Nintendo eShop using a download code or by purchasing a physical copy for someone.

Wondering if you can spread the gaming joy? The question of ‘can you gift a game on switch’ is a common one, and thankfully, the answer is yes! Gifting a game on this popular console is quite achievable.

There are a couple of ways you can do it, either digitally or with a good old-fashioned game cartridge. It makes celebrations and surprise presents extra special. We will explore both methods.

Can You Gift a Game on Switch? Let’s Dive In!

So, you want to give a friend the joy of a new Nintendo Switch game? That’s awesome! Giving games is a really fun way to share the excitement and fun. But, how exactly do you gift a game on a Nintendo Switch? It’s not quite as simple as handing over a physical game card. Let’s break down everything you need to know about giving the gift of digital joy on the Nintendo Switch.

Understanding Digital Gifting on the Nintendo Switch

Unlike some other game platforms, Nintendo handles gifting a little differently. You can’t directly buy a digital game on the eShop and send it to someone’s Nintendo account. This is important to know because it means you won’t find a “gift” button right there when browsing. Instead, you’ll need to go about it a different way.

The Two Main Ways to Gift Nintendo Switch Games

There are two main paths you can take when gifting a game on Switch. Each has its own pluses and minuses, and the best method really depends on who you’re gifting to, and your particular situation. Let’s look closer at each one:

Purchasing a Physical Game Card: This is the more traditional method and is pretty easy and straightforward. You can go to any store that sells video games— or order online—and pick out a game in a box. It’s like buying any other present, and your friend can open it up and put it in their Switch.
Giving a Nintendo eShop Gift Card: Think of this like giving money, but only for the Nintendo eShop. Your friend can then use this to buy any game they like. It can be a perfect solution when you’re not sure what games they want, or if they want something that’s only available digitally.

Going the Physical Game Card Route

This is perhaps the most familiar way of gifting games. Let’s imagine you’re buying a game for your friend, Sarah. You know she’s been wanting the newest Mario game, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder”. Here’s how this works:

Steps to Gift a Physical Nintendo Switch Game

Head to the Store: Go to any store that sells video games, or search online. Places like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, or even Amazon have them.
Pick the Game: Find “Super Mario Bros. Wonder.” Double-check the box to ensure it’s for the Nintendo Switch. You can usually find them in the Nintendo Switch game section.
Purchase the Game: Head to the checkout and pay for the game, just like any other product.
Wrap it Up: When you get home, you might like to wrap the game in some paper, and maybe put a bow on top. Now you have a nice looking gift for your friend!
Give it to Sarah: Give it to Sarah for her birthday, or any other time that you want to surprise her with a nice present! She can open it up, take out the game card, and put it in her Switch.

Advantages of Physical Games

Choosing a physical game card has some specific advantages:

Tangible Gift: There’s something special about holding a physical gift and opening it. It’s fun to unwrap a box!
Can be Shared: Your friend can play the game, and if they decide they don’t like it, or they are finished with it, they can even pass it on to another friend. This also allows people to sell used games.
Easy to Purchase: You can get them from a large variety of retailers. If a store is near you it’s very easy to go and buy it right away.

Disadvantages of Physical Games

There are some things to think about though, before choosing a physical copy of a game:

Takes up space: These days, some people like everything digital, and might not want a pile of game boxes lying around.
Can be lost or damaged: Physical game cards can get scratched, broken, or lost, making the game unplayable.
Price: Sometimes physical games are more expensive than digital ones.

Choosing a Nintendo eShop Gift Card

If you’re unsure of which game to get, or if your friend prefers digital downloads, then a Nintendo eShop Gift Card is a great choice. It allows them to pick the game they want, when they want it. The eShop is the place where you buy and play games online from Nintendo. A gift card is like having cash to buy things there.

How to Purchase and Gift an eShop Gift Card

Buying a Nintendo eShop Gift card is pretty easy, and you can often buy them from the same place you buy physical games. Let’s say you want to give your friend Mark a gift card for his birthday:

Find a Gift Card: These are sold in different amounts, like $10, $20, $50, and $100. You can find them in most stores that sell games, or buy them online. Make sure to check that they are specifically for the Nintendo eShop.
Choose an Amount: Pick the amount that you think is good for the gift. Consider the price of the games you think Mark might want.
Purchase the Gift Card: Buy it like any other gift card. Sometimes you get a physical card, or you might get a code on a receipt or email.
Give the Gift Card: If you got a physical card, put it in a birthday card! If it’s a code, you can write it in the birthday card, or send it to Mark in a text message or email.

Using the eShop Gift Card

Once Mark gets his gift card, he can then add the funds to his account. Here’s how that works:

Find the eShop on the Switch: Mark needs to turn on his Nintendo Switch, and find the eShop icon, and then click on it.
Go to Redeem: Once inside, there is usually a ‘Redeem’ section. This will allow Mark to input the code from the gift card he has received.
Enter the Code: Mark then carefully enters the code. Once he’s done this, the amount of money on the gift card will then be added to his Nintendo Switch account.
Buy a Game: Now Mark can look at all the games on the eShop, and choose the one that he wants. When he clicks on ‘buy’, the payment will come from the gift card funds.

Benefits of Using eShop Gift Cards

Flexibility: Your friend can select any game they like within the gift card amount. They’re not stuck with a game that they might not like.
Easy to Send: If you buy it online, you can send the code to your friend almost right away.
Great for Digital-Only Games: If the person you’re gifting to likes smaller or unique games that are only on the eShop, they can find them, and purchase them with their gift card.

Things to Note with eShop Gift Cards

Digital Only: Gift cards only work on the Nintendo Switch eShop, not at the stores. Your friend will only be able to buy digital games.
Amount Limits: If a game is more expensive than the gift card amount, your friend will need to have enough funds on their account already, or they may have to add more.
Can’t Be Returned: Usually, gift cards can’t be turned back into cash, so they must be used on the Nintendo eShop.

Gifting Games from Other Regions

Sometimes, you might want to gift a game that is from a different country, and is not sold in your region. This can be a little tricky, and it’s important to think carefully about it before trying to do it. It might not always work, because Nintendo has rules about what games can be played in each region.

Region Locking: What Is It?

Region locking means that a game made for one region of the world (like North America) may not work on a system made for another region (like Europe or Japan). Nintendo has started to relax these rules for the Switch, but it is still something to be careful about. Most games work fine, but there are a few exceptions.

Buying Games from Different Regions

If you’re thinking of buying a physical game from a different country, check to see if it is compatible with the Nintendo Switch. The back of the box usually has information about the region of the game. If buying an eShop gift card from a different region, then your friend will need to have their Nintendo account set up for that region, which can be confusing. Sometimes it can be better just to stick to games that are in the same region as your friend.

Special Considerations for Digital Games

While you can’t directly gift a digital game as a gift from the eShop, there are some things to think about for digital-only games:

Exclusive Games: Some awesome games are only available as digital downloads, such as indie titles or special releases. Gift cards are often the best way to go for these.
Instant Access: Your friend can start playing a digital game as soon as it’s downloaded. No waiting for shipping or going to the store!
No Physical Clutter: Some people prefer no physical clutter. For them, digital games are better, because they don’t need to store any game cards.

What If You’re Not Sure What Game to Buy?

Sometimes you might not know what type of game your friend likes. If you’re stuck, you can do some research. You might be able to ask your friend’s family, or other friends, for ideas. Or, you can also try the following:

Tips for Picking the Right Game or Gift Card Amount

Ask Your Friend: The easiest thing to do is to ask your friend! You could ask them what games they’ve been interested in, or if there are any they’ve been hoping to play.
Think About Their Interests: Does your friend like racing games? Adventure games? Puzzle games? Consider this when choosing a title.
Look at Top Sellers: Check the Nintendo website or eShop to see the most popular games. This can give you some good ideas.
Start Small: If you’re unsure, a smaller gift card amount can be a nice way to test the waters. They can always add more funds to their account if they want to buy something more expensive.

Hopefully, these tips will help you decide what’s best for your friend.

In summary, while you cannot directly send a digital game as a gift on the Nintendo Switch, you have excellent options such as purchasing a physical game card or an eShop gift card. Each has its own benefits, so the best choice really comes down to what works best for your situation, and what your friend would most enjoy. With a bit of planning, you can easily share the fun of Nintendo gaming with your friends and family.

How to Gift Games on Nintendo Switch

Final Thoughts

Yes, gifting digital games on the Nintendo Switch has limitations. You can’t directly send a game to another user via the eShop. Instead, the must approach is to buy a digital code from retailers like Amazon or physical game cards. These can then be given as gifts.

Essentially, you are purchasing a means of access that the other person can then redeem. Thus, while direct gifting via the console is absent, you can definitely give games as presents using a workaround. So, ‘can you gift a game on switch?’ The answer is a bit nuanced.