Nintendo Switch 2 has been met with controversy early on, after it emerged that most of the announced third-party games would not include the full game on the cartridge. Instead, they will use “game-key cards.”
Once inserted, these will prompt you to download the game to your portable home console, and the game-key card must remain in your system in order for you to be able to play the game.
“Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your ‘key’ to downloading the full game to your console via the internet, Nintendo explains on its website. “After it’s downloaded, you can play the game by inserting the game-key card into your console and starting it up as normal.”
There are publishers like Nintendo, of course, who have chosen to put their full game on a physical game card, and we are looking to maintain a list of these to help you make an informed decision about what to buy.
We will do our best to keep this list updated over time, but if you spot any errors or omissions that would help us do so, please let us know.
List of Every Nintendo Switch 2 Game Complete On A Game Card
- Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition: CD Projekt RED has confirmed that you “can purchase the game on launch day in a physical 64 GB game card or digital download from the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2.”
- Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion: Marvelous USA has confirmed that the physical editions of its games “will feature the full game on the cartridge.”
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
- Kirby Air Riders
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World: Nintendo has confirmed that its physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition copies “will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).“
- Mario Kart World
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Nintendo has confirmed that its physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition copies “will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).“
- Pokémon Legends ZA Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Nintendo has confirmed that its physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition copies “will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).“
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Marvelous USA has confirmed that the physical editions of its games “will feature the full game on the cartridge.”
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Marvelous USA has confirmed that the physical editions of its games “will feature the full game on the cartridge.”
- Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV: Nintendo has confirmed that its physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition copies “will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).“
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Nintendo has confirmed that its physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition copies “will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).“
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Nintendo has confirmed that its physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition copies “will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).“
Nintendo Switch 2 will be released at retailers around the world on 5 June 2025, priced at £395.99 in the United Kingdom, €469.99 across Europe, and $449.99 in the United States.
