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Used Nintendo Switch Games: Is It Safe To Buy Them?

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Since the recent spike in the popularity of the Nintendo Switch, many gamers have been wondering if they should buy used games. As a follower of the platform, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about this question. 

People do not want to buy a used Switch game only to find out that it does not work on their Switch or that it was stolen. On the other hand, used Switch games are considerably cheaper than new ones, and everyone is looking to save a little bit of money. 

So when looking for used Switch games it is important to know whether it is safe to do so.

It is safe to buy used Switch games, as long as you are purchasing physical copies of the game and not digital ones. Digital games are not allowed to be sold or transferred to a different person or your account may get banned. 

Digital games (that you download on your Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite) cannot be resold. They are tied to your Switch account and can only be played by you on your account.

As long as the person selling you the used game has not tampered with the physical copy of the game in any way (for example swapped the case out for a different title), and there are no issues with it physically, then it is worth buying used Switch games that are in good condition.

Many people actually prefer to buy used Switch games over brand new Switch games as they are considerably cheaper to purchase. While you do not have to worry about the game not working if it is brand new, sometimes the extra cost just isn’t worth it. 

If you are looking to purchase a used Switch game and it is a digital copy, you should NOT buy it! When you purchase a digital copy of the game, you are only buying the rights to play that game on your Nintendo account. 

If you try to sell it or give it to a friend, Nintendo will know and will ban or suspend your account for fraudulent activities. This is one of the biggest issues when people go to sell used Switch games.  

To get the best deal on first-party Nintendo games or even Switch controllers (like the Pro controller) you will want to find them used. One word of warning, however, make sure that you buy them from a reputable company that has a good return policy.

If you buy used Switch accessories, Joy-Cons, or even a Switch OLED from places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist you will need to make sure to take the time to fully test out anything that you buy.

If you are purchasing an expensive used Switch game like the Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Mario Kart, Super Mario Odyssey, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Pokémon Sword & Shield, etc. you will want to bring your Switch with you to make sure that the game you are buying actually works and that the software that is inside the game actually matches what is on the outside of the physical cartridges.

Some dishonest people will swap the exterior cartridge for an expensive Switch game with the insides of a cheap third-party game to try and cheat buyers. So just make sure to meet in a busy location (like a restaurant) and test the games thoroughly before buying them.

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Can You Sell Used Switch Games?

While you may have purchased a couple of used Switch games to save a little bit of money, you always wondered if the person you bought it from was selling it legally or not. Maybe they were a little sketchy or just seemed a little off when you met them. 

There are many reasons that someone can be selling a used Switch game, and it does not mean that it has been stolen or that it is a fake game. 

You can legally sell any used physical Switch games that you have purchased to anyone that you like. The only restriction for selling Switch games is if they were purchased digitally. 

So if you have a bunch of digital Switch games (that you purchased on the E-shop) on an SD card they cannot be resold. However regular Nintendo Switch games can be sold used without any restrictions.

Digital games (that you bought using Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo.com) are not able to be sold as they are only available for your account and not able to be transferred to anyone else. So buying games on the Nintendo Eshop is convenient but it means you cannot resell the games.

Selling your used physical Switch games is a great way to make back some of the original investment that you made when you purchased the game or games. 

Everyone is looking for a good deal, and if you are able to sell your used games and make some money while helping someone else get a good deal, it is a win-win. You are getting rid of games that you no longer play while making some extra money, and the buyer is getting a good deal on a game that they want to play. 

Is It Bad To Leave A Game In The Switch?

While many people will use the Switch on the go and at home, many people may also accidentally leave a game in the Switch overnight. If this has ever happened to you, you are not alone, and we will answer all of your questions you might be having. 

It is not bad to leave a game in the Switch overnight or all the time. Leaving a game in your Switch will not damage or harm your Switch or the game that is left in it. 

Many people will actually leave the game they are currently playing in the Switch overnight, or simply all the time so they do not have to worry about not knowing where it is when they want to play again. 

This is why when Nintendo made the Switch and made it portable and a home gaming console, they made it able to work all the time. If you wanted to play your Switch on the go and on the tv in one day without taking the game out, you can easily do it. 

Nintendo wanted to make sure that the user of the Switch had a great experience no matter how they were using the device, This is why Nintendo made it able to work as a home console and as an on the go device. 

Where Is The Best Place To Sell My Switch?

When you are done using your Switch, you may be wondering where you can sell it and get the most money out of it. Obviously, you want to get as much money as possible out of your system when you sell it. 

The best place to sell your Switch is on the Facebook Marketplace. Not only will you be able to get more money for it than on eBay or in a store, but you do not have to worry about shipping it as the buyer will come to you. 

Many people have taken their gaming systems into stores such as Gamestop to trade them in and get pennies on the dollar for what they were worth. Facebook changed all of that when it launched Marketplace. 

Marketplace is where any Facebook user can post any item that they have for sale for free. Not only can they post items, but you can browse items in your area and even set alerts if something you’re looking for is listed. 

You are able to actually get what an item is worth when you sell it on marketplace, whereas a store like Gamestop will only give you a fraction of the value of your gaming device and games. 

This is why many people only sell their items on Facebook Marketplace rather than even taking it to a store, or pawn shop to try and sell it. Overall if you are looking to buy or sell any of your gaming systems or games, Facebook Marketplace is the best place to do it.