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Will Nintendo Switch Games Get Cheaper?

Usually, not by much—especially if you are talking about Nintendo’s big first-party games like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, or Animal Crossing. Switch games do go on sale, but the discount is more often temporary than permanent, and the biggest price drops usually happen on third-party releases, indie games, or used physical copies.

2026 update: Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers are no longer available to buy, so that old first-party savings trick should not be part of your current plan. Nintendo also says Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital Switch games, but not every title is guaranteed to be fully compatible, so backward compatibility does not automatically mean older Switch games will suddenly get much cheaper.

Short answer: some games will, but many won’t

The simplest way to think about Switch pricing is this: Nintendo-published games usually hold value for a long time, while third-party games and indies are much more likely to be discounted. That means a game can absolutely get cheaper, but the size and timing of the drop depend on who published it and how much demand it has.

If you want a fast rule of thumb, use this:

Game type	Typical price behavior	What to do
First-party Nintendo games	Often stay near MSRP for years, with occasional sales	Wait for a limited-time sale or buy used
Third-party games	More likely to get noticeable discounts	Watch retailer sales and seasonal promotions
Indie games	Frequent discounts, especially digitally	Check Nintendo’s sales page regularly
Used physical copies	Usually the biggest savings for popular games	Compare marketplace and local store prices

Why Switch games hold their price so well

Nintendo has a long history of keeping evergreen games expensive. On older systems, Nintendo used budget lines like Nintendo Selects on platforms such as Wii U and 3DS, but the Switch has not followed that same pattern with a standing, widely used discount line. Instead, Nintendo relies more on temporary promotions and retailer events.

That matters because the company’s most recognizable games tend to stay in demand. If a lot of people still want Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda titles, or Animal Crossing years after launch, there is less pressure for the price to fall hard. In other words, popularity slows down depreciation.

If you want a deeper look at the pattern across the platform, the average Nintendo Switch game cost gives a good idea of what most buyers end up paying over time.

What actually gets cheaper on Switch

Not every Switch game behaves the same way. The easiest way to save is to split the library into a few buckets and buy accordingly.

First-party Nintendo games

These are the hardest games to find cheap. They can go on sale, but those discounts are often modest and temporary. If you want one of Nintendo’s biggest titles, waiting can save money, but it usually will not produce the kind of deep discount you might see on PlayStation or Xbox later in a console cycle.

Third-party games

These are often the best place to find real savings. Publishers outside Nintendo are usually more willing to discount games, especially when a title is older or no longer at the center of attention.

Indie games

Indies are frequently discounted in the eShop. Many smaller releases get repeated sales because they need visibility more than they need to protect an evergreen premium price.

Used physical copies

This is where the biggest savings usually show up for popular games. A used cartridge can be far cheaper than a new copy, especially if you are fine with a game that has been opened and played before.

Best ways to save on Nintendo Switch games now

If you want to spend less without wasting time, this is the practical order I would use:

1. Check Nintendo’s official sales page first. Nintendo still runs a current sales hub for digital deals, and that is the safest place to confirm whether a discount is actually active.
2. Compare physical and digital prices. Sometimes the cartridge is cheaper; sometimes the download is. The answer changes by game and by sale window.
3. Look at used copies for first-party games. This is usually the best shot if you want a lower price on a Mario or Zelda title.
4. Be flexible on title choice. If you are willing to skip the biggest names, there are usually better deals in the third-party and indie libraries.
5. Buy during seasonal retailer sales. Holiday periods and store-wide promos are often where Switch bargains show up.

For readers deciding between formats, the trade-offs are laid out in digital vs physical Switch games. The short version is that digital is convenient, while physical usually gives you the better resale options and sometimes the better deal if the used market is strong.

What changed in 2026

The biggest change for price-conscious buyers is that Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers are no longer on the table for new purchases. That matters because vouchers used to be one of the few straightforward ways to lower the cost of selected first-party digital games. With that option gone, the realistic savings paths are narrower.

At the same time, Nintendo’s current promotions still use limited-time sales language, which is why it is better to think in terms of campaigns and temporary discounts rather than a permanent price drop. If you see a game you want on sale, that is usually the moment to buy it instead of assuming the price will keep sliding down later.

You can also keep an eye on Nintendo Switch go on sale if your bigger question is whether the hardware itself follows the same stubborn pricing pattern as the games.

Quick buying checklist

• Is the game first-party Nintendo, third-party, or indie?
• Is the best price on digital or physical?
• Is the current discount temporary or just a normal retail listing?
• Would a used cartridge be acceptable?
• Are you waiting for a Switch 2 compatibility angle, or do you want the game now?

If you can answer those five questions, you will usually know whether waiting is worth it.

When waiting makes sense, and when it does not

Waiting makes sense if you are looking at a major Nintendo title that is still selling well. Those games often stay expensive long enough that you may be better off buying used or catching a rare sale instead of waiting for a permanent price drop that may never come.

Waiting also makes sense if you are not in a hurry and you are open to smaller or less popular titles. That is where the better Switch discounts tend to live.

Waiting does not make much sense if the game is already on sale at a price you like. Nintendo and its retailers can move promotions on and off quickly, and there is no guarantee the next sale will be better than the current one.

FAQ

Do Nintendo Switch games ever get permanent price cuts?

Sometimes, but not often in a big way. Nintendo’s biggest games usually stay expensive for a long time, and the bigger savings are usually tied to temporary sales or used copies.

Are digital Switch games cheaper than physical copies?

Not always. Digital games are sometimes discounted more often, but physical used copies can be cheaper for popular games. It depends on the title and the current sale.

Are Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers still available?

No. Nintendo says Switch Game Vouchers could no longer be purchased after January 30, 2026. Any previously purchased vouchers are only relevant if they were bought before that cutoff.

Will Switch 2 make old Switch games cheaper?

Not automatically. Nintendo says Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital Switch games, but some titles are not fully compatible. Backward compatibility may help the library stay relevant, but it does not guarantee lower prices.

What is the best way to save money on popular Nintendo games?

Usually the best options are a used physical copy, a seasonal retailer sale, or a temporary digital promotion on Nintendo’s official sales page.

Official resources: Nintendo Sales & Deals and Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers discontinuation.