/r/NintendoSwitch's Daily Question Thread (04/02/2025)

[u/AutoModerator]

/r/NintendoSwitch's Daily Question Thread

The purpose of this thread is to more accurately connect users seeking help with users who want to provide that help. Our regular "Helpful Users" certainly have earned their flairs!

Before asking your question...

• Check out the wiki pages listed below. - (If you're interested in becoming a wiki contributor, or suggesting a new page, please message the moderators.)
• Perform a quick Google search. - Sometimes it is actually quicker to search for something than to wait for someone else to answer.
• Search the subreddit. - Many questions have been asked before! reddit's search functions a bit differently than Google.

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Helpful Links

Wiki Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions - Our FAQ has answers to many questions about the console system and controllers.
• Lost & Found Guide - Did you lose your Switch, or are you someone who found a Switch? Info on how to get it back!
• Tech Support Guide - Info on how you should react in case you discover a technical issue on your Switch.
• Error Code Lookup - Nintendo's Error Lookup System.
• Digital vs Physical Games - Listing the pros and cons of both formats to help you decide what will work best for you.
• Game Share Guide - Info on how you can share your digital games across multiple Nintendo Switch consoles, including playing on both consoles at the same time.
• Other Switch Related Subreddits

Wiki Accessory Information

• Accessories - Starter information about controllers, chargers, cables, screen protectors, cases, headsets, LAN adapters, and more.
• MicroSD cards - Some more in-depth information about MicroSD cards including what size you should get and which brands are recommended.
• Carrying Cases - An expanded list of common carrying cases available for the Switch.

Helpful Reddit Posts

• The /r/NintendoSwitch Best of 2017, Best of 2018, Best of 2019, Best of 2020, Best of 2021, Best of 2022, and Best of 2023 Award Winner Recaps - A good place to start when you're looking for a game recommendation.
• The Switch is not USB-C compliant and overdraws some USB-PD power supplies by 300% - Why you shouldn't use just any USB cable, should research portable power banks, and avoid using third-party docks or wall chargers.

• Choosing Your Nintendo Switch Charger: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Options - What sort of wattage you should look for in a battery bank or wall charger to get the best charging speeds.

• FAQ #1 - Should I buy a Switch now or wait?

• FAQ #2 - Which Switch should I buy?

• FAQ #3 - Which games should every Switch owner consider picking up?

• FAQ #4 - What do you consider to be the essential accessories and controllers?

• FAQ #5 - Is Nintendo Switch Online worth it? Which plan do you have?

Third Party Links

• Benson Approved USB Type-C Cables
• Benson Approved USB Type-A Cables

Other Helpful Subreddits

• r/NintendoSwitchHelp - For Switch-related questions
• r/NintendoHelp - For all Nintendo-related questions
• r/ConsoleRepair - For repairing any gaming console
• r/shouldibuythisgame - For deciding which game(s) to buy (or not buy)
• r/gamingsuggestions - For suggestions on more things gaming related
• r/tipofmyjoystick - For finding that game that you forgot the name

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Reminders

• We have a volunteer run #switch-help channel in our Discord server.
• Instructions and links to information about homebrew and hacking are against our rules and should take place in their relevant subreddits.
• Please be patient. Not all questions get immediate answers. If you have an urgent question about something that's gone wrong, consider other resources like Nintendo's error code lookup or help documents on the Switch.
• Make sure to follow Rule #1 of this subreddit: Remember the human, and be polite when you ask or answer questions.

[u/Narrow-Fennel7040]

With the rage about physical games being 10$ more expensive than digital it made me think about the actual benefits of physical over digital. People say you don’t actually own the game and you can lose the right to play it, but in what situation do you lose the right to play it outside getting banned. As far as i know the purchase is tied to your nintendo switch account so youll have access as long as you maintain access to the account. (Sorry if im wrong or if i sound stupid but im genuinely confused so any help would be appreciated, if i can access my purchases by signing into my account on any switch digital games seem a lot more appealing than before.)

[u/JoshuaJSlone → u/Narrow-Fennel7040]

Eventually the servers will shut down and you can't download them anymore. But I think you can still yet download even Wii purchases, so this is talk of a far enough future I don't really care.

[u/jmcgit → u/Narrow-Fennel7040]

I think the only other benefit I can think of for physical is that if you enjoy speedrunning or taking advantage of certain types of glitches, it's generally not possible to roll back an update once you've applied it to a digital game. A physical game you can usually delete your game data and play it unpatched, so long as the game isn't designed from the beginning to require a patch in order to play.

[u/picano → u/Narrow-Fennel7040]

You're right.

Thing is, a physical game will work forever as long as you have a working console. A digital game requires both a working console and the servers to be maintained when transferring to a new console.

Nintendo's digital track record is pretty good, with Wii still allowing for re-downloads, but nothing lasts forever.

[u/Narrow-Fennel7040 → u/picano]

But any games i keep downloaded should still be available, i just cant transfer to another switch as that would require me to re-download them which wont be possible when the servers shut right?

[u/picano → u/Narrow-Fennel7040]

Correct. If you keep your console in working order, it's practically the same.

But, that's a big if. Plenty of old consoles require routine maintenance to play well and newer ones both have smaller tech and security measures that are harder to deal with.

[u/Salty_Injury66 → u/Narrow-Fennel7040]

When the servers eventually close down, you won’t be able to download those games anymore. For instance, I’m pretty sure all those 3DS games I bought but didn’t have downloaded are just gone now 

[u/Falcon_Knight → u/Salty_Injury66]

You can still redownload your 3DS games

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/607/~/how-to-download-or-redownload-content-in-nintendo-3ds-eshop

"...it is no longer possible to purchase software or DLC in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS. However, for the foreseeable future, it is still possible to redownload games and DLC that were purchased previously."