Summary

  • Nintendo Switch Online launched in 2018, charging for online access but still offering free games to play without a subscription.
  • Disney Speedstorm, Palia, and Warframe are among the free games on Nintendo Switch that provide exciting and unique gameplay experiences.
  • From battling in My Hero Ultra Rumble to racing in Asphalt 9, there are numerous free-to-play options on Switch for different gaming preferences.

When online multiplayer began rising in popularity on home consoles in the early 2000s, Nintendo was one of the lasꦏt major companies to implement it into its software. They didn't always provide the most reliable or fun experiences, but at least it was free compared to Sony and Microsoft's subscription-based services.

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Nintendo would eventually start charging for access to online games when it launched 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch Online in 2018. You'll need it to access online features for games like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Splatoon 3, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and more. Fortunately, you can still play manyꦓ games online without a subscription to Nintendo's service.

Updated on December 7, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: If you want to play something online with your friends but don't want to pay for a monthly membership, you can enjoy plenty of free Nintendo Switch games without a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. We've updated this list to include more titles worth checking out if you are looking for something new to play without spending a dime.

18 Rec Room

Rec Room
Arcade

Released
🍒 May 21, 2019
ESRB
e
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
💝 Online Multiplayer
Platform(s)
PC, PS4
Developer
Rec Room Inc 🐠
Publisher
🉐 𝔉 Rec Room Inc

Rec Room is a unique social experience that allows you to mingle with strangers while engaging with original games or user-generated content. After you create your avatar, you can interact with other players, hop into an activity, or try to create𒀰 your own game with Rec Room’s tools.

If you just want something to play with a group of friends, Rec Room is the perfect place to meet up for a smorgasbord of games like bowling, laser tag, and original RPGs like Quest for the 🐭Golden Trophy. There's something for everyone here, and you can cross-play with anyone on any other console.

17 ꧂ Disney Speedstor🐓m

Stitch and Angel race each other during the day.

Released
Septe💝mber 28, 2023 ♚
ESRB
E for Everyone due to Miℱld🔯 Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
Developer(s)
Gameloft
Publisher(s)
Gameloft
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer ♎
Franchise
Disney
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

Disney Speedstorm is an arcade-inspired racing game with a roster of familiar faces from movies like Frozen, Monsters Inc., and Lilo and Stitch. Many of the tracks are set in iconic locatio🥀ns, like Andy's bedroom from Toy Story, so if you're a fan of Disney or Pixar, it's worth downloading Speedstorm to see all of these characters and locations come to life.

Whether racing alone, with friends, or against strangers online, understanding each character's unique abilities is the key to victory in most races. Speedstorm might not have gravity-defying tracks like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but it is an excellent alternative racing game for the Switch that's still receiving new content to this da𓆉y.

16 Palia

A group of players fish in a pond together.

Released
Augus﷽🌸t 10, 2023
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of To�🌠�bacco
Developer(s)
🀅 Singularity 6, Inc.
Publisher(s)
🦩 Sin𒁏gularity 6, Inc.
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op 💙
Number of Players
1-25

If you don't feel like racing against your friends or fighting hoards of enemies together, Palia provides a much more relaxing experience in a colorful world full of cozy activities. Palia features a lot of similarities to games like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Stardew Valley, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Harvest Moon, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:My Time at Portia, but it allows you to pဣlay in groups of four if you want to work alongside some friends for free.

Between cooking, exploring, and meeting the locals, there is so much to do in Palia that you could easily sink dozens of hours into the game 🌠without spending a dollar. The campaign is intriguing as well, so whether you like to follow a narrative or just goof around, Palia has something for everyone.

15 Warframe

A Warframe runs toward enemies during an epic battle in space.
4.0/5

Released
March 25, 20🌱13
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence ꦕ
Engine
Evolution Engine 🗹
Multiplayer
ﷺ Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox ꦬSeries X|S 🍌
How Long To Beat
💯 100+ Hours
Metascore
85
Platforms That Support Crossplay
🍃 PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

Warfram⛦e or𝔍iginally launched in 2013, and over a decade later, it's still going strong with an excellent community and consistent updates. Despite the dense environments and number of enemies on the screen at any given time, this third-person shooter runs surprisingly well on the Nintendo Switch, allowing you to easily immerse yourself in the gorgeous world of Warframe.

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One of the best aspec🤡ts of Warframe is how much freedom you have to customize your character to fit your play style. With more than 300 weapons to choose from and plenty of different modifiers, you could spend hours just experimenting with all the exciting possibilities. Warframe also supports cross-play, so you can play alongside your friends even if they don't own a Nintendo Switch.

14 🍌 🎐 My Hero Ultra Rumble

All Might and Izuku punch another fighter into the air in My Hero Ultra Rumble.

Released
🅠 September 29, 2023 ꧑
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Su✃ggestive Thℱemes, Violence
Developer(s)
🐼 BYKING, BNE Entertainm🉐ent
Publisher(s)
𒊎 Namco ▨Bandai, BNE Entertainment
Engine
Unreal Engine 4 🐓
Multiplayer
𒆙 Online Multiplayer
Franchise
My Hero Academia 🐓
Platform(s)
PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:My Hero Academia is an incredibly popular series that's been branching out towards video games since 2018. After the characters appeared in a couple of fighting games and found their way into Fortnite, they're back in𒀰 a free-to-play battle royale that pits eight teams of three players against each other to see who will be the last one standing.

What helps My Hero Ultr𝔉a Rumble stand out from other games in the genre is each character's unique powers, also known as "quirksꦜ." If you're a fan of the series or are just looking for something new to play with a couple of friends, you might be surprised by the amount of detail and depth.

13 🀅 Omega Stri🌌kers

Overhead view of a Strikers match.

Released
A🧸pril 27, 2023
ESRB
꧟ E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Viol🧸ence, Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
ꦺ Odyssey Interactive 🍷
Publisher(s)
🐭 ꦚ Odyssey Interactive
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer 🃏
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

There aren't many online multiplayer games like Omega Strikers available on the Switch. Instead of shooting other players, you'll team up in squads of three to shoot enough goals to crush the opposing team ꧃and claim victory. The best part - each match is only a few minutes long, so you don't need to worry about accidentally committing to a 20-minute session.

Aside from communication and teamwork, an essential part of winning is being familiar with each character and their abilities. It will be hard to protect your goal if you don't know how to💎 defend against certain skills, but after playing a few rounds, you should be able to use these abilities yourself to score on the opposing team and earn the first of many victories.

12 Ninjala

A group of Ninjala characters fly over a city and prepare to attack each other.
4.0/5

Released
ౠ June 24, 2020 🌳
ESRB
e
Developer(s)
GungHo Online Entertainment 💮
Publisher(s)
🐼 🥂 GungHo Online Entertainment
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer 🍨
Franchise
Ninjala
Platform(s)
Switch
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

If you enjoy the aesthetic and lighthearted fun of Splatoon, Ninjala is an excellent free-to-play game overflowing with🐎 content and different modes to play. You can compete with friends to🐽 try and earn the most points during team battles or hop into a battle royale to face off against seven other players.

Each character 𒈔uses close-range weapons like hammers and axes to attack opponents, but the most fun comes from maneuvering around the stage. You can run up walls and use objects around ൩the world to make yourself feel like a ninja and sneak up behind enemies before they realize what hits them.

11 ♛ Asphalꦉt Legends Unite

A red car drives toward the finish line.

Released
July 25, 2018 ꦦ
ESRB
🌺 E For Everyone // Mild Lyrics, Mild Violence
Developer(s)
🎀 Gameloft Barcelona
Publisher(s)
Gameloft
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer 💎
Cross-Platform Play
Android, iOS, Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. ❀
Cross Save
ဣ Android, iOS, Xbox, Wi𓃲ndows, and Steam
Franchise
Asphalt
How Long To Beat
123 Hours
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

The Asphalt series has been around since 2014, and while it might not be as well-known as Need For Speed or Forza, the latest entry is a fantastic free-to-play alternative to those bigger titles. With over 200 cars to unlock and 70 gorgeous racetracks ﷽to explore, there is a surprising amount of content for a game you don't need to pay to enjoy.

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Since launching on the Switch in 2019,🐎 Asphalt Legends Unite has continued to receive even more content, so you can always expect something new whenever you hop back in. Between a career mode, online multiplayer, and rotating seasonal events, this free racing game is a must-have for anyone with a need for speed and a love of cars.

10 ♚ Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel ෴

A chain strike activates multiple cards on the field.
Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel
Digital Card Game

Released
😼 January 19, 2022
ESRB
🅠 🌠 T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity
Developer(s)
Konami
Publisher(s)
Konami
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
ও Online Multiplaꦫyer
Metascore
80
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

If you would rather spend your time strategizing and building the perfect deck instead of shooting or racing against other people, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is the perfect game for you. It's designed to compliment both veterans and newcomers to the classic trading card gam꧑e, and even if you're initially unfamiliar with the IP, it will have you hooked by the time you finish your first couple of matches.

If you're not feeling confident enough to challenge people online right away, Yu-Gi-Oh! 🎃Master Duel features a fantastic single-player mode that lets you practice and become more familiar with the rules of the game. You can earn an in-game currency to buy more cards to experiment with and use community recommendations to build the perfect deck for you.

9 Overwatch 2 ꦍ

Sojourn, Moira, and Winston attack Junker Queen, Mercy, and Zenyatta.

Released
𓆏 Au🎀gust 10, 2023
ESRB
🌳 T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence ✤
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
Multiplayer
ꦬ Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC🥂, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Platform(s)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Switch, Xbox One S, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox One X, PC
How Long To Beat
35 hours
Platforms That Support Crossplay
PC, PS4, PS5, Sℱwitch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S ཧ
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Overwatch is one of many games to switch to a free-to-play formula so more players can access it without having to pay any money. When the original Overwatch launched on Switch, it required you 💖to buy it and pay for the online subscription, but the new iteration wipes all of that away, allowing you to hop in without spending a dime.

is mostly the same as the original game but has made 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:enough interesting changes to help make it feel fresh to both new and returning players. One of the biggest differences is the inclusion of a battle pass that unlocks🧜 new cosmetics and characters as you play through Overwatch 2's exciting multiplayer modes like Push or Mystery Heroes.