Nintendo Virtual Game Cards: 5 Limits to Know Before Sharing

Nintendo’s virtual game cards let you move digital games between systems and lend them within your Nintendo Account family group.

Before promising someone access to your library, check these five limits.

1. You Can Link Two Systems, but Each Card Plays on One

Nintendo allows two linked systems per account. Pairing them for the first time requires local wireless and internet access. Each virtual game card can be played on one linked system at a time.

2. Each Borrower Gets One Game for 14 Days

You can lend up to three cards at once, but each borrower can have only one game for 14 days. They can return it sooner.

To lend a card, both systems must be nearby for local wireless and connected to the internet.

3. Not Every Game Can Be Lent

Nintendo excludes some software, including games available only through Nintendo Switch Online. Demos and some member-exclusive games may not have virtual game cards.

4. Switch 2 Games Still Need Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Switch 2 Edition games can only load on Switch 2. Lending them does not make them compatible with an original Switch.

5. Offline Play Comes After Setup

The first launch after loading needs internet access. Ejecting a card also requires an internet connection.

After setup, loaded cards support offline play, and other users on that system can play them. Borrowers keep their save data when a loan ends.