Switch 2 Game-Key Card Beginner Guide: What It Is and What You Need

What a Game-Key Card Is

A Game-Key Card looks like a Switch 2 game card, but the full game isn’t on it. Nintendo says the card is a key to downloading the full game over the internet. Switch 2 supports both regular game cards and Game-Key Cards, and some games use one while others keep using regular cards.

What You Need Before You Start

📶 An internet connection for the first download. You only need it on first launch.

💾 Enough free space in the Switch 2 system memory or in a microSD Express card. The amount is printed on the Game-Key Card packaging, and the eShop page for the digital version lists it too. (Switch 2 storage guide)

🔄 Switch 2 system version 20.1.1 or higher.

Download and Start the Game

1. Make sure your Switch 2 is updated to 20.1.1 or higher and has enough free space for the game.
2. Insert the Game-Key Card into the Switch 2.
3. Follow the download instructions that appear on the HOME Menu after you insert the card. The game isn’t on the card, so it has to finish downloading before you can play.
4. Start the game from the HOME Menu once the download finishes.

Keep the Card in the Console to Play

After the first launch, you can start the game without an internet connection. You still need the card, though. Nintendo says the Game-Key Card must be inserted in the Switch 2 to play, just like physical software. A Nintendo Account isn’t required to download the game data.

Quick Answers

Is the whole game on the card? No. The card doesn’t hold the full game data.

Can I play without internet? Yes, after the first launch. The first download needs a connection.

Can I play without the card? No. The card must be in the Switch 2.

Want to know why other physical games still need downloads? Our physical games fact check compares discs, cards, and codes side by side.

Image Credit: Jacob Spaccavento on Unsplash