Welcome to Nintendo Support

Get support for your Nintendo systems, software and services

How to Purchase or Download Content on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch

Instructions on purchasing and downloading games and content from Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch.

You can purchase a game with existing funds and/or add funds directly when you buy the game.
An internet connection and Nintendo Account are required to access Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch.
Details of your Nintendo eShop transaction will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account.
For assistance with purchasing a Nintendo Switch Online membership, click here.

Select “Nintendo eShop” on the HOME Menu to launch Nintendo eShop.
Select the account you want to use.
Locate the game that you want to purchase, then select it to reach its product information page.
- Any DLC or in-game items associated with the game will also be available through the game's product information page. Select the individual DLC/item from the game details to proceed with purchasing it.
Select Proceed to Purchase.
- If the item already displays "Purchased", click here.
- If you have an active Nintendo Switch Game Voucher and the game is eligible, you will be asked if you want to redeem a voucher. Select Use Voucher to use a voucher for the game or select Don't Use Voucher to continue with the purchasing steps below.

Select “Purchase” to complete the purchase.
- The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu, and, if you are downloading multiple items at once, you can prioritise which one you would like to download first.

If you have My Nintendo Gold Points that you want to use towards the purchase price, select “Use points for a discount”. Enter the number of points you want to use, then “Next” to apply them.
- The “Use points for a discount” option will not appear if your Gold Point balance is currently 0.
- If no additional funds are needed after applying Gold Points, you can select “Purchase” to complete the purchase. The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu, and, if you are downloading multiple items at once, you can prioritise which one you would like to download first.

Select “PayPal”.
- This option is only available to Nintendo Account owners in the EU (Not South Africa) who are aged 18 years and older.
Link your PayPal account to your Nintendo Account, if you have not already done so.
Select the amount that you want to add.
- If you select “Required Amount Only”, any funds already in your current balance will be automatically applied to the game price, and your PayPal account will be charged for the remainder.
Select “Purchase” to complete the purchase.
- The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu, and, if you are downloading multiple items at once, you can prioritise which one you would like to download first.

Select “Credit Card”.
- If you have a credit card stored, you will be prompted to either “Use This Credit Card” or “Use Another Credit Card”. If you are using the stored credit card, you will not need to re-enter the credit card information to complete the purchase.
Select the amount that you want to add.
- If you select “Required Amount Only”, any funds already in your current balance will be automatically applied to the game price, and your credit card will be charged for the remainder.
Enter the credit card number, expiry date, security code and post code, then select “Next”.
- Nintendo Account owners aged 18+ can click the “Save” box on the credit card entry screen to store credit card information.
- If Nintendo eShop exists for your region, credit cards issued from your region will not work in a different region’s Nintendo eShop. (For example, credit cards issued for the EU will only work in Nintendo eShop for Europe.)
Select “Confirm", then “Purchase” to complete the purchase.
- The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu, and, if you are downloading multiple items at once, you can prioritise which one you would like to download first.

Select “Nintendo eShop Card”.
Enter the 16-character prepaid code, then select “OK”.
- Any letters and symbols not used with prepaid codes (i.e. O, I, Z, commas, hyphens, etc.) will be disabled from the on-screen keyboard.
Select “Confirm”, then “Purchase" to complete the purchase.
- The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu, and, if you are downloading multiple items at once, you can prioritise which one you would like to download first.