Published 9 minutes ago

Yuliya Geikhman has been writing professionally for over 17 years. She started out in the MMO scene with Pando Media Booster and now dives into everything gaming at Screen Rant. She’s a lifelong gamer, a relentless industry sleuth, and a passionate follower of everything happening in the games industry.

The Nintendo Switch 2 brought with it improved hardware, fun new games, and upgrades to beloved existing games. It also brought with it a game price hike. Aside from upsetting fans, this has made each game more of an investment—and more of a disappointment if it end up not being to your liking.

Luckily, the Nintendo Switch 2 has the answer to that: Free-to-start games. These are games that are completely free to download and play for as long as you’d like, but most feature some form of microtransaction. There are nearly two dozen games for the Switch 2 that can be **downloaded and played completely for free **right now. The best ones don’t have to cost you a single cent.

Warframe Is A Sci-Fi Robot Ninja Action Fest

A Dedicated Switch 2 Version Is In Development

Developed by Digital Extremes, Warframe throws you into a sci-fi battle for humanity. Shoot and loot while **harnessing the powers of a mechanical ninja. **There are over 70 different types of Warframes to choose from, with many ways to customize them and more on the way.

Warframe came to the Nintendo Switch in 2018, and is currently playable for free on the Switch 2 through backwards compatibility. A native Switch 2 version is currently in development, and is scheduled to launch sometime in 2026.

Disney Speedstorm Is A Must-Play For Disney And Pixar Fans

Race Through Tracks Inspired By Your Favorite Franchises

Disney Dreamlight Valley gets all the limelight when it comes to Disney games, but Disney Speedster is a solid option for both Disney and racing game fans. The free game lets players race with their favorite Disney characters through tracks inspired by Disney and Pixar movies and franchises.

The game received a Switch 2 upgrade in July, and **now boasts 60 FPS **(up from 30) and 1080p in handheld mode and up to 1440p in docked mode. A number of visual upgrades were also added, which making the game look and run great on the Switch 2.

Super Kirby Clash Is Silly Fun In Local Co-Op

Customize The Perfect Kirby For You

Team up with up to three other people to take down Kirby enemies and bosses. Every player can customize their own Kirby to suit their play style, whether you prefer to be up front and personal as a Sword Hero or stick to the back and assist as Doctor Healmore.

The game **launched in 2019 and didn’t receive a Switch 2 upgrade **since the new console was released. Still, according to fans, the game runs well on Nintendo’s newest console, though it does experience a few bugs here and there.

Due to its old age,** Super Kirby Clash isn’t very active online anymore**, but it’s still a blast to pick up and play with some local co-op friends.

Palia Is A Cozy MMO With A Collaborative Spirit

Sit Back, Relax, And Make Some Friends

Palia is an **MMO made especially for the cozy community. **It features a fantasy realm where you can befriend and romance NPCs, design and craft your own home and garden, and explore the world.

Cooperation and collaboration are built into Palia as core components of this free game. Communication over typing can put Switch users at a bit of a disadvantage (typing on the Switch much slower than on PC!), but otherwise the game is as beautiful and cozy on the Switch 2 as it is on any other console. (And yes, there is cross-platform connectivity).

Pokémon Café Remix Is A Casual Matching Game

The Perfect Choice For Downtime

Sometimes, you just want something relaxing and simple to enjoy on your Switch 2, and that’s where Pokémon Café Remix comes in. This free game plays more like a mobile game than a console game, with a** familiar matching mechanic combined with adorable versions of Pokémon characters**.

Maintain a bustling café, hire cute Pokémon to help you around the store, and cook up some delicious treats. Remix is the 2021 revamped version of the original game, and it** upgrades a lot of the original’s pain points while adding new modes and features**.

Set Between Oblivion And Skyrim

*The Elder Scrolls: Blades *is set in the familiar world of The Elder Scrolls, set between the events of *Oblivion *and Skyrim. This time, players can enter the world for free as a free-to-play title.

Blades tells a brand-new story as a classic dungeon crawler with the same types of** stunning locations and intricate stories **that Bethesda is known for. The game was blasted when it first launched for leaning too heavily into microtransactions and a grindy leveling system.

Despite its downsides, Blades is a free game that you can play while you settle in for the long wait for The Elder Scrolls 6.

One Title Is Completely Free To Play​​​​​​​

Travel back in time to the heyday of arcades with Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium,* ***which makes classic Capcom arcade games playable on the Switch 2.

Unlike the other games in this list, 2nd Stadium isn’t fully free. Instead, you get the 1984 arcade game SonSon for free, a side-scrolling fighter based on Journey to the West. All other arcade games in the collection, including several *Street Fighter *games, must be purchased for $1-2 each.

A Spiritual Successor To 2013’s Journey

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Anyone who’s played Journey by Thatgamecompany will find *Sky: Children of the Light *familiar. That’s because the game is a spiritual successor by the same team. The game takes you through seven beautiful realms as you uncover the lore of the world and meet other travelers.

Like in Journey, your **musical interactions with other players **are just as important as the exploration itself. The free game has microtransactions, but the philosophy behind them is a little different from other free games. In the spirit of fostering a community, you can purchase items for yourself, or you can buy them to gift to other players. (Plus, they’re completely optional.)

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Is A Good Intro To The Franchise

Play Solo Or Against Others Around The World

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If you’ve never played a Yu-Gi-Oh! game beofore, *Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel *is a great place to start. The free game has a **Solo Mode that teaches you how to play **with a story to go along with it.

Once you’re ready, you can start **battling against real people in duels and championships **and building up your own deck and playstyle. Reportedly, the game runs incredibly smoothly on the Switch 2 (though it’s received no dedicated Switch 2 updates).

Rocket League Lets You Play Soccer With Cars

Unleash Vehicular Chaos On The Soccer Field

When it launched in 2015,​​​​​ *Rocket League *was a paid title. In 2020, the game made the decision to go completely free to play. The multiplayer game is an unexpected mix of cars playing soccer, which sounds outlandish but works remarkably well.

It’s fun, fast-paced, and often hectic. There are mixed reports on whether the game will get a **Nintendo Switch 2 **upgrade, but it’s currently playable on Nintendo’s newest console through backwards compatibility.

9*/10*

Brand Nintendo

Original Release Date June 5, 2025

Original MSRP (USD) $449.99

Operating System Proprietary

Storage 256GB internal / MicroSD

Resolution 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)