Fans hated the idea of game-key cards, but now that they're here, Nintendo wants to know what Switch 2 owners think about them.

Many third-party publishers are taking advantage of Nintendo's game-key card option for their Switch 2 titles, a fact that's causing no shortage of consternation to physical game collectors.

Wondering which Nintendo Switch 2 game cartridges come with a full copy of the game physically, Game Key Card or code in a box? Here’s the full list.

Update [Thu 24th Apr 2025, 10am]: Pre-orders for Switch 2 games are starting to go live in the US and, in the case of Sega titles at least, it looks like they too will be game-key cards in the ...

Gamers have expressed concerns over the use of Game-Key Cards on the Nintendo Switch 2, and now Nintendo is talking about it.

Nintendo has confirmed that those sleek new Switch 2 game cards won’t always carry an actual game and will, instead, sometimes simply contain a key for a game download.

It has emerged that almost all physical third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games in Japan revealed so far are Game-Key Cards, and it looks like a similar situation in the West.

Nintendo promises the Switch 2’s game cartridges won’t be locked to the first account or console that uses them ...

According to the description, game-key cards will unlock a download of the game when you insert the cart (which looks like a standard Switch 2 cartridge) and connect to the internet.

Some fans have noticed most 3rd party Switch 2 games are Game-Key Cards, but there's still at least one code in a box.

How long will Switch 2’s Game Key Cards keep working? Nintendo's history suggests we can look forward to decades of support.

Why some Switch 2 carts won’t have games on them Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser explains the console’s new game-key cards.