The Nintendo Switch is a bastion for great free-to-play multiplayer gaming experiences.
The Nintendo Switch has some truly incredible games from the likes of Super Mario Odyssey to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to smaller indie titles such as Dead Cells and Golf Story. While these premium paid games are worth your time and attention, what if you want to try out something on the less expensive end of the scale, namely, free-to-play games?
Free-to-play games are in abundance on Switch, especially if you are a fan of multiplayer experiences. There are well over one hundred free games to start playing right away on Switch but not all of them are worth your time. The following free-to-play games can be played right now and are best enjoyed with other people since they are generally multiplayer games by nature.
Updated on June 7th, 2022 by Geoffrey Martin: Many people flock to free-to-play games since the barrier of entry is nearly nonexistent. The Nintendo Switch has so many unique and enjoyable free games that can be experienced right now. Apart from the countless free demos on the Switch Eshop, there are also dozens of fully fledged free games to try out. This list is being fleshed out with a couple more great free games to try out if you want to save a dime while still having a fun time.
Sky: Children of the Light is a highly unique and artistic take on a social game, one that hopes to have you unwind from the real world while moving through a heartfelt connected world. From the creators of the beloved indie hit Journey, Sky: Childen of Light is a game all about connecting with other online players, soaring through the gorgeous skies, while bringing light and hope to those in need.
What makes this free-to-play game so darn special is how it weaves flowing and fluid gameplay with personalized stories. You are encouraged to interact with other players in this free roaming sky island paradise while being swept up in entrancing music, lovely visuals, and even some fun character customization.
The Bomberman games have sure covered a wide gamut of gameplay styles from story-based experiences in Bomberman 64 to this unique take on the property in the form of a battle royale of sorts. Super Bomberman R Online features the traditional arcade-style Bomberman gameplay but infuses it with an online, free-to-play competitive experience.
In this free game, you are able to battle up to 64 other players from around the world. Each mini victory during a match means that you get to move on to face tougher Bomberman opponents. While the game does have plenty of purchasble cosmetic goodies, none of these things are necessary if you purely want to enjoy the arcade gameplay without dropping any money.
If for some reason you haven't heard of Pokemon Unite then just know you are missing out on an incredibly fun and accessible MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena). MOBAs, by nature, are generally impenetrable to new players and often breed tight-knit communities that can be tough to break into, especially if you also happen to be new to the genre.
Fortunately, Pokemon Unite strays away from the traditional MOBA tactics by mixing the regular strategic team versus team gameplay with the fun and lovable nature of Pokemon. In Pokemon Unite, you play as one or many of your favorite Pokemon as they attack and defend strategic points all while leveling up, gaining new abilities, and getting stronger overall. It's a fun gameplay loop wrapped up in a free-to-play package with a bevy of content to sink your teeth into.
Fortnite is a cultural phenomenon and a free-to-play gaming juggernaut. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have likely heard of Fortnite's success. This highly colorful, vibrant, and long-running battle royale continues to thrive year after year, well into its third chapter. What makes Fortnite so special is how many gameplay options it has, especially for those wanting a multiplayer experience.
Of course, the game is known for its solo, duo, trio, and quads battle royale modes, however, if you decide to eschew the battle royale gameplay, you can easily hop into a boatload of creative-type matches and game modes. Multiplayer fans can hop into Fortnight right away since the game is only monetized with completely optional cosmetic goodies.
It's pretty crazy to think that the traditional Yu-Gi-Oh! card game has been around for over two decades and still continues to draw in new players. The most recent game on this list, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel takes the tried and true competitive multiplayer card game and ups the ante with beautiful animations, hundreds of cards, and brand new ways to enjoy this long-running game on Switch.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a great free game to play on Switch since it encourages players of all skill levels to hop in and enjoy its card game goodness. If you happen to be brand new to Yu-Gi-Oh! in general, the game kindly provides an in-depth tutorial to get you up to speed so you can gather more cards and take on other players in rotating tournaments.
Are you someone that likes battle royale games? If you answered no to that question, what about trying a fun and fierce multiplayer version of the genre where you get to play as a host of adorable animals? Super Animal Royale is just that, a battle royale game that features super colorful graphics where you play as a cat, a dog, a fox, a bird, or any of the other dozens of characters as you duke it out across an expansive map.
On paper, Super Animal Royale isn't that much different from other battle royales in that you must avoid an ever-shrinking play area while defeating the other players in a given match. However, this game is much more accessible since the map is not too large, the loot pool is smaller, and most matches finish up in under ten minutes or so. Gather your animal friends together to try this one out on Switch.
Knockout City might just be one of the most creative multiplayer games on the Switch. Knockout City is a free-to-play dodgeball game where you and your small team must face off against another team in a fantastic assortment of themed maps. This game thrives off of its jazzy charm, host of well-crafted characters, and nuanced dodgeball gameplay.
On the surface, it might sound quite simple to just throw a dodgeball at another player in order to knock them out, however, Knockout City actually allows for strategic play with specific throws, jumps, dodges, and even some awesome special balls to throw around. If you are looking for a fast-paced, kinetic multiplayer game then Knockout City is a no-brainer on the Switch.
Ninjala might be one of the most underrated free multiplayer experiences on the Switch, mostly because it's a game that is hard to pin down in terms of gameplay. So what exactly is Ninjala? The most obvious comparison when looking at gameplay or screenshots would probably be Splatoon, whereby you play multiple rounds in third-person on smaller maps, but, without the paint-splashing gameplay.
Ninjala is essentially a multiplayer action game where you play as cartoony ninjas who use gum-based weapons and abilities to deal damage and to lay the smackdown on opponents. Your goal in each match is to use your character's specific gum attacks and abilities to knock out opponents while getting the highest score for style and substance. It's a wacky game but has a great community and plenty of content to enjoy.
Dauntless is a unique monster-pummeling game that feels like equal parts Monster Hunter and a Saturday morning cartoon. Dauntless has you and your party take on gargantuan monsters across multiple biomes and lands. While not as complex and nuanced as something like Monster Hunter, this free-to-play game rewards you for patience, teamwork, and specializing in the various weapons on offer, namely, giant swords, axes, hammers, and the like.
Dauntless is sort of the unsung hero in the realm of free-to-play games on Switch, or on any platform for that matter. You don't hear too many people talking about how fun it is to smash giant monsters in the face with a team of players, however, for those that have played it, it provides a deep, expansive, and highly enjoyable experience.
Geoffrey is a gaming list writer for Game Rant and TheGamer where he writes about all aspects of the games industry with a specialty in indie games, platformers, and lesser-known gaming experiences. Geoffrey brings a fun, positive, and lighthearted writing style!