If you want something new to play on your Nintendo Switch—or Nintendo Switch 2—you needn’t reach for your wallet. Instead, there are tons of excellent demos to check out on the Nintendo eShop, which gives you hours of gameplay for free.

If you’ve already worked through our list of the 10 best demos to play on your Switch, here are some more options to keep you occupied without needing to spend anything. Well, that is if you can resist the temptation to buy the full games after testing these demos.

10

What the Golf?

The demo for What the Golf? doesn’t take long to play through, at about 15 minutes, but its unexpected approach to golfing and silly jokes will leave a lasting impression for sure. There are a dozen or so quick holes to complete in this quirky demo, with a fitting pun when you sink the ball in each of them.

What the Golf?

Released

September 19, 2019

ESRB

e

Engine

Unity

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9

Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee

Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee is another short demo, at about 30 minutes, but it realized a lifelong dream of mine to see one of my favorite childhood games recreated for modern consoles. You jump straight into Viridian Forest and are free to explore, interact with your six pokémon (release them to walk behind you), chase wild pokémon through the long grass, and battle with trainers dotted around the forest.

If you decide to grab the full game, be sure to make it more fun by setting some custom Pokémon challenges for yourself.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee

Systems

Released

November 16, 2018

ESRB

E for Everyone: Mild Cartoon Violence

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Publisher(s)

Nintendo, The Pokemon Company

8

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

If you’re looking for some Zelda action, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is an epic hack-and-slash game takes you back in time to battle Calamity Ganon as Link, Zelda, and Impa. You can spend over an hour in this demo, completing the first handful of quests and side quests, and it’s an exciting way to get back to Hyrule.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Systems

Released

November 20, 2020

ESRB

T for Teen: Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Koei Tecmo, Omega Force

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

7

Princess Peach: Showtime!

Playing the demo for Princess Peach: Showtime! is all I needed from the game. With just 30 minutes of gameplay, I enjoyed experiencing some of Peach’s various transformations, played through multiple stages, and ultimately felt happy to leave it at that. I had a good time, and I recommend it to others, but I’m glad I could just play half an hour for free rather than paying up for the full game.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

Systems

Released

March 22, 2024

ESRB

e

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6

Dredge

Part meditative fishing sim, part Lovecraftian horrorscape, Dredge sees you taking the helm of a small fishing ship around the island town of Greater Marrow. In the demo, you’re tasked with paying off your debt to the mayor and raising funds to develop the small town, all the while making sure you make it home before nightfall when untold horrors emerge. Some features are locked in this demo, but there’s still plenty of enjoyment (and scares) to be had fishing around the town, completing some side quests, and squinting at unusual shapes in the sea fog.

Dredge

Released

March 31, 2023

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco

Developer(s)

Black Salt Games

Publisher(s)

Team17

5

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer

Another free way to play Zelda is with the Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer demo. This colorful 2D adventure has you hitting buttons to the beat to traverse the procedurally generated landscape, collect new weapons, and vanquish foul beasts. If you’ve never played rhythm-based games before, this free demo is the perfect way to try it. I found it addictive enough I had to pick up the game right away.

This is unlike every other game in the series, but it’s got just as much appeal as every other Zelda title.

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer

Systems

Released

June 13, 2019

ESRB

E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Brace Yourself Games

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

4

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land gives us another 30-minute demo from Nintendo. It’s not enough to keep you entertained for a long while, but it’s still a super fun half hour getting to experience Kirby in 3D. You can try sucking up all manner of enemies for different abilities and even experience some of Kirby’s more out-there transformations for this adventure, like transforming into a car!

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Systems

Released

March 25, 2022

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence

Developer(s)

HAL Laboratory

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

3

Deltarune

Deltarune is a follow-up to the brilliant game, Undertale. Although not officially a demo, you can only play the first two chapters of the game for free on the Switch—with the full game releasing on the Switch 2—so it basically functions as one. There are hours of gameplay to be had here! It’s a charming, unexpected, funny time (just like Undertale was) but you should only try it out if you’ve already played the previous game.

Deltarune

Released

October 31, 2018

ESRB

Teen // Language, Suggestive Themes, Mild Blood, Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Toby Fox

Publisher(s)

Toby Fox

2

WarioWare: Get It Together!

The demo for WarioWare: Get It Together! gives you about a dozen minigames to play with five different crew members to choose from. You can play solo, or team up in multiplayer. Although this is only a tiny selection from the full game, there’s enough variety across the games and characters that you can keep dipping in over and over again, trying to beat your best score.

WarioWare: Get It Together!

Systems

Released

September 10, 2021

ESRB

Everyone // Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD, Intelligent Systems

1

Bravely Default II

Bravely Default II gives you a generous three hours or so of gameplay to enjoy in the demo. You don’t need to have played the other games in the series to enjoy this classic JRPG, or its charming watercolor world. Instead, you can simply boot it up, get to know the characters, and dive into the intricate combat mechanics and captivating story world. At the end of the demo, you can’t carry over your save though, so don’t get too sucked in if you plan to play the full game afterwards.

Bravely Default II

Systems

Released

February 26, 2021

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Developer(s)

claytechworks co ltd

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

There are no mind-blowingly long demos on this list—as we saw in our original list of demos. But there’s still tons of hours of gameplay to be had for free, especially if you’re willing to replay games like WarioWare or try to squeeze out all you can get from exploring and leveling up in Bravely Default II.

And if you’re still looking for more games to play without spending any money after that, just take a look at the best free-to-play games on the Switch as well. I swear, you could last years without buying another game if you take all this free content as far as it could go.

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  4K Capability

  Yes

  Brand

  Nintendo

  Screen

  7.9-inch LCD touchscreen

  Game support

  Switch 1 and Switch 2 titles

  Storage

  256 GB

  Battery

  5220mAh Lithium-ion battery

  The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s latest hybrid home console, with more powerful graphics and processing, a larger 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR, and more online features.