Cheapest Country For Nintendo Switch Games: Unlock Deals!

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cheapest country for nintendo switch games

Nintendo Switch games are not geo-locked but tied to a regional Nintendo eShop. This means that you can only purchase the games from an eShop in specific regions, each with its own prices.

In this article, we will show you where you can buy Nintendo Switch games cheaper. We also have a nifty trick that will allow you to spoof your location and get good deals even if you’re not physically in those countries.

What’s the cheapest country for Nintendo Switch games?

In the course of my research, I decided to check for the price of the popular game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and I found out that the cheapest country for it on Nintendo Switch games is Japan.

coins Top 10 cheapest countries for Nintendo Switch games

CountryThe price for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in USD
Japan$45.11
Argentina$46.72
Czech Republic $47.27
New Zealand $47.51
South Korea$48.39
Australia$51.37
Hong Kong$54.73
Singapore$58.77
Canada$59.00
United States$59.99

I used the price for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to compare, but the differences are consistent regardless of the game.

➡️ For instance, you can save a lot of money on games like Legend of Zelda: breath of the wild which costs $52.39 in Japan as opposed to $101.81 in Switzerland.

The same goes for Pikmin Deluxe which you can buy in Japan for $30.5, unlike Switzerland where it costs $88.22.

Lastly, Super Mario 3D goes for $44.48 in Japan while gamers in Switzerland get to buy it at a whopping amount of $88.21.

?Top 10 most expensive countries for Nintendo Switch games

CountryThe price for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in USD
Switzerland$88.51
Mexico$82.72
Israel$70.96
Chile$69.99
South Africa $69.17
Ireland$65.10
Italy$65.10
Austria$65.10
United Kingdom $63.68
Brazil$60.04

How to buy Nintendo Switch games cheaper

To buy Nintendo Switch games cheaper, connect to a VPN server in Japan before logging in to your account to make the purchase. This will open the Japanese Nintendo eShop for you and you’ll be able to pay based on the price points in the country.

A VPN helps you connect to any region of your choice without having to create a new account on the Nintendo eShop.

Follow the steps below to connect your Nintendo Switch to a VPN.

  1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN. It has top-notch privacy features and lightning-fast Japanese servers.
expressvpn download page
  1. Download and install the app on your device.
  2. Sign in using your credentials.
expressvpn log in screen
  1. Connect to a server in Japan.
ExpressVPN Japan
  1. Visit the Nintendo eShop and purchase your game for cheaper.

It’s also worth noting that a VPN can help reduce lag in multiplayer games and protect your data from malicious gamers. It can be an added bonus to use one on your Nintendo Switch.

? Other benefits of using a VPN for Nintendo Switch are: 

  • You can get exclusive deals in other regions
  • It helps to avoid bandwidth throttling from your ISP
  • Protects your online activity.
  • Protects your device from DDoS attacks.

However, if using a VPN does not work with your previous account it means the cookies on the server have interfered with the location.

To fix that, clear all your browser cookies. Ultimately, you can try and create a brand new account and add Japan as your location.

Nintendo new account details

Now, you are ready to purchase from the Nintendo e-Shop as the new account is ready to go.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

Use ExpressVPN to save big time on Nintendo Games!
Check price Visit website

How to pay for Nintendo Switch games in Japan.

Below are the ways to pay for Nintendo Switch games in Japan.

1. Use Japanese Paypal

To successfully complete this step, you’ll have to create a Japanese PayPal account.

Ensure you have the following:

  • An email address not yet registered with Paypal
  • A credit card or debit card in your country (used to fund the PayPal account).

How to create a Japanese PayPal account

Follow the steps below to register for a new Japanese Paypal account:

  1. Connect to a Japanese server on your VPN.
ExpressVPN Japan
  1. On your browser, enter Paypal.jp in the search bar.
  2. Click on the second button at the top-right corner of the page to register for a new account. If you are using Google Chrome, install the translator extension to help you easily navigate the website.
Paypal Japan
  1. Choose the first option as it is for a personal account.
create japanese paypal personal account
  1. Enter the email address you want to use.
Paypal email address
  1. Paypal will ask for a verification code. For that, you will need a Japanese phone number. You can get one using a service like SMS Online and KrispCall.
  2. Once you’ve created your account, you can go ahead and finalize the payment.

How to pay for Nintendo Switch with Japanese Paypal

After successfully creating a new Japanese Paypal profile, follow the steps below to pay for Nintendo Switch games with it:

  1. Click on your profile icon on the Nintendo eShop to expand the options.
  2. Select Account settings. Then, click on the Shop menu. A list of payment options will be displayed on the new page.
Nintendo Switch account settings
  1. Select the Paypal option. Click on the red button to continue the set up.
Nintendo Paypal payment
  1. Enter the email account for your PayPal account. Click Next. If it’s a new PayPal account, a page to enter your card details will appear. Otherwise, a security check window will come up.
Paypal account login
  1. Enter the card details and click Add or Click Next to receive the verification code. Input the confirmation code that’ll be sent to your mobile number or email.
Paypal verification page
  1. Click Agree & Continue if the card details on the screen is what you intend to use. If not, select Add a debit or credit card. Nintendo will automatically link your Paypal to its shop after this process.
Paypal Agree and continue
  1. Now, go to back to the Nintendo official website, scroll down to My Nintendo Shop and click on Start shopping.
nintendo eshop
  1. Explore the page to select any game or combo bundle of your choice. Click on Direct download. Nintendo will deduct the payment from your Paypal account.
nintendo finalize purchase

It is worth noting that you may not be able to purchase some games unless you link your Nintendo Switch profile to the User account on your console.

If creating a new PayPal account seems to much of a hassle, you have another option:

2. Use prepaid cards

As an alternative, you can use a prepaid card from any virtual card service to purchase Nintendo Switch games.

A few of such providers are:

With these tools you signup online and you’ll get your payment details either instantly or in a few days. After that, just repeat the process above, but select credit/debit card as your payment option.

Summary 

Nintendo Switch game prices differ based on your location. But no matter where you are, you can save yourself some money if you spoof your region with a VPN.

So if you’re thinking of buying Nintendo Switch games overseas for a cheaper price, follow along the steps above.

FAQ

Which Nintendo region is cheaper?

The cheapest Nintendo region is Japan. Game prices there are almost half the prices in regions like Switzerland. Then it is followed closely by South Korea and Argentina.

Where is the best place to buy Nintendo Switch games?

The best place to buy Nintendo Switch games is Nintendo eShop. You can also purchase Switch games on Amazon, Walmart, and other third-party game retailers.

What region should I put in my Nintendo Switch?

The regions you can put in your Nintendo Switch include America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Africa. It is generally recommended you set it to the region you’re actually in. But if you want to bypass regional locks, you can change your region and use a VPN on it. 

Are EuropeanSwitch games cheaper?

European Switch games could be cheaper when compared to the States or Asia, but it highly depends on the country. You can get good prices in the Czech Republic, while on the other hand Switzerland has the highest Switch places on the globe


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