Video gaming can be a very expensive hobby. This is especially true for fans who want to follow the major publishers. AAA games are more expensive than ever these days, and keeping up with big releases can represent a pretty severe strain on someone’s wallet.
Luckily, there are options for video game fans who want toplay something without losing moneyon it. Nintendo in particular has a pretty sizable library of free-to-play games featuring some of their most iconic characters and IPs. Here are ten of the best Nintendo-published games that are currently available for free.
Note that though these games are free to play, some of them might have in-game or in-app purchases, as well as paid DLC.
Pokemon Café ReMixis a charming spinoff of Nintendo’s iconic franchise that puts heavy emphasis on the cuteness of the titular creatures. As the name suggests, the protagonist ofPokemon Café Remixruns an adorable little café catering to the franchise’s iconic creatures themselves. Players must solve tile-matching puzzles to fulfill customers' orders andmanage staff Pokemonto unlock new abilities and enhance the store.
Like many free-to-play games in the modern gaming environment,Pokemon Cafe ReMixdoes include its fair share of microtransactions. Players have a limited number of attempts at a given puzzle, and when they run out, they must wait to acquire more or pay for more attempts. While this will certainly frustrate many players, the low barrier to entry and charming art style are pretty strong incentives to at least give the game a try.
TheFire Emblemseries may not be as iconic asMarioorPokemon, but it’s certainly not without its fans.Fire Emblem Heroesis tailor-made for those fans, offering the tactical gameplay of the classic series in a more bite-sized form.
While the two warring nations of Askr and Embla feature a host of original warriors for players to do battle with, the core conceit ofFire Emblem Heroesis the protagonist’s role as a summoner. This allows fans to conjure in beloved characters from the main franchise ofFire Emblemtitles using gacha mechanics, then do battle with their favorite heroes on a variety of new maps.
While thePokemonfranchise is certainly one of the most famous video game franchises in the world, not every title is created equal. The free-to-play action RPGPokemon Questis a lesser-known title, but it’s no less notable, especially given its nonexistent price tag.
Pokemon Questtakes place on Tumblecube Island, a blocky realm where everything, Pokemon included, is constructed out of cubes. This gives it a similar aesthetic to games likeMinecraftandCrossy Road. Within this blocky world, players manage their Pokemon team, arrange their base camp to attract more Pokemon allies, train their squad, and go on missions throughout the island. It is a simple but engaging adventure for Pokemon fans looking for a quick diversion.
Now thatMario Kart 8 Deluxe’s immense Booster Course Pass DLC has ended, fans might find themselves yearning fornewMario Karttracks. Those fans could do much worse than checking outMario Kart Tour, the free-to-play mobile game that originated several of the courses that appeared inMario Kart 8 Deluxe’s DLC.
This mobile racing game gives fans over a hundred tracks to race on, many of which take place in real-world destinations like LA and New York. The game’s charming world tour aesthetic influences its large stable of unlockable characters and cosmetics, and while it does feature a controversial gacha element, there’s no paywall to keep players from hitting the streets.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camppresents a streamlined version of Nintendo’s iconic life simulation games. As the name suggests, thiscalming mobile gamegives players their very own campsite, which can be decorated freely as they progress. Players can attract NPC villagers to their campsite by decorating it according to those villagers' tastes, letting fans curate their own friend group of adorable anthropomorphic creatures.
The game features several events, like scavenger hunts and fishing tournaments. If players want to take their camp to the next level, they can use premium currency to unlock rare pieces of furniture and potentially attract premium villagers. Even with the free features, though, players can still build a camp to be proud of.
The MOBA genre may not have spread quite as dramatically as battle royales did, but it’s still a prolific game type. The upward trend of this genre,symbolized by games likeLeague of Legends, did not go unnoticed by Nintendo, which has released its own free-to-play MOBA in the form ofPokemon Unite.
This game pits two teams of five players against each other, and each player has a roster of 64 Pokemon to choose from. In true MOBA fashion,these creatures grow in strengthover the course of a match, some of them even evolving into new forms in the grand tradition of the franchise. This uniquelyPokemon-themed approach to MOBA combat makesPokemon Unitean intriguing option for MOBA fans who want a new free game to explore.
By many accounts, Kirby is one of Nintendo’s most lovable characters. And while he doesn’t get quite as much attention as bigger names likeMarioandPokemon, he still gets a few chances to shine.Super Kirby Clashgives Kirby a chance to show off his combat skills.
The game expands on a boss rush minigame fromKirby: Planet Robobot. Up to four players take on a series of bosses, with a wide array of armor, weapons, and specialized roles to choose from. The game does feature some microtransactions to make progression easier, but they’re not required to progress.Super Kirby Clashmight not be as deep as the pink puff’s mainline games, but it’s still an entertaining diversion.
F-Zero, Nintendo’s classic sci-fi racing franchise, hasn’t received a major release in a very long time. While the series still has many fans, the company seems more inclined to put its racing resources towards theMario Kartfranchise instead. However, in 2023, Nintendo threwF-Zeroadvocates a bone with the launch ofF-Zero 99.
This free-to-play racing battle royale puts 99 racers on the same track and lets them drive until one player wins or everyone else is destroyed. The title is a perfect escalation of the chaotic, high-octane violenceF-Zerohas been known for since the beginning.
A very strong case could be made thatTetrisis the most iconic video game in the world. This classic puzzle game exists in countless forms on just about every piece of gaming hardware one can imagine. And while fresh takes on the legendary puzzle formula have been cropping up since time immemorial, few are quite as unique asTetris 99.
This free Switch game turns the iconicTetrisexperience into a battle royale. 99 players race to clear their boards as fast as possible and avoid topping out. Thisfast-paced competitive approachto one of the oldest video game setups in the world proves not only that innovation is always possible, but that a game can be free without sacrificing creativity and ingenuity.
