The Nintendo Switch is not region locked for games, but it is for the eShop
You can buy a Nintendo Switch in any region and play physical game cartridges from any other region on it. A game cartridge purchased in Japan works on a Switch bought in the United States, and vice versa. This is different from older Nintendo systems like the Wii or 3DS, which blocked games based on where the console was sold.
The eShop — Nintendo's digital store — is region locked. Your Switch is tied to a Nintendo Account, and that account is tied to a region (United States, Japan, Europe, and so on). You can only buy and read games from the eShop that matches your account's region. If your account is set to the US eShop, you cannot purchase a game that is only sold on the Japanese eShop.
Physical cartridges have no such restriction. This matters if you want to play games that release in one region before another, or games that were never released in your region at all.
Key Takeaways
- Physical Nintendo Switch game cartridges work on any Switch console regardless of where either was purchased.
- The eShop is region locked to your account, so you can only read games available in your account's assigned region.
- You can change your account's region, but you must spend any remaining eShop balance before switching and cannot change regions more than once every 90 days.
- Games themselves have no region restrictions — a Japanese cartridge plays in English on a US console if the cartridge contains an English version.
How physical cartridges work across regions
Nintendo stopped region locking with the Switch. When you insert a cartridge, the console reads the game file and runs it. The cartridge does not check where the Switch was manufactured or where it was purchased. A cartridge sold at a store in Tokyo plays identically on a Switch from New York.
The game itself may contain multiple languages. Many Nintendo Switch games include English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and other languages on the same cartridge. When you start the game, it detects your console's language setting and displays in that language automatically. Some games let you change the language in the settings menu even after you start playing.
A small number of games are region exclusive — they were only released as cartridges in one region. Fire Emblem: Three Houses released worldwide, but some smaller titles or older games may have only been printed in Japan. If you want to play a Japan-exclusive cartridge, you need to buy it from a Japanese retailer or an online marketplace that ships internationally, but once you own it, it plays on your Switch without any additional steps.
How the eShop region system works
Your Nintendo Account is assigned to a region when you create it or when you first set up your Switch. This region determines which eShop you see and which games you can purchase. If your account is set to United States, you see prices in US dollars and can only buy games that Nintendo has made available on the US eShop.
Some games release on the eShop in one region before another. A game might launch on the Japanese eShop weeks or months before it appears on the US eShop. If you want to play it when ready, you have two options: buy the physical cartridge from a Japanese retailer, or create a second Nintendo Account set to the Japanese region and purchase it there.
You cannot change your account's region freely. Nintendo allows one region change every 90 days. Before you change regions, you must spend any remaining balance in your current eShop — Nintendo will not transfer credit across regions, and you cannot refund it. After you change regions, your account is locked to the new region for at least 90 days before you can switch again.
When you might need to know about region locking
If you travel internationally or move to a different country, you may want to change your eShop region to match your new location. This lets you buy games in local currency and access games that are only sold in that region's eShop. The 90-day waiting period is the main limitation — you cannot switch back and forth rapidly.
If you buy a Switch console used from someone in another country, the console itself has no region restrictions. You can use it when ready with your own account. The previous owner's account may still be on the console, but you can delete it or create a new profile without affecting your ability to play games.
Collectors and players who want access to region-exclusive games often maintain multiple accounts on the same Switch, each set to a different region. You can have up to eight user profiles on one Switch console. Each profile can have its own Nintendo Account linked to a different region's eShop. This lets you purchase and read games from multiple regions without waiting 90 days between changes.
How to change your eShop region
Open the Nintendo eShop on your Switch and select your profile icon in the top right. Choose "Account Settings," then "Profile," then "User Information." Select "Country/Region" and choose your new region from the list. Nintendo will warn you that any remaining balance will be lost and that you cannot change regions again for 90 days. Confirm the change.
After you change regions, you may need to restart the eShop to see games from your new region. Your existing downloaded games will continue to work — changing regions does not delete anything from your console. You can still play games you purchased from your previous region's eShop, even though you can no longer access that eShop to buy new games.
Physical cartridges versus digital downloads
Physical cartridges are the most straightforward way to play region-exclusive games. You buy the cartridge from an international retailer and insert it into your Switch. No account changes, no waiting periods, no regional restrictions. The downside is that cartridges cost more than digital versions, take up shelf space, and you have to own the physical object to play.
Digital downloads are cheaper and more convenient, but they tie you to your account's region. If you want to buy a game that is only available on the Japanese eShop, you either wait for it to release in your region, buy a physical cartridge, or create a second account set to Japan and purchase it there. The second account approach works, but it means managing multiple profiles and potentially purchasing the same game twice if you want it on your main account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play a game cartridge from Japan on my US Switch?
Yes. Nintendo Switch cartridges have no region restrictions. A game cartridge from Japan plays on a US Switch, a European Switch, or any other Switch console. If the cartridge includes an English version of the game, it will display in English based on your console's language settings.
What happens if I buy a used Switch from another country?
The console itself works normally in any region. You can use it with your own Nintendo Account when ready. If the previous owner's account is still on the console, you can delete their profile or straightforward create a new one without affecting the console's ability to play games from any region.
Can I buy a game on the Japanese eShop if my account is set to US?
No. Your account can only access the eShop for its assigned region. To buy from the Japanese eShop, you would need to change your account's region to Japan (which locks you out of changing regions for 90 days) or create a second Nintendo Account set to Japan on the same console.
Do I lose my games if I change my eShop region?
No. Games you have already downloaded remain on your console and continue to work. You straightforward cannot access the old region's eShop to buy new games or read updates from that store. Updates typically come through automatically regardless of region.
Is there a way to play games from multiple regions without waiting 90 days?
Yes. Create multiple user profiles on your Switch, each with its own Nintendo Account set to a different region. You can have up to eight profiles on one console. This lets you purchase games from different regional eShops without the 90-day waiting period between region changes.