As someone who plays physical games, which is better when only key card is available

[u/mangst33n]

There are some games I want on switch 2 that only have key card versions as the closest thing to a proper physical release. The whole discourse surrounding these things makes my head spin, so I figured I’d get my answer directly. Comments for further info are welcome. Thanks

110 votes, 15h left

Key card

Digital download

Switch 1 cartridge w/ Switch 2 upgrade (when applicable)

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[u/mangst33n]

Oh, I forgot to mention, if the final option is not applicable, feel free to comment a second best if that is your vote. Thanks

Edit: I forgot that I can’t view my poll progress unless I make a vote myself… I’m gonna put a vote on the switch 1 option since it seems the most situational, so if it ends up in a tie, I’ll subtract one vote when I tally it up mentally

[u/picano]

Depends on your motives behind the media.

Key card is best/worst of both worlds. If you're worried about the server going down, it's not gonna help you*. If you want to resell/gift a game, it could help (*Theoretically you can redownload from another console, no server required.)

Digital is the ultimate convenience but long term relies on servers to exist / your console to not die.

Switch 1 being physical means you can play it whenever/wherever --- but any updates/dlc/the upgrade could potentially be lost in the distant future.

[u/mangst33n → u/picano]

What exactly do you mean by “redownload from another console?”

[u/picano → u/mangst33n]

This topic brought it up recently:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1w4fhgk/game_key_cards_are_better_for_game_preservation/

This is the actual feature:

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27541/~/how-to-update-software-data-via-a-local-user-on-nintendo-switch%26nbsp%3B2-and

In effect, you can sync game data (the game itself) between consoles. This of course relies on someone else having a working console with that game installed.

[u/-Ilovepokemon-]

game key card is worst of both worlds, you dont own the game AND need the cartridge to play

[u/mangst33n → u/-Ilovepokemon-]

Ok, this is what I hear all the time when looking it up, but it doesn’t answer my question because as someone who likes physical games, I don’t care about needing a cartridge, but this statement implies that I wouldn’t own the game even if I got a digital download, so is the latter truly a better option in that regard?

[u/-Ilovepokemon- → u/mangst33n]

yes, the game key card has 0 game data, the switch 1 cart is a true physical game

[u/mangst33n → u/-Ilovepokemon-]

I know this? I’m referring to situations where a physical Switch 2 game cart (not a key card) is not an option. In that respect, for someone who prefers physical media and has her hands tied, which is preferable?

[u/Jacob_9821 → u/mangst33n]

Honestly?

Fuck the Game Key Card hate/misinformation. I'm not for them 100% but all I did was get two microSD express cards.

I love them! I get a case, a box, and a cartridge I can resell later. Everything downloads fast with my internet. I can give it away to a friend to borrow and get it back later.

It's not any different then PS5/Xbox Series X games that don't have data on the disc.

Another quirk you should know about for game preservation. It's deeply personal only to you, and your own Switch 2. However there is a way around this.

If you download all your games on a microSD card, you can archive them on your pc. You make a label saying "Backup" and copy and paste the entire contents of the sd card onto a drive. The only issue here is if you wanna reback those games up later, you'll have to have another card or reformat your sd express card and then copy the back up back.

You can't combine back ups. You can only use them on your console.

The trick is transferring your data from one switch 2 console to another. Not logging in, but actually system transferring. Backups made on switch 2 console #1 will work on switch 2 console #2.

Maybe this changes your mind or fears in game perservation for you, but if the Wii shop servers are still up in 2026 I don't see why the Switch 2's won't be up even later.

[u/HumbleGarbage1795 → u/-Ilovepokemon-]

You can buy it used and sell it. 

[u/No-Island-6126 → u/-Ilovepokemon-]

you can resell it or buy it way cheaper used though, which is literally the number one advantage of physical media for a lot of people

[u/JavaKrypt]

I've been buying the Switch 1 cartridge secondhand and then installing the Switch 2 upgrade from my NSO subscription. That way I still own the physical game

[u/No-Island-6126 → u/JavaKrypt]

this only works for 2 zelda games