Can I Use a European Switch Game in the US?

As an avid gamer and content creator focused on the Switch scene, one of the most common questions I see is around using physical game cards purchased from different regions. And the excellent news is that the Nintendo Switch is 100% region-free for game cards!

So if you import a Switch game from Europe or any other territory, it will work perfectly fine on your Switch console back home. Hallelujah for no more region locking! 🙌

Why Nintendo Flipped to Region-Free for the Switch

Past Nintendo systems like the 3DS and Wii U infamously used regional locks to prevent games purchased in one continent from working elsewhere. As both a gamer and business owner, I speculated this was to maximize licensing deals and profits across Nintendo‘s global markets.

However, consumer backlash was brutal – no one liked having their game libraries fragmented and inaccessible based on region technicalities!

So when launching the Switch, Nintendo made the bold but wise decision to ditch region locking entirely. This consumer-friendly approach has helped drive the Switch‘s runaway success by allowing gamers to access both local and imported games easily.

According to Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima in a 2017 interview, "We hope to create an environment where people can buy games freely and can play with anyone anywhere". I‘d say they‘ve succeeded with flying colors!

European Video Game Market Size

Now you might be wondering – why would I want to import Nintendo Switch games from Europe anyway?

Well across Europe, the video game market size was estimated at €21.6 billion in 2021 – nothing to scoff at!

Some hot Switch titles that originate from European studios include:

• The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt Red – Poland)
• Little Nightmares 1 & 2 (Tarsier Studios – Sweden)
• Darksiders Genesis (Airship Syndicate – USA/UK)

And Europe actually represents the second largest market for Nintendo sales after the Americas, according to official financials:

With so many amazing developers and gamers across Europe, importing some tasty titles can be very appealing!

DLC and eShop Caveats

While we can freely enjoy European Switch game cards in the US, there are still two limits in place:

1. Paid DLC content remains region locked. So for example if you have The Witcher 3 on a European cartridge, you would need a corresponding EU Nintendo account to purchase the DLC expansions.

2. eShop stores are separated by region. If you want to browse the European eShop and buy digital exclusives, you need to create an EU-specific Nintendo account.

This does add some complexity if you want an integrated online experience. Personally in these cases, I‘ll purchase the US version digitally and import any cool European physical editions that catch my eye as collectors items!

Importing European Games: Pros vs Cons

If you‘re on the fence about importing, let‘s recap some potential advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

• Play unique titles not released in your region
• Expand your overall library and experience fresh content
• Get games early if they launch in Europe before US
• Potentially save money if there‘s a good exchange rate or sale overseas!

Cons:

• No guarantee English will be supported
• Online functionality (DLC, multiplayer, etc) may be limited
• Extra shipping time and fees to consider

My advice is to cherry pick 1-3 imports per year that really stand out – maybe some special editions or niche titles your gaming friends haven‘t experienced yet. This helps expand your options while keeping costs reasonable.

Will Future Consoles Remain Region-Free?

As we look ahead, a common question is whether Microsoft and Sony will continue the region-free approach for their next generation hardware.

The Xbox Series X|S consoles stayed region-free like their predecessors. In Sony‘s case, a PlayStation spokesperson advised sites the PS5 is "a globally unified platform". So both are expected to be fully region-free matching the Switch.

This matches the positive trend towards giving gamers more choice and accessibility. And I have to applaud Nintendo for taking the first decisive step away from restrictiveness into a bolder region-free era for players!

Top European Switch Game Recommendations

Want some recommendations on excellent European-developed Switch games to import? Here are 5 must-try titles I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed:

• Little Nightmares 1 & 2 (Bandai Namco Entertainment / Tarsier Studios – Sweden): Clever, creepy puzzle-platformers with dark storybook flair
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (CD Projekt Red – Poland): Arguably the definitive open-world action RPG now optimized for Switch
• Vampyr (Focus Home Interactive / DONTNOD – France): Choice-driven action RPG with vampire thrills set across 1918 London
• Alien: Isolation (Sega / Creative Assembly – UK): First-person survival horror that perfectly captures Alien universe dread
• Oxenfree (Night School Studio – USA/UK): A supernatural teen thriller with quirky characters and plenty of replayability potential

Be sure to check regional eShops for sales and deals that make importing even sweeter. I hope these recommendations excite your stick-wielding fingers! 🕹️

Reader Questions on European Switch Games

Let‘s wrap up by addressing some common reader questions:

Q: Can I play multiplayer if I import a European game to North America?
A: Yes! Multiplayer functionality will work across regions as the servers are global.

Q: Do I need a European account to use the game card?
A: Nope, your existing account works fine. The card has no region coding.

Q: If I start a save file on the EU card, could I continue it with a digital US copy?
A: Unfortunately no – save data is locked to match the region of each game purchase.

I hope this detailed breakdown dispels any concerns about importing and using European Switch games in America or beyond. Nintendo‘s progressive region-free approach makes it smooth sailing!

Let me know which Euro gems are on your radar or if you have any other questions!