Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles of all time – over 144 million units have been sold so far. With an extensive library of exclusive titles, you can spend hundreds of hours browsing the library and never get bored. With so many games to choose from, the Nintendo Switch is a must-have console if you want to play some of the most popular games each year. 2024 was a great year for the console, and there are many more Switch games we have yet to discover for this console and the Switch 2, which will debut later this year.
Like all hardware, the Nintendo Switch usually goes on sale at certain times throughout the year. If you’re interested in purchasing a Nintendo handheld system, you can get the Switch on sale if you buy it at the right time. Below, we’ve rounded up the best times to buy a Nintendo Switch, along with every sale you might see in 2025.
The best time to buy a Nintendo Switch
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Like most video game consoles, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times of the year to buy a Nintendo Switch. Every year, Nintendo released almost the same console bundle on Black Friday: a red and blue Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundled for free. While the price of this deal is $299 per year, it’s possible Nintendo will reduce it even further as the Switch nears the end of its life. This year, Nintendo has already announced Black Friday Switch bundles, which also include a free Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
We’ve also seen Black Friday deals on the Nintendo Switch Lite, where a free game and a discount come bundled. It’s anyone’s guess what Nintendo will have in store for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024, but we’re hoping the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle returns for another opportunity.
2024 had the best Switch deals ever, and 2025 will likely have even bigger discounts thanks to the Switch 2 launching some time before this year’s holidays.
Nintendo Switch Lite – blue
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Holiday weekends
Another great time to buy a Nintendo Switch is during one of the major holiday weekends in the United States. This includes Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day, President’s Day and Labor Day. Most often, stores like Walmart and Best Buy run exclusive three-day sales, which can sometimes include deals on Nintendo Switch hardware. These discounts are typically tied to memberships like Walmart+ and My Best Buy Plus/Total, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for the best deals.
You can check out our guide to upcoming sales events to see which ones are coming next in the United States.
Amazon Day
Prime Day is always one of the most popular sales events of the year, and of course, a good deal on Nintendo Switch on Amazon can usually be found here. In addition to hardware, there are always dozens of Switch games and accessories on sale. This makes Prime Day one of the best times to buy a Nintendo Switch, as you can save money on both the console and accessories. Amazon has already ended Prime Day in 2024, but you can expect it again this year in mid-July. In the meantime, they are still one of the best retailers to buy Switch games from.
There will most likely be another October Prime Day in 2025, which will be the beginning of the Black Friday deal season. This traditionally takes place in early or mid-October and is called Prime Big Deal Days by sellers.
Clearance sale
Recently, retailers like Woot have been listing Nintendo Switch models at prices we’ve rarely seen before, sometimes up to $75 off. These transactions happen spontaneously, mainly when the retailer withdraws inventory. To catch such opportunities on a regular basis, we recommend that you follow IGN Deals Account to receive notification immediately.
It’s also worth mentioning that the same sellers offer open-box and refurbished units at an even lower price, so if you don’t mind shopping open-box, consider this option. These consoles are certified, which means the seller has tested and verified the condition of the console. Often, “Excellent” refurbished consoles are simply open boxes, with no scratches on the system itself.
Nintendo Switch 2 will appear in 2025
The Nintendo Switch is officially seven years senior (as of March 2024), and as its eighth year on the market has officially begun, we finally have the official announcement of the Switch 2 from Nintendo. Although the company has not provided any details about it When the fresh console will be released, they have offered an April date for the first direct Switch 2.
While we don’t have any official details on the release date or price, Nintendo has confirmed that the console will arrive in 2025. We also asked analysts about the potential price of the upcoming console, and it looks like it will be around $400, an boost from the previous generation. Our experts also believe that Switch 2 will likely arrive in June 2025, which means it will be a summer launch. It’s before and during this launch window that you can likely expect to see large discounts on older Switch models, making it a great time to pick them up at huge discounts.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, a store focused on no-nonsense Japanese games, in 2019 and has worked with various publishers covering the medium. His favorite series are Xeno and Final Fantasy.
