The Best Nintendo Switch Game Demos You Should Download Today

As a fellow Nintendo fan, I want to guide you to some of the best Nintendo Switch demos available on the eShop today. Game demos give you a nice chunk of gameplay to decide if a full game is worth purchasing. With so many titles on the eShop, demos help discover new gaming gems.

In this post, I’ll overview 8 impressive Switch demos, explaining why they’re worthwhile and key details to know before downloading. My aim is to showcase the diversity of gaming experiences possible and pique your curiosity enough to try these demos yourself!

1. ARMS

Overview

ARMS is a vibrant, whacky fighting game for the Nintendo Switch. It released alongside the Switch in 2017 but was quickly overshadowed once Smash Bros came out. With telescoping spring arms, motion controls, and a Punch-Out!! vibe, it offers a unique take on the fighting genre.

Why Try the Demo

The ARMS demo gives you a fun taste of its gameplay with a limited character roster available. It’s a nice bite-sized way to experience this underrated fighter without buying it. The demo is great for picking up and playing a quick match or two against friends.

Key Details

• Length: About 10 minutes of gameplay
• Limited character roster
• Single match versus computer or local multiplayer
• Motion controls with Joy-Cons or button controls

2. Metroid Dread

Overview

Metroid Dread is a side-scrolling platformer that released for the Switch in 2021. It’s the first original 2D Metroid game in 19 years! Known for gorgeous visuals and fluid, challenging gameplay, Metroid Dread revitalized this classic Nintendo franchise.

Why Try the Demo

The Metroid Dread demo gives you over 30 minutes of gameplay and boss fight. This generates enough suspense and action to demonstrate the series’ signature exploration-based platforming. It’s a friendly on-ramp for newcomers to 2D Metroids and satisfies fans craving more.

Key Details

• Length: 30+ minutes
• Actual gameplay section and boss fight included
• Smooth side-scrolling exploration and combat
• Suspenseful atmosphere and music

3. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Overview

Kirby and the Forgotten Land released on Switch in March 2022. The iconic pink puffball gets a fresh 3D platformer adventure set in a unique post-apocalyptic world. Kirby explores ruined cities, battles enemies, and copies abilities like Sword and Ice. This gives both classic Kirby fans and newcomers an enjoyable, charming experience.

Why Try the Demo

The roughly 30-minute demo lets you directly experience Kirby’s new 3D platforming. It features an actual gameplay section along with a fun boss battle. This shows off the vivid new setting plus Kirby’s signature copy abilities in action. It’s enough to demonstrate the delightful gameplay and charm.

Key Details

• Length: About 30 minutes
• Includes story section and boss battle
• Bright, ruined city settings to explore in 3D
• Classic Kirby copy abilities like Sword and Ice

4. Game Builder Garage

Overview

Game Builder Garage is a unique creation suite released for the Nintendo Switch in June 2021. Using an interactive step-by-step guide, players can make their own games without any coding knowledge! It teaches the logic of game development to help you build everything from side-scrollers to 3D platformers.

Why Try the Demo

The demo is a guided tour of Game Builder Garage’s features and development process. By playing through the introduction, you’ll get hands-on practice with its visual scripting tools. This lets you try making games yourself to see if learning while creating sounds appealing. It showcases the educational creative potential.

Key Details

• Create games like:
  • Side-scrolling platformers
  • 3D platformers
  • Top-down racing games
• Easy interactive lessons teach game logic
• Make artwork and music for games
• Share games with friends

5. Super Lucky‘s Tale

Overview

Originally released for Xbox and Oculus VR headsets, the delightful 3D platformer Super Lucky’s Tale came to the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Its bright, playful levels and smooth controls capture the magic of classic late ‘90s era 3D platformers. Approachable for kids but still fun for adults, it’s a polished, charming experience.

Why Try the Demo

The Super Lucky‘s Tale demo offers about 20 minutes of full gameplay. This gives a solid feel for its gameplay variety from 3D hub worlds to 2D side-scrolling challenges. You’ll run, jump, collect items, solve puzzles, and battle in fun bite-sized levels. It really captures the spirit and joy of playing.

Key Details

• Length: Approximately 20 minutes
• Varied gameplay – 3D levels, 2D side-scrolling, boss battles
• Vibrant, cute graphics style
• Relaxed difficulty suitable for kids

6. Trials of Mana

Overview

Trials of Mana is a full 3D remake of the Super Famicom classic Seiken Densetsu 3, previously Japan exclusive. This action JRPG lets you battle enemies as one of six heroes. Level up classes, wield magic spells, and craft weapons, enjoying the story branching based on your protagonist and allies. It modernizes a retro classic!

Why Try the Demo

Boasting almost two hours of content, this generous demo unveils actual gameplay progression. You can experience multiple battles plus exploration to get a real feel for its action RPG Hack ‘n’ slash dynamics. It carries your save data over to the main game too, making it very worthwhile.

Key Details

• Length: Nearly 2 full hours
• Actual playable introduction section
• Progress carries over into main game
• Realistic 3D graphics and animations
• Quality English voice acting

7. Yoshi‘s Crafted World

Overview

Yoshi’s Crafted World is a side-scrolling platformer starring Mario’s dinosaur pal Yoshi. Made from household materials like boxes and paper cups, its handcrafted stages burst with imagination. Flip stages around to play levels backwards and uncover hidden secrets! With playful challenges, surprises around every corner, and loads of collectibles, it‘s a joyful, clever experience for all ages.

Why Try the Demo

The demo lets you play through an entire stage in Yoshi‘s Crafted World. You’ll get hands-on time with Yoshi’s signature moves like Flutter Jump and egg throwing, seeing his adorable costume transformations. With creative level designs and new surprises awaiting backwards runs of stages, it captures the innovative fun awaiting in the full game.

Key Details

• Made of cardboard, paper cups, boxes
• Flip stages backwards for new challenges
• Signature moves like Flutter Jump and egg throwing
• Dress Yoshi up in cute costumes
• Relaxed difficulty suitable for kids

8. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Overview

This clever puzzle-platformer adventure started as Captain Toad minigames in Super Mario 3D World. Given his own spinoff, the eponymous treasure hunter explores cube-shaped levels manipulating the camera to uncover gems and stars. Without traditional platforming, it has accessible yet thoroughly compelling gameplay. Graceful visuals and charming puzzle designs make it suitable for almost any age too!

Why Try the Demo

The demo provides one full stage distilling the puzzle-solving platforming gameplay. You’ll rotate and pan the camera while navigating Captain Toad about the cube level hunting for treasure. This hands-on experience captures the satisfaction of revealing hidden objects by viewing stages from different directions. It’s a gentle introduction to its spatial reasoning puzzles.

Key Details

• Geometry based, spatial reasoning puzzles
• Manipulate camera to uncover hidden paths
• Single player and two-player co-op modes
• Touch controls for handheld play
• Accessible for kids and newcomers

I hope spotlighting these excellent Nintendo Switch demos motivates you to give them a download! They showcase just how diverse gameplay can be on the system. Plus, demos let you experience new genres risk-free before purchasing the full games. Have any personal favorite demos I missed? Let me know in the comments below, as I’m always hunting for promising new games on Nintendo’s eShop!