How to Get Ready for Nintendo’s Game Price Hike

April 17, 2025 By Janne Smith No Comments 4 minutes

Nintendo is finally going off the rails with pricing, and no one is shocked — just annoyed. With the looming release of the highly anticipated Switch 2, the company is jacking up the cost of its first-party games, and not by a little.

How to Gear Up for Nintendo’s Game Price Hike

Mario Kart World, for example, is set to launch at $79.99 digitally and a jaw-clenching $89.99 for the physical copy. Yes, the same Nintendo that was charging $60 for decade-old Wii U ports is now ready to ask you for what might as well be rent. So, how do you prepare for this predictable but painful evolution?

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Why Are Nintendo Game Prices Going Up?

Because they can. And because you’re going to pay it anyway. But seriously, with the arrival of the Switch 2, Nintendo is looking to match (and then one-up) industry standards. Games like Mario Kart World are breaking the $70 barrier like it owes them money, and that’s just the start.

The company sees your wallet and is adjusting accordingly. So if you’re planning to keep up with the next-gen wave without draining your life savings, it might be time to plan ahead and stock up on a Nintendo store gift card before prices get even spicier.

Buy Now, Cry Less Later

If you’ve ever looked at your bank statement after a spontaneous eShop spree and felt personally victimized, welcome to the club. The simplest way to get ahead of the price hike is by buying discounted Nintendo eShop gift cards now while prices are still reasonable. These things don’t expire, and they’re basically currency for future you. Future you will be crying in a corner when Mario Kart 9: Now With Even More Bananas launches at $90, but at least you’ll know you paid $75 for it in gift card credit.

Timing Is Everything (And Now Is Good)

Don’t wait until the Switch 2 drops and Nintendo unleashes a new wave of full-priced games. Retailers are still playing nice with gift card discounts. Digital marketplaces like Eneba are already offering under-market rates on Nintendo gift cards, and that gap could shrink once the new pricing becomes the norm. Translation? This is your early-bird moment. Miss it, and you’re paying premium prices like everyone else who wasn’t paying attention.

Consider the Long Haul

Nintendo games are notorious for holding their value. You won’t find Breath of the Wild in a bargain bin unless you’re dreaming. So if you think Nintendo’s going to backpedal on its pricing after the Switch 2 launch, I have some swamp-front property to sell you. Their prices go up and stay up. Investing in discounted credit now is less about saving money and more about not getting financially body-slammed later.

The Math (Sorry, You Knew This Was Coming)

Let’s say you scoop up a $100 Nintendo gift card for $85 on a digital marketplace. That’s $15 of free money. Do that a few times and boom: free indie game. Or, more realistically, slightly less painful first-party game prices. It adds up. You’re not beating the system, but at least you’re elbowing your way through it with a little dignity left.

Final Note: Be Smarter Than Nintendo Thinks You Are

Look, you’re not going to outwit Nintendo entirely. But you can sidestep the worst of it by preparing. That means loading up on Nintendo store gift card deals from digital marketplaces like Eneba offering deals on all things digital.

The Switch 2 is coming, the $90 game era is here, and the only real question is whether you’re going to do something about it or just let Nintendo run your wallet like it runs your childhood nostalgia.

Your move.