Topic: Are e-shop games on MicroSD visible if MicroSD card is removed?

My son wants some games for his Switch for Christmas.

If it matters, he wants Super Mario Odyssey, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

I want to buy them from the e-shop. I bought a 128GB memory card also.

Does anybody know if you download a game from the e-shop and install it on the card, then remove the microsd card, if the game is shown as installed on the Switch (after the microsd memory card is removed)?

The reason I'm asking is I'd like to, between now and Christmas, put the card in my son's switch and buy and download the games to it and then remove the card.

That way I could just give him the microsd card on Christmas morning and not worry about Nintendo's servers being down or overloaded.

But if the games would be visible on his Switch before I give him the card, then I think that would spoil the "surprise".

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Yes, they will be visible, and unfortunately there is no way to keep it a surprise in this way. The home menu displays ALL software that has been used on the system, regardless of whether or not the microSD is inserted.

If you delete the downloaded games from the home menu while the microSD card is not in the system, the console will automatically delete the games from the microSD card when you put it back in. I hope this helps.

Here's the Plan buy the eShop and get the download codes or wait til that day and give the codes or download instructions for him and he can download the eShop games and then he can enjoy the games. Also with the prices for Holidays get a 200gb that will suffice for the minimum on the Switch to have.

Why don't you wait until he is in bed then download them overnight!!

@erasmus553 No.

My suggestion: nab his Switch the day before Christmas. Purchase and download the games (start it early, because it might take a while to download Zelda and Smash, which are a bit larger than the others). Wrap up the Switch.

Watch his initial bafflement turn to delight when you tell him to boot up the device and he sees a bunch of new games on it.

@erasmus553 perhaps buy some eshop cards of enough value to give on Christmas morning?? He can download the games he wants and you still have something to physically give. Maybe throw in an extra £20 card for anything smaller games he might spot on the eshop.

Thanks to everyone for the good information.

My son got his Switch (a Pokemon edition one) for his birthday. His birthday was earlier this month.

I think I'll wait for him to go to sleep on Christmas Eve and then buy the games and start downloading them.

Just keep in mind that email confirmations for the digital purchase get sent out right after the purchase. If you’re buying under his account and it’s tied to his email, he will get a confirmation email.