Sometimes, not every person in a friend group owns the game that everyone wants to play together. It's a sad situation that leads to either money being spent or someone being left out. The Nintendo Switch 2 GameShare feature allows everyone to be included, whether they own the game being played or not. This is what you need to know about GameShare on the Nintendo Switch 2, including a full list of all GameShare-compatible games.
First, the player who owns the game needs to look for the GameShare option inside the game itself, not on the Nintendo Switch home screen. Once the process is started, players who don't own the game can press the GameShare icon found at the bottom of the home screen to join GameShare. From there, choose whether the session is local or long-distance through GameChat.
As the player who is joining, choose whether the GameShare is local or through GameChat.
Players in local GameShare sessions can connect simply by selecting the A Local User option, but long-distance GameShare sessions need to be joined through GameChat. So, all players need to set up GameChat before either sharing or receiving a game long-distance. Sharing a game long-distance allows all players to play together for as long as the GameChat session lasts.
While GameShare allows you to play games you don't own, not every game is compatible with GameShare. According to the official Nintendo website, the current list of fully GameShare-compatible games is as follows:
This is a small list at the time of writing, but the site also indicates that more games will become GameShare-compatible in the future, following free software updates.
The Nintendo Switch 2 also allows you to lend games to members of your "family group." Go to the family page on the official Nintendo accounts website to choose family group members. Press the Virtual Game Card icon on the home screen and select a game. Choose the Lend to Family Group Member option to share the game with someone else for a short period of time. You can lend a game for up to 14 days at a time, and the game will automatically be returned when the deadline is reached. However, once a deadline is hit, a game can be lent out again.
Lend Virtual Game Card games to family group members for a limited time.
Only one game can be borrowed per person, and you can only lend three games at a time. The original owner cannot play the game at all while it's being borrowed, so this isn't like duplicating the game--it's actually being borrowed. But the original owner does have the option to take the game back before the deadline.
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How to set up GameShare
First, the player who owns the game needs to look for the GameShare option inside the game itself, not on the Nintendo Switch home screen. Once the process is started, players who don't own the game can press the GameShare icon found at the bottom of the home screen to join GameShare. From there, choose whether the session is local or long-distance through GameChat.
As the player who is joining, choose whether the GameShare is local or through GameChat.
Players in local GameShare sessions can connect simply by selecting the A Local User option, but long-distance GameShare sessions need to be joined through GameChat. So, all players need to set up GameChat before either sharing or receiving a game long-distance. Sharing a game long-distance allows all players to play together for as long as the GameChat session lasts.
Switch 2 games that use GameShare
While GameShare allows you to play games you don't own, not every game is compatible with GameShare. According to the official Nintendo website, the current list of fully GameShare-compatible games is as follows:
- Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
- Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
- Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
- Super Mario Odyssey
This is a small list at the time of writing, but the site also indicates that more games will become GameShare-compatible in the future, following free software updates.
How to lend games to family group members
The Nintendo Switch 2 also allows you to lend games to members of your "family group." Go to the family page on the official Nintendo accounts website to choose family group members. Press the Virtual Game Card icon on the home screen and select a game. Choose the Lend to Family Group Member option to share the game with someone else for a short period of time. You can lend a game for up to 14 days at a time, and the game will automatically be returned when the deadline is reached. However, once a deadline is hit, a game can be lent out again.
Lend Virtual Game Card games to family group members for a limited time.
Only one game can be borrowed per person, and you can only lend three games at a time. The original owner cannot play the game at all while it's being borrowed, so this isn't like duplicating the game--it's actually being borrowed. But the original owner does have the option to take the game back before the deadline.
Source