$49.99: DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake (Nintendo Switch 2) at Amazon

DelightfulWing9492

Nov 18, 2025 3:38 AM

44 Comments

Joined Nov 2022

DelightfulWing9492Nov 18, 2025 3:38 AM

44 Comments

why are people paying for game key cards? might as well just buy it digital

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MVives

Nov 18, 2025 4:12 AM

137 Comments

Joined Oct 2016

MVivesNov 18, 2025 4:12 AM

137 Comments

Quote from DelightfulWing9492

:

why are people paying for game key cards? might as well just buy it digital

Two possible reasons:
- Want something to show off on the shelf.
- These "physical" versions may have sales (possibly deep discounts) that the digital versions won't.
Unfortunately, any demand of this format may be interpreted by Nintendo to justify doing it more often... when in fact buyers are likely more interested in game cards with the full game on them if they were available.

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Slick_Drone

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 4:21 AM

7.4K Comments

Joined Nov 2017

Slick_Drone

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 4:21 AM

7.4K Comments

Quote from DelightfulWing9492

:

why are people paying for game key cards? might as well just buy it digital

Because in 2025, physical games are the same thing as game key cards. You need to download the game, or a major patch, when you first put the disc in your PS5 (for example), and it's no different here except Nintendo is being transparent about it. This is nothing like buying digital. With a digital purchase the game is redeemed and tied to your Nintendo account. With game-key cards the cartridge is not tied to your account and you can sell or give it away.

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MVives

Nov 18, 2025 4:38 AM

137 Comments

Joined Oct 2016

MVivesNov 18, 2025 4:38 AM

137 Comments

What's the consensus on Switch vs. Switch 2 (native) for this one, when playing on a Switch 2? Apparently some performance and quality improvements that only comes on the Switch 2 native version, but the Switch (1) version also has a patch for Switch 2 users...

LavenderWren3996

Nov 18, 2025 4:46 AM

335 Comments

Joined Jul 2025

LavenderWren3996Nov 18, 2025 4:46 AM

335 Comments

Quote from MVives

:

What's the consensus on Switch vs. Switch 2 (native) for this one, when playing on a Switch 2? Apparently some performance and quality improvements that only comes on the Switch 2 native version, but the Switch (1) version also has a patch for Switch 2 users...

Seems like the switch version is 10 dollars more

BrooklynDodger

Nov 18, 2025 4:49 AM

130 Comments

Joined Jan 2014

BrooklynDodgerNov 18, 2025 4:49 AM

130 Comments

Buy the Switch version. Problem solved. Nintendo is failing with this key card bullshit. I'm more than certain they have the technology to double the amount of storage in those cards.

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BlueRaccoon1085

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 7:35 AM

3.6K Comments

Joined Dec 2020

BlueRaccoon1085

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 7:35 AM

3.6K Comments

Quote from Slick_Drone

:

Because in 2025, physical games are the same thing as game key cards. You need to download the game, or a major patch, when you first put the disc in your PS5 (for example), and it's no different here except Nintendo is being transparent about it. This is nothing like buying digital. With a digital purchase the game is redeemed and tied to your Nintendo account. With game-key cards the cartridge is not tied to your account and you can sell or give it away.

Can you give it away to multiple people then?

1

nice1excel

Nov 18, 2025 10:07 AM

51 Comments

Joined May 2013

nice1excelNov 18, 2025 10:07 AM

51 Comments

Quote from BrooklynDodger

:

Buy the Switch version. Problem solved. Nintendo is failing with this key card bullshit. I'm more than certain they have the technology to double the amount of storage in those cards.

Fine if you only have a switch 1, but playing the switch 1 version on switch 2 is not upgradable at all, in contrast to DQ3 HD that had a free switch 2 patch that drastically improved performance. With this version, You have to choose between inferior switch 1 performance on switch 2 (if you have one) or the fake physical switch 2 key card. I'm waiting for a steam sale, at least then I will support a better company, run on steam, deck, achievements, mods etc. Nintendo only for exclusives for me or as a last resort. Don't want to encourage key card releases

3

JJpeppers

Nov 18, 2025 11:48 AM

1.6K Comments

Joined Aug 2019

JJpeppersNov 18, 2025 11:48 AM

1.6K Comments

Quote from DelightfulWing9492

:

why are people paying for game key cards? might as well just buy it digital

Same with ps5 players lol. Shhhh don't tell em

1

Slick_Drone

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 12:32 PM

7.4K Comments

Joined Nov 2017

Slick_Drone

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 12:32 PM

7.4K Comments

Quote from BlueRaccoon1085

:

Can you give it away to multiple people then?

Can you give away a physical game to multiple people? Anything you do with a normal cartridge you can do with these.

tanman99

Nov 18, 2025 4:24 PM

4.6K Comments

Joined Mar 2009

tanman99Nov 18, 2025 4:24 PM

4.6K Comments

Quote from Slick_Drone

:

Because in 2025, physical games are the same thing as game key cards. You need to download the game, or a major patch, when you first put the disc in your PS5 (for example), and it's no different here except Nintendo is being transparent about it. This is nothing like buying digital. With a digital purchase the game is redeemed and tied to your Nintendo account. With game-key cards the cartridge is not tied to your account and you can sell or give it away.

No they're not. At least where Nintendo is concerned. Physical games will still work on Nintendo systems years from now. No internet connection required for most single player games.

2

tanman99

Nov 18, 2025 4:31 PM

4.6K Comments

Joined Mar 2009

tanman99Nov 18, 2025 4:31 PM

4.6K Comments

Quote from DelightfulWing9492

:

why are people paying for game key cards? might as well just buy it digital

Yep. Game key card = no sale!

2

Shoryuken23

Nov 18, 2025 4:51 PM

807 Comments

Joined Jun 2006

Shoryuken23Nov 18, 2025 4:51 PM

807 Comments

Quote from DelightfulWing9492

:

why are people paying for game key cards? might as well just buy it digital

You can let a friend borrow it.
You can sell it.
You can trade it in.

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1

Slick_Drone

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 5:01 PM

7.4K Comments

Joined Nov 2017

Slick_Drone

Pro

Nov 18, 2025 5:01 PM

7.4K Comments

Quote from tanman99

:

No they're not. At least where Nintendo is concerned. Physical games will still work on Nintendo systems years from now. No internet connection required for most single player games.

Hey I'm not going to try to convince people like you who think Nintendo is doing something different from the other console makers. Please continue to pass on buying these games so the prices will drop and I can get them for cheap. I know that just like the Wii eShop, 20 years from now I'll still be able to download and play the games I own, or else things like hShop will exist and I'll have other ways to get those games.

1

FellsPointDude

Nov 18, 2025 7:53 PM

84 Comments

Joined Aug 2014

FellsPointDudeNov 18, 2025 7:53 PM

84 Comments

Quote from BrooklynDodger

:

Buy the Switch version. Problem solved. Nintendo is failing with this key card bullshit. I'm more than certain they have the technology to double the amount of storage in those cards.

I think it's the opposite problem in terms of storage. The minimum size card is 64GB and developers don't really want to pay $16 a card when their game might only use 5GB of space. If there was option for smaller 16GB or 32GB cards at say $9 or $12 a piece, developers would be more inclined to offer the full game on a cart. I believe the estimate for just game key cards is $5.

1

$49.99: DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake (Nintendo Switch 2) at Amazon

$50

$60

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