For anyone wondering what the criteria to get a refund on Nintendo eShop is and how to actually get one, we’ve got you covered.
Historically, Nintendo isn’t too keen on offering digital purchase refunds on the eShop. That might be one more reason to purchase physical games, at least! That said, though, Nintendo occasionally offers one-time exceptions for certain circumstances. Most reasons won’t get you a refund, but there are some that will – here’s what you need to know.
Nintendo eShop refund information
Generally speaking, Nintendo only offers digital refunds for “special circumstances”. If you purchase a game from the eShop and want a refund because you simply don’t like it, you probably won’t get a refund, for instance. However, Nintendo has been known to offer refunds for games that fell far short of expectations.
Most recently, this happened with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition’s Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – the upscaling used by the software makes the game look wavy and distorted, and characters’ faces are warped and broken. Furthermore, it’s prone to freezing up during Overdrives, which obviously is a very bad thing because some battles in Xenoblade X take a long time and can’t be easily repeated. Other times we can remember Nintendo offering refunds were for Sonic Colors: Ultimate on launch and, to a lesser extent, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
If a game comes out that has tons of glitches, it’s likely Nintendo will offer a “one-time exception” refund. So, to summarize, if a new game comes out that you take a chance on, and it winds up feeling unfinished, glitchy, or otherwise fails to deliver on its promises, Nintendo will often issue a refund – though it’s not guaranteed.
You can find all of Nintendo of America’s customer service options here. You can also give them a call at 1 (800) 255-3700.
Have you successfully refunded any Nintendo eShop games in the past? Let us know in the comments down below.