If you're wondering how to get Gold Points for your Nintendo Switch, keep reading! There's even a Nintendo deal going that will get you DOUBLE Nintendo points on select titles right now!
Nintendo has had the Gold Points program for the last few years now, where you can buy a game and you will be given Gold Points. You normally get one Gold Point per penny spent.
READ MORE:What are Nintendo Platinum Points?
In time you can redeem them for purchases on the eShop, or just count towards a big purchase if you wanted.
But how do they work, and what are the value of them? And what's this whole Double Gold Points thing about? Here’s a guide to give you the lowdown in this.
Double Gold Points Fest explained - how do you get double Gold Points?
Nintendo has announced an initiative that will give fans DOUBLE the amount of Gold Points on select purchases.
Nintendo describes Double Gold Points Fest like so: "Enjoy a summer surprise with the Double Gold Points Fest, now running on Nintendo eShop!
"From now until 12th August, users can earn up to 10% of their money back as Gold Points, when they purchase selected Nintendo Switch titles from Nintendo eShop.
"Every Thursday until 30/07, three new games will be added that will grant double Gold Points, so make sure to check back often to see what’s on offer. All games listed in the table below will grant double Gold Points, so long as they are purchased before the offer ends on 12th August."
Nintendo also share this table of games that are currently included in Double Gold Points Fest. It's worth noting that you'll only get the double Gold Points if you buy the digital versions of these games between the specified dates...
Which game? | Total Gold Points | Sale Start Date | Sale End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 600 (Euro zone) 500 (UK) 450 (RU) 780 (CH) | 16/07/2020, 15:00 CEST | 12/08/2020, 23:59 local time |
Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch | 270 (Euro zone) 244 (UK) 204 (RU) 378 (CH) | 16/07/2020, 15:00 CEST | 12/08/2020, 23:59 local time |
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 600 (Euro zone) 500 (UK) 450 (RU) 780 (CH) | 16/07/2020, 15:00 CEST | 12/08/2020, 23:59 local time |
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition | 600 (Euro zone) 500 (UK) 450 (RU) 780 (CH) | 09/07/2020, 15:00 CEST | 12/08/2020, 23:59 local time |
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy Deluxe Edition | 400 (Euro zone) 350 (UK) 300 (RU) 520 (CH) | 09/07/2020, 15:00 CEST | 12/08/2020, 23:59 local time |
Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! | 200 (Euro zone) 180 (UK) 150 (RU) 280 (CH) | 09/07/2020, 15:00 CEST | 12/08/2020, 23:59 local time |
Nintendo's terms and conditions state: Users earn Gold Points based on the amount they have paid. Bonus Gold Points will be distributed in the calendar week following the purchase.
We'll be sure to update this article when the next wave of Double Gold Points games are confirmed!
How do you normally get Gold Points?
A gold point is usually worth one penny. So for example, if you buy a game worth £40, you will receive 200 gold points, as this helpful guide from Nintendo shows. Downloads are 5% and game cards are 1%, which are worth the price of the purchase, so you will earn gold points regardless with the Switch.
This can apply to online games, so whatever you buy from the eShop, you will receive gold coins, which you can view in your account and spend as you wish.
Every game you buy in cartridge form can also be redeemed with gold points. You may have a collection of boxed games that you’ve not redeemed as yet. To do this, simply have the cartridge in the Switch, press the + button and go to ‘My Nintendo Rewards’. Select ‘Earn Points’ and after a moment, you will have gold points.
The one thing to remember, is that when you buy a pre-owned game, there’s always a chance that the original buyer has redeemed them, regardless of it being on another account. Every cartridge has its own unique ID, which goes back to Nintendo once the points are claimed, so they can’t be collected again. But there’s no harm in checking it with the above method in case they didn’t.
READ MORE: How to reedeem a code onNintendo Switch
How to redeem Gold Points
Redeeming those sweet gold points is a very simple affair. You only need to go to the eShop and browse a game that you’ve been wanting to buy, and then select it.
When it shows the total value, you will have the option of using your points when you select ‘Use points for a discount’. The only caveat is that you can only use all of them at once, not a few for one purchase.
To note, there are ‘Platinum Points’, which are valued higher for Nintendo, and are earned when buying a console or filling out surveys, but they don’t bring any relevance to your Switch. They can be used for certain online games like ‘Super Mario Run’, but that’s it for now.
It would be great to redeem the gold points for an extra month of the Switch Online service for example, but as Nintendo’s Online methods leave a lot to be desired, it’s still nice to be rewarded for buying games, and then redeeming a new purchase through the gold points. Let’s only hope that they can be given even more credence for the future.
READ MORE: How to change region on Nintendo Switch
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