How to Check Nintendo Switch Game Language Support Before Buying (English, French & More)
How to check if Nintendo Switch Game Supports English and other languages?
Buying Nintendo Switch games can be one of the most rewarding parts of the hobby but it also comes with a common question: “Does this game support English?”
Whether you’re shopping in Japan, browsing import stores or building a multilingual collection, knowing how to verify language support can save you from expensive mistakes.
This guide is based on our own experience importing and collecting Nintendo Switch games from around the world. Many of the titles featured throughout our guides come from our growing Nintendo Switch collection.
We’ll show you the fastest and most reliable ways to check whether a Nintendo Switch game supports English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese and other languages before you buy.
#1 How to Check Language Support on the Game Case
No matter which game you’re buying in Japan, the fastest first step is to check the back of the game case. To verify whether the game supports the language that you wanted, look under the supported language section and check for the language you wanted to play in. For example “英語” for English. If it’s listed, it means the game is playable in English.
Below are the translation of supported languages for Japanese Nintendo Switch games.
| 対応言語 (Taiō gengo) | Supported Language | Japanese pronunciation |
| 日本語 | Japanese | Nihon-go |
| 英語 | English | Ei-go |
| フランス語 | French, Français | Furansu-go |
| イタリア語 | Italian, Italiano | Itaria-go |
| ドイツ語 | German, Deutsch | Doitsu-go |
| スペイン語 | Spanish, Español | Supein-go |
| オランダ語 | Dutch, Nederlands | Oranda-go |
| ポルトガル語 | General Portuguese | Porutogaru-go |
| ブラジルポルトガル語 | Brazilian Portuguese | Burajiru Porutogaru-go |
| ロシア語 | Russian, Русский | Roshia-go |
| 韓国語 | Korean, 한국어 | Kankoku-go |
| 中国語 (簡体字) | Simplified Chinese, 简体中文 | Chūgoku-go (Kantaiji) |
| 中国語 (繁体字) | Traditional Chinese, 繁体中文 | Chūgoku-go (Hantaiji) |
In some cases (no pun intended), the supported languages aren’t printed on the physical case. This is where it gets a little complicated but don’t worry, we’re going to share with you the correct step by step next.
#2 Check the official Nintendo Store Japan website
If the language information isn’t printed on the game case, the Nintendo Store Japan is usually the most reliable way to verify supported languages before buying.
We used to ask store staff whenever we weren’t sure but after importing and collecting enough games, we eventually learned it was faster to verify everything ourselves beforehand.
This is usually how we check language support before heading to a physical store. We also rely on it when we discover an interesting game we’ve never seen before and need a quick answer before deciding whether to add it to our collection.
This is the website: https://store-jp.nintendo.com/ 🎮
Step 1 – You need to find out and copy the game title in Japanese. For example, the Japanese title for Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2 is “マリオカート ワールド”.
You can google it or check our dedicated game reviews where we try to include everything you needed to know about the specific game. (work is still in progress!)
Step 2 – Go to the official Nintendo Japan Store website and paste the game title into the search button on top right to check.
Step 3 – Click on the game’s page and scroll down to check the language support. See the screenshot I’ve provided below, are you able to spot if the language you needed is supported?
Step 4 – Finally, quick in-game check. Insert the game card into your Nintendo Switch and look at how the game title appears on the home screen. If it shows in your preferred language (for example, English), you’re all set. If it appears in another language you don’t understand (such as Japanese), that usually means English support is not available.
Congratulations, if the game you wanted works in the language you’re looking for! We are really happy for you and we would love to hear about your success stories so please share with us your Japan finds in the comments section!
#3 What if the Japanese Version Doesn’t Support English?
Unfortunately, if English (or the language you needed) is not listed among the supported languages, the game generally cannot be played in English. Many Japanese-exclusive games never receive an English patch and for some niche titles, collectors have waited years for an official English release.
Therefore, it might be better to directly purchase the games in your local market or global online stores such as PlayAsia and VideoGamePlus where language support and versions are usually stated, instead of importing the Japanese ones to prevent unnecessary stress.
#4 Can I Really Play Nintendo Switch Games in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese or Korean?
Have you ever wondered, “can I play my game in another language?”.
The short answer is yes, provided the game includes support for that language.
You can use the steps we’ve shared above to verify this before making a purchase.
For US versions, kindly check using this link instead: Nintendo Store US
For EU versions, kindly check using this link instead: Nintendo Store Europe
For all other countries: https://www.nintendo.com/
As collectors, we often look for multilingual releases whenever possible. Beyond accessibility, broader language support can help preserve a game’s usefulness, longevity and appeal for years to come.
For some collectors, multilingual support is more than a convenience, it can be an opportunity to experience games while learning a new language. We’ll be exploring this topic in a future guide.
Thank you for reading our Nintendo guide!
We hope this guide helps you make more confident import purchases and avoid language-related surprises. If you’re planning a game hunting trip to Japan, you may also find these guides helpful:
- Japanese Nintendo Switch 2: Region Lock, Language and Import Guide
- Are Nintendo Switch games region-locked?
- Can I play Japanese Nintendo Switch games on a US or EU switch?
- Nintendo Switch, OLED, Lite, or Switch 2: Which Should You Buy?
- Nintendo Switch Game-Key Card Explained
- ESRB vs PEGI vs CERO vs Asian Releases Explained
- Physical Cartridge vs Game-Key Card vs Digital Download
And if you’re still unsure about a particular game, feel free to reach out to us here or on X. We’re always happy to help fellow Nintendo Switch collectors and import gamers.
Happy collecting and happy gaming!
Behind every guide is a real collection.
Explore over 100 Nintendo Switch games we’ve collected, imported and tested over the years. Explore our collection here.
Curious about the philosophy behind The Soft Reset? Learn more about us here.
