Best Ways To Spend Gold Points Before Nintendo Discontinues Them

Over the past few years, many players have taken full advantage of the perks included with both the Nintendo Switch Online service and the My Nintendo rewards program. Whether it's the My Nintendo Gold Points that have granted players discounts on their purchases, or the Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers that can be cashed in for one of many major first-party releases, players on the Switch have been consistently rewarded at almost every opportunity. Unfortunately, that's about to change as Nintendo looks towards the Switch 2's launch.

The announcement regarding the discontinuation of Gold Points, alongside the absence of Game Vouchers on Switch 2, will come as a disappointment to players who have used these rewards in the past. However, with the end of Gold Points yet to come into effect, many Switch players still have ample opportunity to take advantage of these offerings. Moreover, with the current sales taking place on Nintendo eShop and the many titles still making their way to Switch, now is the perfect time for players to use their rewards.

When Gold Points And Game Vouchers Are Ending

Players Still Have Time To Earn Points

Promo image for the My Nintendo rewards program, depicting three Miis, each with their own type of My Nintendo currency. The Mii to the left holds a gold coin, the Mii in the center holds a Platinum coin, and the Mii to the right holds a Super Mario Run themed coin.

According to Nintendo's Customer Support page, My Nintendo Gold Points will be discontinued on March 24, 2025, at 9:30pm PDT. This means that game purchases for the Switch that are made after this point will no longer reward players with Gold Points to use for discounts. Meanwhile, the company has revealed that the Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers available for NSO members won't be redeemable for games released on the upcoming Switch 2 console, although they are still available for games on the current Switch for the foreseeable future.

Nintendo has confirmed that the My Nintendo Platinum Points, which are given to players for completing certain missions and can be exchanged for physical rewards, will still be available beyond March 24.

It's unclear why Nintendo came to this decision regarding both Gold Points and Game Vouchers. With the Switch 2 set to launch later this year, it's possible that Nintendo is making way for a new rewards program that's exclusive to the upcoming console. It's something that the company has certainly done in the past, ending the Club Nintendo service in June 2015 before My Nintendo's debut in 2016. Regardless, the news will come as both a shock and a disappointment to Switch players who regularly took advantage of either reward.

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The announcement isn't all bad news for Switch players, especially in regard to the Gold Points. While the reward may be discontinued, players will still have access to their current Gold Points total beyond March 24, for up to 12 months after first receiving the points. Furthermore, players will still be rewarded for pre-orders made prior to the discontinuation, as well as physical purchases of games released before March 24. Despite the discontinuation, Nintendo is still giving players ample opportunity to take advantage of the system before it comes to an end.

The Best Games to Use Your Gold Points On

Many Stellar Titles Are Currently On Sale In The eShop

With there still being time to take full advantage of Gold Points, many players will want to use the opportunity to get discounts on some major titles. Luckily for them, many stellar games are currently up for sale on the Nintendo eShop, giving players a chance to combine this lower price with their Gold Points to create some huge discounts. In fact, many games on the eShop are at such a low price that, with a decent Gold Points total, players could own these games without spending a single cent.

For starters, many hugely popular indie titles have been given huge discounts, such as the critically-acclaimed roguelike Hades, which is available for 60% off at $9.99 USD until February 25. While the Standard Edition of Cult of the Lamb is a little more expensive with a price of $12.49, it's still 50% off from its regular price on the eShop until February 24. However, this pales in comparison to the dystopian puzzle-platformer Inside, that's currently selling for just $1.99 until February 25, a whopping 90% decrease from its usual price on the eShop.

Now is the perfect time for players to take advantage of their Gold Points.

That's not even mentioning the other huge third-party titles currently up for sale. This includes the Complete Edition of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which is on sale for $24.99 until February 28, making it $15 cheaper than the Standard Edition. Meanwhile, the Standard Edition of Disney Dreamlight Valley has been given a 25% discount, selling for $29.99 until March 3. With so many incredible titles for sale on the eShop, now is the perfect time for players to take advantage of their Gold Points, especially since they'll still be rewarded for purchases over the next month.

Why NSO Members Should Take Advantage Of Game Vouchers

The Value Of The Vouchers Allows For Huge Discounts On Major Nintendo Titles

Elma from Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition looking directly towards the player. — Elma from Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.

While Game Vouchers may not be disappearing entirely at this time, its absence on Switch 2 only emphasizes the need for NSO members to take advantage of the offer. With two vouchers costing $99.98 USD in total, it allows for some major discounts on some of the biggest Switch titles developed and published by Nintendo itself, many of which have the full $59.99 price tag. Plus, with the Switch 2 being backwards compatible, players should take advantage of this offer to build a huge library that can be carried over to the new console at launch.

Nintendo has specified that not all Switch games will be available on Switch 2 through backwards compatibility. However, it has not been specified which games this includes.

Of course, the Game Vouchers don't just apply to older Switch releases, but to upcoming titles as well. For example, this means NSO members will be able to apply this offer to a pre-order of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on the eShop at a more agreeable price than the standard $59.99 price tag it has been given. With brand-new titles being available at lower prices through Game Vouchers, now is the perfect opportunity for players to take advantage of the service before making their way over to the Switch 2.

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While Nintendo's changes to its rewards systems are disappointing, they only go to showcase the value that these perks have provided for players. From the Gold Points to the Game Vouchers, Nintendo's rewards gave players multiple opportunities to rapidly expand their library on Switch. And, with a month yet to go before the Gold Points discontinuation, now is as good a time as any for players to take advantage of the rewards on offer.

Source: Nintendo, Nintendo eShop