Summary

  • Switch game cartridges survived a house fire in their protective cases.
  • Despite the fire's destruction, 18 Switch games were unharmed, including popular titles.
  • The switch, nearing the end of its lifecycle, remains popular with over 150 million units sold.

A Nintendo gamer has revealed that their Switch cartridges survived a house fire thanks to their protective cases. Thankfully, no one was injured in the blaze, but the Switch gamer revealed that many personal belongings were destroyed, making the survival of these cartridges surprising for many Nintendo fans.

While the Switch appears to be nearing the end of its lifecycle, Nintendo has sold more than 150 million units since its release. As a result, the third best-selling video game console of all time has become a part of many gamers' households thanks to its collection of first-party games. Blurring the lines between a handheld and home console, the Switch features cartridges instead of discs. While the small cartridges might seem fragile, one Nintendo fan recently revealed that the packaging for the games is surprisingly durable.

nintendo-fan-builds-switch-console-table
Nintendo Fan Builds Table in Shape of Switch Console

A talented Nintendo fans showcases the impressive custom table they built in the shape and design of a Switch gaming console.

In a Reddit post, a user known as DemureSow recounted their harrowing house fire experience that resulted in many of their possessions being destroyed. Fortunately, everyone managed to get out of the house, and the blaze was extinguished by firefighters. While while going through the charred remains, they discovered their Switch games had unexpectedly survived. As seen in one of the images, their Switch game cases had been badly burned, with some even fusing together. However, they pried the individual cases open with a hammer and screwdriver, revealing that the cartridges inside were safe. Another picture revealed that 18 games survived the flames, including popular Switch titles like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. They even had a copy of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a time-limited release for the Switch.

Nintendo Switch Cartridges Survive House Fire Thanks to Game Cases

When posting on the Switch subreddit, DemureSow revealed that the unfortunate fire happened due to a power strip short-circuiting. According to the gamer, the fire was contained to their bedroom, meaning their Switch, which was in a different area of the house, was sparred. Many Reddit users upvoted the post and left comments offering condolences to DemureSow regarding their lost property. In addition, users said they were surprised by the durability of the Switch game cases and highlighted the contrast between the charred packaging and pristine cartridges.

While the house fire is tragic for DemureSow, these unharmed Switch games are at least one bright spot. Replacing a collection of Switch games can go into the hundreds of dollars. In the post comments, the gamer confirmed that the games still work, proving they survived the extreme conditions.

It will be interesting to see the official packaging for Nintendo Switch 2 games. Fans will learn more about the system during a Switch 2 Direct on April 2, potentially revealing new details about some of its titles. Hopefully, the new packaging will be as durable as that used for the original Switch.

Image
nintendo switch
Display card main info widget
Brand
Nintendo
Weight
.88 lbs
Storage
32 GB
Display
6.2-inch LCD Screen / 1280 x 720
Battery
Approximately 4.5 - 9 hours
Display card main info widget end

Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info