Skip to main content

How to download the Hyrule Warriors demo on the Switch

Ahead of the game’s full release next month, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has gotten a new free demo, available to download from the Nintendo Switch eShop right now. This was announced during the recent Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, in which many exciting new things were revealed. One thing we learned is that all four Divine Beasts from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be playable in Age of Calamity.

Contents

In terms of the new Hyrule Warriors demo, you might be wondering how to get your hands on it. After all, the eShop isn’t the most user-friendly store. Here’s what you need to know.

See more

Recommended Videos

Step 1

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Begin at the home screen. Make sure you’ve got at least 1.3GB of extra memory for the Hyrule Warriors demo, and that your system is connected to the internet.

Step 2

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Then, open up the eShop by tapping or clicking the icon at the bottom of the screen. After the eShop boots up, tap or click on Search/Browse at the top.

Step 3

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Once here, you can type in “Hyrule Warriors” to get the game to show up. There are other methods of pulling up the game, but this is the quickest and most reliable way.

Step 4

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you typed in “Hyrule Warriors,” you’ll likely come across the first game, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, as well as the new one, Age of Calamity. Click or tap Age of Calamity.

Step 5

Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you do, you’ll come to the game’s landing screen from within the shop. This will give you lots of info about the game, such as supported languages, storage size, number of supported players, genre, screenshots, and pre-order details. On the right, below Proceed to pre-order, is Download demo. Tap or click this.

Step 6

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Assuming you’ve got enough free space (1.3GB), the demo will start downloading instantly. You can now back out to the home screen to see the progress.

Step 7

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since it’s a smaller demo, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes for it to download, depending on your internet speeds. Once it’s finished, you can hop in and enjoy the demo. It will be available to download, even after the game’s release next month. The demo throws you right into the action, allowing you to play through the first chapter of the game — with the ability to carry over your progress to the full version. Age of Calamity serves as a prequel to Breath of the Wild, taking place 100 years prior.

The full version of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on November 20, 2020.

Joseph Yaden
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
All upcoming Switch games: 2024, 2025 and beyond
Profile shot of Samus in the first Metroid Prime 4 Beyond trailer.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports of games that are also available on other platforms.

Here's our list of the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024 and beyond. Of course, some titles without release windows could skip the Switch entirely and wind up on the Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called). And if you're looking at future releases on multiple consoles, don't forget to check out what's upcoming on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC this year.
Upcoming Switch games 2024
The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit this year. Anything that's up in the air due to more vague launch predictions or previous delays will be listed below confirmed launches.

Read more
The best co-op games on Nintendo Switch
Amazon earth day used Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nintendo Switch is home to some of the best games of all time -- single-player or multiplayer. Unlike its competition with the best PS5 games and best Xbox Series X games, the Switch hasn't moved away from the classic couch co-op style of games we all grew up with. That isn't to say there aren't online co-op and cross-platform games as well, but you do have a lot more options on the Switch than other systems. As we approach the end of the Switch's lifecycle and prepare for the Switch 2, now is the best time to check out the massive library of co-op games to make the wait a little easier.

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Double Pack

Read more
The best Switch games for 2024
Zelda holding the decayed Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom.

The Nintendo Switch has had a lot of success in the nearly six years since its release. The console-handheld hybrid has been on the market since 2017, and a slew of fantastic games from first- and third-party developers have launched over the course of the system's life cycle.

Heavy hitters such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder make the console a must-play while stellar indies fill out the roster. And some of the best games from previous Nintendo systems like NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, and Wii have modern entries in the Switch ecosystem.

Read more