Digital Only Physical Games
A digital-only physical game is essentially a physical copy with a download code with no cartridge or disc inside, or have one game on a card and are forced to download the rest. This is one of the dumbest and most pointless things to come out of modern gaming, so this list is exclusive to those who have them, and list every platform that has this type of packaging.
24 Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Legacy Collection 1 is on the card, but you had to download Legacy Collection 2
Legacy Collection 1 is on the card, but you had to download Legacy Collection 2
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Same thing with Mega Man Legacy Collection
Same thing with Mega Man Legacy Collection
Platform: Wii U & Nintendo 3DS (EU)
No disc or cartridge
No disc or cartridge
Every modern console
No disc or cartridge in re-releases. The original physical release on PS4 and Xbox One had a disc inside, but every re-release based around the packs contains no disc or cartridge inside, so I put Fortnite in general, otherwise the list would've been bloated with them.
No disc or cartridge in re-releases. The original physical release on PS4 and Xbox One had a disc inside, but every re-release based around the packs contains no disc or cartridge inside, so I put Fortnite in general, otherwise the list would've been bloated with them.
Platform: PlayStation 4
No disc
No disc
Platform: Nintendo Switch
No cartridge
No cartridge
Platform: Nintendo Switch
No cartridge
No cartridge
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Download code only
Download code only
Every modern platform
Download code only
Download code only
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Revelations is on the card, Revelations 2 you had to download
Revelations is on the card, Revelations 2 you had to download
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Resident Evil 0 is on the card, Resident Evil you had to download
Resident Evil 0 is on the card, Resident Evil you had to download
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Resident Evil 4 is on the card, 5 and 6 you had to download
Resident Evil 4 is on the card, 5 and 6 you had to download
Platform: Nintendo Switch
No cartridge
No cartridge
Platform: Nintendo Switch
No cartridge
No cartridge
Platform: Nintendo Switch
No game card
No game card
Platform: Nintendo Switch
No game card
No game card
Platform: PlayStation 3
Download code, but announced a physical release for all platforms at the time, including PS3
Download code, but announced a physical release for all platforms at the time, including PS3
Platinum: Wii U & Switch
Bayonetta 2 is on the card, the first game you had to download
Bayonetta 2 is on the card, the first game you had to download
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Has game card, but requires a 14 GB download. Does work without it.
Has game card, but requires a 14 GB download. Does work without it.
Platform: PlayStation Vita (NA)
No game card
No game card
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
No disc
No disc
Platform: PlayStation 3
Everything is on a disc minus MGS1, you had to download
Everything is on a disc minus MGS1, you had to download
Platform: PC (via Limited Run Games)
This one is really scummy. In 2021, LRG announced a collector's edition of Shiren the Wanderer for both Switch and PC. For the PC version, they said on their website that they'll include a physical disc, but what people received instead was a Steam code. They were given refunds, but the damage has been done.
Even with the refunds, this still counts as a digital-only physical game, so I'm adding it in.
This one is really scummy. In 2021, LRG announced a collector's edition of Shiren the Wanderer for both Switch and PC. For the PC version, they said on their website that they'll include a physical disc, but what people received instead was a Steam code. They were given refunds, but the damage has been done.
Even with the refunds, this still counts as a digital-only physical game, so I'm adding it in.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
The MSX and NES games are on the card (2.4 GB), the rest you have to download. 19.8 GB total for Metal Gear Solid 1-3, and 12.2 GB for bonus videos.
The MSX and NES games are on the card (2.4 GB), the rest you have to download. 19.8 GB total for Metal Gear Solid 1-3, and 12.2 GB for bonus videos.
20 Comments
@theia, they got decent artwork only to be cluttered with "Download Code" and a whole lot of words
Bayonetta 1+2 on the Switch did this... Bayo 1 was a digital download and Bayo 2 was on the card. Then there was a limited run of physical copies for Bayonetta 1 years after this two-pack came out. It was soooo stupid.
Validating Sega by buying that CE, a second digital copy cause my CE was delayed, and then buying the actual physical edition twice.
Don't be like me.
Don't be like me.
@PhantasM_, right, I almost forgot about that, and I think they did this on Wii U as well.
I remember they did physical copies separately during or close to Bayonetta 3's launch but I didn't know they were limited. That is extremely dumb.
I remember they did physical copies separately during or close to Bayonetta 3's launch but I didn't know they were limited. That is extremely dumb.
@Weatherby, I saved up money to get Sonic Mania Collector's Edition on Switch close to launch, but unfortunately, our house was robbed and they stole my money too. When Mania launched, we went over to GameStop and see if they had any in stock, but they didn't, so buying it on the eShop was our best bet.
I wanted to get the collector's edition after Mania released, but I didn't care about getting it anymore.
I wanted to get the collector's edition after Mania released, but I didn't care about getting it anymore.
Ah, christ. Sorry that happened to you, that sounds like a total nightmare.
@Weatherby, yeah, it was terrifying, but thankfully we got most of our stuff back before the launch of Sonic Mania (I think), including my stuff like my Switch and Wii U, but I don't remember if I did get my money back or not.
I thank the GameStop employees who refused the robbers to sell my consoles, that was extremely helpful.
I thank the GameStop employees who refused the robbers to sell my consoles, that was extremely helpful.
Minecraft for Vita did this too, at least in North America. Only thing in the case was a piece of paper with the download code.
Also, the Switch version of the Metal Gear Solid Collection that was released last year had only 2.4GB of the game's 24.1GB on the physical card (plus there was 30 GB worth of bonus videos that could be downloaded). It is my understanding that the 2.4 GB wasn't even a full game's content, so downloading was required to even play anything.
Also, the Switch version of the Metal Gear Solid Collection that was released last year had only 2.4GB of the game's 24.1GB on the physical card (plus there was 30 GB worth of bonus videos that could be downloaded). It is my understanding that the 2.4 GB wasn't even a full game's content, so downloading was required to even play anything.
Following up on @Corrugated_Fox 's suggestion, the playstation version of the Metal Gear Solid Legacy collection has physical discs for all of the games except Metal Gear Solid, which is a download code.
@Corrugated_Fox, didn't know Minecraft PS Vita did that shit in North America, that's really dumb.
I know the Switch version of Master Collection isn't the best way to experience the games, but seriously Konami? I think it be better if they made it digital-only like with DOOM Eternal.
I know the Switch version of Master Collection isn't the best way to experience the games, but seriously Konami? I think it be better if they made it digital-only like with DOOM Eternal.
@cowboyjosh, I did a bit of research. Every game on the Master Collection disc is on there except alternate languages and the digital graphic novels, unless you're talking about the Legacy Collection on PS3.
Yes! Sorry I should have specified I meant the PS3 Legacy Collection.
Unless later releases changed it like the reprints of Spyro Reignited (the inital launch only had the first game on dise, you needed to download the other), Start Wars Jedi Survivor requires a 90gb download even with a disc
Bioshock Infinite on PS3 and i believe X360 as well included a code for the original Bioshock (which is how i played it)
Fortnite has a disc on ps4, it's just for save the world and it's really rare but it exists look it up on ebay if you're interested in spending an entire days paycheck on FORTNITE
@brody6, I see. I listed Fortnite in general here because of the many physical re-releases based around packs that don't contain a disc. Thank you for telling me.
Fallout New Vegas on PC just gave you the manual and a Steam key. I got it for Christmas and I remember being confused as hell for a second about where the disc went, especially because the case still had the disc holder in there. I already had a Steam account so it was no big deal, but it was a great example of how hard physical PC games were waning by 2010. Even Left 4 Dead 2 still gave you a disc back then.
theia
2 months ago