About ToraShelf
ToraShelf tracks three things Nintendo doesn't make easy to find for a specific Switch cartridge: whether it's actually region-free, what languages it supports per regional print(not just “the game” in general), and whether the cart physically holds the game data at all. It's built for collectors deciding whether to import a print, or figure out what they can already play on a cart they own.
Frequently asked
What does “region-free” mean?
Whether the cartridge will boot and play on a Switch console from a different region than the cart was printed for. Most Switch games are region-free, but not all — a region-locked cart bought from overseas may simply refuse to run on your console.
What's the difference between region-free and language support?
They're independent. A cart can be region-free (it boots fine anywhere) while still only containing data for a handful of languages — sometimes just one. “Language locked to region” means the language content is tied to that specific print and won't change no matter what language your console is set to; otherwise, language follows your console's system language setting. Buying an import for a cheaper price only to find it's missing your language is the exact trap this app exists to flag.
Full cartridge vs. Game-Key Card vs. digital-only — what's the difference?
This is about whether “physical” actually means the game is on the cart:
- Full cartridge — the game data itself is on the cart. It plays standalone, no download required.
- Game-Key Card— the cart is just a license key. The console still has to download the full game from the internet before it'll run, and needs Nintendo's servers to stay up to do so.
- Digital only — no physical release exists at all; listed here for completeness where relevant.
What do the “Scraped,” “Community verified,” and “Unverified submission” badges mean?
These are trust badges — a separate signal from the region/language badges, answering “can I believe this data” rather than “what does this data say.”
- Scraped — pulled from an existing public database or tracker, not personally verified by a ToraShelf user.
- Unverified submission — added by a community member, not yet confirmed by others.
- Community verified — a submission that enough other users have confirmed as accurate.
How can I contribute?
Sign in with just an email (no password) and use Submit to add a new print or correct an existing one, or confirm/dispute entries you can personally verify from a cart you own. More eyes on the data makes it more trustworthy for everyone.
Is this affiliated with Nintendo?
No. ToraShelf is an independent, fan-made project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo. “Nintendo Switch” and related names are trademarks of their respective owners, used here only to identify the hardware and games this site catalogs.