Advertiser Disclosure — This site may receive compensation when you click links and apply for credit cards. Compensation may impact which products appear and their placement. We strive to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee all details are current. Full disclosure
Nintendo Switch Online is classified under MCC 5816 (Digital Goods: Games). The best card for Nintendo Switch Online purchases is the Xbox (no annual fee), earning 5x on digital goods: games — an effective return of 7.50%.
Nintendo Switch Online (MCC 5816) is a great category for Blue Cash Preferred cardholders, as it offers 6x rewards on digital goods and games, making the most of your gaming hobby.
Pro Tip
To maximize rewards, consider pre-paying for multiple months of Nintendo Switch Online at once when the MCC is active.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 monthly on Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions with the Blue Cash Preferred, you'd earn $144 annually compared to just $24 on a standard 1% cash back card.
How Nintendo Switch Online Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Nintendo Switch Online in the app or online, your card issuer sees MCC 5816 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a digital goods: games merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "digital goods: games" purchases, Nintendo Switch Online transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Nintendo Switch Online specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Nintendo Switch Online transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5816 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Merchant Category Code 5816 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Digital Goods: Games industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5816, all qualifying card programs that include digital goods: games as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Digital industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Spending $200/month at Nintendo Switch Online with the Xbox (5x on digital goods: games) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Autograph earns 3x at Nintendo Switch Online merchants, earning $72/year with no annual fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCC code does Nintendo Switch Online use?
Nintendo Switch Online uses MCC 5816 (Digital Goods: Games). Our top pick for this MCC is the Xbox, which earns 5x (7.50% effective return) on digital goods: games purchases.
How much can I earn at Nintendo Switch Online with the right credit card?
Spending $200/month ($2400/year) at Nintendo Switch Online with the Xbox (no annual fee) earns approximately $120/year at 5x. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending — that is $96 more per year with the right card.
Is Nintendo Switch Online classified as digital goods: games for credit card rewards?
Yes. Nintendo Switch Online is classified under MCC 5816 (Digital Goods: Games) by Visa and Mastercard. Cards that list 'digital goods: games' as a bonus category — such as the Xbox — will apply the elevated earn rate at Nintendo Switch Online.
Does my credit card earn bonus rewards at Nintendo Switch Online?
If your card includes digital goods: games in its bonus categories, then yes — Nintendo Switch Online's MCC 5816 typically qualifies. The Xbox earns 5x here. Check your card's app or call your issuer to confirm your specific card's category mapping.
What other stores are in the same category as Nintendo Switch Online (MCC 5816)?
MCC 5816 (Digital Goods: Games) is shared by many similar businesses. Other stores in this category include: Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audible, Deezer. The same credit card bonus rate applies at all of these merchants.
PointsPick may earn a commission when you apply through our links.
Full disclosure
MCC data based on card network classification standards.
Rankings verified monthly from official card issuer terms.
Last verified: April 26, 2026.
Full methodology: www.pointspick.com/methodology.
