Haunted Paws demo is free to download on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. LazyFlock confirmed both Nintendo versions in its 28 October 2026 release announcement, while Nintendo’s UK Switch 2 listing marks the demo as available in eShop.
You can try the spooky two-puppy adventure before its May 2027 launch, and the developer has also released a Steam demo for PC players. Here’s where to find the right Nintendo version, what you need to download it and how to deal with a missing demo listing.
Haunted Paws demo: where to download it
Nintendo announced the Haunted Paws demo during its 28 October Indie World showcase. Nintendo’s Switch 2 listing offers a demo download, and LazyFlock confirms that players on the original Switch and PC through Steam can try the game too.
The demo is free. You need a Nintendo Account linked to the console and an internet connection to access eShop, but you do not need a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership merely to download it. Online multiplayer in the full game has a separate subscription requirement.
How to download Haunted Paws on Nintendo Switch 2
1. Connect your Switch 2 to the internet and select Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu. Open the store using the Nintendo Account you want to download with.
2. Search for Haunted Paws. Select the Nintendo Switch 2 game listing and look for its available demo option rather than a future purchase or wish-list action.
3. Choose Download Demo or the equivalent download option displayed for your region. Confirm the download and return to HOME while the software installs.
4. Once the Haunted Paws demo has finished installing, launch its icon from HOME. Check that the system has enough storage if the download cannot begin.
You can download the Haunted Paws demo without purchasing the finished game. Once the installation completes, look for its icon on the HOME Menu. If eShop shows you the full game’s wish-list option, check the same listing for its demo download.
Can you download the demo on the original Switch?
Yes. The developer’s 28 October announcement confirms the Haunted Paws demo for the original Nintendo Switch, not just Switch 2. Open eShop on the older console and look for the free demo on that version’s product listing.
Open Nintendo eShop on your original Switch, search for Haunted Paws and select the Switch version’s demo. The game itself is also planned for the original Switch when it launches in May 2027, so this isn’t a Switch 2-exclusive adventure.
The two consoles have separate game listings, so check which Nintendo Switch you’re using before downloading. LazyFlock describes both demos as free. You do not need to buy the full game just to try the preview.
Is the Haunted Paws demo available on Steam?
Yes. The Steam demo launched on 8 October 2026. Open Steam, search for Haunted Paws Demo and choose Install Demo. The developer also confirms Friend’s Pass support, so a friend can join without buying a separate copy; follow the options shown in the Steam demo for the available co-op setup.
LazyFlock’s 19 October update added seven breeds, nine accessories and more customisation, including the option to dress a kitten as a dog. If you tried the early Steam playtest, the developer has also improved movement, camera behaviour, graphics and audio since that build.
What can you do in the demo?
Haunted Paws is a co-operative adventure about two puppies attempting to rescue their missing human from a haunted mansion. The developer showcases dog customisation, creepy but playful surroundings, puzzles, sniffing out clues, barking, digging and working together.
The Haunted Paws demo offers a sample of the adventure, rather than all four chapters planned for the full game. You’re getting an early feel for the puppies and the mysteries they’ll investigate together.
Nintendo lists two-player local and online play for the full Switch game. The Steam demo also advertises local and online co-op. Nintendo’s pages do not give a separate complete mode breakdown for its demo builds, so use the options you see after installing. Our Haunted Paws multiplayer guide explains the full game’s confirmed options.
What if the demo is missing or will not download?
First make sure you’re on the correct regional eShop listing and that you’re using the supported Nintendo console. Check the internet connection and sign-in status, then confirm the console has available storage and current system software.
Try searching for the game’s title rather than a separate demo name. Nintendo’s UK Switch 2 page marks the same game’s listing as Demo available, so its download may sit within the normal product page.
If your Haunted Paws demo download is queued, check HOME to see whether the transfer is still in progress. There’s no need to buy Nintendo Switch Online just to access a free downloadable demo. Online co-op in the complete game is a different question.
Will demo progress carry over to the full game?
LazyFlock and Nintendo have not announced demo save carryover to the May 2027 release. Enjoy the Haunted Paws demo as a preview, but do not count on your progress moving into the finished game unless the developer confirms it.
The full Haunted Paws release date remains May 2027. Until then, the Haunted Paws demo offers a way to see whether the co-op puzzles, customisation and spooky comedy are a good match for you.
Official developer source: LazyFlock’s Haunted Paws demo and release announcements.
