Large Switch game releases rarely arrive as one tidy file. Instead, you get a chain of parts — part1.rar, part2.rar, part3.rar, and so on — and the download page expects you to know what to do with them. This guide answers the question many readers send in: how do you extract or merge multiple files into a single playable NSP, XCI, or NSZ? The short version is that you only extract the first part, and the archive software reassembles the rest automatically. The longer version, with the folder layout, the pitfalls, and the installer step that follows, is below.

The package referenced on this page is a 8GB download set that works across Windows / Android / iOS environments, published under the Joker2.0 label and offered free of charge.

Download How to Extract/Merge Multiple Files? — Free

What This Guide Covers

Split archives are a delivery method, not a format change. The uploader compresses one large game file, slices the compressed result into chunks sized for a file host, and gives each chunk a numbered name. When you extract part1, the archiver reads a small index inside that first file and knows exactly how many siblings should exist and in what order they belong. It then streams data from part2, part3, and beyond without any manual joining on your side.

That single fact resolves most confusion. You are not merging anything by hand, and you are not supposed to open every part. You extract once, from the head of the chain, and let the tool do the stitching. The rest of this article explains where to put the files, which tool to use on each platform, what the output should look like, and how to move from a finished archive to an installed title.

Technical Specifications

Key Features of the Multipart Workflow

• One-click reassembly. Extracting part1.rar pulls the remaining parts together into a single output file, so you never concatenate chunks manually.
• Integrity awareness. Archive tools verify each part as they read it; a damaged or missing part stops the process with a clear error instead of producing a broken game file.
• Output in Switch-ready formats. A completed extraction yields an XCI, NSP, or NSZ file that installers such as Tinfoil or DBI recognize directly.
• Cross-platform tools. WinRAR and 7-Zip handle the job on Windows, while Android and iOS users have archive apps that read the same RAR multipart sets.
• Resumable downloads. Because each part is an independent file, a dropped connection costs you one chunk rather than the whole 8GB set.
• Storage planning. Knowing the source size lets you reserve roughly double the space — once for the parts, once for the extracted output.

Step-by-Step: Extracting a Split Archive

1. Download every part before you start

Grab part1, part2, part3, and any further chunks from the host. Do not begin extraction with parts still pending — the archiver will halt partway through and you will have to restart once the missing file arrives.

2. Keep them in one folder

Place all parts in the same directory with their original filenames untouched. Renaming a part, or letting your browser append a suffix like (1) to a duplicate download, breaks the naming chain the archiver depends on. If your browser auto-renames files, switch on a setting that asks before overwriting, or download each part to a clean folder.

3. Extract part1.rar with WinRAR

Right-click part1.rar and choose the extract option, or open it in WinRAR and press the extract button. Point the destination at a folder with enough free space. This is the only part you open — the tool reads the rest on its own.

4. Let it run to completion

Extraction of a set this size takes a while, especially on slower drives. Leave the window alone until the progress bar finishes. Interrupting mid-way leaves a partial file that installers will reject.

5. Confirm the output file

When it finishes, you should see a single XCI, NSP, or NSZ file in your destination folder. That is the game package. The numbered parts can be deleted afterward if you need the space back.

6. Install it on your console

Send the finished file to your Switch using Tinfoil, DBI, or whichever installer you normally use. Once installed, the title launches like any other. If you are building a library of rhythm titles alongside your other games, the Just Dance 2025 Edition Switch NSP update and DLC set follows exactly this multipart pattern, so the same six steps apply.

Pros & Cons

• Pro: Only one file needs to be opened, which keeps the process simple even for first-time users.
• Pro: Individual parts can be re-downloaded separately if one chunk corrupts.
• Pro: Works with widely available free tools on Windows, Android, and iOS.
• Pro: The finished output drops straight into standard Switch installers.
• Con: You need roughly twice the archive size in free disk space during extraction.
• Con: A single missing or renamed part stops the entire job, and the error message does not always name the culprit.
• Con: Mobile archive apps vary in how well they handle very large multipart sets, so a desktop is the more reliable path for an 8GB package.
• Con: No version number is published for this guide, so you cannot compare it against a numbered release.

Common Problems and How to Solve Them

"Cannot open file as archive." The most frequent cause is a missing part or a renamed one. Check that every numbered file sits in the same folder and that none carries a browser-added suffix.

Extraction stops at a percentage. A part downloaded incompletely. Compare file sizes against what the host lists and re-download the short one.

Output file is smaller than expected. The archive may have been extracted from a part other than part1. Delete the partial output and start again from the first file.

Installer rejects the file. Confirm the extension matches what your installer expects. An NSZ is a compressed NSP and some older installers will not read it; check your installer's documentation before assuming the download is faulty.

Trust Signals and Practical Guidance

This page is a method guide rather than a numbered software release, so there is no changelog or version history to track. The publisher label on the package is Joker2.0, and the download is listed as free. Because no scan results or safety certification accompany the input data for this page, treat the archive with the same caution you would apply to any file from a third-party host: keep your archiver current, and extract in a folder you control.

On freshness, the workflow itself has not changed — multipart RAR extraction has worked the same way for years, and modern WinRAR and 7-Zip builds handle it without extra configuration. What does change is the installer side, so keep Tinfoil or DBI updated to avoid format mismatches. For a broader look at how these packages are structured across releases, the Just Dance 2023 and 2024 Edition NSP, update, and DLC files show the same part1-through-partN layout with separate update and DLC archives. If you also collect card and board game ports, The Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game NSP and DLC package is another example where extracting part1 yields the installable file.

A practical habit worth adopting: create a dedicated folder per game, name it after the title, and download all parts into it. When you have several multipart sets in flight at once, this prevents part2 from one game being mistaken for part2 of another — a mix-up that produces an archive error with no obvious explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to extract every part?

No. Extract part1.rar only. That file carries the index for the whole set and pulls data from the other parts as it unpacks.

Can I use 7-Zip instead of WinRAR?

Yes. 7-Zip reads multipart RAR archives and behaves the same way — open the first part and let it continue through the rest.

What if a part is missing?

Extraction will fail. Re-download the missing part into the same folder with its original name, then run the extraction again from part1.

Can I extract on Android or iOS?

Archive apps on both platforms support multipart RAR, though very large sets are more dependable on a desktop. The OS field for this package lists Windows / Android / iOS, so all three are viable.

What file do I get at the end?

A single XCI, NSP, or NSZ file, ready to install through Tinfoil, DBI, or your preferred installer.

Download How to Extract/Merge Multiple Files? — Free

Note: you do not need to extract every part — part1.rar is the main file, and it extracts the data from the other parts.