Nostalgia counts for a lot when it comes to gaming and no one does it quite like Nintendo. We’ve already seen a stack of classic Nintendo 64 games like GoldenEye 007 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time officially come to Nintendo’s latest console as part of an online subscription model and now the push is coming for more Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games to be playable for the Nintendo Switch.
The Switch, which was released on March 3, 2017, is fast becoming the ultimate portable console and pretty much a gaming museum for Nintendo fans. However, unlike Microsoft with its value-driven Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo wants you to pay for the privilege of playing old games.
Nintendo Switch Online, which is the company’s official subscription model, is set up as a two-tier model split between the cheaper basic Nintendo Switch Online subscription and the slightly more expensive Expansion Pack upgrade. Both require monthly payments but reward you with a swathe of older games spanning Nintendo’s entire history.
Although, both models are incredibly affordable. The basic package will set you back $29.95 for 12 months and the expansion pack, which includes N64 games like the aforementioned titles, costs $59.95 for 12 months. Note that these prices are for individual accounts. If you’re sharing between up to 8 users then the price jumps a bit, but not by much.
Once you sign up via Nintendo’s eShop, you’ve got instant access to classic Game Boy games. The Expansion Pack provides the most value, however, as Game Boy Advance games are also included, right alongside those classic Nintendo 64 games and even a few retro games from SEGA Genesis.
Game Boy games included in the basic Nintendo Switch Online subscription tier include:
- Tetris
- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
- Gargoyle’s Quest
- Game & Watch Gallery 3
- Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Metroid II: Return of Samus
- Wario Land 3
- Kirby’s Dream Land
Game Boy Advance games exclusive to the expansion pack include:
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
- WarioWare Inc
- Mega MicroGames
- Kuru Kuru Kuruin
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
As teased at the recent Nintendo Direct streaming event, more Game Boy and GBA games will be added to the list later this year. From the trailer shown it looks like we’ll be getting Metroid Fusion, Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, Fire Emblem, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity and Golden Sun. Although there’s no word on all-time classics like Bomberman, Pokemon Blue/Red, Donkey Kong and Advance Wars.
