Switch Online
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Updated with Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams (both arriving on 25th September), and *checks notes*... Virtual Boy? No, it's not a joke! Virtual Boy is coming to NSO's Expansion Pack in February 2026. Scroll down for the full list of announced VB titles.


Nintendo Switch Online's 'Nintendo Classics' catalogue had a slow start initially, but we've seen added value coming to the service which better justifies the asking price. With the Expansion Pack tier bringing N64, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and Game Boy Advance games, plus GameCube on Switch 2 (and the upcoming Virtual Boy titles), the library of classics is larger than ever.

We've pulled together a complete list of all NSO games you can access when you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online – including the most recent additions and the bonus SP iterations of certain games. We've also listed the Japanese exclusives that aren't available to subscribers in the West (unless you have a Japanese Nintendo Account, of course), plus every delisted NSO game that's been removed from the service.

Remember, these games aren't individual downloads but are bundled together in the Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, GB, N64, Genesis / Mega Drive, GBA, and GameCube applications, which are 'free' to download. Each title benefits from save states (and the ability to rewind the action in some cases).

Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

Switch Online NES
Image: Nintendo

All Nintendo Switch Online games

Below, we have listed every Nintendo Switch Online game available on the service. We've separated these by console and by region.

Nintendo Switch Online: NES games (79)

There are currently 79 NES games playable via Nintendo Switch Online.

Upcoming NSO NES games

There are currently no upcoming games confirmed for the Nintendo Switch Online NES app. We'll update this list when there are any announcements.

Nintendo Switch Online: NES SP versions

As well as releasing classic NES games on Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo has also released special 'SP' versions of selected titles which offer a new way to experience them. These are often save states which place you in a particularly tricky part of the game, or ones which give you access to extra items from the start. Metroid and Gradius have two SP versions each.

  • Blaster Master - The Underworld Lord Awaits (Level 8, Sophia fully equipped)
  • Dr. Mario - The UFO Cover-Up (Level 20 cut-scene)
  • Ghosts ’n Goblins - The Great Demon Lord Awaits (Stage 6, dagger weapon)
  • Gradius - Stage 5 And Maxed Out! (Stage 5, full power)
  • Gradius - The Second Loop (Harder difficulty)
  • Kid Icarus - The Three Sacred Treasures (Final Stage with each of the Three Sacred Treasures)
  • Kirby's Adventure - Now with Extra Game! (Extra Game setting and Sound Test)
  • Metroid - Samus Aran's Ultimate Arsenal (All power-ups unlocked)
  • Metroid - The Decisive Battle Against Ridley! (All gear, Ridley Battle)
  • Mighty Bomb Jack - High Game Deviation Value! (Final zone)
  • Ninja Gaiden - The Thrilling Climax! (Stage 6-4)
  • Star Soldier - Certain Victory on Stage 8 (Stage 8, five-way shot and shield)
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 - Mario, the Quick-Change Artist! (World 8, multiples of 8 power-ups available)
  • The Legend of Zelda - Living The Life of Luxury! (Loads of Rupees, all gear)
  • TwinBee - A Second Helping of Donburi Island! (Level 6, increased difficulty)
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Link, Warrior without Equal (Attack, Magic, and Life all maxed out at level eight)

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese NES exclusives (12)

  • Adventures of Lolo (Japanese version, not to be confused with the Western version or the Western sequel which used this game as a partial source for some stages — thanks Lilly!)
  • Atlantis no Nazo
  • Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Clu Clu Land
  • Famicom Wars
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (SP version 2)
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (SP version)
  • NES Open Tournament Golf (SP version)
  • Route 16 Turbo
  • Smash Ping Pong
  • Tsuppari Oozumou
  • Yie Ar Kung-Fu
Switch Online SNES
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: SNES games (74)

There are currently 74 SNES games playable via Nintendo Switch Online.

Nintendo Switch Online: SNES SP versions

As with the NES games, 'SP' versions of SNES games are also available:

  • Kirby Super Star SP - Meta Knight's revenge! (All secret modes unlocked)
  • Kirby's Dream Course SP - Dancy along with Kirby! (All secret modes unlocked)
  • Kirby's Dream Land 3 SP - Set difficulty to Easy Breezy! (All secret modes unlocked)
  • Super Mario Kart SP - Fully Souped Up! (150cc difficulty unlocked from the beginning)
  • Super Mario World SP - Give the world a whole new look! (Special World is completed unlocking a new-look Dinosaur Land)
  • Super Metroid SP - Samus Aran's Ultimate Arsenal! (All items obtained and weapons and Power Suit upgrades unlocked)
  • Super Punch-Out!! SP - Champion Edition (All Circuits completed, Special Circuit unlocked)

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese SNES exclusives (Super Famicom) (8)

Game Boy Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: Game Boy (Color) games (39)

There are currently 39 Game Boy and Game Boy Color games playable via Nintendo Switch Online.

Upcoming NSO Game Boy (Color) games

There are currently no known Game Boy (Color) games scheduled to arrive on Nintendo Switch Online in the future. We'll update this guide when we know more.

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese Game Boy (Color) exclusives (2)

Two extra Japan-only Game Boy titles are currently available in that region only:

N64 Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: N64 games (40)

There are currently 40 N64 games playable via the upgraded Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership level:

Upcoming NSO N64 games

There are currently no announced upcoming N64 games for Nintendo Switch Online. We'll update this guide as and when Nintendo announces them.

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese N64 exclusives (2)

Two extra Japan-only N64 titles are available in that region only:

Sega Genesis Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo / SEGA

Nintendo Switch Online: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games (50)

There are currently 47 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games playable via the upgraded Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership level:

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese Sega Mega Drive exclusives (1)

One extra Japan-only Sega Mega Drive title is available in that region only:

  • Puyo Puyo (localised for the West as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, which is available — see above)
Game Boy Advance Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: Game Boy Advance games (25)

There are currently 24 Game Boy Advance games playable via the upgraded Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership level:

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese Game Boy Advance exclusives (3)

Two extra Japan-only GBA titles are available in that region only:

Upcoming NSO Game Boy Advance games (2)

There are two announced Game Boy Advance games coming to Switch Online soon. We'll update this section with more titles as they're announced.

GameCube Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: Virtual Boy Games - coming 17th February 2026

Virtual Boy games are coming to NSO on 17th February 2026, as announced in the September 2025 Nintendo Direct.

The Virtual Boy — which released in North America and Japan in 1995 and never launched in Europe — has a tiny library, with only 22 games officially released for the system worldwide.

Upcoming NSO Virtual Boy games (14)

Nintendo has announced 14 Virtual Boy games that will be coming to Nintendo Switch Online. It's not known if all of these will arrive in February, but here's what's been announced:

Nintendo Switch Online (Switch 2): GameCube games (5)

There are five GameCube games playable exclusively on Switch 2 with the upgraded Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership level.

Upcoming NSO (Switch 2) GameCube games (5)

Following this, five more GameCube titles have been confirmed for Switch 2 at a later date:

Delisted NSO Games (1)

Here's a list of every game removed from Nintendo Switch Online - games that were once part of the service but have since been delisted. We'll add games scheduled to be removed from NSO, too.

Where To Buy Nintendo Switch Online Subscriptions

If all the games in the lists above have you sold on Nintendo Switch Online, you'll be pleased to know that setting up a subscription is a walk in the park.

You can buy access to Nintendo Switch Online directly from your console, or you can pick up various subscription tiers at retail which cover different lengths of membership. Here's an explanation of those options, as well as all the links you need to buy them:

Nintendo Switch Online - Standard Membership

The standard, original Nintendo Switch Online membership gives you access to online multiplayer, as well as all of the NES, SNES, and Game Boy games listed above.

We actually offer these subscriptions on our own store for our readers in Europe, and are sometimes able to offer discounts. Any deals will be highlighted below if active.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack

If you'd like to go one step further, the Expansion Pack tier gives you everything the standard membership has to offer as well as Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and Game Boy Advance games, and some Switch game DLC packs.

You'll also need to be subscribed to the EP tier to access GameCube titles on Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch Online FAQ

What Switch games come with Nintendo Switch Online?

Nintendo Switch Online will come with multiple games depending on what tier you sign up for.

If you subscribe to the standard NSO membership, you will have access to NES, SNES, and Game Boy games.

If you subscribe to the NSO + Expansion Pack tier, you will have access to NES, SNES, Game Boy, Mega Drive, N64, Game Boy Advance, and the upcoming Virtual Boy games, as well as three pieces of DLC for Nintendo Switch games — Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2.

On Switch 2, the Expansion Pack tier will also get you the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for 'free', and you'll have access to the Switch 2-exclusive GameCube - Nintendo Classics library, too.

How many games are there for Nintendo Switch Online?

Currently, there are 192 games available through the Nintendo Switch Online standard membership. This does not include titles only available in Japan, or SP versions of games.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers have access to 307 games - an additional 114 titles

(This is excluding GameCube games exclusive to Switch 2 - including those, the total is 312 games).

Again, this does not include games only available in Japan or the SP versions.

Can you play all games with Nintendo Switch Online?

You can play all games available on NSO only if you are subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier.

This gives you access to all 307 games (312 on Switch 2), plus SP versions. For Japanese-exclusive releases, you will need to create a Japanese Nintendo Switch profile.

Remember, only retro games or select Nintendo Switch DLC are available on the Nintendo Switch Online service. You will still need to buy Nintendo Switch games from the eShop or via online or local retail stores.

What are 'SP' versions of Nintendo Switch Online games?

Some NES and SNES games are also available on Nintendo Switch Online as 'SP' or 'Extra' versions.

These 'Special' versions are usually available alongside the standard version of the game, and change it in some way. This varies between games, but some start out in an entirely different place, while others give you new levels, new items, or new modes.

They exist to help make old games feel different and encourage you to try out a new take on an old favourite.

What are the best games on Nintendo Switch Online?

If you're interested in which games are really worth your time, you can find out in our reader-ranked polls and check out our reviews for many of them. We're nothing if not comprehensive!