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All Nintendo Switch Online games available to play right now

All NSO and NSO Expansion Pack games and DLCs

Nintendo Switch showing the start screen for F-Zero 99
Image credit: Eurogamer
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Guide by Dion Dassanayake Contributor
Updated on

Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) is the Mario maker's answer to PS Plus. Like that equivalent service from Sony, if you want to play multiplayer games online on your Switch you'll need to grab an NSO membership first. Switch Online launched back in 2018, and marks the first-time Nintendo has locked the ability to play multiplayer games online behind a paid service. To sweeten the deal, Nintendo has thrown in a wealth of additional perks like cloud saves, game trials, and exclusive money-saving offers.

But the jewel in the crown is the ever-growing library of retro games subscribers can access. When Switch Online debuted, a selection of games from Nintendo's first console were also available to play. After starting off with the NES - or Famicom as it's known in Japan - Nintendo has bit-by-bit been adding new games and systems to Switch Online, working through its home consoles and handhelds.

With Switch Online you can now play NES, SNES, and Game Boy games. If you fork out extra for the more premium Expansion Pack membership, you'll also get to play N64 and Game Boy Advance games, as well as Sega Mega Drive games. To help you sort through the service's impressive retro gaming library, we've rounded up every game available with Nintendo Switch Online. We've also got details on the additional DLCs thrown in with the Expansion Pack, which could entice you to opt for this pricier plan instead of the vanilla membership.

Every Nintendo Switch Online game

All Nintendo Switch Online NES games

The NES has the largest selection of retro games in the Switch Online library. There are over 70 games from the 8-bit era included with the base NSO membership, from classics like the original Super Mario Bros and the first Legend of Zelda, to lesser-known titles that previously were only released in Japan.

Mach Rider
Mach Rider | Image credit: Nintendo

You can find the NES games available with Switch Online below:

  • Adventures of Lolo
  • Balloon Fight
  • Baseball
  • Blaster Master
  • City Connection
  • Clu Clu Land
  • Cobra Triangle
  • Crystalis
  • Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
  • Devil World
  • Dig Dug Ⅱ
  • Donkey Kong
  • Donkey Kong 3
  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Donkey Kong Jr. Math
  • Double Dragon II: The Revenge
  • Double Dragon
  • Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day!
  • Dr. Mario
  • EarthBound Beginnings
  • Eliminator Boat Duel
  • Excitebike
  • Fire 'n Ice
  • Ghosts’n Goblins
  • Golf
  • Gradius
  • Ice Climber
  • Ice Hockey
  • Journey to Silius
  • Joy Mech Fight
  • Kid Icarus
  • Kirby's Adventure
  • Kung-Fu Heroes
  • Mach Rider
  • Mappy-Land
  • Mario Bros.
  • Metroid
  • Mighty Bomb Jack
  • Mystery Tower
  • NES Open Tournament Golf
  • Nightshade
  • Ninja Gaiden
  • Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
  • Pinball
  • Pro Wrestling
  • Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
  • R.C. Pro-Am
  • River City Ransom
  • Rygar
  • S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
  • Shadow of the Ninja
  • Snake Rattle 'n' Roll
  • Soccer
  • Solar Jetman
  • Solomon's Key
  • Star Soldier
  • StarTropics
  • Super Dodge Ball
  • Super Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros. 2
  • Super Mario Bros. 3
  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
  • Tecmo Bowl
  • Tennis
  • The Immortal
  • The Legend of Zelda
  • The Mysterious Murasame Castle
  • The Mystery of Atlantis
  • TwinBee
  • Urban Champion
  • Vice: Project Doom
  • Volleyball
  • VS. Excitebike
  • Wario's Woods
  • Wrecking Crew
  • Xevious
  • Yoshi
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

All Nintendo Switch Online SNES games

The SNES was the second system added to the Switch Online's retro catalogue, with games from the iconic 16-bit console making their NSO debut in September 2019. The SNES has the second largest selection of games on Switch Online, with over 60 Super Nintendo and Super Famicom games available with the service.

Psycho Dream
Psycho Dream | Image credit: Nintendo/Eurogamer

Here are the SNES games available with Switch Online:

  • Amazing Hebereke
  • Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
  • Bombuzal
  • Brawl Brothers
  • Breath of Fire
  • Breath of Fire II
  • Claymates
  • Congo's Caper
  • Demon's Crest
  • Donkey Kong Country
  • Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong-Quest
  • Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
  • Doomsday Warrior
  • EarthBound
  • Earthworm Jim 2
  • F-ZERO
  • Fighter’s History
  • Harvest Moon
  • JellyBoy
  • Joe & Mac (aka Caveman Ninja)
  • Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
  • Killer Instinct
  • Kirby Super Star
  • Kirby's Avalanche
  • Kirby's Dream Course
  • Kirby's Dream Land 3
  • Kirby's Star Stacker
  • Magical Drop2
  • Mario's Super Picross
  • Natsume Championship Wrestling
  • Operation Logic Bomb
  • Panel de Pon
  • Pilotwings
  • Pop'n TwinBee
  • Prehistorik Man
  • Psycho Dream
  • Rival Turf!
  • Side Pocket
  • Smash Tennis
  • Spanky's Quest
  • Star Fox 2
  • Star Fox
  • Stunt Race FX
  • Super Baseball Simulator 1.000
  • Super Earth Defense Force
  • Super Ghouls'n Ghosts
  • Super Mario All-Stars
  • Super Mario Kart
  • Super Mario World
  • Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
  • Super Metroid
  • Super Punch-Out!!
  • Super Puyo Puyo 2
  • SUPER R-TYPE
  • Super Soccer
  • Super Tennis
  • Super Valis IV
  • The Ignition Factor
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
  • The Peace Keepers
  • Tuff E Nuff
  • Wild Guns
  • Wrecking Crew '98

All Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy games

The Game Boy is one of the most recently added systems to Switch Online. During the February 2023 Direct, Nintendo announced games for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color were getting added to NSO. The standard Switch Online membership plan includes Game Boy games, as well as SNES and NES titles. Expansion Pack subscribers can also access them.

Kirby Tilt n Tumble
Kirby Tilt 'n’ Tumble | Image credit: Nintendo/Eurogamer

Here is a list of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games available with Switch Online:

  • Alleyway
  • Alone in the Dark - The New Nightmare
  • Baseball
  • Blaster Master: Enemy Below
  • BurgerTime Deluxe
  • Castlevania Legends
  • Dr. Mario
  • Game & Watch Gallery 3
  • Gargoyle's Quest
  • Kirby Tilt 'n’ Tumble
  • Kirby's Dream Land
  • Kirby’s Dream Land 2
  • Mario Golf
  • Mario Tennis
  • Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge
  • Mega Man II
  • Mega Man III
  • Mega Man IV
  • Mega Man V
  • Metroid II - Return of Samus
  • Pokémon Trading Card Game
  • Quest for Camelot
  • Super Mario Land
  • Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
  • Tetris
  • The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
  • The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
  • The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
  • Wario Land 3

All Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Advance games

The Game Boy Advance is the other system that was most recently added to the Switch Online's retro gaming catalogue. Nintendo revealed GBA games were heading to NSO alongside the Game Boy announcement in the February 2023 Direct. Unlike its predecessor, Game Boy Advance games are only available with Switch Online if you have the Expansion Pack membership. Most recently, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon was added to the GBA library.

Game Boy Advance adventure The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap running via Nintendo Switch Online.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | Image credit: Nintendo

Here are the Game Boy Advance games included with Switch Online:

  • Densetsu no Starfy
  • Densetsu no Starfy 2
  • Densetsu no Starfy 3
  • Fire Emblem
  • F-Zero Maximum Velocity
  • Golden Sun: The Lost Age
  • Golden Sun
  • Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
  • Kuru Kuru Kururin
  • Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
  • Mario Kart: Super Circuit
  • Metroid Fusion
  • Metroid: Zero Mission
  • Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
  • Super Mario Advance
  • Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
  • Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords
  • The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
  • WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania
  • Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

All Nintendo Switch Online N64 games

During the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced the N64 as the first system for the Switch Online Expansion Pack. Currently, there are over 30 N64 games available with Switch Online, including the console's influential launch title Super Mario 64, and some of the games made by Rare that are forever associated with the system like Banjo-Kazooie and GoldenEye.

Mark Kart 64 start screen, showing a bunch of racers and the logo
Mark Kart 64 | Image credit: Nintendo

Here's a list of all Nintendo 64 games included with the NSO Expansion Pack:

All Nintendo Switch Online Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games

During the 16-bit era, when Nintendo and SEGA were battling for supremacy, who could have imagined that a first-party Nintendo service would include games from the Mega Drive? But that's what has happened, with Mega Drive games getting added to the NSO Expansion Pack at launch. Nintendo revealed games from the Mega Drive, or Genesis as it's known in the States, would be coming to Switch Online's more premium membership tier during the September 2021 Nintendo Direct.

Streets of Rage II
Streets of Rage II | Image credit: Nintendo

You can find a list of all Mega Drive / Genesis games included with the Expansion Pack below:

  • Alien Soldier
  • Alien Storm
  • Alisia Dragoon
  • Altered Beast
  • Beyond Oasis
  • Castlevania: Bloodlines
  • Columns
  • Comix Zone
  • Contra: Hard Corps
  • Crusaders of Centy
  • Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
  • Dynamite Headdy
  • Earthworm Jim
  • Ecco the Dolphin
  • Flicky
  • Ghouls 'n Ghosts
  • Golden Axe
  • Golden Axe II
  • Gunstar Heroes
  • Kid Chameleon
  • Landstalker
  • Light Crusader
  • M.U.S.H.A.
  • Mega Man: The Wily Wars
  • Phantasy Star IV
  • Pulseman
  • Ristar
  • Shining Force
  • Shining Force II
  • Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 2
  • Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball
  • Space Harrier II
  • Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
  • Streets of Rage 2
  • Strider
  • Super Fantasy Zone
  • Sword of Vermilion
  • Target Earth
  • The Revenge of Shinobi
  • Thunder Force II
  • ToeJam & Earl
  • Virtua Fighter 2
  • Zero Wing

All Nintendo Switch Online DLCs

As an added benefit, the Expansion Pack membership includes free DLC for a trio of exclusive Nintendo Switch games.

Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise artwork
Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Happy Home Paradise | Image credit: Nintendo

Here are the DLC packs included with the NSO Expansion Pack:

Nintendo Switch Online SP games

Switch Online also includes special SP versions of certain games. SP games are essentially save states that drop you in at particular points in a game. This can offer a more challenging experience, while other SP games dish out extra items at the beginning to make it more forgiving.

Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario - The UFO Cover-Up | Image credit: Nintendo/Eurogamer

You can find a list of all SP games available with Switch Online below:

  • Blaster Master - The Underworld Lord Awaits
  • Dr. Mario - The UFO Cover-Up
  • Ghosts ’n Goblins - The Great Demon Lord Awaits
  • Gradius - Stage 5 And Maxed Out!
  • Gradius - The Second Loop
  • Kid Icarus - The Three Sacred Treasures
  • Kirby Super Star SP - Meta Knight's revenge!
  • Kirby's Adventure - Now with Extra Game!
  • Kirby's Dream Course SP - Dancy along with Kirby!
  • Kirby's Dream Land 3 SP - Set difficulty to Easy Breezy!
  • Metroid - Samus Aran's Ultimate Arsenal
  • Metroid - The Decisive Battle Against Ridley!
  • Mighty Bomb Jack - High Game Deviation Value!
  • Ninja Gaiden - The Thrilling Climax!
  • Star Soldier - Certain Victory on Stage 8
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 - Mario, the Quick-Change Artist!
  • Super Mario Kart SP - Fully Souped Up!
  • Super Mario World SP - Give the world a whole new look!
  • Super Metroid SP - Samus Aran's Ultimate Arsenal!
  • Super Punch-Out!! SP - Champion Edition
  • The Legend of Zelda - Living The Life of Luxury!
  • TwinBee - A Second Helping of Donburi Island!
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Link, Warrior without Equal

Nintendo Switch Online 99 games

The exclusive Nintendo Switch Online multiplayer puzzle game Tetris 99 in action.
Tetris | Image credit: Nintendo

Switch Online also has a few exclusive battle royale games in its library. These games come with the '99' subtitle and take existing, beloved experiences and give them a battle royale twist - where you have to be the last player standing.

Here are all the 99 games available with Switch Online:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play NSO games offline?

All of the classic games available with Nintendo Switch Online can be played offline. However, an active NSO membership is required, and you must connect to the internet every seven days to verify your membership. .

Do I need the Expansion Pack?

The Expansion Pack is an extra membership tier that offers access to more retro games and DLC that you'd usually have to pay for. If you just want to play classic NES, SNES, and Game Boy games then the base membership will suit you fine. This tier also lets you play multiplayer games online, store your saved data in the cloud, take advantage of game trials, and play Tetris 99 and F-Zero 99. However, if you mainly want to play Mega Drive, N64, and Game Boy Advance games then you'll have to fork out extra for the Expansion Pack. This membership tier offers everything available with the base NSO plan, along with the libraries for this trio of systems.

How much does NSO cost?

Nintendo offers many different options for people thinking of signing up to Switch Online. You can get an NSO membership for a single account for one month (£3.49), three months (£6.99) or 12 months (£17.99). If you want access to the Expansion Pack, then that costs £34.99 for 12 months access for a single account. Nintendo also offers family plans which cover up to eight accounts. If you go down this route, 12 months access for the base NSO membership costs £31.49, while NSO and the Expansion Pack costs £59.99. Nintendo doesn't offer one or three month options for the family plan.

That's it for our guide on every game included with Nintendo Switch Online. If you're wondering what Nintendo has planned next after the huge success of the Switch, then head on over to our page on everything we know about the Switch 2.

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