This week’s Nintendo Direct unveiled that a Nintendo Switch Online expansion is coming this fall. Fans have speculated that it would be Nintendo 64 or Game Boy/Game Boy Color games. It turns out that this was only half right, though. Furthermore, there is a catch that some will dislike. Everything in the expansion is included in a new subscription plan. In short, Switch Online will cost you a bit more if you want to play games from the two soon-to-be-added retro platforms. When the expansion launches, it will include nine Nintendo 64 games, some of which are iconic classics:
- Dr. Mario 64
- Mario Kart 64
- Mario Tennis 64
- Sin and Punishment
- Star Fox 64
- Super Mario 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- WinBack
- Yoshi’s Story
The Nintendo Direct also revealed a handful of additional games that will arrive sometime after the Nintendo Switch Online expansion launches. These include some more pretty great retro games:
- Banjo-Kazooie
- F-Zero X
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
- Mario Golf
- Paper Mario
- Pokémon Snap
Presumably, they will continue to add NES and SNES games from time to time as well.
A Second Retro Platform Takes Everyone by Surprise
The Nintendo Switch Online expansion presentation begins at 21:00 in the Nintendo Direct. The second half of that Switch Online presentation is where Nintendo threw out a curveball. Surprising everyone, they announced that Sega Genesis games are coming to the service as well! It seems Nintendo and Sega are getting along very well indeed. This part of the service will have 14 games at launch:
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Golden Axe
- Gunstar Heroes
- M.U.S.H.A.
- Phantasy Star IV
- Ristar
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Streets of Rage 2
- Shining Force
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
- Strider
The Sega Genesis game lineup for the Nintendo Switch Online expansion at launch.
Two Brand New Controllers
In addition to all of these new retro games coming in the Nintendo Switch Online expansion, there are new controllers. Switch Online subscribers will be able to order Nintendo 64 and Genesis controllers for the Switch. As you’d expect, they are wireless, just like the previously released NES and SNES controllers. They will be priced at $49.99 each.
Playing these retro games on the original controllers is cool. On the other hand, [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”vohdsrktfy” question=”Do you really want to ever use a Nintendo 64 controller again?” opened=”1″]do you really want to ever use a Nintendo 64 controller again?[/wpdiscuz-feedback]
The Nintendo Direct shows off the new Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis controllers.
