For the Nintendo Switch family of systems, Nintendo distributes emulated retro games to subscribers of their Nintendo Switch Online service. Subscribers have access to games for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Game Boy (GB) and Game Boy Color (GBC). At the more expensive subscription tier, titled "Expansion Pack", players can also access Nintendo 64 (N64), Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance (GBA) games.
During its first year, the Online service provided a new batch of NES games on a monthly basis. With the addition of SNES titles in September 2019, releases would no longer be regularly scheduled. [1] In October 2021, Nintendo added a subscription tier called "Expansion Pack" which includes access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. In February 2023, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were added to the base subscription tier, and Game Boy Advance (GBA) games were added to the Expansion Pack. Games are accessible as long as the user has an active subscription, and a user must connect to the internet at least once a week to continue to access services while offline.
For North America, PAL, and South Korea markets, Nintendo publishes the original NTSC-U versions, retaining their North American naming and 60 Hz support. The Japanese Family Computer variant is used in Japan and Hong Kong. [2] The emulator includes online multiplayer support, allowing players to play local multiplayer games remotely with friends. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Some NES and SNES games also have an alternative version labeled "SP" ("Extra" in some regions) which alters the game in some way, typically unlocking additional modes, starting the player with additional items or levels, or starting the player midway through the game.
The service features several titles that were not available on Nintendo's Virtual Console. Some games saw their first re-release in any form since their original debut including Pro Wrestling , [8] Vice: Project Doom [9] and Pilotwings 64 . [10] The Switch Online marks the first release in North America for games such as Pop'n TwinBee , Smash Tennis and Mario's Super Picross . [11] [12]
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online service on September 19, 2018, NES games were made available with 20 titles available at launch. Subscribers can access them through a dedicated app. As of February 21,2024 [update] , there are 80 [upper-alpha 1] games and 20 "SP" variations available, including:
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 4, 2019, SNES games were added to the service worldwide with 20 titles on September 5, 2019. [51] They are available in a separate app from NES games. As of April 12,2024 [update] , there are 71 [lower-alpha 1] games and seven "SP" variations available, including:
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on February 8, 2023, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were added to the service worldwide with 10 games the same day. [58] The Game Boy emulator includes multiple display settings that recreate the visual appearance and color palettes of the original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color. [59] As of May 15,2024 [update] , there are 26 [lower-alpha 1] games available, including:
Release date | Game | Publisher(s) | Platform | NA/PAL/KR | JP/HK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 8, 2023 [58] | Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare | THQ Nordic | GBC | ||
Game & Watch Gallery 3 | Nintendo | ||||
Gargoyle's Quest | Capcom | GB | |||
Kirby's Dream Land | Nintendo | ||||
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX | GBC | ||||
Metroid II: Return of Samus | GB | ||||
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | |||||
Tetris | |||||
Wario Land 3 | GBC | ||||
Yakuman | GB | ||||
March 15, 2023 [47] | BurgerTime Deluxe | G-Mode | |||
Kirby's Dream Land 2 | Nintendo | ||||
June 5, 2023 [48] | Blaster Master: Enemy Below | Sunsoft | GBC | ||
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble | Nintendo | ||||
July 27, 2023 [60] | The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages | ||||
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons | |||||
August 8, 2023 [61] | Pokémon Trading Card Game | ||||
September 6, 2023 [62] | Quest for Camelot | ||||
October 31, 2023 [49] | Castlevania Legends | Konami | GB | ||
March 12, 2024 [63] | Dr. Mario | Nintendo | |||
Mario Golf | GBC | ||||
Mario Tennis | |||||
May 15, 2024 [64] | Alleyway | GB | |||
Baseball | |||||
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru | |||||
Super Mario Land | |||||
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 23, 2021, [3] Nintendo 64 games were added to the service worldwide with nine titles on October 25, 2021. [65] Games are based on the NTSC releases using 60 Hz timing; select games also have the option to play the European versions which run at their original PAL 50 Hz speed, including those that support multiple languages. [66] Games that received a Z rating from the Japanese CERO rating board are available as part of a separate "18+" application in Japan. [67] As of April 24,2024 [update] , there are 34 [upper-roman 1] games available, including:
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 23, 2021, Sega Genesis games were added to the service worldwide with 15 titles on October 25, 2021. [65] As of June 27,2023 [update] , there are 45 [lower-roman 1] games available, including:
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on February 8, 2023, Game Boy Advance games were added to the service worldwide with six titles the same day. [58] As of March 29,2024 [update] , there are 17 [lower-alpha 1] games available, including:
Release date | Game | Publisher(s) | NA/PAL/KR | JP/HK |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 8, 2023 [58] | Kuru Kuru Kururin | Nintendo | ||
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | ||||
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | ||||
Mario Kart: Super Circuit | ||||
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | ||||
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! | ||||
March 9, 2023 [95] | Metroid Fusion | |||
May 25, 2023 [96] | Super Mario Advance | |||
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 | ||||
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 | ||||
June 23, 2023 [97] | Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade | |||
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade | ||||
September 29, 2023 [98] | Kirby & the Amazing Mirror | |||
January 17, 2024 [99] | Golden Sun | |||
Golden Sun: The Lost Age | ||||
February 21, 2024 [100] | Mother 3 | |||
March 29, 2024 [101] | F-Zero: Maximum Velocity |
The Nintendo 64 (N64) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. The successor to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was the last major home console to use cartridges as its primary storage format until the Nintendo Switch in 2017. As a fifth-generation console, the Nintendo 64 primarily competed with the Sony PlayStation and the Sega Saturn.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania and 1993 in South America. In Japan, it is called the Super Famicom (SFC). In South Korea, it is called the Super Comboy and was distributed by Hyundai Electronics. The system was released in Brazil on August 30, 1993, by Playtronic. Although each version is essentially the same, several forms of regional lockout prevent cartridges for one version from being used in other versions.
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