Switch Online
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Updated with Donkey Kong Land and Donkey Kong Land 2 for Game Boy, now available to NSO subscribers.


Nintendo Switch Online had a slow start initially, but with the introduction of SNES and Game Boy (Color) games, we've seen added value coming to the service which better justifies the asking price. And there's also the Expansion Pack tier that features Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and Game Boy Advance games, providing a more varied library of retro games — for a price, of course.

Nintendo has fleshed out the number of games available and we've pulled together a complete list of all the titles you'll get access to when you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online – including the most recent additions as well as 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).

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

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:

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 single Nintendo Switch Online game available on the service. We've separated these by console and by region.

Nintendo Switch Online: NES Games (78)

There are currently 78 NES games playable via Nintendo Switch Online.

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.

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

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese NES Exclusives

  • 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!)
  • Tsuppari Oozumou
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
  • Yie Ar Kung-Fu
  • Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Clu Clu Land
  • NES Open Tournament Golf (SP version)
  • Famicom Wars
  • Route 16 Turbo
  • Atlantis no Nazo
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (SP version)
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (SP version 2)
  • Smash Ping Pong
Switch Online SNES
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: SNES Games (67)

There are currently 67 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:

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

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese SNES Exclusives (Super Famicom)

Game Boy Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: Game Boy (Color) Games (31)

There are currently 30 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

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

N64 Nintendo Switch Online
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online: N64 Games (37)

There are currently 37 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

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 (44)

There are currently 44 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games playable via the upgraded Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership level:

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese Sega Mega Drive Exclusives

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 (23)

There are currently 23 Game Boy Advance games playable via the upgraded Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership level:

Nintendo Switch Online: Japanese Game Boy Advance Exclusives

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

Upcoming NSO Game Boy Advance games

Here are the announced Game Boy Advance games scheduled to arrive on Nintendo Switch Online in the future (timing unspecified).

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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, and Game Boy Advance games, as well as three pieces of DLC for Nintendo Switch games — Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2.

We will provide a list of all of the games available with each tier of the subscription above, per console.

How many games are there for Nintendo Switch Online?

Currently, there are 176 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 280 games, which is an additional 104 games. Again, this does not include titles only available in Japan or the SP versions of games.

Can you play all games with Nintendo Switch Online?

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

This will give you access to all 280 games on the service, 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.


If you're interested in seeing all the NES games available for the Nintendo Switch Online service ranked (or all the SNES games given the same treatment), we've got you covered. Same for every N64 game and every Genesis / Mega Drive game on the service, too. We're nothing if not comprehensive!

This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.

Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!

If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games Ever should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.