Hey fellow retro heads! If you’ve been itching to dive back into the pixelated glory days, Nintendo just gave us a pretty sweet reason to fire up the Switch. A fresh batch of old-school titles just landed for Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack subscribers, and there are some absolute bangers in the mix this time around.
Whether you’re playing on your standard Switch or the newer Switch 2, here is the breakdown of what you can play right now.
The Base Tier Loot (Standard Nintendo Switch Online)
If you have the standard subscription, your Game Boy library just got three very different, very awesome additions.
- Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3: This is the big one. If you’re tired of playing the hero, it’s time to embrace your inner greedy gremlin. This 1994 classic is where Wario completely stole the spotlight from Mario. You get to explore Kitchen Island, smash through walls, and hunt down a giant golden Princess Peach statue that pirates stole. The more treasure you hoard, the bigger your castle is at the end of the game. It’s peak portable platforming.
- Fortified Zone: A hidden gem from 1991. It’s a top-down tactical action shooter where you swap between two different mercenaries—Masato and Mizuki—to infiltrate a massive military fortress. They both have unique gear, so you have to tag-team your way through the map. Plus, it features a cool “Sound Boy” mode where you can just chill and listen to the chiptune soundtrack.
- The Sword of Hope II: For the RPG nerds out there, this 1996 title is a fascinating blend of first-person dungeon crawling and classic point-and-click adventure mechanics. You play as Prince Theo, trying to save your kingdom by using commands like “look,” “open,” and “hit” to solve puzzles and navigate the world.
The Premium Loot (Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack)
If you’re paying for the Expansion Pack tier, you’re getting a massive double-dose of puzzle addiction dropped straight into your Game Boy Advance library.
- Dr. Mario & Puzzle League: Originally released as a twin-pack back in 2005, this cartridge is dangerous if you value your free time. You get the classic virus-busting medicine matching of Dr. Mario, alongside the fast-paced block-swapping chaos of Puzzle League (which includes six different gameplay modes). Both games feature versus modes too, so it’s perfect for testing your friendships.
How to Play
As a quick reminder, the games you can access depend entirely on which sub you have. The basic Game Boy stuff is open to everyone on the standard plan, while the Game Boy Advance puzzle pack requires the Expansion Pack.
Which one are you booting up first? I know my weekend is officially booked with Wario Land.
