{"id":970343,"date":"2026-01-04T07:11:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T07:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/nintendo-switch\/95826\/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-best-retro-games"},"modified":"2026-01-04T07:11:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T07:11:20","slug":"the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack<\/a>, which brought Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games to the already extensive list of NES and SNES titles. In February 2023, during a Nintendo Direct presentation, that list got even bigger: Nintendo added Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games<\/a> to the mix.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve updated our list of the best retro games on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Some of these games are historically significant, more are just damn fun, and others may be hidden gems you\u2019ve never played. Our latest update added Dr. Mario<\/em>, F-Zero<\/em>, Panel de Pon<\/em>, Pok\u00e9mon Snap<\/em>, Star Fox 64<\/em>, and Yoshi\u2019s Island<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n

Banjo-Kazooie<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Banjo<\/p>\n

Banjo-Kazooie<\/em> is the greatest 3D platformer to ever grace the Nintendo 64 \u2014 yes, even better than Super Mario 64<\/em>. [Ed. note:<\/strong> I do not condone this.]<\/p>\n

Rare\u2019s masterpiece follows a bear named Banjo and his best friend Kazooie, the bird who lives in his backpack. When Banjo\u2019s sister gets abducted by the local witch Grunty, bear and bird must spring into action to save her. The pair battle through Grunty\u2019s sprawling fortress, collecting a variety of items like Jiggy puzzle pieces, music notes, and Jinjos in locations like Bubblegloop Swamp, Clanker\u2019s Cavern, and Mad Monster Mansion.<\/p>\n

Banjo-Kazooie<\/em> offers tons of fun moves to learn alongside some classic Rare humor and Grant Kirkhope\u2019s incredible soundtrack. While you can play HD versions of Banjo-Kazooie <\/em>and its sequel on Xbox, this is the first time these platformers have appeared on a Nintendo system since the Nintendo 64.<\/p>\n

Whether you recognize them from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate <\/em>or have never heard of them before, don\u2019t miss the chance to play Banjo and Kazooie\u2019s debut title on your Switch. \u2014Ryan Gilliam<\/em><\/p>\n

Blaster Master<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Blaster Master<\/em> is one of the few games in the NES Nintendo Switch Online collection that still feels somewhat modern. The whole hook of the 2D side-scroller is that you\u2019ve got a high tech, super powerful car at your disposal that you can jump in and out of at will. While you\u2019re in the car, you\u2019ve got outstanding mobility and firepower, but you\u2019ll frequently have to leave it behind to explore smaller caves and underground dungeons filled with monsters (whereupon the game turns into a top-down shooter).<\/p>\n

This back-and-forth, with a touch of gear-gating for good measure, makes Blaster Master<\/em> feel way ahead of its time. As an added bonus, if you find yourself smitten by the game, it\u2019s worth noting that a new trilogy, starting with 2017\u2019s Blaster Master Zero<\/em>, has successfully reimagined the series over the last few years. \u2014Russ Frushtick<\/em><\/p>\n

Donkey Kong<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Mario<\/p>\n

The original Donkey Kong<\/em><\/a> is the definition of a classic. It\u2019s the Mario origin story and, unlike many of the other NES games on the Nintendo Switch online service, not in a curated pack like Super Mario All-Stars<\/em> or Super Mario 3D All-Stars<\/em>. It\u2019s a tone-downed look from the Mario you know, trading side-scrolling levels for a single climb toward Donkey Kong and the lady he\u2019s kidnapped, Pauline (whom you may recognize from Super Mario Odyssey<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Donkey Kong <\/em>emphasizes timing and sound, giving you simple controls and a pile of stress. Even on Switch, your hands tighten around the controller just before you leap over one of Donkey Kong\u2019s barrels. And it\u2019s that feeling \u2014 the sigh of relief as you wipe your sweaty palms on your jeans the second you reach Donkey Kong \u2014 that\u2019s kept us coming back for decades. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy\u2019s Kong Quest<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Dixie<\/p>\n

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy\u2019s Kong Quest<\/em> is the best of the Donkey Kong Country games for a couple of reasons. First, it has a ridiculous name that you have to read five times to truly wrap your head around. Second, it introduces Dixie Kong, whose ponytail lets her hover through levels, providing a finer level of control.<\/p>\n

The Donkey Kong Country series boasts a variety of delightful platformers with unique art styles, animal vehicles, and creative environments. But Donkey Kong Country 2 <\/em>does it better than the rest, and that makes it the one to play on the Nintendo Switch Online service \u2014 even if it is missing the titular Donkey Kong. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Mario<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Title<\/p>\n

While Tetris<\/em> remains the<\/em> classic puzzle game, and rightfully so, Dr. Mario <\/em>holds a special place in our hearts for the sheer amount of character and personality found in every aspect of the game. The goal of every Dr. Mario<\/em> level is to get rid of every virus on screen by stacking pill portions of matching color to eliminate the problematic pathogen. The viruses are \u201ccute\u201d in the same way that Rabbids are, in that you either love \u2019em because of how silly they look or<\/em> you love to hate \u2019em and will stop at nothing to rid the world of their existence. Dr. Mario<\/em> can be played solo, but the game\u2019s at its best as a split-screen head-to-head match with friends and family. \u2014Ross Miller<\/em><\/p>\n

Excitebike<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Excitebike<\/em> is my go-to classic video game \u2014 it was a success when it was released in the \u201880s, and remains a critical classic that\u2019s more playable than ever now that it\u2019s on Nintendo Switch Online. The motocross racer, developed by The Legend of Zelda\u2019s Miyamoto Shigeru, is simple: You race motorbikes, either against no one or computer-controlled racers. Vroom! \u2014Nicole Carpenter<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

F-Zero \/ F-Zero X<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

It has been more than 20 years since Nintendo has released an F-Zero console game, and while 2023\u2019s battle royale experiment F-Zero 99<\/em><\/a> <\/em>scratched an itch, nothing compares to the original F-Zero <\/em>for Super Nintendo and 1998\u2019s F-Zero X<\/em> for Nintendo 64. Few games captured a sense of speed quite like these two titles, and the N64 sequel especially managed to maintain a breakneck thrill while also introducing some (at the time) mind-blowing 3D levels.\u00a0\u2014RM<\/em><\/p>\n

GoldenEye 007<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

GoldenEye 007<\/em> was released in 1997 on Nintendo 64, with both a single-player and multiplayer modes. The James Bond atmosphere gave the game its own unique feel, calling on stealth and strategy more so than other shooter games of its time. GoldenEye 007<\/em>\u2019s multiplayer modes, though, is where the game made its biggest mark: Its variety of modes gave it a ton of replayability and chaos. I know very few people who didn\u2019t revel in the Slappers only! mode that removed weapons entirely, forcing combatants to fight using their open palms. \u2014N. Carpenter<\/em><\/p>\n

Gunstar Heroes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Gunstar Heroes<\/em> is the first game from Treasure, a developer name you might recognize from the Sin & Punishment<\/em> entry above. It\u2019s a side-scrolling shooter, similar to Contra or Metal Slug, where players control a duo called the Gunstars, combining weapons to make their way through the story.<\/p>\n

This is a game many players \u2014 regardless of whether they owned a Genesis \u2014 may not have heard of. But it highlights one of the best parts about the Expansion Pack and Nintendo Switch Online. Through curation, Nintendo is able to bring a wide variety of old games to a completely new audience, and Gunstar Heroes<\/em> is a great Genesis grab for anyone, regardless of whether they\u2019re new to the platform. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Kirby Super Star<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Players<\/p>\n

Kirby Super Star<\/em> is the perfect Kirby game. Or rather, it\u2019s nine perfect Kirby games. Instead of being a singular, contained adventure, Super Star<\/em> has multiple game types, story campaigns, and multiplayer modes. They can play through a remake of the first game, take on the villain known as Marx, battle against Meta Knight, or just race King Dedede to eat some food.<\/p>\n

Super Star<\/em> highlights the best part of Kirby \u2014 that he\u2019s an everyman. All of these modes are different, but Kirby\u2019s mechanics rarely change. He\u2019s still the same puffball with copycat powers, and he just does what he does best through almost every game mode here. It\u2019s an endlessly playable delight filled with a wide variety of content. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Link<\/p>\n

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past<\/em> is widely regarded as one of the best video games ever made. It built the modern Zelda formula that Zelda followed for decades, asking Link to move from dungeon to dungeon collecting new items and rescuing sages. It\u2019s possibly the most influential game on a list full of influential games.<\/p>\n

Of everything in the SNES collection, A Link to the Past <\/em>holds up not just as the genesis for what Zelda would become, but as a difficult, well-designed masterpiece for a modern player. Everyone with a Switch Online membership should check it out. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

The Legend of Zelda: Link\u2019s Awakening DX<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Link<\/p>\n

In playing The Legend of Zelda: Link\u2019s Awakening <\/em>on Nintendo Switch in 2019, it was easy to forget just how weird<\/em> the original game was on Game Boy. Gone was the land of Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda <\/em>and Link\u2019s Adventure<\/em>; the camera sometimes swapped from an overhead view to a 2D side-scrolling perspective; and Nintendo characters made cameos across Koholint Island, from Yoshi, to Kirby, to Wart. Director Takashi Tezuka wanted Link\u2019s Awakening <\/em>to feel like an episode of Twin Peaks<\/em>, and his team pulled it off. It\u2019s as much a bizarre departure from the Legend of Zelda series as David Lynch\u2019s series was from mainstream TV. And with DX <\/em>on Game Boy Color, Koholint came to life, with an array of colors and a whole new dungeon. \u2014Mike Mahardy<\/em><\/p>\n

The Legend of Zelda: Majora\u2019s Mask <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Deku<\/p>\n

Created as a sort of bridge between Ocarina of Time <\/em>and The Wind Waker<\/em>, The Legend of Zelda: Majora\u2019s Mask<\/em><\/a> <\/em>remains the darkest, strangest, and ultimately boldest entry in the long-running series.<\/p>\n

The 2000 game follows the hero Link, reverted back to his youthful form after his fight against Ganon in Ocarina of Time<\/em>, as he stumbles into a Murakami-like underworld faced with an imminent apocalypse. As it turns out, the moon is plummeting toward Termina, and the only way for Link to stop it is to assemble four giants, each of whom has been cursed by some insipid evil. The catch? Link only has three days (about 54 real-world minutes) before the moon completes its descent. He can also slow, hasten, and revert time completely to the dawn of the first day, as many times as he wants.<\/p>\n

So begins a game that laid the foundation for the modern time-loop obsession. Games such as Outer Wilds<\/em>, Deathloop<\/em>, The Forgotten City<\/em>, and Overboard! <\/em>all owe their central design conceit \u2014 the act of replaying the same events with newfound knowledge \u2014 to Nintendo\u2019s weird experiment. It\u2019s not the most inviting Legend of Zelda game, and it certainly isn\u2019t the least divisive. But it remains one of the most electrifying, and it\u2019s all the more worth returning to in light of our modern Groundhog Day <\/em>fixation. \u2014M. Mahardy<\/em><\/p>\n

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Link<\/p>\n

The next, but not last, Zelda game on this list also marks one of the series\u2019 most overlooked gems. And what a brilliant gem it is.<\/p>\n

Most Zelda games have a defining mechanic \u2014 A Link to the Past<\/em>\u2019s over and underworlds, Oracle of Ages<\/em>\u2019 time travel, and so on. The Minish Cap <\/em>places our hero Link in a veritable Wonderland, in which he can shrink in size, the better to enter previously miniscule dungeons; one takes place in a temple the size of a tree stump, before another ushers Link into a literal block of ice. As with the best Zelda games, developer Capcom never stops playing with this big\/small motif, building it to the point where both sizes are required to complete singular puzzles. The Minish Cap <\/em>also remains one of the more vibrant games in the series, making full use of the Game Boy Advance\u2019s color palette, and fleshing it out even more on Nintendo Switch. This game deserves all of the newfound attention it\u2019s going to get. \u2014M. Mahardy<\/em><\/p>\n

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Link<\/p>\n

Is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time<\/em><\/a> the best game on the Nintendo 64? Is it the best 3D Zelda game? The answer to both of those questions is yes. Ocarina of Time<\/em> did for Zelda what Mario 64<\/em>\u2019s 3D outing did for Mario, but in a far more complex package \u2014 and one that holds up better in 2021.<\/p>\n

Ocarina of Time<\/em> sees Link jump through different timelines to claim the Triforce and defeat Ganondorf. It offers an incredible collection of dungeons, iconic gadgets, and a meticulously crafted world. While the Nintendo 64 version isn\u2019t as user-friendly as the 3DS release from 2011, this game is still a must play for every Switch owner. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Mario Kart 64<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Bowser<\/p>\n

Mario Kart 64<\/em> is the first game in the series to let players drive with an analogue stick, and it\u2019s better for it. It\u2019s fast-paced, easy to control, and houses some fan-favorite courses. But the real reason to pick up Mario Kart 64<\/em> on Switch Online is the battle mode.<\/p>\n

The battle modes in Mario Kart 64<\/em> are brutal, giving each player a group of balloons that signify hit points. By driving around the special arena maps and chucking shells and other weapons at one another, players can eventually emerge victorious. It\u2019s an excellent party mode, and pairs well with the stellar racing. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Mario<\/p>\n

Taken as a through line, the Mario role-playing games represent Nintendo\u2019s increasing willingness to branch out with its most iconic character. What began as a Final Fantasy<\/em>-esque jaunt through the mushroom kingdom on SNES (Super Mario RPG<\/em>), and evolved into a whimsical exercise in genre-blending on Nintendo 64 (Paper Mario<\/em>), finally became an earnest, comical, altogether more confident RPG on Game Boy Advance. In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, y<\/em>ou control the titular siblings simultaneously in the overworld and during battles, the latter of which emphasize timed attacks to gain the upper hand. Mario\u2019s flagship platformers often overshadow the role-playing chapters in his varied history, but the latter remain some of the franchise\u2019s most creative endeavors. \u2014M. Mahardy<\/em><\/p>\n

Panel de Pon<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This classic puzzle game design by Intelligent Systems is now commonly referred to as Puzzle League in English, after its Pok\u00e9mon Puzzle League<\/em> variant. But I first encountered this SNES original under its North American title Tetris Attack<\/em>, bestowed in a rather desperate attempt to borrow cachet from Alexey Pajitnov\u2019s masterpiece. That does it a disservice, because it\u2019s a truly great puzzle game in its own right.<\/p>\n

Panel de Pon<\/em> is match-three puzzle gameplay at its purest, making a virtue out of its restrictions. Jumbled colored blocks push up from the bottom of the screen; your cursor can swap two blocks horizontally, but not vertically. Blocks swapped into empty space drop. With this basic toolkit, you line up three or more blocks of the same color to make them disappear. At higher speeds, it\u2019s compulsive, instinctive puzzle gaming to match Tetris <\/em>itself, and a riot in competitive two-player. A wonderful reminder of an era when the arcade puzzle game was a thing, and an art in itself. \u2014Oli Welsh<\/em><\/p>\n

Pok\u00e9mon Snap<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

What if, instead of capturing Pok\u00e9mon, you simply captured their best pose? That\u2019s the conceit of Pok\u00e9mon Snap<\/em>, a largely on-rails game about taking the best Pok\u00e9mon photographs, either passively by waiting for the exact right frame or actively via a number of items you can take with you on the ride and toss into the scene. Whereas the mainline games had more simplistic interactions at the time \u2014 Snap<\/em> launched a year after Red<\/em> and Blue<\/em> did in the U.S. \u2014 the creatures of Pok\u00e9mon Snap<\/em> are all shown in more natural habitats, engaging with one another in playfully expressive ways. Have you ever wanted to see a Pikachu play with Digletts? Or a Meowth try to catch a Pidgey? You can find all that and more right here. \u2014RM<\/em><\/p>\n

Sin and Punishment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Unlike its peers on this list, Sin and Punishment <\/em>lacks the crutch of nostalgia. To newcomers without rose-tinted glasses, it\u2019ll look like a blocky shooter and, when compared to modern shooters, will feel fussy. Loving this game takes work, so catch a beat and consider when Sin and Punishment<\/em> appeared on store shelves in Japan.<\/p>\n

In 2000, co-developer Treasure was arguably the most talented creator of action on video game consoles, having shipped classics like Gunstar Heroes, Guardians Heroes, Radiant Silvergun,<\/em> and Bagai-O<\/em> within a seven year span. At this point, they\u2019d partnered with Nintendo to create a 3D on-rails shooter (think Rez <\/em>crossed with Star Fox) that would capture the spectacle of an anime blockbuster. They did just that \u2014 within the limitations of the N64 hardware. Perhaps that\u2019s the best way to appreciate Sin and Punishment<\/em> in 2021: it plays like a modern game with all the ambition and art and style stuffed into an N64 cartridge incapable of fully containing it. \u2014Chris Plante<\/em><\/p>\n

Star Fox 64<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Cover<\/p>\n

Star Fox\u2019s second outing remains one of its best. Star Fox 64<\/em> has you play as the eponymous anthropomorphic vulpine space pilot across a series of frenetic on-rail levels and open-ended dogfights. There are so many things to love about this entrant, from finding the alternate routes in the campaign levels to the robust split-screen multiplayer. Its lasting legacy, however, may very well be the voice acting \u2014 or more specifically, Peppy Hare yelling at the player, \u201cDo a barrel roll<\/a>!\u201d \u2014RM<\/em><\/p>\n

Streets of Rage 2<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Players<\/p>\n

Streets of Rage 2<\/em> is a side-scrolling beat-\u2019em-up where players dress up in jeans and roll through the streets crushing dudes with their rage. There are a variety of characters in Streets of Rage 2<\/em>, from the original Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding to the newly added Max Thunder and Eddie \u201cSkate\u201d Hunter.<\/p>\n

Streets of Rage<\/em> has always been beloved, but the sequel is often thought of as the series\u2019 high point. From new mechanics to better graphics, it\u2019s one of the definitive games for the Genesis, and a great starting point for Nintendo kids to get their feet wet with Sega. \u2014CP<\/em><\/p>\n

Super Mario All-Stars<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Super Mario All-Stars <\/em>is a bit of a cheat for this list, because it compiles some of the best NES games of all time in a single SNES collection. All-Stars<\/em> remasters the NES classics and features versions of Super Mario Bros.<\/em>, Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels<\/em>, Super Mario Bros. 2<\/em>, and Super Mario Bros. 3<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Some of the versions look and sound a bit different \u2014 and Lost Levels<\/em> even received some difficulty tuning \u2014 but the spirit and the levels are the same. It\u2019s the perfect way to experience the Mario classics in a slightly more modern package, with 16-bit instead of 8-bit graphics. And because all of the games are available outside of Super Mario All-Stars<\/em> on the NES emulator, you can always compare for yourself after you\u2019ve run left to right through this Super Mario Bros. history. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Super Mario World<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Mario,<\/p>\n

Super Mario World<\/em> is arguably the best Mario game ever made, built to harness the power of the Super Nintendo. Its colorful art style pops, even decades later, and gives fans their best look at the Mushroom Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Super Mario World<\/em> is instantly recognizable and packed with personality. It\u2019s got secrets hidden around the map, and unique boss fights like Bowser\u2019s clown car. It trades out the Tanooki Suit for World<\/em>\u2019s famous cape, allowing skilled players to fly about levels and reach new areas. What\u2019s more, Mario gets a second life with Yoshi\u2019s help, adding new dimensions to each level. It\u2019s set the standard for every 2D Mario game that followed. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Super Metroid<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Samus<\/p>\n

Super Metroid<\/em> helped spawn one of the world\u2019s most popular genres: the Metroidvania. This is Samus\u2019 Super Nintendo turn, which takes her into the bowels of a new planet to find a host of new upgrades.<\/p>\n

Super Metroid<\/em> is arguably Samus\u2019 most iconic adventure, and the one that secured the Metroid legacy<\/a>. It added plenty of new tools for players to experiment with, but it\u2019s the game\u2019s emphasis on exploring a sprawling world \u2014 the Super Bomb through the glass hallway, the animals teaching you to wall jump \u2014 that makes the entry so innovative, and keeps it fresh in players\u2019 minds. \u2014RG<\/em><\/p>\n

Wario Ware Inc.: Mega Microgames!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

If ever a series proved the effectiveness of the \u201cthrow spaghetti at the wall\u201d creative process, it\u2019s WarioWare. Composed of hundreds of mini-games that increase in speed and difficulty throughout any given run \u2014 which the designers ideated via hundreds of Post-It notes<\/a> \u2014 WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgames! <\/em>is about players\u2019 ability to adapt on the fly. One demands that you simply enter a door in a Legend of Zelda<\/em>-esque overworld. Another drops you into a car on a highway and challenges you to dodge other cars. Through them all, the mini-games encompass the broad and unapologetic brand of humor that Wario has carried on his back for more than two decades. Mega Microgames! <\/em>is yet another showcase for Nintendo\u2019s boldest handheld era. \u2014M. Mahardy<\/em><\/p>\n

Yoshi\u2019s Island<\/h2>\n

\"Cover<\/p>\n

Technically, Yoshi\u2019s Island<\/em> is a Mario game \u2014 it was originally released in 1995 as Super Mario World 2<\/em>, and it\u2019s about a team of Yoshis shepherding baby Mario to safety. Spiritually, it\u2019s something quite different: the beginning of Yoshi\u2019s own series of platformers, distinguished by their handmade aesthetic and the little guy\u2019s fluttering jump, voracious appetite, and chuckable eggs. And yet, this is still a proper Shigeru Miyamoto\/Takashi Tezuka joint, which means it is the work of the two great masters of the platform-game form, but exploring it in a different context than the Mario games that were their stock-in-trade.<\/p>\n

The result is one of the most delightful, tactile, and laugh-out-loud funny games of all time. Yoshi\u2019s Island<\/em> is infantile, interactive slapstick by the da Vinci(s) of platform gaming. Nintendo used the scaling effects of the Super FX2 chip to render a squishy, woozy, wobbly world full of comedy physics and silly characters that somersault, inflate, and pop. And, in what was a radical aesthetic choice for the time, the whole thing is given a rough storybook style, as if the sprites were scratched out in crayon. The final stroke of genius was the penalty for getting hit: a mad scramble to rescue a floating, wailing Mario who\u2019d been knocked off Yoshi\u2019s back. Simply put, one of the all-time greats. \u2014OW<\/em><\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games to the already extensive list of NES and SNES titles. In February 2023, during a Nintendo Direct presentation, that list got even bigger: Nintendo added Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games to the mix. We\u2019ve updated our list of the best retro games on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Some of these games are historically significant, more are just damn fun, and others may be hidden gems you\u2019ve never played. Our latest update added Dr. Mario, F-Zero, Panel de Pon, Pok\u00e9mon Snap, Star Fox 64, and Yoshi\u2019s Island. Banjo-Kazooie Banjo-Kazooie is the greatest 3D…<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":970344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-970343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-polygon"],"yoast_head":"\nThe 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers | Arcader News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers | Arcader News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Arcade News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-04T07:11:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"480\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"270\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Arcade News\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Arcade News\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"19 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Arcade News\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8460f5e5076b52fb2369f2f7ce6f2839\"},\"headline\":\"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-04T07:11:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":3799,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Polygon\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/\",\"name\":\"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers | Arcader News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-04T07:11:20+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8460f5e5076b52fb2369f2f7ce6f2839\"},\"description\":\"In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg\",\"width\":480,\"height\":270,\"caption\":\"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"Arcade News\",\"description\":\"Free Arcade News from the Best Online Sources\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8460f5e5076b52fb2369f2f7ce6f2839\",\"name\":\"Arcade News\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3fea48a614d86edd987bc7bb25f4707c69546d4b1f78ad4aa20b26316bad1f9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3fea48a614d86edd987bc7bb25f4707c69546d4b1f78ad4aa20b26316bad1f9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3fea48a614d86edd987bc7bb25f4707c69546d4b1f78ad4aa20b26316bad1f9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Arcade News\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/cricketgames.tv\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/arcader.org\\\/news\\\/author\\\/arcade-news\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers | Arcader News","description":"In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers | Arcader News","og_description":"In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64","og_url":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/","og_site_name":"Arcade News","article_published_time":"2026-01-04T07:11:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":480,"height":270,"url":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Arcade News","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Arcade News","Est. reading time":"19 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/"},"author":{"name":"Arcade News","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8460f5e5076b52fb2369f2f7ce6f2839"},"headline":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers","datePublished":"2026-01-04T07:11:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/"},"wordCount":3799,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg","articleSection":["Polygon"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/","url":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/","name":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers | Arcader News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg","datePublished":"2026-01-04T07:11:20+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8460f5e5076b52fb2369f2f7ce6f2839"},"description":"In 2021, Nintendo added an additional tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in the form of its Expansion Pack, which brought Nintendo 64","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers.jpg","width":480,"height":270,"caption":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-27-best-retro-games-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-subscribers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The 27 best retro games for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/","name":"Arcade News","description":"Free Arcade News from the Best Online Sources","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8460f5e5076b52fb2369f2f7ce6f2839","name":"Arcade News","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3fea48a614d86edd987bc7bb25f4707c69546d4b1f78ad4aa20b26316bad1f9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3fea48a614d86edd987bc7bb25f4707c69546d4b1f78ad4aa20b26316bad1f9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3fea48a614d86edd987bc7bb25f4707c69546d4b1f78ad4aa20b26316bad1f9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Arcade News"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/cricketgames.tv"],"url":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/author\/arcade-news\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/970343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=970343"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/970343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1449697,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/970343\/revisions\/1449697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/970344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=970343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=970343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=970343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}