If you’ve been thinking about buying a Nintendo Switch recently, you may have come across Switch Online. Here is everything you need to know.
In this day and age, it feels like new games drop almost every week, from triple-A blockbusters to small indie games, it can be really hard to know which titles are worth your time.
That’s why Nintendo, as well as other companies like Sony and Microsoft, have started to come up with subscription models, allowing players to access myriad games for a set price. For Nintendo, this is where Nintendo Switch Online comes in.
If you’re interested in knowing even more about Nintendo Switch Online, including what games you can play, make sure you keep reading.
What is Nintendo Switch Online?
Nintendo Switch Online is essentially the equivalent of Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Premium, being a paid subscription service that gives you access to more features than a regular user, as well as access to various games.
It also is essential to play online multiplayer modes, meaning you will need a Switch Online membership to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe against your friends online, although it isn’t needed for local multiplayer modes.
Other benefits include being able to automatically back up your game data on the Save Data Cloud, meaning that all your game data is safe and sound, even if you lose or damage your console. It gives users access to the dedicated Switch Online app (available on App Store and Google Play), which has special features for certain games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Plus, players can enable voice chat in compatible games using the app, giving users the ability to easily chat with friends as they play.
Finally, a Switch Online membership entitles players to exclusive games and game trails, as well as a range of offers that is only available to members.
How much is Nintendo Switch Online?
You can utilise Switch Online no matter which console you have, as it is supported on the vanilla Nintendo Switch, as well as the Switch OLED and Switch Lite. You can also check out our top Switch console list, if you’re interested in buying a Nintendo console for yourself and want to see how they stack up.
And if you’re interested in subscribing to Switch Online, Nintendo does offer a free seven-day trial to new members, meaning you can enjoy a week of the service before committing to the paid version.
There are two membership options, and you can find the pricing and details below.
Prices for an Individual Membership (for a single account):
1 month: $3.99/£3.49/€3.993 months: $7.99/£6.99/€7.9912 months: $19.99/£17.99/€19.9912 months with Expansion Pack: $34.99/£34.99/€39.99
Prices for a Family Membership (up to 8 accounts)
12 months: $34.99/£31.49/€34.9912 months with Expansion Pack: $79.99/£59.99/€69/99
What is the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack?
As you may have noticed from the pricing list, there is an Expansion Pack option on top of the standard Switch Online membership. The Expansion Pack gives you the same benefits as the standard membership as well as the ability to play a growing library of classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Mega Drive games.
This is ideal for anyone interested in some nostalgic titles from Nintendo, with games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time being available to play.
Purchasing the Expansion Pack also gives users access to 48 remasted courses from across the Mario Kart series in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game. Six waves will be released separately, all with eight courses included. All the waves and courses will be released by the end of 2023.
This is also available to be purchased sepereately, through the Booster Pack, which does not require an Expansion Pack.
There are features available for other popular Switch games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Splatoon 2 within the Expansion Pack, giving users more content that is not available without otherwise purchasing separate booster packs.
What games are included on Nintendo Switch Online?
There is an ever-growing library of games available on Nintendo Switch Online, with titles from NES and Super NES included.
Check out the NES games included in Switch Online at the time of writing below:
Adventures of LoloBalloon FightBaseballBlaster Master (+ SP version)City ConnectionClu Clu LandCrystalisDaiva Story 6: Imperial of NirsartiaDig-Dug IIDonkey KongDonkey Kong 3Donkey Kong Jr.Double DragonDouble Dragon II: The RevengeDr. Mario (+ SP version)Earthbound BeginningsEliminator Boat DuelExcitebikeFire ‘n IceGhosts’n Goblins (+ SP version)Gradius (+ SP version)Ice ClimberIce HockeyJourney to SiliusKid Icarus (+ SP version)Kirby’s Adventure (+ SP version)Kung-Fu HeroesMappy-LandMario Bros.Metroid (+ SP version)Mighty Bomb Jack (+ SP version)NES Open Tournament GolfNightshadeNinja Gaiden (+ SP version)Ninja JaJaMaru-kunPinballPro WrestlingPunch-Out!!River City RansomRygarS.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack TeamShadow of the NinjaSoccerSolomon’s KeyStar Soldier (+ SP version)Star TropicsSuper Dodge BallSuper Mario Bros. (+SP version)Super Mario Bros. 2Super Mario Bros. 3Super Mario Bros.: The Lost LevelsTecmo BowlTennisThe ImmortalThe Legend of Zelda (+ SP version)TwinBee (+ SP version)Vice: Project DoomVolleyballVs. ExcitebikeWario’s WoodsWrecking CrewYoshiZelda II: The Adventure of Link
And check out all the SNES games on Switch Online at the time of writing too:
BombuzalBrawl BrothersBreath of FireBreath of Fire IICaveman Ninja (AKA Joe & Mac)ClaymatesCongo’s CaperDemon’s CrestDonkey Kong CountryDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s QuestDonkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!Doomsday WarriorEarthboundEarthworm Jim 2F-ZeroFighter’s HistoryJelly BoyJoe & Mac 2: Lost in the TropicsKirby Super StarKirby’s AvalancheKirby’s Dream CourseKirby’s Dream Land 3Operation Logic BombMagical Drop IIMario’s Super PicrossNatsume Championship WrestlingPanel de PonPilotwingsPop’n TwinbeePreshistorik ManPsycho DreamRival Turf!Smash TennisSpanky’s QuestStar FoxStar Fox 2Stunt Race FXSuper Baseball Simulator 1.000Super E.D.F. Earth Defense ForceSuper Ghouls ‘n GhostsSuper Mario All-StarsSuper Mario KartSuper Mario WorldSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi’s IslandSuper MetroidSuper Punch-Out!!Super Puyo Puyo 2Super SoccerSuper TennisSuper Valis IVThe Ignition FactorThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the PastThe Peace KeepersTuff E NuffWild Guns
What games are included with the Expansion Pack?
As we’ve already mentioned, anyone with an Expansion Pack membership is privy to even more games.
Here are all the N64 games that you can play with the Expansion pack:
Banjo-KazooieDr Mario 64F-Zero XKirby 64: The Crystal ShardsMario GolfMario Kart 64Mario TennisPaper MarioPokémon SnapPokémon Puzzle League – coming 15 July 2022Sin & PunishmentStar Fox 64Super Mario 64The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s MaskThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeWinBackYoshi’s Story
And here are all the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis titles that you can play with the Expansion Pack:
Alien SoldierAltered BeastCastlevania: BloodlinesComix ZoneContra: Hard CorpsDr Robotnik’s Mean Bean MachineDynamite HeaddyEcco the DolphinGolden AxeGunstar HeroesLight CrusaderMega man: The Wily WarsM.U.S.H.A.Phantasy Star IVRistarShining ForceShining Force IIShinobi III: Return of the Ninja MasterSonic the Hedgehog 2Sonic the Hedgehog SpinballSpace Harrier IIStreets of Rage 2StriderSuper Fantasy ZoneSword of VermilionTarget EarthThunder Force IIToe Jam & EarlZero Wing
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