All Nintendo Switch Online games available to play right now

All NSO and NSO Expansion Pack games and DLCs

Image credit: Eurogamer

Guide by Dion Dassanayake Contributor

Updated on Oct. 31, 2024

Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) is the Mario maker's answer to PS Plus. Like that equivalent service from Sony, if you want to play multiplayer games online on your Switch you'll need to grab an NSO membership first. Switch Online launched back in 2018, and marks the first-time Nintendo has locked the ability to play multiplayer games online behind a paid service. To sweeten the deal, Nintendo has thrown in a wealth of additional perks like cloud saves, game trials, and exclusive money-saving offers.

But the jewel in the crown is the ever-growing library of retro games subscribers can access. When Switch Online debuted, a selection of games from Nintendo's first console were also available to play. After starting off with the NES - or Famicom as it's known in Japan - Nintendo has bit-by-bit been adding new games and systems to Switch Online, working through its home consoles and handhelds.

With Switch Online you can now play NES, SNES, and Game Boy games. Plus, you'll get access to the Nintendo Music streaming app, which lets you listen to thousands of songs from the gaming giant's history on your smartphone. If you fork out extra for the more premium Expansion Pack membership, you'll also get to play N64 and Game Boy Advance games, as well as Sega Mega Drive games. To help you sort through the service's impressive retro gaming library, we've rounded up every game available with Nintendo Switch Online. We've also got details on the additional DLCs thrown in with the Expansion Pack, which could entice you to opt for this pricier plan instead of the vanilla membership.

All Nintendo Switch Online NES games

The NES has the largest selection of retro games in the Switch Online library. There are over 70 games from the 8-bit era included with the base NSO membership, from classics like the original Super Mario Bros and the first Legend of Zelda, to lesser-known titles that previously were only released in Japan.

You can find the NES games available with Switch Online below:

Adventures of Lolo
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Blaster Master
City Connection
Clu Clu Land
Cobra Triangle
Crystalis
Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Devil World
Dig Dug Ⅱ
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Jr.
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Double Dragon
Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day!
Dr. Mario
EarthBound Beginnings
Eliminator Boat Duel
Excitebike
Fire 'n Ice
Ghosts’n Goblins
Golf
Gradius
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
Journey to Silius
Joy Mech Fight
Kid Icarus
Kirby's Adventure
Kung-Fu Heroes
Mach Rider
Mappy-Land
Mario Bros.
Metroid
Mighty Bomb Jack
Mystery Tower
NES Open Tournament Golf
Nightshade
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Pinball
Pro Wrestling
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
R.C. Pro-Am
River City Ransom
Rygar
S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
Shadow of the Ninja
Snake Rattle 'n' Roll
Soccer
Solar Jetman
Solomon's Key
Star Soldier
StarTropics
Super Dodge Ball
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Tecmo Bowl
Tennis
The Immortal
The Legend of Zelda
The Mysterious Murasame Castle
The Mystery of Atlantis
TwinBee
Urban Champion
Vice: Project Doom
Volleyball
VS. Excitebike
Wario's Woods
Wrecking Crew
Xevious
Yoshi
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

All Nintendo Switch Online SNES games

The SNES was the second system added to the Switch Online's retro catalogue, with games from the iconic 16-bit console making their NSO debut in September 2019. The SNES has the second largest selection of games on Switch Online, with over 60 Super Nintendo and Super Famicom games available with the service.

Psycho Dream | Image credit: Nintendo/Eurogamer

Here are the SNES games available with Switch Online:

Amazing Hebereke
Battletoads Double Dragon
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
Big Run
Bombuzal
Brawl Brothers
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire II
Claymates
Congo's Caper
Cosmo Gang The Puzzle
Demon's Crest
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong-Quest
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Doomsday Warrior
EarthBound
Earthworm Jim 2
F-ZERO
Fighter’s History
Harvest Moon
JellyBoy
Joe & Mac (aka Caveman Ninja)
Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
Killer Instinct
Kirby Super Star
Kirby's Avalanche
Kirby's Dream Course
Kirby's Dream Land 3
Kirby's Star Stacker
Kunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen'in Shūgō!
Magical Drop2
Mario's Super Picross
Natsume Championship Wrestling
Operation Logic Bomb
Panel de Pon
Pilotwings
Pop'n TwinBee
Prehistorik Man
Psycho Dream
Rival Turf!
Side Pocket
Smash Tennis
Spanky's Quest
Star Fox 2
Star Fox
Stunt Race FX
Super Baseball Simulator 1.000
Super Earth Defense Force
Super Ghouls'n Ghosts
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario World
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Puyo Puyo 2
SUPER R-TYPE
Super Soccer
Super Tennis
Super Valis IV
The Ignition Factor
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Peace Keepers
Tuff E Nuff
Wild Guns
Wrecking Crew '98

All Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy games

The Game Boy is one of the most recently added systems to Switch Online. During the February 2023 Direct, Nintendo announced games for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color were getting added to NSO. The standard Switch Online membership plan includes Game Boy games, as well as SNES and NES titles. Expansion Pack subscribers can also access them.

Kirby Tilt n Tumble — Kirby Tilt 'n’ Tumble | Image credit: Nintendo/Eurogamer

Here is a list of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games available with Switch Online:

Alleyway
Alone in the Dark - The New Nightmare
Baseball
Blaster Master: Enemy Below
BurgerTime Deluxe
Castlevania Legends
Dr. Mario
Game & Watch Gallery 3
Gargoyle's Quest
Kirby Tilt 'n’ Tumble
Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby’s Dream Land 2
Mario Golf
Mario Tennis
Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge
Mega Man II
Mega Man III
Mega Man IV
Mega Man V
Metroid II - Return of Samus
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Quest for Camelot
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Tetris
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Wario Land 3

All Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Advance games

The Game Boy Advance is the other system that was most recently added to the Switch Online's retro gaming catalogue. Nintendo revealed GBA games were heading to NSO alongside the Game Boy announcement in the February 2023 Direct. Unlike its predecessor, Game Boy Advance games are only available with Switch Online if you have the Expansion Pack membership.

Game Boy Advance adventure The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap running via Nintendo Switch Online. — The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | Image credit: Nintendo

Here are the Game Boy Advance games included with Switch Online:

Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy 2
Densetsu no Starfy 3
Fire Emblem
F-Zero Climax
F-Zero: GP Legend
F-Zero Maximum Velocity
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Golden Sun
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Kuru Kuru Kururin
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
Metroid: Zero Mission
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Super Mario Advance
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

All Nintendo Switch Online N64 games

During the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced the N64 as the first system for the Switch Online Expansion Pack. Currently, there are over 30 N64 games available with Switch Online, including the console's influential launch title Super Mario 64, and some of the games made by Rare that are forever associated with the system like Banjo-Kazooie and GoldenEye. In the latest NSO update, two new N64 games were added to the service, with Shadow Man and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil getting added to Switch Online's Mature library. These games are available in a standalone app, which is named after the US rating for games meant for players aged 17 and above, and locks these titles away from younger audiences.

Mark Kart 64 | Image credit: Nintendo

Here's a list of all Nintendo 64 games included with the NSO Expansion Pack:

1080° Snowboarding
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Tooie
Blast Corps
Dr. Mario 64
Excitebike 64
Extreme-G
F-Zero X
GoldenEye 007
Harvest Moon 64
Iggy's Reckin' Balls
Jet Force Gemini
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Lylat Wars
Mario Golf
Mario Kart 64
Mario Party
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 3
Mario Tennis
Operation: WinBack
Paper Mario
Perfect Dark
Pilotwings 64
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Stadium
Pokémon Stadium 2
Shadow Man
Sin & Punishment
Super Mario 64
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Wave Race 64
Yoshi's Story

All Nintendo Switch Online Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games

During the 16-bit era, when Nintendo and SEGA were battling for supremacy, who could have imagined that a first-party Nintendo service would include games from the Mega Drive? But that's what has happened, with Mega Drive games getting added to the NSO Expansion Pack at launch. Nintendo revealed games from the Mega Drive, or Genesis as it's known in the States, would be coming to Switch Online's more premium membership tier during the September 2021 Nintendo Direct.

Streets of Rage II | Image credit: Nintendo

You can find a list of all Mega Drive / Genesis games included with the Expansion Pack below:

Alien Soldier
Alien Storm
Alisia Dragoon
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Columns
Comix Zone
Contra: Hard Corps
Crusaders of Centy
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dynamite Headdy
Earthworm Jim
Ecco the Dolphin
Flicky
Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II
Gunstar Heroes
Kid Chameleon
Landstalker
Light Crusader
M.U.S.H.A.
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Phantasy Star IV
Pulseman
Ristar
Shining Force
Shining Force II
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball
Space Harrier II
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
Streets of Rage 2
Strider
Super Fantasy Zone
Sword of Vermilion
Target Earth
The Revenge of Shinobi
Thunder Force II
ToeJam & Earl
Virtua Fighter 2
Zero Wing

All Nintendo Switch Online DLCs

As an added benefit, the Expansion Pack membership includes free DLC for a trio of exclusive Nintendo Switch games.

Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise artwork — Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Happy Home Paradise | Image credit: Nintendo

Here are the DLC packs included with the NSO Expansion Pack:

Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Happy Home Paradise
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion

Nintendo Switch Online SP games

Switch Online also includes special SP versions of certain games. SP games are essentially save states that drop you in at particular points in a game. This can offer a more challenging experience, while other SP games dish out extra items at the beginning to make it more forgiving.

Dr. Mario - The UFO Cover-Up | Image credit: Nintendo/Eurogamer

You can find a list of all SP games available with Switch Online below:

Blaster Master - The Underworld Lord Awaits
Dr. Mario - The UFO Cover-Up
Ghosts ’n Goblins - The Great Demon Lord Awaits
Gradius - Stage 5 And Maxed Out!
Gradius - The Second Loop
Kid Icarus - The Three Sacred Treasures
Kirby Super Star SP - Meta Knight's revenge!
Kirby's Adventure - Now with Extra Game!
Kirby's Dream Course SP - Dancy along with Kirby!
Kirby's Dream Land 3 SP - Set difficulty to Easy Breezy!
Metroid - Samus Aran's Ultimate Arsenal
Metroid - The Decisive Battle Against Ridley!
Mighty Bomb Jack - High Game Deviation Value!
Ninja Gaiden - The Thrilling Climax!
Star Soldier - Certain Victory on Stage 8
Super Mario Bros. 3 - Mario, the Quick-Change Artist!
Super Mario Kart SP - Fully Souped Up!
Super Mario World SP - Give the world a whole new look!
Super Metroid SP - Samus Aran's Ultimate Arsenal!
Super Punch-Out!! SP - Champion Edition
The Legend of Zelda - Living The Life of Luxury!
TwinBee - A Second Helping of Donburi Island!
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Link, Warrior without Equal

Nintendo Switch Online 99 games

The exclusive Nintendo Switch Online multiplayer puzzle game Tetris 99 in action. — Tetris | Image credit: Nintendo

Switch Online also has a few exclusive battle royale games in its library. These games come with the '99' subtitle and take existing, beloved experiences and give them a battle royale twist - where you have to be the last player standing.

Here are all the 99 games available with Switch Online:

Upcoming Switch Online games

Screenshot from the NES version of Tetris — Tetris NES Edition | Image credit: Nintendo

Nintendo regularly announces new games heading to Switch Online. Subscribers usually have to wait for these announcements, which don't have a particular schedule, to find out what retro games will be dropping next, with the titles available soon afterward. But sometimes fans find out about upcoming NSO games way in advance.

At the moment though, there's only one game that we know for certain will be heading to Switch Online in the near future:

Tetris NES Edition - Winter 2024

Stay tuned though as plenty more titles are likely to be announced, and we'll update this page once revealed.

Nintendo Music app

Promotional image for the Nintendo Music streaming app, showing a smartphone playing a song from Animal Crossing on the app. — Image credit: Nintendo

As an added bonus, Switch Online subscribers can also access the Nintendo Music app. The app was released in October 2024, and lets users listen to thousands of songs from throughout Nintendo's history on their Android or iOS device. The huge library of songs can be filtered by game and character, among other things, or you can search directly for the song you're after. Dedicated playlists are also available, and like other music streaming service you can stream or download songs for offline listening.

Each song comes with an accompanying artwork, and the app also boasts other features - like the ability to extend the length of your favourite songs, so you can loop the music and spend more time with a track you love. As with other parts of the Switch Online service, the Nintendo Music library will be expanded over time, with more songs set to drop in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play NSO games offline?

All of the classic games available with Nintendo Switch Online can be played offline. However, an active NSO membership is required, and you must connect to the internet every seven days to verify your membership. .

Do I need the Expansion Pack?

The Expansion Pack is an extra membership tier that offers access to more retro games and DLC that you'd usually have to pay for. If you just want to play classic NES, SNES, and Game Boy games then the base membership will suit you fine. This tier also lets you play multiplayer games online, store your saved data in the cloud, take advantage of game trials, and play Tetris 99 and F-Zero 99. However, if you mainly want to play Mega Drive, N64, and Game Boy Advance games then you'll have to fork out extra for the Expansion Pack. This membership tier offers everything available with the base NSO plan, along with the libraries for this trio of systems.

How much does NSO cost?

Nintendo offers many different options for people thinking of signing up to Switch Online. You can get an NSO membership for a single account for one month (£3.49), three months (£6.99) or 12 months (£17.99). If you want access to the Expansion Pack, then that costs £34.99 for 12 months access for a single account. Nintendo also offers family plans which cover up to eight accounts. If you go down this route, 12 months access for the base NSO membership costs £31.49, while NSO and the Expansion Pack costs £59.99. Nintendo doesn't offer one or three month options for the family plan.

That's it for our guide on every game included with Nintendo Switch Online. If you're wondering what Nintendo has planned next after the huge success of the Switch, then head on over to our page on everything we know about the Switch 2.