Nintendo Switch Online’s Best Classic Games (September 2024)

Classic games on Nintendo Switch weren’t initially what players were hoping for. Nintendo previously released classic games under the Virtual Console brand across the Wii, Wii U, and 3DS, and players expected the same for the Switch. Nintendo’s decision to tie classic games to an online service, similar to Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, received considerable backlash since players wanted to buy games individually or even carry over past Virtual Console purchases. However, in the intervening years, Nintendo Switch Online has redeemed itself in most players’ eyes.

Over five years later, Nintendo Switch Online has built up an amazing catalog of classic games from the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance. These classic games now feature pause, rewind, and save state features and the ability to play online with others. Whether revisiting classic games or playing them for the first time, Nintendo Switch Online has many must-play classic games. So, what are the best games on Nintendo Switch Online?

Updated on August 28, 2024, by Michael Colwander: The August 2024 Nintendo Direct is in the books with numerous exciting reveals. Among the announcements was that the NES version of Tetris will soon be joining the service in the Winter, joining an impressive library of games. New games have been added to this resource including some from beloved franchises.

NES

See Where It All Began With The Legend Of Zelda’s Original Adventure

One of the best parts about Nintendo Switch Online’s catalog of classic games is the ability to experience the best Nintendo franchises from their humble origins. With The Legend of Zelda, players can see many of the franchise’s elements that carry over to Tears of the Kingdom.

The original The Legend of Zelda is an open-ended game. Players are placed in the middle of a screen with no indication of where to go, relying solely on curiosity and a sense of adventure. Shigeru Miyamoto’s ambitious bet paid off as The Legend of Zelda has become a mega-hit franchise that still produces Game of the Year contenders almost 40 years later.

Try To Become The King Of Kong In Donkey Kong

The original Donkey Kong is one of the most recognizable and influential video games ever. First released in arcades in 1981, Donkey Kong made its way to Famicom in Japan in 1983 and later to the international NES in 1986.

Since Donkey Kong’s original release, it’s become a pop culture icon with players still vying for the coveted score record, which has been the subject of The King of Kong documentary. The Donkey Kong sequels — Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong 3 — are also on Nintendo Switch Online for the NES. The original Donkey Kong will be a fun game to go back to once players play through the Mario vs. Donkey Kong remake released in February 2024.

The Legend Of Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link Is An Underappreciated Sequel

The second outing for the Zelda franchise is far from a popular one. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is the most starkly different take on the franchise among mainline games. Much of the game is a side-scrolling action game with plenty of RPG elements. However, it’s also known for its brutal difficulty making it a badge of honor to complete without any guides or assistance.

For players who just want to complete Zelda II, the save state and rewind features are a godsend. Not to mention there’s a special SP version with all of Link’s stats maxed out. It may not make playing Zelda II a breeze, but it helps to alleviate some of the difficulty for those just looking to experience the game.

Kirby’s Adventure Was A Monumental Game In The Kirby Franchise

Kirby’s Dreamland was the original Kirby game, but it was limited due to its release on the Game Boy. A year later, Nintendo quickly brought the new Kirby franchise to the NES. In the process, Nintendo gave Kirby his most iconic ability to date: the copy ability.

Kirby’s well-known ability to inhale enemies, swallow them, and transform based on that enemy originated in Kirby’s Adventure. This feature gave players added replayability while increasing the difficulty. The copy ability has since become a hallmark of the Kirby series. Of course, Kirby’s Adventure is a great game in its own right. Sadly, however, its GBA remake Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland still isn’t on Nintendo Switch Online.

Ninja Gaiden is a Rewarding-Yet-Challenging Sidescrolling Platformer

Ninja Gaiden has become a multimedia franchise that is a well-known name in the gaming industry, with Ryu Hayabusa being practically a household name among gaming enthusiasts. However, its first entry on the NES is still under-appreciated. Ninja Gaiden is a sidescrolling platformer/action game that stands out from the pack due to its gorgeous pixel art, acrobatic ninja skills, and catchy music.

Like many games of its era, Ninja Gaiden is known for its extremely high difficulty level, making the completion of even one Act feel like the highest of achievements. This gives it an almost rogue-like feel, as players will often be forced to die at least a few times to learn a stage. Aside from its challenging yet addictive gameplay, Ninja Gaiden is honored with being the first console game to have cinematic cut scenes, showing just how well-rounded a game it was.

Metroid Kicked Off A Legendary Series And Genre

Metroid was a groundbreaking game in numerous ways. It ushered in what would later be known as the Metroidvania genre, a 2D platforming genre where players explore and background through large interconnected levels. Also, its endgame reveals that the bounty hunter Samus Aran is a woman was monumental, as female-led games were next to unheard of in gaming up until that point, much less in an action game.

Metroid can be a tough game today, even for Metroid Dread veterans. Thankfully, there are multiple SP versions of Metroid. One provides Samus with all gear upgrades and places her at the Ridley boss fight. The other gives her all power-ups.

Sega Genesis

Run Around At The Speed Of Sound As Sonic Or Tails In Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Sonic on a Nintendo console? It’s a concept that once felt absurd, but it became a reality once Sega left the console business. Since then, Sega and Nintendo have had a close partnership, with former professional rivals Sonic and Mario appearing alongside each other in multiple games.

The flagship game in the Sonic franchise is Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which introduced Tails as a co-op partner. Players can play Sonic 2 in co-op online thanks to Nintendo Switch Online’s multiplayer features. Whether revisiting the Sonic franchise or experiencing it for the first time after the fantastic Sonic movies that are set to continue in December 2024 with Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic 2 is a must-play.

Shining Force II is a Must-Play for JRPG Fans

Shining Force II is an underrated gem for the Sega Genesis. It’s easily one of the best RPGs on a system with no shortage of such excellent genre titles. SF2 is a unique mixture of classic RPG exploration and leveling with tactical combat. The result is a best-of-both-worlds situation that isn’t quite as complex as other tactical RPGs but still has much of what fans love about the genre.

Shining Force II is often considered one of the greatest RPGs overall and the best in the Shining series. It’s a must-play for any JRPG fan, or anyone just looking for an enjoyable, nostalgic RPG on NSO to sink a good amount of hours into.

Crusader Of Centy Is A Fantastic Zelda-Like Game

Crusader of Centy is perhaps Sega’s most blatant attempt to emulate the successful The Legend of Zelda formula. But that doesn’t mean it’s a cheap cash-in. Crusader of Centy is a fantastic game that holds its own, even when compared to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

While Crusader of Centy appeared on the Sega Genesis Mini 2, it’s amazing to have it on Nintendo Switch Online. The physical version of Crusader of Centy is seen as a collector’s item thanks to its poor North American sales. The price of a complete-on-box copy of the game can easily reach over $2,000.

Before Pokémon, Game Freak Made Pulseman

It can be tough to believe, but Game Freak hasn’t made just Pokémon games. They have a deep repertoire of games including Sega’s Pulseman. Pulseman tells the futuristic story of a half-man/half C-Life hybrid born as the result of his scientist father falling in love with his computer A.I. mother. Unlike other C-Life, Pulseman can live in both the real world and the digital realm.

Pulseman is a visually stunning platformer that, despite its appearance, is more of a Sonic clone than it is a Mega Man clone. Even so, Pulseman is a remarkable game and one of the best Genesis offerings on Nintendo Switch Online.

Phantasy Star IV Concludes The Single-Player Phantasy Star Franchise

Phantasy Star has become one of the leading champions of online RPG franchises. The free-to-play MMORPG Phantasy Star Online series has proven to be a huge success, but the franchise wasn’t always an online series. The Phantasy Star series had its humble origins as a standard turn-based RPG series on SEGA consoles.

Its final entry, Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, is now available on Nintendo Switch Online. Phantasy Star IV is a great example of a game that wasn’t received highly at the time, but has seen a steadily improved reception in the 30 years since, with many claiming it to be one of the all-time best RPGs. Thankfully, previous Phantasy Star games aren’t necessary to play to enjoy Phantasy Star IV.

Contra: Hard Corps Was The First Game In The Run-And-Gun Series To Release For Sega

The Contra series boasts some of the most intense arcade shooting experiences in gaming. It took seven years before the Contra series made its way to a Sega console after enjoying success both in the arcade and on Nintendo consoles, but the wait was worth it.

Contra: Hard Corps takes place after the events of Contra III: The Alien Wars and sees Colonel Bahamut attempting to use a stolen alien cell in order to produce devastating weapons. Contra: Hard Corps features a fun co-op mode and a plot with branching storylines that lead to multiple endings. Whether playing alone or with a partner, Contra: Hard Corps has plenty of replayability despite its relatively short playtime.

Super Nintendo

Donkey Kong Country Trilogy Introduces Players To The Donkey Kong We Know And Love Today

Donkey Kong Country is a much more heroic take on the banana-loving character. On top of the old arcade Donkey Kong games, all three SNES Donkey Kong Country games are available as well. Fortunately, Donkey Kong Country is available on the platform. It was developed by Rare, which is now under the Microsoft umbrella.

It would’ve been a tough sell for Nintendo to not have Donkey Kong represented in Nintendo Switch Online. Luckily for fans, there are plenty of Donkey Kong games to be found even if Donkey Kong 64 is still sadly absent. In fact, Donkey Kong Country Returns will be receiving a Switch remaster in early 2025.

Super Puyo Puyo 2 Is A Cute, Fun, And Legendary Tile-Matching Game

No matter how much gaming technology advances, no matter how lifelike visuals get, and no matter how complex game mechanics get, one thing remains true: players still love tile-matching puzzle games. From Tetris all the way to Suika Game, players have always found enjoyment in the genre.

One of the best tile-matching games ever is Super Puyo Puyo 2. Puyos are little slimeball creatures that fuse with other similar-colored Puyos. Connecting four or more in any direction will cause them to explode, clearing the field of play. The objective of Super Puyo Puyo 2 is to defeat each opponent by putting them in difficult situations by efficiently managing one’s own field of play. The big caveat to Super Puyo Puyo 2 is that it’s still left untranslated from the Japanese version, but it’s a minor barrier to overcome for an incredibly fun game.

Mario’s Super Picross Is A Fun Puzzle Game

Despite how popular the Picross series has become, it was initially a failure. The original performed so poorly, that Nintendo decided against releasing its sequel, Mario’s Super Picross, outside of Japan. In 2006, it was released on Wii Virtual Console in Japan and in PAL regions, but still no North America release. That is until Nintendo Switch Online.

Mario’s Super Picross features the same premise as always – using number-based clues to form a picture on a grid while racing against the clock. As the player progresses, the puzzles get more and more difficult. Players looking for a simple and straightforward puzzle game on the go should give Mario’s Super Picross a go.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island Marks Yoshi’s Solo Debut With A Beautiful Game

After his iconic and at times tragic debut in Super Mario World, Yoshi quickly received his first solo game in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. While debates over whether Yoshi’s Island is truly a Mario game rages on, it’s still well worth a play for any Mario fan.

Yoshi’s Island is a fun and inventive game, which sees players trying to protect Baby Mario along his journey to rescue Mario’s brother, Luigi. The first thing players notice when playing Yoshi’s Island is its stunning visuals. It’s aged incredibly well, making it still one of the most visually striking games out there.

Tend To The Farm In The Original Harvest Moon

1996’s Harvest Moon is the first game in what is now known as the Story of Seasons franchise. When it was released in the twilight years of the SNES, Harvest Moon ushered in the popular farming simulation genre, which has continued to see frequent releases in games like the Animal Crossing franchise and Concerned Ape’s Stardew Valley.

Harvest Moon features a familiar setup where the player inherits a farm from their grandfather. The player must nurse the farm back to form by scheduling their workload each day. Players must balance their management of vegetables and livestock to ensure both flourish.

A Link to the Past is Still One of the Best Zelda Games Ever Made

While Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild are incredible games in their own right, it’s impossible to discount the impact of 2D Zelda games like A Link to the Past. Even as the recently announced Echoes of Wisdom promises to bring back the top-down Zelda franchise for the first time in ten years, there are still plenty of reasons to return to the game that had arguably the biggest impact, A Link to the Past.

Released in 1991, A Link to the Past‘s gameplay formula was extremely influential for the action-adventure genre, spawning a steady stream of Zelda-likes that still crop up today. There’s a reason the ALTTP format developed so many clones — it’s extremely addictive. Even after over 30 years, ALTTP remains just as fun to play as it was then. Considering the Zelda franchise is still releasing new 2D Zeldas in 2024, there’s even more evidence for the Super Nintendo title’s timelessness.

Nintendo 64

Duke It Out With Pokémon In The Pokémon Stadium Series

Pokémon Stadium was an early showcase for Pokémon’s potential in 3D. Pokémon Stadium doesn’t have an RPG component like the mainline Pokémon games and its later successor Pokémon Colosseum, but it still features the strategic nature of Pokémon battles coupled with an enthusiastic announcer.

In Pokémon Stadium, players can rent out just about any first generation Pokémon and battle their way through trainers, Gym leaders, the Elite Four, and the Pokémon League Champion. Pokémon Stadium is a fun game to play with friends, locally or online, in classic Pokémon battles or one of Pokémon Stadium’s many mini-games. Pokémon Stadium 2 is also available on Nintendo Switch Online, letting players explore even more Pokémon types.

Banjo-Kazooie Was Super Mario 64’s Stiffest Competition

Super Mario 64 ushered in a new era of gaming. By almost perfecting the 3D platformer right from the jump, Super Mario 64 was in a class all of its own. Other games had come along to compete, but few if any were as good as Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie.

Banjo-Kazooie stars the loveable bear and bird duo as they try to save Banjo’s sister from the clutches of the wicked witch Gruntilda. Banjo-Kazooie features large worlds full of collectibles, as well as comical writing and a very catchy soundtrack. Sadly, its sequel Banjo-Tooie is not on Nintendo Switch Online, but the original is an impressive and fun title for all fans of platformers.

Perfect Dark is Everything GoldenEye Sought to Be

Perfect Dark is a classic N64 FPS that expanded on everything GoldenEye 007 introduced into the genre. After the team’s successes with GoldenEye, Rare created Perfect Dark in an improved version of the same engine as their previous FPS hit, while giving it a unique setting, darker tone, and interesting new gameplay elements that help it stand out from other entries in the genre.

While it invites comparison to 007 because of their similarities, Perfect Dark is truly its own animal. A big reason is its story and setting, which aren’t based on any preexisting IP. Perfect Dark was arguably the best game on the N64 released in 2000, and certainly one of the best the system ever had to offer. Players who can’t quite get into GoldenEye because of how it shows its age may very well find more to love in Perfect Dark.

Make Memories And Enemies With The Early Mario Party Games

The Mario series has always been a staple for party games, which is a big reason why Mario has remained relevant all these years. Regardless of the makeup of a group, there will almost always be a Mario game that fits the mood. Few Mario games have made more memories and enemies than the Mario Party series.

The Mario Party series contains fun minigames and a board game format that encourages alliances and backstabbing. Nintendo Switch Online includes the first three Mario Party games, which were all released for the N64, so there are plenty of boards and minigames to entertain future get-togethers, whether locally or online.

Many Still Consider The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time To Be The Greatest Game Ever Made

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a must-play, even for fans who have played it before. Few games have received the praise and accolades critics and fans heaped on Ocarina of Time. It’s near the top of many critics’ lists of the greatest video games of all time, making it one of the best Nintendo Switch Online games.

With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom now firmly among the all-time great Zelda games, pulling in many first-time Zelda players in the process, it’s worthwhile to go back and experience some of the legendary Zelda games from the past. What better place to start than the game many Zelda fans consider the pinnacle of the Zelda series?

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Kicked Off A Cult-Classic Franchise

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is one of the rare M-rated games on Nintendo Switch Online, and a game many don’t know was actually a dapting from a comic book series of the same name. Acclaim’s acclaimed game is basically Doom, but with dinosaurs as players explore and survive each level in search of a key and a piece of the Chronoscepter weapon.

While GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark receive a bulk of the praise for their contributions to early FPS games on consoles, Turok deserves its flowers, too. Especially since it was released before either Rare shooter. While many FPS games of its era were filled with corridors, Turok featured more open levels compared to its contemporaries, allowing it to stand out and giving it a worthy place among other influential shooters.

Game Boy/Game Boy Color

The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages/Seasons Are Separate Games That Link Together

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons was the second handheld entry in the Zelda series. What makes these Oracle games so interesting is how well they complement each other.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons each tell different stories, yet those stories are still connected. Upon completing one game, players receive a code to use for the other game, which allows them to see the true ending of the interconnected games. On top of that, Oracle of Ages is more puzzle-focused, while Oracle of Seasons is more action-focused.

The Game Boy Mega Man Series Is All Here!

It’s about time Nintendo Switch Online started getting Mega Man games! While they may not be the mainline classics players enjoyed on Nintendo consoles, these non-Capcom-developed handheld spinoffs suffice.

All five Game Boy Mega Man games are available and each draws upon elements from throughout the mainline series. For example, Mega Man II contains bosses from both Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3. While the condensed visuals can be frustrating, adding to an increased level of difficulty, the Game Boy Mega Man spinoffs translate the experience well. Mega Man V, in particular, is a highlight. Hopefully, the rest of the series makes its way to Nintendo Switch Online even though Capcom is no stranger to releasing compilations of the franchise.

Explore An Old Format In Pokémon Trading Card Game

Nintendo wasted no time producing a video game adaptation of the trading card game at the center of the Pokémon pop culture phenomenon. Pokémon Trading Card Game was originally released in 1998 in Japan and worldwide in 2000.

Pokémon Trading Card Game contains cards from the first three Pokémon TCG sets alongside a few new cards. Pokémon Trading Card Game is structured similarly to the Pokémon RPG series, except it replaces traditional Pokémon battles with the Pokémon TCG. While the Pokémon TCG has grown well beyond its humble beginnings, the Pokémon Trading Card Game is a great way to play one of the franchise’s oldest formats.

Wario Land 3 Is, So Far, The Only Wario Land Game On Nintendo Switch Online

While Mario gets much of the attention, especially after The Super Mario Bros. Movie dominated the box office, Nintendo isn’t shy about giving other characters lead roles in games. One of the most notable is the greedy Wario, who helmed a series of handheld Wario Land games.

Wario Land 3 is, to date, the only Wario Land game on Nintendo Switch Online. The platforming Wario Land series has been well-received, though, and provides players with some of the best 2D platforming action from the Game Boy and GBA.

Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is Classic Kirby in His Purest Form

Kirby’s Dream Land 2 was the third entry in the Kirby franchise, and easily an upgrade from the original Dream Land. It expanded on the concepts introduced by both of its predecessors, tightening up gameplay and leading to an incredible experience that fit into an on-the-go package for the GameBoy Color.

While Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is somewhat bogged down by its difficulty (the developers were likely still getting used to adjusting to the newly introduced Copy ability), it’s still a fun time. Kirby’s controls are still as crisp and responsive as ever, and discovering how Kirby’s Copy Abilities will change according to whichever Animal Friend Kirby is riding at any given time keeps things interesting.

Mario Golf Was An Impressive Addition To The Game Boy Color

1999 was a good year for the Mario Golf series. It was finally able to take off with not one but two games released in 1999, with the Game Boy Color Mario Golf releasing just over a month after the N64 version.

Both 1999 Mario Golf games are available on Nintendo Switch Online and both are great in their own ways. The GBC version features similar gameplay to its N64 counterpart with the added benefit of being playable on the go. Of course, both versions are now available on the go thanks to the Switch, but the GBC Mario Golf is still fun to play nonetheless. The N64 and GBC versions of Mario Tennis are both also on Nintendo Switch Online, too!

Game Boy Advance

Metroid Fusion Is One Of Many Metroid Games Worth Revisiting

The Metroid series is back and better than ever with the phenomenal Metroid Dread, a remaster of Metroid Prime, and the new Metroid Prime on the way. This game is the fifth mainline 2D Metroid game and the first since 2002’s Metroid Fusion for the GBA, which is now on Nintendo Switch Online. In Metroid Fusion, Samus combats shapeshifting parasites on a derelict space station.

Metroid Fusion isn’t the only Metroid game available on Nintendo Switch Online, since the original three Metroids are also on the platform. Players introduced to Metroid through Metroid Dread or Metroid Prime remastered can go back and start the franchise from the beginning.

The Super Mario Advance Series Is The Best Way To Play Classic Mario Games

The original Super Mario Bros. games are so important to Nintendo history that it’d feel wrong if there wasn’t a means to play them on every Nintendo system. For the GBA, this comes in the form of the Super Mario Advance series made up of Super Mario Bros. Advance: Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World, Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island, and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3.

Except for Super Mario Advance 3, each of these games is based on their Super Mario All-Stars remakes and, for the most part, remain the best way to play these games. Super Mario Advance 4 also includes all the e-Reader levels, giving players more content in one of the best Mario games ever. Each Super Mario Advance game also includes an updated version of the original Mario Bros. multiplayer arcade game as well, now titled Mario Bros. Classic.

Fire Emblem Finally Brought The Strategy Series Out West

2003’s Fire Emblem, known in full as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, marked a new era for the strategic Fire Emblem franchise. While The Blazing Blade is the seventh entry in the Fire Emblem franchise, which began in 1990, it’s the first Fire Emblem to be released outside of Japan. This is thanks to Fire Emblem’s appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee, which increased interest in localization in the West.

The Blazing Blade features the highly popular character Lyn in her debut game. Lyn is joined by Eliwood, Sain, Hector, Serra, and others as they search for Eliwood’s missing father and answers to Lyn’s family origins.

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ Is Full Of Short And Intense Mini-Games

While Wario Land has been long on the back burner, that doesn’t mean Wario hasn’t been getting his own games. For the past 20 years, Wario has been keeping players occupied with the WarioWare series.

WarioWare games contain a series of short minigames, or “microgames,” that test players’ observation and reaction times. Players will jump from microgame to microgame to complete each in a strict time limit. The first of these WarioWare games, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$, received overwhelming praise for its innovative and easy-to-pick-up play. WarioWare is a perfect fit for the Switch. Players who often take their Switch out and about can find a great time-waster in WarioWare.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is an Underrated Mario-themed RPG

June 2024’s Nintendo Direct showed off a lot of promising games, but for many fans, the most exciting was the title the presentation opened with — Mario & Luigi: Brothership. With Brothership being a spiritual successor to the original Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the timing couldn’t be better for fans to try out the original GBA classic on NSO.

Superstar Saga wears its RPG leanings on its sleeve, but its interesting platforming mechanics are constant reminders that players are still playing a Mario game. Players must use Mario and Luigi creatively to traverse the game’s overworld, making exploration feel almost like a puzzle in and of itself. It’s a unique concept that would only work in a Mario title, and Mario couldn’t do it without Luigi’s help.

It’s Tough To Find Better RPGs On The GBA Than The Golden Sun Series

The GBA is full of great RPGs, such as the Pokémon series and the Mario & Luigi series. However, the best RPGs on the GBA may come from a long-forgotten Nintendo franchise: Golden Sun.

Golden Sun and its sequel Golden Sun: The Lost Age are now on Nintendo Switch Online. Golden Sun follows a group of teenagers with magical abilities, called “Adepts,” as they journey to protect their world from the destructive powers of alchemy. The Lost Age flips that script as its cast journeys to bring back alchemy. Both Golden Sun games on the GBA received glowing reviews, making it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts.