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Nintendo Classics

Line of classic Nintendo video games From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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This article is about the emulated games service. For the Game Boy Advance series, see List of Classic NES Series games. For the NES marketing label, see Classic Series (NES).

Nintendo Classics[i] is a line of emulated retro games distributed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch family of systems and Nintendo Switch 2. Subscribers of the Nintendo Switch Online service have access to games for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Game Boy (GB) and Game Boy Color (GBC). At the more expensive subscription tier, titled "Expansion Pack", players can also access Nintendo 64 (N64), Sega Genesis (GEN), and Game Boy Advance (GBA) games, with GameCube (GCN) exclusively available on Nintendo Switch 2. Each console's library is accessed through a dedicated app, with the Nintendo 64 library having a second app for games rated Z by the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization or M by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

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During its first year, Nintendo Classics provided a new batch of NES games on a monthly basis. As of the addition of SNES titles in September 2019, releases are no longer regularly scheduled.[2] In October 2021, Nintendo added a subscription tier called "Expansion Pack" which includes access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. In February 2023, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were added to the base subscription tier, and Game Boy Advance (GBA) games were added to the Expansion Pack. GameCube games will also be playable only on Nintendo Switch 2, and are set to launch on the service alongside that system in June 2025.[3] Games are accessible as long as the user has an active subscription, and a user must connect to the internet at least once a week to continue to access services while offline.

The Nintendo Classics emulators include online multiplayer support, allowing players to play local multiplayer games remotely with friends.[4][5][6][7][8] The emulators also support save states, with most consoles also allowing players to rewind gameplay.[9][10] Some NES and SNES games also have an alternative version labeled "SP" ("Extra" in some regions) which alters the game in some way, typically unlocking additional modes, starting the player with additional items or levels, or starting the player midway through the game.

Nintendo Classics features numerous titles that were not available on Nintendo's Virtual Console. Some games saw their first re-release in any form since their original debut including Pro Wrestling,[11] Vice: Project Doom[12] and Pilotwings 64.[13] The Nintendo Classics service marks the first release in North America for some games, such as Pop'n TwinBee, Smash Tennis and Mario's Super Picross.[14][15]

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Standard subscription

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Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can access games for the NES, Game Boy (top row), Super NES, and Game Boy Color (bottom row).

Nintendo Entertainment System

With the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online service on September 19, 2018, NES games were made available with 20 titles available at launch. As of December 12, 2024, there are 90[a] games and 20 "SP" variations available, including the following:

More information Release date, Game ...
  "SP" game
  1. 79 games in North America and PAL regions, 12 of which are exclusive to these regions; 78 games in Japan, 11 of which are exclusive to these regions.
  2. The Family Computer Disk System version was released in Japan
  3. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on September 6, 2023
  4. A standalone, English version of the game was released for purchase for a limited time via Nintendo eShop in the Americas, Europe, and Australia. It was available from December 4, 2020 until March 31, 2021.
  5. A Family Computer Disk System game
  6. A Family Computer Disk System port of the arcade edition titled Vs. Clu Clu Land
  7. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on July 15, 2020
  8. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on February 19, 2020
  9. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on May 20, 2020
  10. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on July 4, 2024

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 4, 2019, SNES games were added to the service worldwide with 20 titles on September 5, 2019.[55] They are available in a separate app from NES games. As of March 28, 2025, there are 81[a] games and seven "SP" variations available, including the following:

More information Release date, Game ...
  "SP" game
  1. 73 games in North America and PAL regions, 13 of which are exclusive to these regions; 68 games in Japan, 8 of which are exclusive to these regions.
  2. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on February 19, 2020
  3. Published by Tonkin House in Japan
  4. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on September 23, 2020
  5. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on February 19, 2020
  6. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on May 20, 2020
  7. Panel de Pon was internationally released as Tetris Attack in 1996. This marks the first time the original game gets a worldwide release.[57]
  8. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on September 23, 2020
  9. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on February 17, 2021
  10. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on April 12, 2024[59]
  11. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on September 18, 2024[60]
  12. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on July 28, 2021
  13. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on May 26, 2021
  14. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on June 5, 2023
  15. Published by Marvelous in Japan
  16. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on June 5, 2023
  17. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on September 6, 2023
  18. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on April 12, 2024[64]

Game Boy and Game Boy Color

Announced in a Nintendo Direct on February 8, 2023, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were added to the service worldwide with 10 games the same day.[68] The Game Boy emulator includes multiple display settings that recreate the visual appearance and color palettes of the original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color.[69] Super Game Boy features are not emulated. As of March 6, 2025, there are 37[a] games available, including the following:

More information Release date, Game ...
  1. 35 games in North America and PAL regions, 2 of which are exclusive to these regions; 35 games in Japan, 2 of which are exclusive to these regions.
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Expansion Pack

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Subscribers to the premium "Expansion Pack" tier have access to games for the Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis (top row), Game Boy Advance, and GameCube (bottom row).

Nintendo 64

Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 23, 2021,[4] Nintendo 64 games were added to the service worldwide with nine titles on October 25, 2021.[81] Games are based on the NTSC releases using 60 Hz timing; select games also have the option to play the European versions which run at their original PAL 50 Hz speed, including those that support multiple languages.[82] Games that received a Z rating from the Japanese CERO rating board or an M rating from the ESRB are available as part of a separate "18+" application in Japan or "Mature 17+" application in western regions.[83] When played on Nintendo Switch 2, users have the ability to remap each game's button controls, as well as rewind gameplay.[84] As of May 16, 2025, there are 41[a] games available, including the following:

More information Release date, Game ...
  1. 39 games in North America and PAL regions, six of which are exclusive to these regions; 35 games in Japan, two of which are exclusive to these regions.
  2. Both the 60 Hz and the 50 Hz versions of this game are available.
  3. Available in the Nintendo 64 18+ application in Japan
  4. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on November 30, 2023.
  5. Originally exclusive to Japan, but was eventually released in Western regions on December 8, 2023
  6. Published by Marvelous in Japan
  7. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on April 24, 2024.
  8. Available in the Nintendo 64 Mature 17+ application in western regions
  9. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on January 31, 2025
  10. Originally exclusive to Western regions, but was eventually released in Japan on May 16, 2025.

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive

Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 23, 2021, Sega Genesis games were added to the service worldwide with 15 titles on October 25, 2021.[81] As of April 11, 2025, there are 51[a] games available, including the following:

More information Release date, Game ...
  1. 50 games in North America and PAL regions, one of which is exclusive to these regions; 50 games in Japan, one of which is exclusive to these regions.

Game Boy Advance

Announced in a Nintendo Direct on February 8, 2023, Game Boy Advance games were added to the service worldwide with six titles the same day.[68] As of April 22, 2025, there are 27[a] games available, including the following:

More information Release date, Game ...
  1. 25 games in North America and PAL regions, none of which are exclusive to these regions; 27 games in Japan, two of which are exclusive to these regions.
  2. Published by The Pokémon Company in Japan

GameCube

Announced in the Nintendo Direct for Nintendo Switch 2, GameCube games are set to be added to the service, with the first three games being added alongside the Nintendo Switch 2's launch on June 5, 2025. GameCube games are only available on Nintendo Switch 2.[3] The emulator allows players to reassign buttons and customize controls for each game.[131] Players will also be able to control the games using original GameCube controllers via the GameCube Controller Adapter.[132]

More information Release Date, Game ...
  1. Published by The Pokémon Company in Japan
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See also

Notes

    1. Formerly known only as "Nintendo Switch Online classic game libraries"; the service was rebranded as "Nintendo Classics" on April 2, 2025.[1]

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