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Like PlayStation with PS Plus and Xbox with Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo has its own membership scheme for owners of its Switch console.
It offers a smorgasbord of different benefits for one monthly fee, including access to online, multiplayer play for a large majority of Switch games. You also get the ability to store save games in the cloud, plus member-only offers and rewards. And, there is a healthy library of games to download and enjoy.
The main difference with its rivals, however, is that Nintendo presents collections of classic games from former consoles rather than recent releases. It makes for a superb retro experience on Nintendo Switch though, and the games list is growing all the while.
There’s also a step-up membership tier – Switch Online + Expansion Pack – which gives you even more games to choose from, plus premium DLC for titles like Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You do have to pay extra per month for the privilege, but considering it includes a healthy selection of N64 games, it may well be worth it to you.
Here’s everything you need to know about the different Switch Online tiers from Nintendo, including how much they cost and how to get them.
How much is Nintendo Switch Online and the Expansion Pack?
Nintendo Switch Online is available to purchase on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. Here are the prices for each:
- 1-month (30 days): £3.49, €3.99, $3.99
- 3-months (90 days): £6.99, €7.99, $7.99
- 12-months (365 days): £17.99, €19.99, $19.99
You can also get it in a family plan, payable annually. This allows up to eight different Nintendo accounts to share the same benefits.
- 12-months (365 days): £31.49, €34.99, $34.99
The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will set you back a bit more:
- 12-months (365 days): £34.99, €39.99, $49.99
You can also get the add-on tier on a family plan.
- 12-months (365 days): £59.99, €69.99, $79.99
How to get Nintendo Switch Online
It’s easy to sign up for either Nintendo Switch Online or the Expansion Pass version. You can do it on the Switch itself, through the Store app.
Alternatively, you can sign up and purchase the service the Nintendo online stores in the UK or US. It’s worth noting that you will get a 7-day trial period before having to let go of any cash.
Nintendo Switch Online games list (as of 28 July 2023)
Here are the free, classic games that come with a standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
NES
- Adventures of Lolo
- Balloon Fight
- Baseball
- Blaster Master (+ SP version)
- City Connection
- Clu Clu Land
- Crystalis
- Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
- Dig-Dug II
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong 3
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Double Dragon
- Double Dragon II: The Revenge
- Dr. Mario (+ SP version)
- Earthbound Beginnings
- Eliminator Boat Duel
- Excitebike
- Fire ‘n Ice
- Ghosts’n Goblins (+ SP version)
- Gradius (+ SP version)
- Ice Climber
- Ice Hockey
- Journey to Silius
- Kid Icarus (+ SP version)
- Kirby’s Adventure (+ SP version)
- Kung-Fu Heroes
- Mappy-Land
- Mario Bros.
- Metroid (+ SP version)
- Mighty Bomb Jack (+ SP version)
- Mystery Tower
- NES Open Tournament Golf
- Nightshade
- Ninja Gaiden (+ SP version)
- Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
- Pinball
- Pro Wrestling
- Punch-Out!!
- River City Ransom
- Rygar
- S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
- Shadow of the Ninja
- Soccer
- Solomon’s Key
- Star Soldier (+ SP version)
- Star Tropics
- Super Dodge Ball
- Super Mario Bros. (+SP version)
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
- Tecmo Bowl
- Tennis
- The Immortal
- The Legend of Zelda (+ SP version)
- TwinBee (+ SP version)
- Vice: Project Doom
- Volleyball
- Vs. Excitebike
- Wario’s Woods
- Wrecking Crew
- Xevious
- Yoshi
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (+ SP version)
SNES
- Bombuzal
- Brawl Brothers
- Breath of Fire
- Breath of Fire II
- Caveman Ninja (AKA Joe & Mac)
- Claymates
- Congo’s Caper
- Demon’s Crest
- Donkey Kong Country
- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
- Doomsday Warrior
- Earthbound
- Earthworm Jim 2
- F-Zero
- Fighter’s History
- Harvest Moon
- Jelly Boy
- Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
- Kirby Super Star
- Kirby’s Avalanche
- Kirby’s Dream Course
- Kirby’s Dream Land 3
- Operation Logic Bomb
- Magical Drop II
- Mario’s Super Picross
- Natsume Championship Wrestling
- Panel de Pon
- Pilotwings
- Pop’n Twinbee
- Preshistorik Man
- Psycho Dream
- Rival Turf!
- Side Pocket
- Smash Tennis
- Spanky’s Quest
- Star Fox
- Star Fox 2
- Stunt Race FX
- Super Baseball Simulator 1.000
- Super E.D.F. 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 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
Game Boy / Game Boy Color
- Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Blaster Master: Enemy Below
- BurgerTime Deluxe
- Game & Watch Gallery 3
- Gargoyle’s Quest
- Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble
- Kirby’s Dream Land
- Kirby’s Dream Land 2
- Metroid II – Return of Samus
- 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
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack games list
Here are the games you get with the pricier Expansion Pack add-on.
N64
- 1080º Snowboarding – coming in 2023
- Banjo-Kazooie
- Dr Mario 64
- Excitebike 64 – coming in 2023
- F-Zero X
- GoldenEye 007
- Harvest Moon 64 – coming in 2023
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Mario Golf
- Mario Kart 64
- Mario Party
- Mario Party 2
- Mario Party 3
- Mario Tennis
- Paper Mario
- Pilotwings 64
- Pokémon Snap
- Pokémon Stadium
- Pokémon Stadium 2 – coming in 2023
- Pokémon Puzzle League
- Sin & Punishment
- Star Fox 64
- Super Mario 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Wave Race 64
- WinBack
- Yoshi’s Story
Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
- Alien Soldier
- Alien Storm
- Alisia Dragoon
- Altered Beast
- Beyond Oasis
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Columns
- Comix Zone
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Crusader of Centy (Soleil)
- 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
- Mega man: The Wily Wars
- M.U.S.H.A.
- 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’: Special Champion Edition
- Streets of Rage 2
- Strider
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Sword of Vermilion
- Target Earth
- The Revenge of Shinobi
- Thunder Force II
- Toe Jam & Earl
- Virtua Fighter 2
- Zero Wing
Game Boy Advance
- Fire Emblem
- Kuru Kuru Kururin
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Metroid Fusion
- Super Mario Advance
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania
- Yoshi’s World: Super Mario Advance 3
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