Nintendo Classics

Nintendo Classics 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 (GC) also 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.
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. 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. 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. 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 several 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, Vice: Project Doom and Pilotwings 64. The Switch Online service marks the first release in North America for some games, such as Pop'n TwinBee, Smash Tennis and Mario's Super Picross.
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 games and 20 "SP" variations available, including:
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 4, 2019, SNES games were added to the service worldwide with 20 titles on September 5, 2019. They are available in a separate app from NES games. As of March 28, 2025, there are 81 games and seven "SP" variations available, including:
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. 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. Super Game Boy features are not emulated. As of March 6, 2025, there are 37 games available, including:
Announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 23, 2021, Nintendo 64 games were added to the service worldwide with nine titles on October 25, 2021. 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. 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. As of January 31, 2025, there are 40 games available, including:
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. As of November 28, 2024, there are 48 games available, including:
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. As of February 14, 2025, there are 26 games available, including:
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. The emulator allows players to reassign buttons and customize controls for each game.