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For the longest time, Nintendo was the only hardware manufacturer that allowed you to play its games online for free, but in 2018, Nintendo launched a new subscription-based service for the Nintendo Switch – known as Nintendo Switch Online – that costs you money to access online features and other perks.
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Nintendo Switch Online has grown significantly with new benefits, rewards, and incentives to compel you toward paying a monthly or yearly fee for the service. Nintendo introduced a new tier – Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak – in 2021 that offers even more content for a higher price. After subscribing, you’ll be able to access classic Nintendo titles, the Save Data Cloud, and more, but is Nintendo Switch Online really worth it?
Updated December 14, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: Since this guide was first posted, Nintendo Switch Online has continued to be one of the cheapest and most consistent services in gaming. We have decided to revisit this article to highlight more benefits of being a member of Nintendo Switch Online, like access to Nintendo Music, and include some more opinions in the What Subscribers Are Saying section.
Review
Due to Nintendo Switch Online’s constant reshaping and growth, TheGamer has decided not to review the service. Fortunately, some of our writers have covered the ongoing status of the platform and the pros and cons of becoming a member of it.
One of our Features Editors, Ben Sledge, praised Nintendo’s decision to include classic Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games in the Nintendo Switch Online’s virtual library. He believes that “The Switch is a versatile console, and it’s good to see Nintendo finally embracing its portability” and that “…doubling down on the Game Boy and GBA titles before moving onto the GameCube will cement the Switch as an all-time great”.
Now, the doors of opportunity have been blown wide open. The Game Boy, and especially the Game Boy Advance, host some of the finest games that Nintendo has ever produced. Aside from the likes of Zelda, Kirby, and WarioWare that have already been released, the likes of Metroid Fusion, Golden Sun, and, dare I say it, Mother 3 could be introduced to a whole new generation of gamers.
Some of TheGamer’s writers are less optimistic about the service. Features Editor Eric Switzer worries about Nintendo’s approach to game preservation, especially after they unceremoniously closed down the Wii U and 3DS eShops. “A subscription model is no place for game preservation, especially when Nintendo is behind the wheel.” It’s nice to have right now, but Eric also thinks that “Nintendo will continue to trickle games onto NSO as long as it believes this is the most profitable option. As soon as things change, the entire library will vanish overnight.”
Access to Nintendo’s older titles might be one of the more compelling reasons to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, so whether you want to play classic titles for the first or fiftieth time will help determine whether it’s worth it or not. There are many other reasons to become a member, including access to DLC for popular games like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart, that should be considered before registering.
Time Expenditure
Subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online provides you with access to a decent amount of classic games, DLC content for specific Switch titles, and a few games that are only available to members. You can easily spend hours checking out every game on the service, and if one ends up hooking you, it shouldn’t take too long to see it through until the end.
Most of the virtual console titles on Nintendo Switch Online – NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance – are relatively short and can be beaten in a few sittings. Some of the bigger games on the service, like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Earthbound, might take you closer to thirty hours to complete.
Free access to DLC for games like Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart is a nice perk for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak subscribers. Most DLC for first-party Switch games still costs money, but members of the highest tier can play Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise, and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Pass without paying for them. You’ll spend over twenty hours playing Happy Home Paradise, while the other two are a bit shorter in scale but are still excellent experiences. There are enough titles to choose from to spend ample amounts of time playing all of the content included.
Tetris 99, is a battle royale spin on the classic puzzle game and a stand-out in the service. Since launching in February 2019, Tetris 99 has received multiple Nintendo-inspired themes and has held numerous competitive events. It’s one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch Online, and you can easily spend hundreds of hours playing it before bed or between activities.
In September 2023, Nintendo announced and shadow-dropped a new battle royale game inspired by F-Zero. Simply called F-Zero 99, this adrenaline-pumping racing game pits you against 98 other racers to see who will survive and finish in first place. With a variety of modes and maps, F-Zero 99 is a fantastic package that encapsulates the joy of the series for modern audiences. Let’s just hope it sticks around, unlike Pac-Man 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35.
Cost
Subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online is fairly straightforward, but finding out which plan is right for you might take a moment as you consider each option. There are two membership tiers to select from; Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak.
The former costs $19.99 USD a year and includes access to NES, SNES, and Game Boy games, the Save Data Cloud, Special Offers, and the ability to play online. The latter includes all of this, plus access to N64, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance games, and free DLC for specific games for $49.99 USD a year.
There are also two different plans to choose from depending on your living situation or if you know a group of Switch owners also looking for access to these perks. The Individual Membership is the regular price and allows one person to use Nintendo Switch Online features, but the Family Membership allows up to eight Nintendo Accounts to use the service at a higher price.
Under the Family Membership, Nintendo Switch Online becomes $34.99 USD, while Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass becomes $79.99 USD. If you have seven friends or family members willing to pitch in, it could cost you around $10 a year to access the highest tier of Nintendo Switch Online.
If you’re still unsure about Nintendo’s subscription service, you can redeem a free 7-day trial to see if it’s something you would actually use or if you’re better off saving money. Details of both tiers and their benefits can be found below.
|
Nintendo Switch Online |
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak |
|---|---|
|
$19.99 Per Year for Individual Membership |
$49.99 Per Year for Individual Membership |
|
$34.99 Per Year for Family Membership |
$79.99 Per Year for Family Membership |
|
Online Play |
Online Play |
|
Save Data Cloud |
Save Data Cloud |
|
Nintendo Switch Online App |
Nintendo Switch Online App |
|
Special Offers |
Special Offers |
|
Nintendo Music |
Nintendo Music |
|
Access to 60+ NES games |
Access to 60+ NES games |
|
Access to 50+ SNES games |
Access to 50+ SNES games |
|
Access to select Game Boy games |
Access to select Game Boy games |
|
Access to 20+ N64 games |
|
|
Access to select Game Boy Advance games |
|
|
Access to 35+ Sega Genesis games |
|
|
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass |
|
|
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise |
|
|
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion |
An underrated benefit of being a member of Nintendo Switch Online is the fantastic Nintendo Switch Game Voucher program. To help you save some money, you can spend $99.98 USD to claim two digital games of your choice. That means you can save approximately $20 while adding games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and more to your library.
When you purchase the Game Vouchers, they stay on your account for 12 months before expiring, so you can purchase one game right away, and save the other for one of your most anticipated titles.
As of October 2024, subscribers to either tier of Nintendo Switch gained access to a new mobile app called Nintendo Music. This Spotifylike allows you to stream your favorite music from a limited selection of games, including modern titles like Pikmin 4, Splatoon 3, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, as well as soundtracks from classic titles such as Donkey Kong Country, Metroid Prime, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Since launching the app, new music has been added a couple of times a month. If your favorite soundtrack isn’t on there now, there’s a good chance it could arrive sooner or later.
Another perk of being a subscriber to Nintendo Switch Online is access to even more avatars for your profile. You can earn Platinum Points by completing weekly missions like playing online, which can then be used to purchase new icons, backgrounds, and frames from games like Animal Crossing, Pokemon, and more.
If you like playing classic games on your Switch but don’t like how the Joy-Cons or Switch Pro Controller feel, you’re in luck. Members of Nintendo Switch Online can purchase first-party controllers that resemble the original NES, SNES, N64, and Sega Genesis designs. With long-lasting rechargeable batteries, it might be worth looking into these optional gamepads if you’re looking for a wave of nostalgia as you play Goldeneye the way it was meant to be played.
You can only purchase these controllers if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online account.
|
Controller Type |
Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
|
NES (2-Pack) |
$59.99 |
|
SNES |
$29.99 |
|
Sega Genesis |
$49.99 |
|
N64 |
$49.99 |
What Subscribers Are Saying
Great Value For A Family – Helen Ashcroft
We are a household of gamers who all own a Switch Lite. The Family Membership and Expansion Pack means all five of us can access Nintendo’s online services and an ever-growing range of emulated classic games and other benefits for a whole year for the cost of one AAA title.
It’s A No-Brainer – Axel Bosso
For everything that it brings (online functionality, older console catalogs, some games DLCs), Nintendo Switch Online is already worth it. It’s cheaper than other subscriptions of its type, and the number of goodies is good enough. However, if you have the chance to use the Family subscription and split the costs with multiple people, then you’ll be paying very little for all it offers. An excellent deal!
Still Not Worth The Price If You Don’t Like Older Titles – Jerel Levy
Most people will give the Nintendo Switch Online service a pass because they’re super into nostalgia and being able to play really old Nintendo games. If you aren’t into older titles and don’t need multiplayer online options, it’s not worth the current price point. Cloud saves and separate tiers make the service enticing, but what you get as far as bang for your buck comes in slowly, and is pretty niche as far as free games to play. The extra DLC bonuses are nice, but there aren’t enough to justify a yearly or monthly service fee for what’s still a substandard online service.
Some Nice Bonuses If You Have Spare Change – Hilton Webster
Unlike its direct contemporaries in Xbox Gold and PS Plus, Nintendo Switch Online is an exceedingly stripped-down service. You get your online play and some retro games to play, and not much else. The real winner here is that even at its highest tier, it’s cheaper than the alternatives.
If you want a blast from the past, there’s a constantly growing plethora of classic games, and some worthwhile game trials every once in a while too. If the Switch is your sole device, there’s no real reason not to get the benefits of Nintendo Switch Online.
Great For 80s And 90s Kids, Tough To Recommend For Others – Gabrielle Castania
If you’re a Millennial who grew up with the colorful fun of Nintendo as video gaming segued into the home, the Nintendo Switch Online catalog will put Super Stars in your eyes as you scroll through the selection of ported games, stricken with nostalgia for the halcyon days of childhood. If you don’t still have your old consoles lying around and are jonesing for a great way to reexperience some classics, then NSO is unskippable.
A Ripoff At The Outset, A Heck Of A Deal Today – Bobby Mills
While it didn’t necessarily do so upon release, Nintendo Switch Online now represents a bargain for what you actually get with it. The baseline package nets you fun online modes in such titles as Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon (sure, these used to be free, but times are sadly a-changin’), and you also get a veritable host of NES, SNES, and GameBoy Virtual Console titles for no extra charge. Given that historically, Ninty has charged up to ten bucks a pop for these titles individually, it’s a no-brainer.
The Expansion Pass might be a harder sell for some at its pricepoint; but again, you get the Mario Kart 8 DLC pass for free, Splatoon 2’s DLC, and the N64, GBA and Genesis Virtual Console libraries. Retro fans will be in heaven.
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Is it worth shelling out for PlayStation Plus, and which tier is most worth it?