Tag: Nintendo Switch Online
News The Force Is Strong With Nintendo Switch Online's Next Free Game Trial (Europe)
Do or do not, it's free!
Just in time for Star Wars Day, it has been announced that STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic will be force-jumping in as Europe's next Nintendo Switch Online free game trial. The trial kicks off today (3rd May) on the Switch eShop and you can play as much of the iconic space RPG as you'd like for free until 9th May. As...
News The First Switch Online Event For Endless Ocean Starts Next Week
Discover the secrets of the Veiled Sea
Endless Ocean: Luminous has a new feature called Event Dives, where you connect with other players online and explore the Veiled Sea together. As part of the launch celebrations, Nintendo has now announced the first limited-time dive will take place next weekend on 10th May / 11th May and run for three days...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online N64 Game Ranked
All the N64 games, ranked by you
Updated with Extreme-G and Iggy's Reckin' Balls following the April 2024 update. Remember, this is a dynamic, real-time ranking of every available N64 game playable as part of a Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. You can ad
Video New Endless Ocean Luminous Overview Trailer Teases "Limited-Time" Event Dives
"A free 7-day trial for NSO is included with purchase"
In between some Mario games, a new Endless Ocean game is arriving for Switch next month on 2nd May 2024. While we've already got a decent idea of what to expect from Endless Ocean Luminous, Nintendo has now uploaded an overview trailer - providing an extended look at this upcoming release. The...
News Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising Is The Next Nintendo Switch Online Free Game Trial (Europe)
Rising up
Are you curious about Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising? Do you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription? Well you're in luck because 505 Games' muddled metroidvania has been announced as Europe's next free game trial. The trial kicks off on the Switch eShop today (12th April) and you can play as much as you'd like for free until 18th...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online SNES Game Ranked
All the SNES games, ranked by you
Updated with Wrecking Crew '98, Amazing Hebereke, and Super R-Type following the April 2024 update. Remember, this list evolves as users rate the games within, so head to the game profiles and rate them out of 10 if you'd like to see the rankings below alter. Enjoy! The library of SNES games available on Switch as...
Guide Nintendo Switch Online - Every NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, And GBA Game Available
Every retro game available with an NSO sub (plus the Expansion Pack)
Updated with Extreme-G and Iggy's Reckin' Balls. Nintendo Switch Online had a slow start initially, but with the introduction of SNES games, we've seen added value coming to the service which better justifies the asking price. Nintendo has been slowly but surely fleshing out
Review F-Zero Maximum Velocity (GBA) - The First Portable F-Zero Still Holds Up
Back to the future
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's Game Boy Advance library via Nintendo Switch Online. Ah, F-Zero. The futuristic racing series that’s so fast that even Nintendo lost track of it for years. Since it released the Japanese exclusive...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Advance (GBA) Game Ranked
All the GBA games, ranked by you
Updated with F-Zero Maximum Velocity. Expecting to see Mother 3 on this list now it's technically available via Switch Online? Well, it's Japan-only at the moment, and this list only covers GBA games released in the West. We've still got our fingers crossed for an official localisation at some point. Remember, this...
News Sink Your Teeth Into Nintendo Switch Online's Next Free Game Trial Today (Europe)
Bat!
Europe's next Nintendo Switch Online free Game Trial kicks off today and it is none other than Poncle's devilishly addictive roguelike, Vampire Survivors. From today (14th March) until 23rd March, you can get into as much of the monster-hunting mayhem as you would like, for free! That is, as long as you have a Nintendo Switch Online...
Review Mario Tennis (GBC) - Camelot's Ace Little Tennis RPG Is Hard To Fault
Courts of appeal
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's Game Boy (Color) library via Nintendo Switch Online. For whatever its name is worth, Mario Tennis doesn’t feature a lot of the red guy — at least at first. That may come as an initial disappointment to...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy (Color) Game Ranked
All the GB and GBC games, ranked by you
Updated with Dr. Mario and the excellent sports RPGs, Mario Tennis and Mario Golf. Remember, this list evolves as users rate the games within, so head to the game profiles and rate them out of 10 if you'd like to see the rankings below alter. Enjoy! Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles first arrived on...
News Nintendo Switch Online 14-Day Free Trial Is Now Available (North America)
Wahoo!
Mario Day is almost upon us (10th March - MAR10, get it??) and Nintendo is wasting no time with getting the celebrations underway. Those who want to make the most of the calendar event of the year can now pick up a 14-day Nintendo Switch Online trial for free. This offer will be sticking around until 18th March at 6am GMT / 5am CET / 1am ET...
Guide How To Change Your Nintendo Account Region And Play Mother 3 On Switch
O Mother, where art thou?
Mother 3, the celebrated final part of the EarthBound trilogy (as it's known in the West), is available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers in Japan. As of 21st February 2024, the 2006 Game Boy Advance title is available as part of the Switch Online service's library to anyone with a subscription at the Expansion Pack...
Review Blast Corps - An Absurd, Exhilarating, Explosive Gem From Rare's N64 Days
Time to get moving
This review originally went live in 2013, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Long before the massive mainstream appeal of video games that exists today, successful developers were surprisingly free from the shackles of big...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online NES Game Ranked
All the NES games, ranked by you
Remember, this list evolves as users rate the games within, so head to the game profiles and rate them out of 10 if you'd like to see the rankings below change. Enjoy! The collection of NES games available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers continues to grow over time, albeit slowly, and there are now over 70...
News Nintendo Releases New EarthBound Beginnings Switch Online Icons
Following the announcement of Mother 3 for Japan
Mother 3 got a surprise announcement for the Switch Online service yesterday, but the catch is it's only available in Japan. To add to the pain, Nintendo has now released new Switch Online icons based on the Famicom title EarthBound Beginnings. They will be available until 28th February 2024, so be...
News Mother 3 Is Coming To Nintendo Switch Online, But There's A Catch
In Japan only
It's the news that Mother fans have waited for for years, and as revealed in the Japanese version of today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Mother 3 is coming to Switch. HOWEVER, the game didn't feature in the Western version of the Nintendo Direct, so it appears to be a Japan-only release right now. The 2006 Game Boy Advance...
News Five More Classic Rareware Games Come To Nintendo Switch Online Today
Blast (Corps) from the past!
As part of today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Nintendo has announced that five of the now-Microsoft-owned Rare's titles will be available today via Nintendo Switch Online. The games are: NES Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll RC PRO-AM Super Nintendo Battletoads in Battlemaniacs Killer Instinct Nintendo 64 (
Feature 21 Game Boy Advance Games We'd Love To See Added To Nintendo Switch Online
GBA gems we'd dig on Switch
With Golden Sun and The Lost Age making their arrival on Nintendo Switch Online, we've given this list a bit of a spruce up and added a few more dream titles to the service. Plus, we've got a cheeky little poll at the end of the article too — so make sure you vote and let us know what you want to see on NSO. The Game...
Soapbox After Years Of Lengthy RPG Tutorials, Golden Sun Feels Fresher Than Ever
You could say it's an Adept
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana reflects on playing Golden Sun in 2024, and how it allows players to figure things out for themselves rather than relying on tutorials. Warning — minor early game...
News The Next Nintendo Switch Online Free Game Trial Is Now Available (Europe)
Try Eastward ahead of the DLC's release
Europe's next Nintendo Switch Online Game Trial kicks off today in Europe, and it's for Pixpil's beautiful pixel art adventure Eastward. From now until 24th January, you can try out this unique game for free if you're subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service. Eastward was published by Chucklefish and...
Review Golden Sun: The Lost Age - More Of The Same, Which Is No Bad Thing
The return of the prodigal sun
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's Game Boy Advance library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Back in 2001 (2002 in Europe) some players were left feeling short-changed when Golden Sun reached its abrupt ending...
Review Golden Sun - A Radiant RPG, Once It Gets Going
Magic hands make light work
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's Game Boy Advance library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Golden Sun expands on proven genre archetypes to deliver an experience that both pays tribute to and refines the classic...
Review Harvest Moon 64 - Rose-Tinted Specs Recommended For This Beloved Farm Sim
Aged like a fine bottle of milk
To paraphrase a bunch of anti-Nazi singing nuns: How do you solve a problem like reviewing a game that's almost 25 years old? The nuns never came up with an answer, but we have to, because this is a review, not a convent, and it's the issue at the heart of this review, after all. Harvest Moon 64 came out in 1999 —...
Reminder Tetris 99's Super Mario Bros. Wonder Event Is Now Live
Unlock a Wonderful new theme
2023 has been quite the year for Mario, huh? Nintendo's prize plumber has had his own movie, a brand-new 2D platformer and an RPG-make thrown in for good measure. Just to put the icing on the cake, he's now appearing in a handful of Tetris 99 crossover Grands Prix too, with the Super Mario Bros. Wonder event now...
Review 1080° Snowboarding - Effortlessly Cool Shredding That Demands Perfection
Shreddin’ the gnar
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, 1080° Snowboarding was Nintendo's attempt to bring the snowboarding experience to its home...
Review Jet Force Gemini - Another Rare N64 Gem, Flawed But Fun
Start wins
This review originally went live in 2013, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. The Nintendo 64 and Rare go together like Banjo and Kazooie. The developer was behind several of the stellar titles found on the system, many of which were...
News Suika Game Is The Next Free Trial For Nintendo Switch Online Users (Europe)
Lining up later this week
Nintendo has announced its next free game trial for NSO subscribers in Europe, confirming that Suika Game will be lining up for some payment-less playtime from 7th-11th December. Of the many, many games that have made a big splash in 2023, Suika Game is right up there. Complexity takes a back seat in this fruit-based...
News Nintendo Is Launching An 18+ N64 Switch Online App In Japan
GoldenEye and Jet Force Gemini will debut on the new app
Earlier today, we learnt that Rare's Jet Force Gemini would be headed to the N64 Nintendo Switch Online service next month. While Western audiences will be able to play the game via the normal app, Nintendo has revealed that things will be slightly different in Japan, as the region will soon...
News Nintendo Switch Online's Next Free Game Trial Lays Down Roots Tomorrow (Europe)
Find Fae Farm for free
Nintendo has revealed its next free game trial for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers in Europe: Fae Farm. It will be ripe and ready for picking tomorrow from 22nd-28th November. We had a great time with this one when it bloomed onto consoles earlier this year, finding particular enjoyment in the gorgeous visuals, lengthy...
Review Devil World - A North American Debut For Nintendo's Curious Pac-Man 'Clone'
Heaven a good time
This review was originally published in November 2014. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online NES library — and its official debut in North America nearly 40 years after its Japanese launch on Famicom. As far as obscure releases within the NES library go, Devil World is...
Review Castlevania Legends - A 'Vania So Poor It Got Booted From Canon
Tainted bloodline
This review was originally published in October 2012. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy library. The odds were stacked against Castlevania Legends almost from the start. When it was released towards the end of the '90s, it had the near-impossible task of following
Review Kirby & The Amazing Mirror - Messy With Metroid Influences, Better With Buddies
Oh, Kirby, you blowhard...
This review, penned by Philip J Reed — our much-missed friend and Nintendo Life contributor — was originally published in January 2012. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GBA library. We have to hand this much to
Earn Platinum Points to unlock new icons
Nintendo first added 'Missions' and 'Rewards' to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in April 2022. These elements can be accessed by navigating to the NSO icon on your Switch home screen, then selecting the 'Missions & Rewards' section. Here, you'll find a list of available missions, which...
Poll Have You Come First In F-Zero 99 Yet?
Chasing cars
When Nintendo surprised its community with the release of F-Zero 99 on Nintendo Switch Online, we honestly weren't quite expecting it to be as good as it is. And yet, demonstrating a clever twist on the classic SNES title, it wound up being what we'd argue is the best of the '99' range on Switch, calling it a "brilliant take" in our...
Guide F-ZERO 99: Tips & Tricks - How To Win Races, Everything You Need To Know
F-Hero
Nintendo's latest entry in its Nintendo Switch Online-exclusive Battle-Royale-style series — which includes Tetris 99, the dearly departed Super Mario Bros. 35, and the soon-to-be dearly departed PAC-MAN 99 — returns a fan-favourite racer to a Nintendo console for the first entry since 2004's Japan-only F-Zero Climax.
News Takaya Imamura Expresses His Love For F-Zero 99, Awaits 'Revival Of The IP'
As do we!
Nintendo surprised fans this week with the reveal of F-Zero 99, a new twist on the orignal SNES classic that throws 99 players into a single race to determine who will be the last machine standing. It's a neat throwback to the original that follows in the footsteps of Tetris 99 and PAC-MAN 99, and fans so far seem to be quite enamoured...
News Nintendo Adds Multiple New Games To Its Switch Voucher Program (North America)
"Save on two digital games"
There were a lot of first-party games featured during the latest Direct and if you're wondering how you're going to be able to afford them all, you could perhaps consider making use of the Switch Online voucher program. In North America and certain other parts of the world, Nintendo has now added some more titles to the...
News F-ZERO 99 Turns The Classic Racer Into A 99-Player Battle Royale, On NSO Today
Off the start line
Nintendo has today announced that F-Zero will be heading back to the Switch in the form of a 99-player battle royale as F-Zero 99 speeds onto the Nintendo Switch Online library today. This will only be available for owners of an active NSO membership, but it seems like a pretty good reason to get involved if you have yet to...
Feature Harvest Moon 64’s Relationship With Alcohol, The "Magic Liquid" Of Flowerbud Village
Surviving the censors
Alcohol takes on an almost spiritual quality in Harvest Moon 64 Update: Of course, three months after this article went live, Nintendo expanded its roster of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online to include this one. Cheers! Nintendo games are usually all-ages affairs, but every once in a while a game breaks the...
News Switch Online's N64 Update Is Live (Version 2.11.0), Here's What's Included
Find out what's changed behind-the-scenes
Following the latest Pokémon Presents broadcast, Nintendo has today updated some of its Switch Online apps. One of these happens to be the N64 library - bumping this app up to Version 2.11.0. So what's changed? Well, according to dataminers as well as some eagle-eyed fans, there are a number of updates...
Review Pokémon Trading Card Game - A Cracking Adaptation That Still Holds Up
A rare source of fun or just an uncommon?
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy / Game Boy Color library. It’s almost surreal nowadays to think that there was ever a time when portable gaming didn’t have Pokémon. When Red and Blue...
News Natsume's NES Side-Scroller Shadow Of The Ninja Is Getting A Remake On Switch
Update: Here's the official gameplay trailer reveal
Update [Tue 8th Aug, 2023 03:45 BST]: Just a few weeks after it was announced the NES side-scroller Shadow of the Ninja would be returning, we've now got a first look at the remake in motion. You can see both Hayate and Kaede in action for almost two minutes. It's also confirmed KAGE Shadow of...
News Nintendo's Next Switch Game Trial Has Been Announced For Online Subscribers
Join Goku in Dragon Ball FighterZ
Nintendo has officially announced its next free Switch Online trial in North America is Bandai Namco and Arc System Works' 2018 fighter, Dragon Ball FighterZ. It's available from 4th August until 10th August - with the whole game available to download and play as long as you're a Switch Online member. As part of...
Guide The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons & Oracle Of Ages - Which Should I Play First?
Decisions, decisions...
In typical Nintendo fashion, the company this week shadow-launched not one, but two Legend of Zelda titles on the Nintendo Switch Online service. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages originally started life on the Game Boy back in 2001 by the now defunct Capcom subsidiary Flagship. The games remain fan...
News Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Gets A Tasty Limited Time Discount (UK)
33% off a year's subscription
If you're looking to join Nintendo Switch Online (or perhaps simply extend your current membership), then you'll want to check out the current offer over at ShopTo. The retailer is currently offering a one-year membership to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack for a rather tasty £26.85, saving you 33% off the...
News Nintendo "Currently Have No Specifics To Share" About Other Legacy Platforms For Switch Online
Sorry, GameCube fans
Nintendo's Switch Online service added Game Boy games in February this year, but there are obviously requests for even more platforms, so is there a chance of other legacy systems being added? According to the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo "currently have no specifics to share". He responded with this classic...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game Ranked
All the Sega Mega Drive games, ranked by you
Remember, the ranking below is dynamic and will change according to each game's User Rating in our database. If you haven't previously, feel free to rate the new games and let's see where they settle on the list. Enjoy! The selection of Sega Mega Drive / Genesis games that form part of the 'Expansion...
News Four Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Games Have Been Added To Switch Online's Expansion Pack
Ghouls 'n Ghosts and more!
Nintendo has just added four more games to the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive app for the Switch Online Expansion Pack service. The latest editions include The Revenge of Shinobi, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Landstalker, and Crusader of Centy. The Revenge of Shinobi is no