Classic Game Boy games added to Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has added over a dozen classic Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games to the Switch for Online subscribers.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers were treated to a host of surprises during this week’s Nintendo Direct, among them a collection of classic Game Boy games.

Subscribers to the basic Nintendo Switch Online package will be able to access a growing library of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, with various options available for colour schemes and pixel grid lines.

Among the collection are some popular games like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX and Tetris, one of the best-selling games of all time. The collection will grow with time, and Nintendo said that games like The Pokemon Trading Card Game and Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Seasons would come in the future.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX is available for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Picture: Nintendo

Here’s the full list of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games available today:

• Tetris
• Super Mario Land 2 – 6 Golden Coins
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
• GARGOYLE’S QUEST
• Game & Watch Gallery 3
• Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
• Metroid II – Return of Samus
• Wario Land 3
• Kirby’s Dream Land

Subscribers to the more expensive Expansion Pack subscription get even more games. In addition to the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games listed above, Expansion Pack subscribers also have access to Game Boy Advance games.

Like the Game Boy collection, there’s a lot of popular games in the list, though it is a much smaller collection at this time. Still, a Fire Emblem game and the fan favourite Golden Sun are planned for the future, so subscribers have plenty to look forward to.

Game Boy Advance games are typically higher resolution and quality than Game Boy games. Picture: Nintendo

Here’s the full list of Game Boy Advance games available today:

• Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
• WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
• Kuru Kuru Kururin
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit
• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Nintendo hasn’t said when these collections will be updated, but it’s expected that they’ll follow a similar cadence to other retro systems apps available on the service. The NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and Sega Mega Drive apps usually get updated once every month or two.

The Direct also contained a new trailer for the upcoming Zelda game, showing off some slick new gameplay. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, which is widely considered one of the best games of all time.

Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.