Nintendo Classics
Nintendo Classics (formerly titled "Nintendo Switch Online") is a service for subscribers to the Nintendo Switch Online service on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 to allow players to play a selection of games from previous Nintendo systems.
The service was announced launched alongside the Nintendo Switch Online service on September 19, 2018, with 20 Nintendo Entertainment System games initially available, with the Super NES and Game Boy consoles being added for base-tier Nintendo Switch Online subscribers on September 6, 2019 and February 9, 2023 respectively. Alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier on October 26, 2021, games from the Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis began to be added to the service, with the Game Boy Advance being added on February 9, 2023.
Coinciding with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, Nintendo GameCube games began to be added exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on the Nintendo Switch 2, as well as the service being officially renamed to "Nintendo Classics", a change that would retroactively be made for each existing app as it received game updates, with the Nintendo 64 app receiving it first on June 4, 2025[1] and the NES and Game Boy apps receiving it last on November 26, 2025.[2] Virtual Boy games began to be added for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on February 17, 2026, supported on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, but requiring the purchase of a VR Virtual Boy replica accessory (or a cardboard model version of it) to play.
Each system allows players to create four Restore Points per game, which can be created or returned to at any time. The NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo GameCube apps allow players to enable a CRT filter to overlay the game screen, though this feature is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 on the Nintendo 64 apps. Similarly, the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance apps allow players to overlay a screen filter mimicking the original systems' screens, as well as shrinking the game screen to further resemble the original systems. All systems except the Nintendo GameCube (and the Nintendo 64 if played on a Nintendo Switch) also allow players to rewind games by a select amount. All systems except the Virtual Boy are available to play multiplayer online - sharing a screen for home consoles and emulating a Game Link Cable for handhelds, locally - with a similar system to online, or on the same system for consoles.
Nintendo Classics is a successor to the Virtual Console, a series of classic games available for purchase digitally on the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U systems. Pokémon games available on Nintendo Classics are unable to connect to their Virtual Console counterparts, Pokémon HOME, the original releases of the games (such as those on the Game Boy), or the Nintendo Switch re-releases of Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version.
Pokémon games
| Title | Description | Nintendo Classics app | Original release | Nintendo Classics release | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP | NA | EU | ||||
 Pokémon Snap |
Catching Pokémon™ is a snap!
Travel to Pokémon Island and meet Professor Oak to begin a safari to take the best possible photographs of 63 different Pokémon. The island has many types of climates and environments to explore, along with secret activities and hidden passages to discover. Some of the Pokémon can be a little shy and won't pose for the camera unless you tease them with special items! After you're done, submit one picture of each Pokémon to Professor Oak, and he'll judge it based on size, pose, technique, and number of Pokémon captured. Start practicing if you want to snap the perfect shot! |
 Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Classics |
1999 | 2000 | June 24, 2022 | |
 Pokémon Puzzle League |
Get ready for a new kind of Pokémon battle where the power and speed of your brain are just as important as the strength of your Pokémon! Join Ash, Brock, Misty, and many more characters from the Pokémon animated series as they gather in Puzzle Village to compete for the title of Pokémon Puzzle Master. Just match three or more blocks of the same color in any direction. Sounds simple, right? But the actual gameplay is surprisingly addictive and deep (chains and combos, anyone?), especially when you're facing off against a human opponent. Choose from six different modes offering a wide range of action, from story or puzzle modes to continuous play or timed play. If that's not enough, take on the challenge in 3D, and get ready for more blocks than ever before. Featuring animated cutscenes combined with bright, fun graphics, there's enough to satisfy both fans of Pokémon and fans of puzzle games alike! | N/A | 2000 | July 15, 2022* | ||
 Pokémon Stadium |
Witness thrilling 3D battles between the original Pokémon!
This battle arena game, released for the Nintendo 64™ console in 2000, features all 151 Pokémon from the Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, and Pokémon Yellow games. In Kids Club, you and three other players can enjoy nine different minigames, like Clefairy Says and Sushi-Go-Round! (Please note you cannot transfer Pokémon from Game Boy™ titles in this version.) |
1999 | 2000 | April 12, 2023 | ||
 Pokémon Stadium 2 |
Hundreds of Pokémon enter the 3D arena!
Released for the Nintendo 64™ console in 2001, this battle arena features all the Pokémon from the Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, and Pokémon Crystal games. Decide on your strategy and stand back while your Pokémon battle it out in 3D! Up to four players can join in and play the 12 new minigames, like Egg Emergency and Delibird's Delivery! And there's a Quiz mode that includes three difficulty levels, so Pokémon novices and experts alike can enjoy it. (Please note you will not be able to transfer Pokémon from Game Boy™ games to this title.) |
2000 | 2001 | August 8, 2023 | ||
 Pokémon Trading Card Game |
The greatest Pokémon Trading Card Game players of all time—The Grand Masters—are looking for one player worthy of inheriting the four rare Legendary Pokémon Cards! Build new decks with the Auto Deck Machine, hone your skills on the Challenge Machine, and test your ability in the Challenge Hall. Expand your card collection, duel your way through eight Club Masters, and earn the right to challenge the Grand Masters in the Pokémon Dome! Shadowy figures, wise instructors and powerful opponents await you in the ultimate trading card game adventure! |  Game Boy - Nintendo Classics |
1998 | 2000 | August 8, 2023 | |
 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team |
What if you woke up one day as a Pokémon?
All of a sudden, you've found yourself in a NEW world, where you can speak and interact with other Pokémon. The adventure begins when you and your partner Pokémon set out on rescue missions in a world ravaged by natural disasters. But what is your true purpose and destiny in this Pokémon world? That's the REAL mystery... |
 Game Boy Advance - Nintendo Classics |
2005 | August 9, 2024 | ||
 Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness |
Experience the extra dimension!
Shadow Pokémon have reappeared in the Orre Region in this role-playing game, released for the Nintendo GameCube™ system in 2005. You are a young boy living at the Orre Region's Pokémon HQ Lab with his mom and little sister who gets swept up in a grand adventure when an incident occurs at the lab. With your Aura Reader, which can detect Shadow Pokémon that have had the doors to their hearts shut, and the Snag Machine, which can capture Shadow Pokémon from evil Trainers, it's up to you to save the world. Stand against evil and reopen the doors to the shut hearts of the Shadow Pokémon to restore them to their natural selves! (Please note that you will not be able to transfer Pokémon from Game Boy™ Advance titles to this title.) |
 Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics |
2005 | 2006 | March 17, 2026 | |
 Pokémon Colosseum |
To be announced | 2003 | 2004 | To be announced | ||
Differences from original games
|
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: It can be assumed that each difference is identical to past VC releases, but double check these, as well as each other game included |
Pokémon Snap
The Nintendo Classics release changes Jynx's complexion from black to purple, matching the change seen in the Wii Virtual Console release.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Nintendo Classics version of Pokémon Trading Card Game uses Jynx's changed skin palette from the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console version. Unlike the Virtual Console release, the Card Pop! feature is emulated. Multiplayer functionality is also supported, though all Game Boy Printer features are left disabled. As the game is emulated in Game Boy Color mode, monochrome Game Boy mode and the Super Game Boy palettes and borders are inaccessible.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
The Nintendo Classics version of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness can't connect to the Gameboy Advance games, meaning trades are impossible and any Pokémon in this version are stuck there.
Additionally, the Nintendo Classics version of this game formerly had a glitch that would crash the game and erase save data. This was patched on April 14, 2026.
Languages
On the international releases of the apps, the American / NTSC releases are available, with select non-English European / PAL releases available through a toggle in the Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo GameCube apps. The Japanese releases are only available through the Japanese releases of the apps, which can only be downloaded with a Japanese, Hong Kong, or Taiwanese region Nintendo eShop account. Likewise, the international releases can only be downloaded by other region accounts.
| Game | International releases | Japanese release | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Language(s) | ||
| Pokémon Snap | American | English | ポケモンスナップ Pokémon Snap |
| European | Français | ||
| Deutsch | |||
| Español | |||
| Italiano | |||
| Pokémon Puzzle League | American | English | Not available |
| European | Français | ||
| Deutsch | |||
| Pokémon Stadium | American | English | ポケモンスタジアム２ Pokémon Stadium 2 |
| European | Français | ||
| Deutsch | |||
| Español | |||
| Italiano | |||
| Pokémon Stadium 2 | American | English | ポケモンスタジアム金銀 クリスタルバージョン対応 Pokémon Stadium G&S: Supports Crystal Version |
| European | Français | ||
| Deutsch | |||
| Español | |||
| Italiano | |||
| Pokémon Trading Card Game | American | English | ポケモンカードＧＢ Pokémon Card GB |
| European | English, Français, Deutsch | ||
| English, Español, Italiano | |||
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | American | English | ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 赤の救助隊 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team |
| European | English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano | ||
| Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness | American | English | ポケモンＸＤ 闇の旋風ダーク・ルギア Pokémon XD: Whirlwind of Darkness · Dark Lugia |
| European | English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano | ||
External links
- Official website
- Nintendo Classics on Wikipedia
- List of Nintendo Classics on NintendoWiki
- Nintendo Classics on Super Mario Wiki
References
- ↑ Doolan, L. (June 4, 2025). Surprise! The N64 App Is Also Getting Some Enhancements On Switch 2. Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 30, 2026
- ↑ Doolan, L. (November 25, 2025). PSA: You Can Now Remap 'Nintendo Classics' NES And Game Boy Controls. Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 30, 2026