Nintendo Classics

Nintendo Classics^[i] 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 (GCN) exclusively 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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^{[4][5][6][7][8]} The emulators also support save states, with most consoles also allowing players to rewind gameplay.^[9][10] 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 numerous 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,^[11] Vice: Project Doom^[12] and Pilotwings 64.^[13] The Nintendo Classics service marks the first release in North America for some games, such as Pop'n TwinBee, Smash Tennis and Mario's Super Picross.^[14][15]

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