Castlevania Advance Collection (Switch eShop)
It’s mostly Aria of Sorrow that’s doing the heavy lifting with Castlevania Advance Collection, as it really is one of the best in the entire Castlevania series. Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance are alright but on the lower tier of the other Metroidvanias, while Dracula X is middling even on its own standards. These are still very much worth playing, though, and this collection makes for an essential purchase for both longtime Castlevania fans and newbies.
Sonic Origins (Switch eShop)
Sonic Origins is simply more of the same, which is both its greatest strength and weakness. On one hand, it’s a near-definitive way to experience four stone-cold classics that represent some of the highest peaks of Sonic's career. On the other, most of these games are already readily available and there aren’t many new features or additions to justify buying them yet again. The cutscenes, museum elements, and missions are all very pleasant but they're also the minimum you would expect for a series this prestigious and popular.
For players ready to experience these classics for the first time, Sonic Origins is the go-to way to experience Sonic’s 2D heyday. You can also get Sonic Origins Plus which includes 12 Game Gear games and a playable Amy.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection (Switch)
TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is indisputably the best thing Konami has released in a long while, meeting all expectations and then some. Bar absent difficulty settings for the arcade games, it’s an anthology that finally gets it totally right. Digital Eclipse and Konami have done the fans justice, offering a comprehensive library that doesn’t hide content behind a paywall, while going above and beyond in terms of features and bonuses. With online functionality and rollback netcode being the icing on the cake, this is the gold standard for retro collections.
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Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration (Switch)
That this is called Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration rather than 'collection' is a substitution of phrases that couldn’t be more apt. With its smooth, fast, and perfectly-pitched interface, and rich, thoughtfully created content, Atari 50 truly honours the company that founded the industry. It's so thorough and engrossing a retro gaming tunnel, akin to exploring a virtual museum, that it transcends its more 'seasoned' target audience somewhat thanks to its incredible presentation. For those interested in video gaming’s history, the unearthing of the past, and for gamers not afraid of what today is considered rudimentary, there’s a great deal of enjoyment to be had in this trip down memory lane.
Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster (Switch)
The six games in the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster bundle provide a superb way to experience or re-experience Final Fantasy history. Not all Final Fantasies were created equal, however; some, like Final Fantasy IV and VI, have aged gracefully and remain great narrative-driven adventures, while others might feel a bit more archaic even with the quality-of-life additions. Purists also may not appreciate the new balancing introduced in these new remasters. Even so, if you don't have them on a cartridge with an ancient TV to hook them up to or don't want to experience the bonus dungeons added in other versions, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more convenient, aesthetically pleasing, and faithful way to play through some of the best JRPGs ever made.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection (Switch)
It's clear that a lot of effort and love went into Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection; this is a worthwhile re-release (available across two separate volumes on the Switch eShop, if you prefer) that gives you a lot of bang for your buck. While everyone will have their favorite, the Mega Man Battle Network series remained remarkably consistent throughout its whole run, due in no small part to the innovative battle system and charming storylines present in each entry. If you’re a fan of Mega Man and haven’t given these games a shot yet, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up immediately. Even if you’re not a Rockman enthusiast, these games each offer up some inventive RPG experiences that are certainly worth your time.
The Making of Karateka (Switch eShop)
The Making of Karateka is not for everyone, and most of its appeal will lie with older gaming generations. If you’re a student of historical gaming flash points, however, it’s a package that delivers the goods, and in fine form. It doesn’t have anywhere near as much unique gaming content as Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, with just two different games presented, albeit with multiple prototypes and brand-new remastered versions of both (which we're arguing qualifies it for this 'more-than-three-games' list). Despite this, those two remasters are solid, the prototypes intriguing, and the content comprehensive. If you were a fan of Atari 50, The Making of Karateka will find you well.
Taito Milestones 2 (Switch)
Dino Rex and Solitary Fighter aren't exactly high points, and considering they're two of three exclusives in Taito Milestones 2, much of the appeal of this collection depends on how many titles you may already own, and how much you want Darius II. That said, for those who are yet to dabble in Hamster's series, it's a superb slice of Taito arcade gaming that outdoes its predecessor in terms of quality and appeal, and comes through with solid emulation. There are hundreds of hours of fun to be had here with some of Taito's most deservedly celebrated works.
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story (Switch eShop)
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is another triumph for Digital Eclipse. Like Atari 50 and The Making of Karateka before it, Digital Eclipse's latest interactive documentary is a wonderful glimpse into the mind of one of gaming's most fascinating figures. Even if you've got no prior knowledge of Minter or his games, the selection of videos, image galleries, quotes, and playable games included here will provide you with a newfound respect for this niche yet immensely important segment of gaming history. We can't wait to see what Digital Eclipse tackles next with its Gold Master Series.
NES - Nintendo Switch Online
That's the end of the retail and eShop games, but we couldn't leave these collections off the list, could we?
With an ever growing catalogue of classic games from the 8-bit era, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers have access to some of the best titles released on the console which transformed the company into the gaming giant we know today. With over 60 NES titles to choose from with added portability, save states, and the ability to rewind gameplay, this is a fine way to conveniently play the classics.
It's hard to pick favourites from the lineup, although Nintendo Life readers did just that and ranked every NES game on Nintendo Switch Online. The recently added Game Boy line-up is also nothing to sneeze at.
Super NES - Nintendo Switch Online
Finally, of course, there's the growing SNES collection, too. With over 50 titles available, there are certainly some gaps in the 16-bit catalogue on Switch. Still, when you look at the lineup of classic after classic, it's hard to argue that what is there isn't pretty special.
Once again, Nintendo Life readers have ranked every single SNES game on the service. Nice bunch, that lot. The games, too.
And there's also the N64, Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, and Game Boy Advance titles available via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. All in all, a very convenient way to catch up with some choice retro titles, from 8 to 64-bit.
Which are your favourites from this list? Think we've missed something essential? Feel free to let us know down below and we may well update it along with future Switch collections and compilations that float our boat.