Whenever Nintendo Switch Online comes up as a topic, it's normally people demanding to know why Nintendo 64 and GameCube titles haven't arrived, or a laugh at another trailer reupload getting downvoted to oblivion. Despite Nintendo packing lots of retro games and some exclusive '99' titles with the service, and with options to get a year's access very cheaply with the family pass in particular, it's often compared unfavourably with rival services from Sony and Microsoft.
Nintendo, it must be said, isn't the sort of company to be overly benevolent in terms of giving away content, even when we're paying admittedly small sums for it, but the debate around Switch Online can get rather feisty. It's also worth pointing out not everyone thinks we should get a bunch of N64 and GameCube classics through the service, some just want the chance to buy the games. Yet one hope for the service that doesn't come up often is for classic portable titles, which is strange as the Switch is a portable that happens to dock with a TV.
We're talking, of course, about Game Boy - and, if we're being greedy, Game Boy Advance. From a personal perspective, I didn't have either system growing up, so playing some of these titles on the 3DS was an eye-opener, albeit GBA on the system was limited to the 'Ambassador Program'. Surely there'll be a number of Switch owners, among the tens of millions out there in the world, that haven't experienced these classics either?
It's not like emulation should be a technical hardship, albeit the NVIDIA Tegra architecture of the Switch means Nintendo cannot simply dump its 3DS or Wii U emulators onto the newer system without some work and testing. Ah yes, remember the Wii U had GBA games. It was an odd arrangement, maybe to try and make the Wii U a little more desirable as it struggled for sales; you could only buy Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles on the 3DS Virtual Console (aside from the aforementioned Ambassador Games), while the Wii U only had GBA games on the portable front. With Wii U Virtual Console games Nintendo's own blurb makes a point of highlighting off-TV play on the GamePad, so that of course is a good match for Switch.
We'd wager that titles from all generations of Game Boy could really pop on the Switch screen
There are some fun possibilities unique to having these old portable titles on Switch, too. In handheld the options are obvious; like with NES and SNES you can offer players the chance to stretch or have pixel-accurate presentation, along with filters to have the beige or pea-green look for Game Boy screens. We'd wager that titles from all generations of Game Boy could really pop on the Switch screen.
For docked play, perhaps Nintendo could cross the Switch Online streams and have some 'Super Game Boy' versions of classics, emulating the effects from that famous bit of hardware. It would be clever, it'd get attention from retro fans on social media, and would make for some entertaining marketing. We're not saying deprive portable players of Super Game Boy access, of course, but it'd be fun marketing to joke about it being a TV version of Game Boy classics.
There'd also be the chance to tie-in with prominent franchise anniversaries, too. Pokémon, Metroid and The Legend of Zelda have iconic and popular portable entries on Game Boy and GBA (albeit one has been remade already), which could all raise awareness for other inevitable celebrations and tie-ins on the system. Nostalgia combined with anniversaries can be a powerful combination.
As we're in a post-Virtual Console age, we likely are close to the point when Nintendo enhances and improves Switch Online, at least to some degree. There's been movement in making My Nintendo a little more desirable as well, though our expectations should also be kept in check. Nintendo, very much like Sony and Microsoft, tend to be relatively cautious when 'winning' in a generation, before reacting and trying bold moves when on the back foot. Nintendo is undoubtedly winning right now, which means grand gestures and surprises have been relatively rare, in recent times at least.
Considering the capabilities of the hardware, though, it should be a simple task to give us the best of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance on the Switch, and I for one would be excited about revisiting them.
Let us know your thoughts in the polls and comments below!
Comments 108
Not too keen on GB or even GBC games really, but GBA I could get behind.
As much as I'd love to see GB games on the Switch, I bought an Analogue Pocket so I can play my GBA collection on the big screen, so I'm good.
GBA game would be nice. I don't see it happening anytime soon. Now if the WiiU was still around, then it be possible. : P
Hope you’re all enjoying the Nintendo coast!
What I would actually get excited for are some more legacy ports like they did with MM Zero collection. Let’s get those Castlevania GBA games on here!
LAZY NINTENDO - NINJA APPROVED
@Poodlestargenerica What? It's not like they have to choose between the two. The teams that do those things are completely different, and one takes way more time then the other.
I think GBA games being added is inevitable and that they'll be the next addition to the service. On Wii U, GBA was added to Virtual Console after NES /SNES and we got a fair few titles before N64 games appeared.
Let's be honest Nintendo could easily add all of their GB, GBA, N64, remaining SNES games on the service tomorrow but they won't because they are Nintendo
People primarily want Gameboy for its single-player titles. Trouble is, Nintendo probably sees NSO as a multiplayer thing. Exceptions? Tetris, Pokémon: games that won't come to NSO anyway.
@carlos82 That sums all this up right there!
I’d rather see Nintendo re-imagine/remaster original GameBoy titles for the Switch...similar to Zelda.
I would loooooove having Metroid Zero Mission and Fusion on Switch.
@carlos82 Exactly. And somehow, every time they introduce a new system for a virtual console service, they start it out with several games, trickle in a few more, and then just stop completely.
It it’s freely added to the service without extra cost then I’d say ok then although I don’t even play much of the nes/Snes on the switch.
It’s really sad that we feel like it “has to be time” for systems to be added to the Switch. Little did we know how much the Wii Virtual Console would end up spoiling us.
It definitely should have happened by now.
@TryToBeHopeful
Fall 2018 - NSO starts with NES games
Fall 2019 - SNES games added
Fall 2020 - ???
It should have happened last fall, but the Mario celebration stole the spotlight.
I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't made classic console game packs available on eshop. Digital sales = more money.
WE NEED DRILLDOZER
The Switch in handheld mode is already a giant GBA.
Just make a GameBoy, Girl, or a Non-Binary one à la Analogue is trying to do. Because it would be the best thing ever.
It’d be great to have some of the GBA catalogue available. But I’d fear if Nintendo did add Game Boy titles to NSO, they’d just restrict it to the rumoured new Switch Plus hardware.
Many GB games haven't aged very well, although games such as Super Mario Land 1 and 2, Wario Land series, Link's Awakening, Tetris and smaller games such as Mole Mania surely have aged well
The GBA, on the other hand, is a monster and one of Nintendo's best system. Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission should be everywhere.
I don't know what's left to say about this topic. When the Switch was announced as a portable/console hybrid, the thing I was most excited about was the potential to have all of Nintendo's Virtual Console offerings in one place, rather than split between two systems. I even thought those of us who had bought dozens or hundreds of dollars worth might be able to re-download them on the Switch at a discount, as a loyalty reward for sticking with the Wii U during its lack of popularity. Boy was I an idiot.
@Tandy255 yep, you may be right.
I would rather them concentrate on N64 and beyond, not too sure I want Gameboy titles on the Switch.
I have been calling for this for years. It baffles me with its absence!
That would be a dream come true. The Game Boy is my favourite system of all time and the one I played most as a kid. My collection is admittedly rather small, however, so a GB catalogue added to NSO would have me immediately hooked.
Always what they want, never what they have. No one would even play Game Boy games because as soon as we get them they’ll spend all their time tweeting and posting and writing articles that they now want Gameboy Advance games. It’s never enough.
OG GB games is what I crave the most on the Switch. HOWEVER the few I could play so far (Saga Collection, Mystic Quest) really lost a lot of charm without the original hardware.
But that app would have sooooo much playtime on my account anyway if they add QIX, SHANGHAI and BATTLE CITY.
@kupocake except that a lot of the NES/SNES games on there already are single player, with many of the multiplayer games just being take turns anyway
This should definitely happen and now is the right time .
There's a lot of people rediscovering gameboy right now - the homebrew scene has really kept the platform alive and gotten people interested in both new and old gameboy games.
So, now, while there is interest, it could easily be a hit on NSO. But they'd really have to curate the catalogue well - there are a lot of bad gameboy games. Putting too many of those up early, could turn people off. But a steady stream of good games would be great.
Having said that, I don't think Nintendo will do it - they've been uploading NES and SNES games at a glacial pace and seem to have no interest in adding other platforms.
But for me that's okay - because it almost seems like Gameboy as a platform no longer belongs to Nintendo. It has been seized by the community. Some of Gameboy's best games are coming out now, with no connection to Nintendo thanks to homebrew developers. I've really been enjoying the games made with GB Studio - Wishing Sarah, Dragonborne, Deadeus etc.
And also the best Gameboy hardware is being created now and, again, not from Nintendo - the Analogue Pocket but also, original hardware is being modded with custom shells, screen mods, sound mods etc.
Gameboy has kind of outgrown Nintendo and become an open platform (in terms of both hardware and software). So, while I would like Gameboy on Switch Online, I wouldn't be disappointed when it doesn't happen. NSO and Virtual Console are for dead consoles. Gameboy is still very much alive.
Meh. I've downloaded a bunch of GameBoy titles from the 3DS eShop and enjoy playing them there, but I can't see playing them on my TV. I would rather have 10 GameCube or N64 titles than a slew of GameBoy titles. How about a GameBoy classic instead?
@Splodge I was hardcore into DMG collecting and the modding and homebrew scene a few years ago. It really is freaking great. Could not work with a less iconic system like the GBA.
Nowadays we should already had to see GBA and N64 games, but as always Nintendo is sleeping, and we are dreaming...at least sell them like they sell Neo Geo and arcade games!!
Gameboy games are not as exciting as SNES games as actual games but at the same time, they've also not really been re-released as much. Outside of a remake or two here or there, these games were re-released at most...once, on 3DS. Even pre-VC, you'd be more likely to see remakes and ports of SNES games to GBA or even DS then any gameboy game to nearly anything else.
There's also a bunch of weird games in popular series that most people don't talk about. Even stuff like the Mario Land games don't get half the attention the Mario World games do, despite being massively successful. Or the many Kirby games, of those weird takes on classic Megaman or the weird sequels to NES games no one remembers like Kid Icarus 2 etc.
I'm waiting until they release EarthBound on Nintendo Switch Online. Then I would die of happiness.
It’s been 4 years. Don’t count on it
''we likely are close to the point when Nintendo enhances and improves Switch Online''
That's a very good joke
Lets face it they don't actually care about Nintendo Online. Almost all the NES and SNES games added have been garbage that half the user base has never even heard of. They are basically trying to add the crappiest cheapest games they can so they dont have to pay any licensing
GBA, absolutely.
GB/C was already available on 3DS, same as S/NES. We need consoles we couldn't play on the last handheld
Long past time for it.
I feel like the Gameboy games are a bit overdue. I'm not expecting free Pokémon games, but some of the games on it are worth revisiting. Any excuse to get Kirby Star Stacker on Switch is well worth it. Either that or the Japanese SF game getting on NSO ala Panel De Pon.
@Handy_Man Nostalgia is a funny thing, isn't it?
The WiiU also had DS games on the "portable front"
❗What they need to do is re-make or re-release FULL COLOUR versions of BOTH 'Super Mario Land 1' and '6 Golden Coins' a la 'Link's Awakening'.
Modders have already done it and both look and play great.
They should be doing games up to the DS by now and the Wii. Everything two generations and older should be easily accessible through the eShop or the non "virtual console"
Anything new would be something about now. I would loooooove GBA games! I would loooooove GBC games. I would looooooove n64 games. Love love love them all!
It's been past time for GBC. It's time for N64 and GC.
I don’t have a constructive response due to what I surely know about Nintendo..
@Savino A Miya-moto, you could say
i just want to play my N64/Game Cube games in my extended battery Switch, why Nintendo refuse to add this consoles to Switch Online?
Well duh!
Personally I’d say they’d be a better fit than N64. Those original GB games are designed to have you playing in seconds with short instant play loops.
I think I'd prefer GB/GBA Virtual Console on Switch, but I would gladly see them on Switch Online nonetheless.
Nintendo is too lazy to update NSO , they even stopped adding NES and SNES titles.
If you want to play gameboy game, just emulate. Hack a Wii, hack a 3DS, etc.
I don't want Nintendo wasting time and resources doing sloppy emulation work that is available everywhere for free.
We should've been able to buy any Nintendo title from previous systems on Switch since March 2017.
When you say Game Boy Advance titles--MOTHER 3!!!
None of us would expect any of this for free if it wasn't for the Virtual Console not existing. They should have just kept it and provided select free VC games while your sub is active.
I don't see how it could have been profitable at all to not port their emulators to switch and make that part of the store.
I’ll take me some Donkey Kong ‘94 please
The issue again is outside limited partners most large companies released their stuff themselves for sale. Konami and Square both have already released some of the better GB games, and so has some other companies.
I wouldn’t complain if they did it, but I think it is unlikely. Just look at the level of quality they’ve been alive to release lately with NES and SNES.
I'd love even just normal game boy, even if it's not GBA (yet). Do it!
I'm more of a physical compilation kinda guy.
So they have ported some GC games to Wii with new play controls. They have ported the GC versions of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess to Wii U. And they ported Super Mario Sunshine to Switch in the 3D All Stars collection. The lack of pressure sensitive shoulder buttons on Switch forced them to improvise a control scheme that would work. This will be a problem for many GC games.
Just due to simplicity, we should see GB/GBC/GBA games on NSO before N64. And we should see N64 games on NSO before GC. We will probably never see GC games on NSO.
I do want the N64 and Gamecube games but I wouldnt pass up the GB and GBA either!
GBA, N64 and GC yeah.
But Game Boy? Nah I'm good thanks.
Of course we'd like it. Having more choices and things to play is always good. Unfortunately Nintendo can be slow to provide things that we want.... And piracy fills that void. Hint, hint, Nintendo.
@Deppasois
Man I'd love a remake of the Mario Land games. The soundtracks were great
I wonder if 3DS Virtual Console Game Boy games didn’t sell as well as everyone thinks they did and by that “Nintendo Logic” we hate Game Boy games?
Nintendo's own embrace of legit emulation is so paltry they're practically forcing the generation who grew up without these things to either pay a ransom for classic carts or turn to easily accessible emulation
@Splodge can't help but agree, I most recently got back into the GB universe and would gladly support Nintendo if they were putting wheels in motion, but doesn't seem to be the case for now. I did want to ask do you recommend any sites or anything where I can keep an eye on n' support these homebrew games?
It might be kinda cool in handheld mode but a game boy game would look terrible blown up on my 55" tv
@JimmySpades Did they already ship?
Of course ut shoulb be time for it, but at the same time as the N64!
I think it is a great idea. More games, more variety. But please don't call me Shirley.
Gotta find a cheap way to play Trip World and Fire Emblem GBA/Sacred Stones (ignoring an imported 3DS and VC purchases).
@Razer Same. I like some of the GBA games, but the GB... just doesn't have much that interests me. A lot of sequels that just don't offer much and have been outdone by later entries. Heck, I even like the SNES lineup better than the GB, and I hate the SNES lineup for similar reasons (they offer a little more, but again, there are better entries for those IPs on later systems). N64, GC, GBA, those are where you see the older games that haven't been outdone by more modern entries.
@Marios-love-child
Don't think anyone is concerned about the graphical quality of Gameboy games on NSO lol
The only thing that makes me hesitant about GB/GBA games on NSO is that Pokemon and Tetris (the two most popular franchises on those platforms) likely won't show up as they are managed by other companies.
Yessirree Bob! I would love some gameboy games. Some of those chip tunes hit me right in the nostalgia!
@Poodlestargenerica I believe @Kieroni is correct. It's worth noting that even when the consoles in question were new, Nintendo was already in the habit of rereleasing legacy software (think of Link's Awakening DX, Donkey Kong Country on the Game Boy Color and Advance, etc). It's fair to say Nintendo continued to produce new games that turned out well during and after that time. It really isn't an either or scenario.
They should! The Pokemon games alone would be a great addition, especially if you could transfer them to home directly. Mario Land 1 and 2 would be wonderful, and the Zelda games too! It wouldn't really be too marketable unless they added gba support as well, but I think they should do one at least! I can dream. Or emulate on my 3ds. If I ever figure out how to do that.
Nintendo online has been really disappointing compared to VC on Wii and Wii U. I'll never understand why they didn't continue VC on Switch, that was such genius. Nintendo Online, not so much.
Not interesting in Game Boy. Let's face it, most of the games were cut down versions of NES games or severely limited. GBA is obviously the far better option, although, issues over rights would remain, so it could be quite restricted like the NES and SNES offerings. Original developers like Konami and Capcom would prefer to release their games themselves. I'm hoping we one day to see the GBA Castlevania games added to the Castlevania Anniversary collection.
PS: I found out on the weekend the SNES Switch Online games don't support 4-player. Our attempted nostalgia sessionl of 4-player Smash Tennis ended up in brutal disappointment. Not happy, Nintendo! Basically, once you enter the SNES Online, the third and fourth controllers disconnect.
Meh. I've been replaying some GB games and none of them have really stood the test of time. They're relics that belong in the past. GBA, however, is a treasure trove of great games that definitely deserve to be revisited.
Again, I wouldn't mind N64 or GameCube titles on the service. I would definitely buy a 12-month membership if that were to happen, not saying Nintendo can't make it happen though. Whether Nintendo actually follows through with adding titles from those consoles is my question
@Scollurio Actually they got delayed; I want to say until October, but don't quote me on that. So it will still be a while, but fortunately my Switch backlog is big enough to last until then.
@carlos82 Hate to be that guy, but I'm pretty sure Uniracers can't ever get rereleased due to the Pixar lawsuit
Really, though - it's really odd that we're missing notable games still like Chrono Trigger, EarthBound Beginnings, EarthBound, and Super Mario RPG on top of other consoles
"For docked play, perhaps Nintendo could cross the Switch Online streams and have some 'Super Game Boy' versions of classics, emulating the effects from that famous bit of hardware."
@thomasbw84 Normally crossing the streams would be bad, but in this case this would be a worthwhile gambit
I'll take anything since the current virtual console library is trash and they haven't even bothered updating it...
I havent subbed in quite a while since the main reason I did sub was for retro content. I did however use it for splatoon 2, smash, and mario maker 2. But after they pretty much came to a halt on adding games regularly, I let my sub expire. Itll take some decent titles to get me to resub. So gameboy, gba, and n64 might be enough to get me back in.
@CammyUnofficial
I usually just browse the Gameboy tag on itch.io. It can be hit and miss but I have found some good things there:
https://itch.io/games/tag-gameboy
Also GB Studio Central has some information on Games and GB Studio in general:
https://gbstudiocentral.com/
Besides that Youtube reviews have been helpful too. Retrobreak on Youtube has a few videos on gameboy homebrew:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-zrPcuKgzg
@JimmySpades I recently started playing old gameboy games on one of the "pocket" consoles. The one that looks like a shrunk gameboy advance, forgot it's fancy chinese name. It's really enjoyable. The pixelart on old GB games is SO underappreciated. Mad detail that was lost in a vomit-green-blur back in the day now shines on a backlit display with a quick response time. Also, it's amazing despite (or BECAUSE of) the limitations they had to work with, how much gameplay and great ideas they were able to squeeze out of those games.
I feel like this "optimization for the most fun" now with basicly limitless ressources on the hardware side (especially in the PC filed) is lost today. Except on the switch. There are good ports and bad ports, but it's with the first party title where they try to squeeze every last bit of performance (and fun) out of a fixed system with limited ressources. I guess that's where my love for handhelds comes from.
Can't say I would care much either way, seeing as how the Gameboy Advance is, without a doubt, Nintendo's most overrated system. +dodges the tomatoes and other bits of garbage thrown his way+
I want n64 and gamecube games on the service or the possibility to buy wave race etc.
But i will never turn my eyes away from the possibility to play marioland 2: 6 golden coins.
Got a hand held emulator with every game for both, and whilst Game Boy games are generally disposable these days the GBA had some excellent titles
Absolutely yes.
Naw, I really want Virtual Boy Online. I think it'd fly off the virtual shelfs!
@Scollurio Limitations are good for the imagination. Whenever the subject comes up, I'm always reminded of Robert Frost: "Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down."
Maybe it's time you get one of these
@carlos82 spot on. I'm thinking of starting a website BecauseNintendo.com that would list all the things Nintendon't... because Nintendo, lol.
gba should be added, title like zelda; minish cap, metroid zero mission, golden sun and many more. better titles on gba
@JimmySpades hmmm I think Nintendo may get round to releasing GB games on Switch or even Switch 2 before Analogue release the pocket!
@Splodge hey thank you so much for this, it doesn't go unappreciated. I even bought a rom based on Retrobreaks review, and will be checking out the other links. Really excited to get involved n playing
GBA games should be added to NSO if only because prices of cartridges are skyrocketing, and they aren't really fit for the Wii U. I would happily pay $20 or even $30 a year to play Minish Cap on the go (plus more!) instead of hunting and paying $70/80 for a single cart.
@CammyUnofficial Enjoy!
@KoopaTheGamer VC is dead by this point!
@Papichulo Or just use your Android phone like I do!
@GamingDude800 I know it is, but it doesn't need to be.
@carlos82 Yeah unfortunately it's almost as if Nintendo hates making more money.
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