Overview
- Known As
- Wii Virtual Console • Virtual Console
- Sub-Series
- Virtual Console Arcade
Virtual Console Guides & Walkthroughs
Not only does Wii bring something new, it brings everything old - here's our guide to the Virtual Console.
The Virtual Console (VC) is emulation software that allows you to play older games on your Wii system. If you didn't already know, an Emulator is a piece of computer software the “emulates” pieces of computer hardware. Essentially it'll...
Best Virtual Console Games
Latest Virtual Console News & Features
Pokémon GBA's Switch eShop release is a special occasion
Nintendo has already ruled out the Game Boy Advance titles Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen coming to the Switch Online 'Nintendo Classics' service, so how about the possibility of more Game Boy purchases via the eShop, similar to the Virtual Console releases during the 3DS and Wii U generations...
News Hideki Kamiya Wants Nintendo To Reboot Virtual Console For Switch 2
Not a fan of Switch Online, huh?
Before Nintendo Switch Online, there was Virtual Console. Available on the Wii, 3DS, and Wii U, the Virtual Console was effectively a line of purchasable retro games available via the Wii Shop Channel and eShop. Unlike Nintendo Switch Online, which offers up a range of playable games for an annual or monthly cost,...
Rumour Switch Virtual Console Was Apparently Nintendo's "Original Plan"
What if?
Before Nintendo's subscription service took off, fans were able to individually buy and download the company's retro titles and play them whenever they wanted thanks to the Virtual Console service. Although this was eventually replaced with Switch Online's tier-based retro library, Nintendo apparently had plans to carry over the existing...
News Pokémon Games Continue To Dominate 3DS Charts Ahead Of eShop Shut Down
Catch all the Game Boy classics while you still can
Time is running out for the 3DS and Wii U eShops with the shut down taking place next week on March 27th. Ahead of this, we've got a sales update to show you what's charting on the 3DS eShop in North America with less than a week remaining. The Virtual Console Pokémon Game Boy games are still...
News Pokémon Game Boy Titles Dominate 3DS eShop Charts Ahead Of Service Closure
Get 'em while you can
We're now nearing the end of the month and that means we're getting closer to the end of the 3DS and Wii U eShop service. If you haven't got around to making any last-minute purchases just yet, and are wondering what's hot on the 3DS eShop right now, the weekly sales chart for North America should help you out. As you can see...
Soapbox Why Can't Nintendo Offer Both Virtual Console And Switch Online?
Says the writer that will need to redownload a lot of VC purchases on Wii U and 3DS
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Thomas discusses the unnecessary 'choice' by Nintendo between Virtual Console and Nintendo Switch Online...
See for yourself
Nintendo yesterday added another game to its Switch Online Expansion Pack and updated the N64 library to Version 2.0.0. There have been all sorts of improvements, but this latest update is even better than expected, it seems. According to "Zelda 64 researcher" and Twitter user
Feature Is It Worth Importing A Japanese 3DS For These Virtual Console Games?
Save money on import classics before it's too late
As we all know the 3DS and Wii U eShops are closing down, taking with them countless classics in all genres. It's a decision that's understandably left many of us scrambling to find our old passwords and make those last minute purchases, finally turning those 'Maybe next time' purchases into a...
PSA Get All The Harvest Moon Games Before The 3DS And Wii U eShops Close
They've bought the farm
If you're embedded within the farming game community, you'll know all about the Harvest Moon / Story of Seasons schism, in which (Western localisation team and publisher) Natsume and (developer) Marvelous went their separate ways. Natsume kept the Harvest Moon name in the West, and cranked out a bunch of wildly disappointing...
Review Mario Tennis (N64) - The Game That Gave Us Waluigi
Ace
This review originally went live in 2010, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. When Mario Golf was released back in 1999, it was already known that Camelot was working on another Mario sports title for the N64, and following a decent title released for the sadly ill-fated Virtual...
Review Sin And Punishment (N64) - A Genuine Treasure And No Mistake
Run-and-gun fun
This review originally went live in 2007, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. Tiny Japanese developer Treasure has a back catalogue packed with classic titles, but one that sticks out more than most is Sin & Punishment. Released in the twilight days of the N64...
Random Dust Off Your Wii U, It's Time For Some Banjo-Kazooie And Blast Corps
Update: Maybe not...
Update [Wed 30th Dec, 2020 10:00 GMT]: Nintendo has updated the release schedule on its Japanese website and sure enough it was a mistake. Sorry folks! "Banjo-Kazooie's Adventure" and "Blast Dozer" have been posted as Wii U software delivered on December 30, 2020, but they will not be delivered. We apologize for the...
News Hold Me, Virtual Console Data Has Been Discovered In The Nintendo Switch eShop
SNES! Game Boy! Game Boy Color! N64! GBA!
Remember when Reggie said that Nintendo Switch Online was the Virtual Console's replacement? Turns out he might have been economical with the truth in that regard, as one clever devil has discovered that the Switch eShop JSON (JavaScript Object Notation, in case you were wondering) contains references to...
News The Virtual Console Isn't Coming To Switch, Nintendo Confirms
RIP
Nintendo thrilled Switch owners today with hard details about its new Switch Online service, which includes NES games that can be played for free and feature modern elements, such as online play and voice chat. We've known that retro games would form some part of the mooted online package for a while, but many were hopeful that the Virtual...
Talking Point Does Sega's AGES Announcement Mean The Virtual Console Is Dead?
And if it is, does it really matter?
It's fair to say that the Virtual Console was quite a significant part of Nintendo's plans back when the Wii launched; it was certainly significant in the development of the site you're reading now, which some of you may remember as Virtual Console Reviews prior to the triumphant merger with Nintendo Life in...
Rumour Data Miners Find Evidence of Pokémon Crystal in the Gold and Silver VC Releases
Interesting...
Let’s be real, the VC release of the Game Boy Pokémon games is one of the easiest ways that Nintendo could make itself a nice profit. Pokémon historically is a franchise that moves units and nostalgia is a powerful factor in driving sales of the original, which are rather dated by modern standards. Few are complaining about the...
Soapbox Seriously Nintendo, It's Time For A Switch Joy-Con With A Proper D-Pad
Buttons just aren't as good
After months of speculation prior to the Nintendo Switch being officially revealed in October 2016, it's fair to say that the initial reaction was largely very positive. This early enthusiasm from the gaming community has been backed up by decent software support from Nintendo and a ever-growing install base; the Switch...
News We Know There's An Appetite For Virtual Console On Switch, Says Reggie Fils-Aime
"What's going to be the best way to make that happen?"
The Switch has just had its first E3 but we still don't know exactly how the Virtual Console is going to work on the system. Nintendo has previously spoken about linking some kind of classic game service to the forthcoming paid subscription system, even going as far as to state that...
Talking Point The Nintendo Switch Online Service Promises a New Approach to Retro Gaming
Delayed, yes, but more relevant in its new guise
It may not be a trend that suits creators, but the public don't like paying for things as much as they used to. It's the great revolution that the internet has delivered - news is free, lots of video streaming is free or has a lower monthly cost, so as a result gamers want their content for less...
News Rayman 3 and Rayman Advance Arrive on the North American Wii U VC Tomorrow
Yes, it's still kicking
When it comes to the Nintendo Switch, the Virtual Console is still largely a big question mark. We do know that a retro game will be given out each month with Nintendo's upcoming paid online service, but beyond that, details around the Switch Virtual Console have been quite scarce. Fortunately, the Wii U and 3DS VC's are...
Virtual Console Videos
List latest youtube videos we've done about Virtual Console.