If players choose to pay for the higher-tier Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, they gain access to several classic games and some DLC for modern Switch titles. This includes classics from the N64 and Sega Genesis consoles along with the NES and SNES games that come with the base Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) membership.
However, the upgrade can be pricey — $50 per year for an individual membership and $80 per year for a family one. To help you decide if the upgrade is worth it, here is a list of all the games and DLC included in this subscription.
All N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
Perhaps the most tantalizing part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the N64 classics that it gives subscribers access to. Interestingly enough, the N64 was considered a commercial failure back in the 90s, but that didn't stop many of these games from becoming the influential and beloved classics that they are like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarins of Time, Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, and more.
Nintendo has been adding to this list every few months. So, it's possible that more N64 games will come to the service. We'll keep an eye out and will update this section if that happens. Here are all of the N64 games listed in alphabetical order.
Banjo-Kazooie
This dynamic duo made a big comeback by entering Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as DLC fighters, but players can go back to where it all began with the original Banjo-Kazooie game.
In this 3D adventure platformer, Banjo's sister, Tooty, has been kidnapped by the gross witch, Gruntilda, and it's up to the bear and his bird pal Kazooie to save her. Players run around nine different worlds within Gruntilda's castle, collecting music notes and Jiggies (golden jigsaw pieces) so they can unlock additional areas.
There is no specific order to collect them in so players can explore the world somewhat freely. The characters' unique abilities, along with somewhat open exploration, make this a great journey with some real challenges on both land and air.
Dr. Mario 64
In this somewhat Tetris-like puzzle game, Mario is now Dr. Mario, and he's working to use Megavitamins to help heal the Mushroom Kingdom. The medicine bottle is filled with viruses of multiple colors and players must match them with half of a capsule of the same color to clear them out. Getting four or more in a row makes capsule pieces and viruses disappear. But if the viruses and capsules get completely backed up the game ends.
One thing that makes this stand out from Tetris is the story that unfolds along the way. Players work to stop Wario from using the Megavitamins for profit while battling against the computer. There are six different modes for solo play, and it's also possible to play multiplayer in Classic, Flash, or Score Attack modes with up to four players.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Long before Kirby and the Forgotten Land came to Switch, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards released on N64 in 2000. This sidescrolling adventure was created by HAL Laboratory and was the pink puffball's first move into 3D.
Kirby travels around to various levels purging Dark Matter from his infected friends. By combining two different Copy Abilities together, Kirby can come up with new powers. For instance, combining Ice and Electricity can turn him into a refrigerator that spits food at enemies. The main campaign is single-player, but there are also a handful of fun multiplayer games to play with friends.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the most popular N64 games of all time. It has also been heralded by many as one of the best video games of all time thanks to the way that it embraced 3D exploration when that was new and provided a compelling story with brand-new RPG mechanics that many games still use today.
It starts with Link and Zelda as children as they learn about Ganondorf's evil plan to take over Hyrule Castle. The story gradually gets more challenging and Link even grows up, rides Epona (the famous horse of legend), and takes on ownership of the Master Sword along his way to bringing down Ganondorf.
There are several dungeons to dive into and each offers a distinctly different theme. Thanks to the way new items and equipment come into the story, each level feels fresh and provides new challenges to overcome.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
After the huge success of Ocarina of Time, Nintendo released a direct Zelda sequel in the form of Majora's Mask. Link, having grown up, defeated Ganondorf, and returned to his childhood state, leaves Hyrule and goes to a land called Termina. Here he's ambushed by a Skull Kid wearing Majora's Mask who takes Epona and his Ocarina from him and then adds insult to injury by turning him into a Deku Shrub.
As another huge part of the mischief in Majora's Mask, the moon is getting pulled down and will destroy the world in three days. Link must reclaim his things and use the Ocarina to control the flow of time as he repeats these three days while finding a way to save everyone.
This game's time-travel mechanics were way ahead of their time and are still great to experience today. Actions taken (or failed to be taken) set in motion a chain of events as time goes by. It's fascinating seeing how decisions affect various NPCs along the way.
Mario Golf
This golfing multiplayer game was one of the many Mario Sports games to release on N64. This game was originally released in 1999 and was developed by Camelot Software Planning. Several other versions have since come out like Mario Golf: Super Rush for Switch.
Players can play through a course on their own or with up to four players total. Playable characters include multiple Mushroom Kingdom inhabitants: Mario, Princess Peach, Baby Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and Metal Mario. There are also several generic humanoid characters including Plum, Charlie, Sonny, Harry, and Maple.
Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64 was the first 3D Mario racing game and a staple for parties and sleepovers in the 90s and 2000s. Some of the most iconic tracks come from this title and are still used within Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch. Now this classic is available on Switch with the Expansion Pass.
Choose from a variety of Mushroom Kingdom characters with different speeds and acceleration skills. While racing around the track, trying to beat opponents to the finish line with the help of Koopa Shells, Bob-ombs, and other items that can give an advantage. On top of the obvious Grand Prix mode, there are three other modes to enjoy: time trials, versus, and battle modes.
Local play against friends is available as long as there are enough Joy-Con controllers to go around in four-player multiplayer. Additionally, the Expansion Pack version offers online multiplayer to allow competition against players around the world.
Mario Party
Mario Party games are still very popular today, but the first ones originally released on N64. Mario, Peach, Luigi, and friends come together in this board game-style digital party game to compete in a variety of minigames. The overall goal is to collect the most Stars within a certain number of turns.
There are 50 silly minigames for players to compete in with ten only available in single-player mode. Many of these will get hearts pounding and will have everyone hooting and hollering in no time.
Choose a character from the roster which includes Mario, Luigi, Peach, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, or Wario. The game hosts up to four players on one system if there are enough Joy-Con controllers to go around. There is also a single-player mode against AI characters. However, as usual, Mario Party is best enjoyed with a group.
Mario Party 2
The characters in this sequel did not change from the original. However, the outfits characters wear do change depending on the board players select, which is not something that happens in any other Mario Party game.
As before, players compete on a digital board game to earn the most Stars with minigames between each round. Some minigames from the first game return, mingled with several new ones which total in 65 minigames overall.
This title introduced the items feature to the series, which allows players to role more dice or use special objects to get ahead on their turn. There are also different gameboards to choose from. Plus, if players just want to play the minigames without the gameboard aspect, they can play them in the Mini-Game Land mode after unlocking them.
Mario Tennis
Did you know that Waluigi made his very first appearance in this N64 title? He was introduced as a very intense rival for Luigi, but players can go head-to-head with other Mario characters and try to win the ultimate tennis tournament.
New courts decorated with the Mario Tennis characters are unlocked as time goes on. There are six different tournament types, and the chosen cup determines the match's difficulty. Select between playing double and single matches in multiplayer or experience both throughout the story mode.
This isn't as simple as pressing A in a rhythm to hit a ball back and forth. There are different swing types to learn and try out and the computer players will have players running all over the court. Of course, there is now a modern version of the game, Mario Tennis Aces, if a mix of the old and new is desired.
Paper Mario
Paper Mario is a comedic game that plays on the fact that it's set in a paper world, so it has a unique art style and mechanics. There have since been several entries in the Paper Mario series including Paper Mario: The Origami King for Nintendo Switch.
Instead of the traditional adventure platformer style, this is more like an RPG, with turn-based battles and interactions with NPCs to move forward. As usual, Mario is trying to save Princess Peach from Bowser. But players also control the Princess as she does her own work to thwart the Koopa King's plans.
Along the way, familiar faces join Mario's party like a Koopa, Goomba, Boo, and Bob-omb. Using their special abilities, these characters aid the plumber in battles and puzzles.. It's a fun adventure for people of any age.
Pokémon Puzzle League
This puzzle game came out around the height of Pokémon's initial debut craze in the 2000s. It's basically like Tetris Attack meets Pokémon. Ash has been chosen to compete in the Official Puzzle League Tournament and to become Puzzle Champion, Ash and Pikachu have to earn eight badges and beat the Elite Four.
To earn points, players must match up blocks of the same color to make them disappear. Successfully landing more chains and combos makes play more difficult for opponents.
Pokémon Snap
New Pokémon Snap came to Switch, but the original game came out way back in 1999. Developed by HAL Laboratory, this was one of the first titles that allowed fans to see their favorite Pokémon in 3D.
In this fun adventure, players ride around on a track and attempt to take the best pictures that they can of the creatures they pass. Players also have access to fruit and music which can sometimes make Pokémon act in unique ways for more interesting shots. Then take these pictures back to Professor Oak who gives out scores based on their composition.
Sin and Punishment
In this arcade-style shooter, Ruffians have gotten out of control and players are part of the armed volunteers ready to defend Japan. The main action sees the main character running through levels automatically and players must shoot enemies and dodge attacks until time runs out.
This title was ahead of its time in a lot of ways. For one, it provided a lot of action compared to other games on N64. It's also fast-paced, with a lot of enemies to target. Players can choose between free aiming mode and lock-on mode at any time. While most N64 games focused a lot on the right of the controller, this one added more mechanics for the left side.
Star Fox 64
In this single-player sci-fi shooter, Fox McCloud and his group of animal wingmen are all working to fend off space invaders led by the evil Andross. Gameplay propels Fox's ship forward through 3D levels, giving players the chance to collect power-ups, dodge shots from other airships, and keep the team together.
This was the very first Star Fox game ever to exist and is still considered by many to be the best in the series. The story is compelling and players find themselves replaying levels in order to get better scores.
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is a long-time fan favorite and was one of the first games to really show off what 3D exploration could do. Bowser has yet again kidnapped Princess Peach. To save her, Mario has to explore her castle and collect 120 Stars to get her back.
Players can explore Princess Peach's castle freely, choosing which levels to engage with as long as they have enough Stars to unlock the level. Some Stars are earned as each course is completed and some are hidden rewards for other tasks within the level. It's fun to look around as curiosity is usually rewarded.
Wave Race 64
Jump on watercraft and shoot past other opponents in this fun take on racing. There are ramps to jump off of, obstacles to avoid, and several different locations to see. Perform tricks, beat previous scores, and have fun playing with a friend.
This was a very popular game back when it was released and is still a fun one to play today. Up to two people can play at a time.
WINBACK: COVERT OPERATIONS
Winback: Covert Operations follows as an agent whose mission is to stop the terrorist group known as the "Crying Lions" from using a laser weapon. Throughout the game, players must duck and cover, taking the perfect moment to peer out and shoot at opponents. The duck-and-cover aspect has been taken on by many other third-person shooters since.
Weapon lock-on is available or players can aim freely with their laser sight. Mastering the game requires a combination of patience, perfect timing, and skill. How well missions are completed and enemies are defeated affects the overall story. There are two possible endings, making it a game with plenty of replay value.
Yoshi's Story
This adorable game features Yoshi as the main character and really plays on the "Story" part of the game name, displaying levels on pages in a book. But the adorable aesthetic doesn't stop there. Part of that includes choosing which color Yoshi to play as.
It's a side-scrolling platformer similar to classic Mario games. Players go through levels surviving the surroundings and solving puzzles while trying to collect enough fruit to fill the Fruit Frame. All of this is done with a maing goal of protecting baby Mario from baby Bowser.
Coming Soon
During the Nintendo Direct September 2022, we learned of several additional N64 games coming to the Expansion Pack this year and next. No exact release dates have been given yet, but we'll update when we learn more.
1080° Snowboarding (2023)
This third-person snowboarding action game has stuck around since its initial release on the N64. A sequel was made for the GameCube and the original was re-released for the Wii and Wii U. Now it's making its way to Nintendo Switch Online.
Players will enjoy the action on these beautiful trails. Players can choose to focus on speed, tricks, or competition. There are two trick modes and three race modes, so there's a little something for everyone. There's even a two-player mode for playing with a friend.
Excitebike 64 (2023)
This is a fun game for dirt bike enthusiasts who will recognize the real-life brands displayed on the tracks. Players choose from one of six riders and race while performing tricks. Race through the tracks to unlock new places to ride. Additionally, players can create their own track to ride through.
The hidden shortcuts and ability to test out skills on big jumps make this a fun title to come back to. There are also minigames outside of the main story to give some gameplay variety: Stunt Course, Soccer, Desert Track, and Hill Climb.
GoldenEye 007 (2022)
This popular shooter completely revolutionized the FPS genre back in the day despite it being themed after a James Bond movie starring Pierce Brosnan. Players act as the classic agent as he goes through different missions attempting to prevent a deadly weapon from being used on Earth. It is a historic title that encouraged the realistic shooter style that is now a staple to the genre.
Each level has a different objective and throughout the game more than 20 weapons become available. There are three difficulty settings to choose from and these will adjust the objectives, enemies, and ammunition accordingly.
The multiplayer mode is equally popular as it allows players to choose to score points as a team or competitively in a free-for-all. This Switch version even supports online multiplayer.
Mario Party 3 (2023)
The last Mario Party title to hit the N64 was Mario Party 3. In this third installment, the usual cast of characters is joined by Princess Daisy and Waluigi. Each player can hold up to three items at a time and the number of minigames increased to 71 options total for even more competitive mayhem.
While previous games were hosted by Toad, a character known as Millennium Star takes control of everything. In addition to multiplayer, this entry provides a single-player campaign that had never been done in previous Mario Party titles. It also provides a battle royal and duel board, which hadn't been seen before.
Pilotwings 64 (2022)
This game allows players to take to the skies and see if they have what it takes to earn a pilot license. Fly a gyrocopter, a jet pack, and a hang glider as you complete different missions. There are several factors that determine how many points are earned for each activity.
In addition to adjusting for a different kind of vehicle, there are also outside elements that change the aircraft's movement such as weight and wind patterns. There are also bonus events of skydiving, human cannonball, and Jumble Hopper to unlock.
Pokémon Stadium (2023)
Pokémon Stadium is an absolute classic that allows players to create a dream team of fighters from the first 151 Pokémon (Red, Blue, and Yellow) and compete with them in a tournament. This was a departure from the core Pokémon game's usual format in that it is not an RPG and simply focuses on the battles. The main fun centers around collecting trophies by winning the four cups, each with its own rules.
Aside from the standard Stadium mode there's also a Gym Leader Castle where players take on the Kanto Gym leaders, Elite Four, and the Champion. There are also nine mini-games to play with up to four players total.
Pokémon Stadium 2 (2023)
In this sequel, players are also able to pick from Pokémon in Gold, Silver, and Crystal at nearly 251 Pokémon. It keeps the Stadium mode and Gym Leader Castle. Mini-games make a return with 12 new games to play.
With both Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, a big feature in the original N64 games was the Transfer Pak ability with the Game Boy and Game Boy Color systems. This added to the fun by allowing people to play with their favorite Pokémon from the core games.
