When compared directly with its competition, Nintendo Switch Online has never really managed to hit the same levels of value as PS Plus or Xbox Games with Gold/Game Pass. Though it costs much less than similar services, Nintendo Switch Online also offers a lot less, giving fans a relatively small selection of NES and SNES games to play along with the ability to access the Switch's wonky online services. However, Nintendo Switch Online is about to get a whole lot better, with a slew of Game Boy games now available for no additional cost.
Announced during Nintendo's recent Direct, Nintendo Switch Online will now include a plethora of Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. Right now, at launch, fans can currently dive into a total of nine different Game Boy games with another handful on the way soon. From a classic Zelda title to some of the most beloved Mario games of all time, fans have plenty of Game Boy games to sink their teeth into.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Released for the original Game Boy all the way back in 1992, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins is the legendary successor to the very first handheld Mario game. A traditional side-scrolling Mario adventure, Super Mario Land 2 is best known for introducing fan-favorite character Wario. Many long-time Nintendo fans prefer this sequel over its predecessor for its longer length, tighter platforming gameplay, and its wealth of hidden bonus content.
Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
One of the most iconic Zelda games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX is the enhanced Game Boy Color port of the 1993 original. Along with colored sprites and environments, this version of the game comes with a new dungeon. Fans of the modern Link's Awakening Switch remake should definitely check out the game in all its original glory.
Tetris
A game that needs absolutely no introduction whatsoever, every gamer has played Tetris at least once in their life. This is the version that started it all, included in the US launch line-up of the original Game Boy. Tetris is a game that's always worth sinking an hour or two into, especially with the addition of Switch Online's multiplayer modes.
Metroid 2
A direct sequel to the first game in the franchise, and the first handheld entry, Metroid 2: Return of Samus is an excellent game credited with adding much of the features that have gone on to define the series. Metroid 2 introduced fans to the Varia Suit, the Spider Ball, the Space Jump, and the Spazer Beam, and players are tasked with using all of these tools to wipe out the Metroids on their home planet of SR388.
Wario Land 3
A title coming from towards the end of the Game Boy Color's life, Wario Land 3 originally released in 2000, just a year before the Game Boy Advance launched. A side-scrolling platformer with a surprisingly open structure, Wario Land 3 lets players approach its levels in a fairly non-linear way, and earning new abilities can unlock new areas, not unlike a Metroidvania.
Kirby's Dream Land
The very first Kirby game ever made, Kirby's Dream Land originally released in 1992. Though it's an exceptionally simple 2D platformer, Kirby's Dream Land is a wonderful piece of Nintendo gaming history, and any Nintendo fan should give it a go at least once.
Gargoyle's Quest
A spinoff of the Ghosts 'n Goblins series, Gargoyle's Quest puts players in the stone shoes of Firebrand, an antagonist from the series. This title has two distinct gameplay styles, the first of which sees players control Firebrand from an overhead perspective as they navigate towns and other environments. Entering a building will begin a side-scrolling action-platformer level, often with a boss at the end.
Game & Watch Gallery 3
Released in 1999, Game & Watch Gallery 3 is a collection of old Game & Watch handheld games. Players start off with five mini games to play through, each being available in a classic mode with the original characters, or an updated mode that features Mario characters. Players can unlock another five mini games by earning more Stars during gameplay.
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
A port of the fourth installment in the series, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is a surprisingly good survival horror game. Alone in the Dark is also one of the most visually-impressive Game Boy Color games ever made, featuring shockingly detailed environments and character models.