February's Nintendo Direct event revealed a lot about the Switch's future. A lot of franchises will be receiving new titles, and Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games will be making their way to the hybrid console through Nintendo Switch Online. This is good news for Pokemon fans, as it paves the way for older Pokemon games to make their way to the Switch. This would be a great situation, as series veterans could indulge in nostalgia while newcomers could get familiar with where it all began.
The lack of backward compatibility has been an issue for Pokemon fans on the Switch. It has caused a significant chunk of the franchise's library to be missing from the hybrid console. Hence, fans can't abandon their Nintendo 3DS handhelds just yet. With the latest advancements, things could change for the better.
Game Boy and Game Boy Advance Games Come to Switch
The Switch is an amazing device, and its hybrid capabilities have made it a hit among gamers. It recently broke sales milestones, surpassing the PS4's sales numbers to become the third bestselling gaming console of all time. Though it is nice that the Switch can go portable, one of the sore points of the console lies with its lack of backward compatibility. This has been partially addressed in the latest Nintendo Direct event. As was revealed, several Game Boy games will be coming to the Switch for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
- Tetris
- Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
- Gargoyle's Quest
- Game & Watch Gallery 3
- Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Metroid 2 - Return of Samus
- Wario Land 3
- Kirby's Dream Land
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers will also have access to a collection of Game Boy Advance games. The following games are available:
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
- Kuru Kuru Kururin
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Classic Pokemon Games May Return to Nintendo Switch
Although there are plenty of Pokemon games available on the Switch, some of the earlier games are conspicuously absent. This includes titles like FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald from the Game Boy Advance, as well as Red, Blue, Gold, Silver, and Crystal from the Game Boy. These games are quite old, but they are still heaps of fun and carry loads of nostalgia for longtime fans. Though they haven't been announced for the Switch yet, the porting of the latest games does give gamers hope that ports of the Pokemon Game Boy and GBA games are on the way.
It would be great to receive ports of the games, though some fans would rather have remakes. This would necessitate gamers waiting a long time, as the earlier generations have received remakes already, and judging by Game Freak's current release pattern, it's Gen 5's turn to get attention next. While Black and White could get remade, the studio could also throw a curveball and release full-blown sequels to Black 2 and White 2.
The announcement of the Game Boy and the GBA games wasn't the only big reveal at the Nintendo Direct event. Gamers got to see a little more of Tears of the Kingdom, and there were several Level-5 games revealed, including Professor Layton and The New World of Steam. This is great news for Switch gamers, as it means 2023 will be a jam-packed year, but hopefully there's room for classic Pokemon to get some love.
