Nintendo Switch Online is Adding 5 Rare Games Today

21.02.2024 - 17:37 / gamerant.com / Dalton Cooper / Rare / Nintendo

In a surprise announcement at the latest Nintendo Direct event, it was confirmed that five games developed by Rare are making their way to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service later today. Four of the new game additions will be available to vanilla Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, while one of the game will require a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which is a little pricier but gives subscribers access to even more legacy games.

Besides online multiplayer support, the big selling point for Nintendo Switch Online is the opportunity to relive classic video games from legacy consoles. The NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and more are all represented with impressive libraries that continue to grow on a regular basis. And now Nintendo Switch Online subscribers have five more games classic games to check out, all developed by Rare.

Near the end of the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, it was announced that R.C. Pro-Am, Snake Rattle 'n' Roll, Killer Instinct, Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, and Blast Corps are all being added to Switch Online today. R.C. Pro-Am, Snake Rattle 'n' Roll, Killer Instinct, and Battletoads in Battlemaniacs will be available to all Switch Online subscribers, but Blast Corps will require an Expansion Pack subscription.

Rare is owned by Microsoft, but it was once closely associated with Nintendo. Rare was one of the best developers during the NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64 days, and thanks to Nintendo's positive relationship with Xbox, fans of the studio's classic games have been able to relive them with their Switch Online subscription. Prior to these Rare games joining Switch Online, subscribers were also treated to Rare hits like GoldenEye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie.

There are still some Rare-developed games that have yet to make their way to Nintendo Switch Online that many fans would love to see added to the service. The two most obvious ones that come to mind are 3D platformersDonkey Kong 64 and Banjo-Tooie, but no announcements have been made about those games. Conker's Bad Fur Day, meanwhile, is highly unlikely to ever come to Switch Online due to its M-rating.

Switch Online subscribers in Japan have more than just the five Rare-developed games to look forward to with the service's latest update. Classic GBA game Mother 3 is coming to the Japan version of Switch Online. Unfortunately, no official English translation of the game exists.

The Nintendo Switch OLED comes with several upgrades over the original Nintendo Switch console while maintaining game compatibility with the old console. With a larger 7-inch OLED screen and double the internal storage of the original Nintendo Switch, it doesn't feel like a new console