Nintendo releases a surprise update for its Switch Online subscription service that adds two surprise N64 games to the mix.
Highlights
- Surprise N64 game additions to Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack tier offer fans a nostalgic racing experience with Extreme-G and Iggy's Reckin' Balls.
- Many classic N64 games are already available on the service.
- Notable N64 games missing from Switch Online, such as Banjo-Tooie and Super Smash Bros., could potentially be added in the future, but official plans have not been announced.
A surprise Nintendo Switch Online update has given N64 fans the chance to relive the racing games Extreme-G and Iggy's Reckin' Balls. Nintendo typically gives fans some advanced notice before it adds games to the Nintendo Switch Online service, particularly when it comes to games added to the Expansion Pack tier.
The Expansion Pack tier of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service gives subscribers acces to all the games available in the lower NSO tiers on top of Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance, and N64 games, along with additional perks. Since introducing the Expansion Pack tier, Nintendo has had a habit of confirming most of the games well in advance, giving subscribers a good idea of which games from those platforms they can look forward to playing. In a break from Nintendo's established pattern, the latest NSO additions came unexpectedly.
To the surprise of Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, Nintendo has added N64 games Extreme-G and Iggy's Reckin' Balls to the Expansion Pack tier of the service. For those unfamiliar with the games, Extreme-G is a sci-fi racing game that was first released in 1997 to mostly positive reviews. Iggy's Reckin' Balls is a Nintendo 64 racing game as well, but it has players racing up towers while collecting power-ups to gain an advantage over their opponents. Whereas Extreme-G reviews were mostly positive, Iggy's Reckin' Balls had a more mixed reception.
Regardless, those wanting some Nintendo 64 nostalgia can now check out two additional games from the popular console's library. Many of the classic Nintendo 64 games are already available on Switch Online, so fans can expect these lesser-known games to start making up the NSO N64 updates moving forward, for the most part. That being said, there are still some heavy hitters that have yet to make their debut, though fans shouldn't necessarily hold their breath that they will ever make their debut on the service.
All Nintendo 64 Switch Online Games
- 1080 Snowboarding
- Banjo-Kazooie
- Blast Corps
- Dr. Mario 64
- Excitebike 64
- Extreme-G
- F-Zero X
- GoldenEye 007
- Harvest Moon 64
- Iggy's Reckin Balls
- Jet Force Gemini
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Mario Golf
- Mario Kart 64
- Mario Party
- Mario Party 2
- Mario Party 3
- Mario Tennis
- Paper Mario
- Pilotwings 6 4
- Pokemon Puzzle League
- Pokemon Snap
- Pokemon Stadium
- Pokemon Stadium 2
- Sin and Punishment
- Star Fox 64
- Super Mario 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Wave Race 64
- WinBack
- Yoshi's Story
Some of the more notable Nintendo 64 games missing from Switch Online include Banjo-Tooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Diddy Kong Racing, Donkey Kong 64, Super Smash Bros., and Perfect Dark. Most of those were developed by Rare, and even though Rare is owned by Microsoft, there's still a chance these games could come to the Nintendo Switch Online service one day. After all, other Rare games have been added to Switch Online in the past, including Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, Jet Force Gemini, and Blast Corps.
Brand Nintendo Original Release Date September 29, 1996