Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Price and game list

Jesse Lennox
By

During a Nintendo Direct livestream in 2021, Nintendo announced a new addition to its online service. Dubbed the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (a reference to the Expansion Pak hardware you could add to your old Nintendo 64 console), this new service promised to expand the current online service to include both N64 titles as well as Sega Genesis games. The normal service, in addition to standard online play for games that support it, currently gives access to NES and SNES classic games, making this the next logical step for Nintendo’s online offerings.

While initially we only knew that this Expansion Pack would be an additional service, and not included in the normal Nintendo Switch Online subscription, we had no idea how much this extra service would cost or how it would function. Since its launch in October 2021, we now know the pricing structure for this extra service and how it will function with the existing online subscription. However, in typical Nintendo fashion, their messaging has left many people confused. We’re here to clear up as many questions as possible and share everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

Recommended Videos

Further reading

What is the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack?

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack list of N64 games.

The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is, on the surface, exactly what it sounds like. It is an expanded service to the base Nintendo Switch Online subscription that gives you access to more games for a higher cost. These games, as mentioned, consist of N64 and Genesis titles, with more games being added as time goes on, plus all the normal functionality and games you get as part of Nintendo Switch Online.

Related

The base Nintendo Switch Online service will continue, so no one is forced to upgrade to this service if they don’t want to. The Expansion Pass launched on October 25, 2021.

What is included in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack?

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack shown during the Nintendo Direct.

Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack currently includes the following titles:

N64

  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
  • Banjo-Kazooie
  • Pokémon Snap
  • Mario Golf
  • Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
  • Paper Mario
  • F-Zero X
  • Super Mario 64
  • Mario Kart 64
  • Star Fox 64
  • Yoshi’s Story
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • WinBack: Covert Operations
  • Mario Tennis
  • Dr. Mario 64
  • Sin and Punishment

Sega Genesis

  • Castlevania: Bloodlines
  • Contra: Hard Corps
  • Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
  • Eco the Dolphin
  • Golden Axe
  • Gunstar Heroes
  • MUSHA
  • Phantasy Star IV
  • Ristar
  • Shining Force
  • Shining Force 2
  • Shinobi III
  • Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  • Space Harrier 2
  • Streets of Rage 2
  • Strider

The library of games for both systems will be expanded over time, just like the NES and SNES games, and include new features such as split-screen and online play, plus quick save functionality.

The Expansion Pack also unlocks the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise DLC and all the 48 tracks that will be added as DLC to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the Booster Course Pass when they roll out over the course of the year. Access to either DLC would cost you $25 each without the Expansion Pack. As of April 2022, it has also added the Octo Expansion for Splatoon 2, the first old DLC to come to the service, which may imply other older DLC packs may come in the future.

How much does the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack cost?

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Pricing.

There are two options for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. First is the individual membership, which will cost $50 for a one-year subscription. Second is the family membership, which can include up to eight members, for $80 a year. The current Nintendo Switch Online costs $20 for an individual subscription and $35 for a family plan, making this a fairly substantial price increase.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…
Marvel’s Midnight Suns for Nintendo Switch canceled ahead of last-gen launch
Hulk shouts at an enemy in Marvel's Midnight Suns.

Superhero strategy game Marvel's Midnight Suns is getting its long-delayed Xbox One and PS4 port on May 11, but there's some bad news for Nintendo Switch owners: The Switch version of the game has been canceled.
2K Games and Firaxis released Marvel's Midnight Suns, a card-based strategy game focusing on the supernatural side of the Marvel comic book universe, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S last December. While Digital Trends enjoyed the game, it underperformed financially and the game's director left Firaxis altogether following its release. Originally slated to launch alongside the current-gen versions of Midnight Suns in October 2022, the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions of the game were indefinitely delayed when the game was pushed to December.

Now, the PS4 and Xbox One ports will finally come out digitally alongside the Blood Storm expansion on May 11, but 2K confirmed in the press release announcing the date that "the Nintendo Switch version of Marvel's Midnight Suns will no longer be offered as part of updated plans."
Additionally, the release calls Blood Storm the "final" DLC for Midnight Suns, so it seems unlikely that the game will continue to receive lots of post-launch support, unlike other Firaxis titles such as Sid Meier's Civilization VI and XCOM 2. That's certainly a more muted ending than one would expect from a Marvel game from the industry's premier strategy developers.
Marvel's Midnight Suns will finally launch for PS4 and Xbox One on May 11. It's currently available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. 

Read more
The best upcoming Nintendo Switch games: 2023, 2024, and beyond
Zelda holds a tear-shaped object in her hand in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's final trailer.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports also available on other platforms.

There are lots of games to look forward to on the platform. These are the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2023 and beyond. Of course, some titles without release windows could skip the Switch entirely and wind up on Nintendo's next-gen console.
Confirmed 2023 releases
The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit this year. Anything that's up in the air due to more vague launch predictions or previous delays will be listed under the following header.

Read more
It’s the last day of Nintendo’s April Indie Sale — don’t miss these 7 great games
hades best builds key art new cropped hed 1244036

Nintendo just hosted an Indie World showcase and previewed some exciting indie games like Rift of the Necrodancer, Blasphemous 2, and Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. While the Nintendo Switch has always been a first-party, AAA-title machine, it's also become an indie powerhouse over the years and is home to some of the best small games on the market. To celebrate its stream, Nintendo just launched a weeklong sale on some of its top indie titles, including all-time greats like Celeste and Hades.

The sale kicked off on April 19 and runs until April 26 at midnight PT. While you have a good week to browse, here are seven excellent deals that you'll want to take advantage of before time's up.
Celeste -- $5 (75% off)

Read more