12 March 2026

Nintendo Switch Online Update Adds 3 Old-School Mario Games to the Library

By newsgame

Nintendo Switch Online members now have three more Mario games to play, as Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash for the Virtual Boy, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance, are now available on the respective NSO apps. However, an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription with the Expansion Pack upgrade is required to play each of these retro titles.

As part of their recurring subscription, Nintendo Switch Online users can play a growing list of old-school games from Nintendo and third-party developers, such as Sega and Capcom, via the Nintendo Classics app lineup. Although the NES, SNES, and Game Boy catalogs are available to all NSO subscribers, users who have the Expansion Pack upgrade can also play titles originally launched on platforms like the Game Boy Advance, the GameCube, and the Virtual Boy. For example, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack users can play Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance on the GameCube app as of January 2026.

Super Mario Bros Wonder Mario and Yoshi running from Toad with Rosalina

Super Mario Bros. Wonder Details Switch 2 Edition Features and Surprise Crossover With Another Nintendo Franchise

Nintendo pulls back the curtain on several new features that will be available when the paid upgrade is released on March 26.

Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Can Now Play Three More Mario Games

One week after Nintendo announced that more games would arrive on Mario Day, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can now experience three retro games from the Mario series. First up is Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance app. Originally launched in May 2004, Mario vs. Donkey Kong takes inspiration from the original Donkey Kong arcade game. Mario chases Donkey Kong while navigating levels filled with puzzles and tricky platforms to navigate. Mario vs. Donkey Kong is regarded as one of the best platforming games from the GBA era. Mario vs. Donkey Kong later received a remake on the Nintendo Switch in February 2024, almost 20 years after the original GBA launch.

Games Available on the Game Boy Advance: Nintendo Classics App

Mario vs Donkey Kong
Densetsu no Starfy 1
Densetsu no Starfy 2
Densetsu no Starfy 3
F-Zero Climax
F-Zero GP Legend
F-Zero Maximum Velocity
Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Kirby and The Amazing Mirror
Klonoa Empire of Dreams
Kuru Kuru Kururin
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
Metroid: Zero Mission
Mr. Driller 2
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Super Mario Advance
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Wario Land 4
WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgame$!
Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3

Additionally, Virtual Boy enthusiasts can now play Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash as part of their NSO subscription. As a sports title that predates the latter Mario Tennis series, Mario’s Tennis includes both singles and doubles game modes, despite being a single-player game. By comparison, Mario Clash is a 2D platformer that hearkens back to the original Mario Bros. arcade game.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Although the Virtual Boy app requires both the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack upgrade and a subscribers-only Virtual Boy attachment, the platform’s game catalog will continue to grow throughout 2026. The Virtual Boy app currently has nine games for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to peruse, with seven more games, such as the previously unreleased D-Hopper and Zero Racers, launching at later dates.

Games Available on the Virtual Boy: Nintendo Classics App

Mario’s Tennis
Mario Clash
3-D Tetris
Galactic Pinball
Golf
The Mansion of Innsmouth
Red Alarm
Teleroboxer
Virtual Boy Wario Land

However, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are not done receiving new games to play this month. During the 2026 Pokemon Day celebration, The Pokemon Company confirmed that Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness will launch on the Switch 2’s GameCube app sometime in March. As the sequel to Pokemon Colosseum, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is a turn-based RPG that uses game mechanics from Pokemon‘s third generation. However, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is a single-player experience, and is not compatible with other Pokemon titles on the Switch and Switch 2. A precise release date for Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness has not been confirmed by Nintendo as of this writing.

The Mario Day Celebration Is Not Over Yet

Although Mario Day itself has already passed, Nintendo is not done with the festivities just yet. Fans have until Sunday, March 15, to buy some Mario games on the Nintendo eShop at a discount, as titles like Super Mario RPG are available for as low as $29.99. Additionally, Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park goes live on March 26. With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie also set for a global theatrical release on Wednesday, April 1, the next few weeks are a great time to be a Mario fan.