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Revealed as part of the recent Nintendo Direct event, Nintendo has made classic Game Boy games available as part of the basic Nintendo Switch Online subscription, while Game Boy Advance games are now a part of the premium Expansion Pack upgrade for Switch Online. If you haven't yet got a Switch Online subscription, and you're now looking to secure one after wonderful Game Boy news, look no further. Here's a quick handy guide on how to get Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games up and running on your Switch.
How Do I Sign Up For Switch Online?
That's an easy one (good news), but it also requires money (bad news). It's easy to sign up, just purchase a code for either tier, I've left the relevant links below, and enter that code here on Nintendo's redeem page. Or, simply enter the codes on your Switch console instead. That's it!
12-Month MembershipNintendo Switch Online $19.99
12-Month MembershipNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack $49.99
12-Month MembershipNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Family Membership $79.99
What is Included with Switch Online?
Switch Online now comes in two different tiers, with the basic online costing just $19.99/year and including online play, cloud saves, access to Super NES and NES games, and now Game Boy games as well.
But, the Switch Online Expansion Pack costs an extra $29.99/year on top. For that extra $30 per year, you're now getting classic Nintendo 64 games on Switch, all Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass content (as released), Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise, Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion, access to retro games on SEGA Genesis, and now Game Boy Advance games as well. That's a pretty tempting purchase right there.
Gameboy and Gameboy Advance Games Slideshow
How Do I Play Game Boy Games on Switch?
It's rather easy now to start playing a select number of Game Boy games on the Switch. Just search for Game Boy on the eStore on your console, and you should come across the 'Game Boy – Nintendo Switch Online' download which is now available. Go ahead and download it on your Switch, and if you've got Switch Online, you can start playing games immediately. This logic also applies to those with the Switch Online Expansion Pack and Game Boy Advance games, simply look for the 'Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Switch Online' on your console.
How to Upgrade to the Switch Online Expansion Pack
On your Switch console, select the 'Nintendo Switch Online' app at home screen menu. Navigate to the 'Membership Options & Support' section. Once you're in this page, you should see see a 'Renew / Change Membership' button that will take you to the eShop. From here, you should be able to upgrade your current Switch Online membership to include the Expansion Pack.
What Game Boy and GBA Games Are on Switch?
Game Boy games included at launch include 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 II: Return of Samus, Wario Land 3, and Kirby's Dream Land. You can use the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color filters.
The launch lineup for Game Boy Advance includes Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, WarioWare Inc.: Mega MicroGames, Kuru Kuru Kuruin, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
More games are coming in the future for both platforms. The trailer teased: Metroid Fusion, Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, Fire Emblem, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, and Golden Sun.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
