Three more Mega Drive games added to Nintendo Switch Online

Time Stamp: April 22, 2022 5:31 AM

Three Mega Drive games have been added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack library, beefing up the range of classic retro titles playable by subscribers.

The three additional Mega Drive games – or Genesis games, if you’re a North American – are:

  • Space Harrier II
  • Shining Force II
  • Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball

It’s another solid update, following on from Alien Soldier, Light Crusader and Super Fantasy Zone that were added in March.

However, it’s peanuts compared to all the rumoured retro gaming that it’s speculated is on the way after leaks of pre-release versions of the various emulator apps on Switch. Footage has emerged of an updated NES app that features Castlevania, Galaga, Pac-Man and Mega Man games, indicating that Nintendo’s twisted the arms of some Konami and Capcom execs.

But even that is nothing compared to the leak of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance emulators earlier this month, with 40 GBA gems that include the Golden Sun series, The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap, Metroid Fusion, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Mega Man Battle Network 2 and more. This will apparently support network play, with each Switch emulating two Game Boys at the same time and simulating a Link Cable between them. This would be a curious way of supporting connectivity, but Nintendo has consistently added online functionality to these retro games in a variety of ways.

Nintendo Switch Online – Expansion Pack launched at the end of October, featuring a higher price point than the regular Switch Online subscription but promising a growing library of N64 and Sega Mega Drive games. The initial offering included nine N64 titles, with games like Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Lylat Wars and more included. This was then expanded to include Paper Mario in December, Banjo-Kazooie, and Majora’s Mask.

If and when Game Boy and Game Boy Advance emulators are added to the service, it’s likely that they will be locked behind the Expansion Pack price tier.

Source: Nintendo

Time Stamp:

More from TheSixthAxis