Nintendo Switch Adds Classic Game Boy and GBA Games to Online Library

Game Boy Advance classics are finally making their way to the Nintendo Switch, giving long-time fans a fresh way to replay their childhood favorites through the Online Expansion Pack.

Nintendo is starting off small – subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack will be able to access six Game Boy Advance games, with more on the way. Highlights include one of the best Mario games ever, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.

Games like The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap have been hard to play on a modern console. If you didn’t have a Wii U, you were pretty much left to pay for a hard copy. For me, Minish Cap represented the height of stylized pixel-art from the graphics. It blended the look of classic 16-bit SNES Zelda games like A Link to the Past with a stunning, detailed, and delightfully cartoony art style reminiscent of The Wind Waker.

Then there is Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. The turn-based RPG with timed attacks introduced to me to one of Mario’s funniest franchises. It gave players cartoony and colorful pixel art, and paired it with a big dose of personality from Mario and Luigi. I’ll always remember it for serving us the biggest cry baby version of Luigi we’ve seen to date. Perfect!

And while I think I’d still prefer to own my games, I will certainly welcome Nintendo continuing to make what is one of its best catalogues available to more people. Nintendo announced Kuru Kuru Kururin, which had previously only been available in Japan. Bangers like Metroid Fusion and Kirby and the Amazing Mirror are already on the way. Now I’m just hoping we get a Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire port. (Or maybe you know, a Mother 3 one?) A girl can dream!

How do I access GBA games on Switch Online

To access Game Boy Advance (GBA) games on Nintendo Switch Online, you need an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.

Requirements

A Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership is required (basic NSO only covers Game Boy/Game Boy Color titles).
This applies to both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 consoles.​​

Steps on Switch/Switch 2

1. From the HOME Menu, launch the Nintendo Switch Online app (Nintendo Classics section).​

2. Select Nintendo Classics on the left side.​

3. Choose Game Boy Advance from the console options at the top.​​

4. Select the console icon (first in the game list) and hit Free Download (opens Nintendo eShop).​

5. Confirm Free Download again to add the library app to your HOME Menu.

Once installed, launch the GBA app, log in with your subscribed account, and browse/play titles with features like multiplayer, rewind, and suspend saves.
If upgrading from basic NSO, go to the app’s Membership Options & Support >Renew/Change Membership.​

What GBA games are available on Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack offers around 30 Game Boy Advance (GBA) games as of late 2025, with periodic additions.

Launch Titles (Feb 2023)

These six debuted the service:

• Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3

• WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!

• Kuru Kuru Kururin

• Mario Kart: Super Circuit

• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Key Additions (2023-2025)

• : Metroid Fusion (Mar), Super Mario Advance series (May), Fire Emblem (Jun), Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (Sep)​

• : Golden Sun duo (Jan), Mother 3* (Feb), F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (Mar), Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (Jun), Metroid: Zero Mission (Jun), Densetsu no Starfy trilogy* (Jul), Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (Aug), F-Zero GP Legend & Climax* (Oct)

• : Wario Land 4 (Feb), Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (Apr), Magical Vacation (Sep), Klonoa: Empire of Dreams & Mr. Driller 2 (Sep)
  *Japan-only or untranslated versions.​

Full Highlights Table