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There are plenty of ways to dive into retro games nowadays, but nothing beats playing them on the Nintendo Switch. Thanks to Nintendo Switch Online, checking out hundreds of classics across NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis has never been easier. Here’s why I ditched my smartphone and PC in favor of the Switch as my go-to retro gaming machine.
The List of Available Games Is Impressive
Part ofwhat makes Nintendo Switch Onlineso appealing to me is its library of ready-to-play games. Nintendo has built up quite an impressive roster of titles that span all genres and numerous consoles. From The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on N64 to Streets of Rage 2 on Sega Genesis, there’s never a shortage of content to explore.
The catalog is always changing, but you may check out a sample of what’s available onNintendo’s official website.
I’m also a big fan of the interface for sifting through these titles. Instead of a simple list, Nintendo opted for a gigantic wall filled with the games' original box art. It’s not the most practical solution, but it evokes a memory of scouring the shelves of my local game store as a kid. Once you do find a game you like, the Switch makes it easy to move these to the top of your list for easy access.
Portability Is King
There’s no denying you’ll get more functionality when running emulators on PC (Turbo Mode is a notable standout), but more often than not, I find myself itching to play retro titles while out of the house. And while some smartphone emulators might offer more functionality than the Switch, its gorgeous screen makes it a better option (this is especially true for the OLED model).
Tablets are a nice alternative to gaming on a mobile phone, but all the retro games on Switch are already optimized to run smoothly. Depending on what game you’re trying to play and what tablet you’re using, you might experience stuttering or an un-optimized experience. Toss in the convenience of not having to mess with key bindings and the ease of playing with a connected Joy-Con and the portable simplicity of Switch is hard to beat.
You Can Pick Your Retro Controller
Speaking of controllers, the Switch makes it easy to enjoy all my favorite classics with a wide variety of gamepads. I typically use the standard Joy-Con while traveling, but having access to updated NES controllers from Nintendo and a wealth of retro gamepads from 8BitDo helps replicate the old-school experience.
TheSwitch Pro controlleris also great for N64 games that require more complex inputs.
Nintendo Switch Online doesn’t have a built-in way to remap buttons, though you’re able to remap buttons for your entire console back in the Settings menu. It’s a clunky workaround, but it gets the job done.
The option to play with a wealth of controllers while in handheld mode, tabletop mode, or docked gives me more flexibility than emulators on PC or mobile.
Legal and Ready-to-Play Games
If you’re worried about the legality of downloading emulators and running ROMs, all your worries can be put to rest with Nintendo Switch Online. For an annual fee of just $50, you’ll get legal access to over a thousand games from NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, GBA, and Sega Genesis. Once you’ve downloaded their respective apps from the Switch eShop, you can dive into them whenever you’d like.
You’ll need to reconnect to the internet once a week to verify your membership is still active, but beyond that, you can take your games offline and play to your heart’s content.
Nintendo Switch Online isn’t perfect, but (at least in my case) the advantages it offers far outweigh its limitations. I’m hopeful additional functionality like Turbo Mode or button mapping will be added in the future, but for now I’m happy to have a convenient way to check out all my favorite classics.
