Nintendo Classics

Nintendo Classics is a line of emulated retro games distributed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Subscribers to the Nintendo Switch Online service have access to several dedicated Nintendo Classics apps, each one containing an emulator for a previous Nintendo game console with a library of playable games. Games are accessible as long as the user has an active subscription, although users must connect to the internet at least once a week to access the apps whilst offline. The library was launched alongside the Nintendo Switch Online service in 2018 with 20 Nintendo Entertainment System games, and has expanded to include games from several other consoles, with new games being added on an irregular basis. Subscribers to the more expensive Nintendo Switch Online subscription tier, titled "Expansion Pack", have access to more consoles. The library features numerous games that were not available on the Virtual Console service of Nintendo's previous systems, with some games receiving their first international release through Nintendo Classics.