Summary
Nintendo has expanded the library of Switch Online membership by adding three more classic Game Boy titles:Alleyway,Baseball, andSuper Mario Land. Unlike most other video game streaming services that focus on trending and new releases,Switch Onlinetakes a different route by offering nostalgic, iconic games from older consoles at no extra cost. But fans seem to love this approach.
Since Mar10 Day, an annual celebration of all things Nintendo, the company’s flagship membership has had a busier schedule. In January,Switch Online addedGolden SunandGolden Sun: The Lost Age, which delighted fans across the globe. Now, Nintendo has even better news for its members: some of the best Game Boy games have joined the subscription as of May 14.
In a video announcement, Nintendo has revealed that Switch Online members can download three additional Game Boy games for free. The games areAlleyway,a memorableBreakoutclone;Baseball,a reimagining of the NES game; andSuper Mario Land,a classic Mario adventure known for introducing Princess Daisy. Allthese games are available on Nintendo Switch Online, with the subscription priced at $19.99 per year or $34.99 for the annual Family plan.
Nintendo Switch Online Games Added in May 2024
For those curious,Super Mario Landis not only the first Game Boy title in the franchise, but it’s also one of theoldestMariogamesto feature a shooting mechanic. In two missions, Mario uses a weaponized aircraft, likely inspired by the popular side-scrolling shooterGradius. Although the game was not directed byMario’s legendary creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, it was intended to be the biggest title on the Game Boy. Nintendo gave the developers full creative freedom, resulting in memorable features like the aforementioned shooting missions and the new Sarasaland biome. However,Super Mario Landdidn’t achieve the expected success, asTetrissurpassed its sales by a wide margin.
The Overlooked Hidden Theme in Switch Online’s New Titles
There is one overlooked detail that linksAlleyway,Baseball, andSuper Mario Land: all these games were among theGame Boy’s launch titles. Nintendo seems to be aiming to reignite the joy of the first-gen Game Boy by offering its initial titles. And the entire May lineup of Switch Online celebrates the Game Boy’s 35th anniversary with a thematic release. The handheld console was introduced in 1989, the same year these titles debuted. Additionally, keen fans might notice another theme: Mario. He appears in all three titles, piloting inAlleywayand making a cameo with Luigi inBaseball—all while saving the damsel in distress inSuper Mario Land.
