Can I play old Nintendo games with my Nintendo Switch?

You can play old Nintendo games on your Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo Switch Online service, which offers a library of classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games with added online play. The Nintendo Switch Online membership provides ongoing access to these classic games, allowing you to play as many games as you want, as often as you like, for as long as you have an active subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Playing Old Games on Switch

1. Can I play old Nintendo games on a Switch without online membership? Games in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack collections feature online play with friends only, but you can play these classic games offline if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and regularly verify your membership by connecting online.
2. Are other Nintendo games compatible with Switch? The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Lite systems do not include backwards compatibility with games from previous Nintendo platforms.
3. Can Nintendo switches work with older games? No, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games purchased through Nintendo eShop do not carry over to Nintendo Switch.
4. Will Donkey Kong 64 be on Switch? Donkey Kong 64 Switch is an upcoming remake of Donkey Kong 64 and a adventure platform video game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch hybrid video game console.
5. Can I get my old games on my new Switch? You can redownload your games from the eShop setting on the new Switch, but save data is different and ideally requires both the old and new Switch to transfer.

Backwards Compatibility and Game Sharing

6. Is there backwards compatibility on Switch? The Nintendo Switch is actually one of the first Nintendo consoles that has no form of built-in backwards compatibility.
7. Can two Nintendo accounts share games? You can play digital games you’ve purchased on any Nintendo Switch console that has been linked to your Nintendo Account.
8. Can you link 2 switches together? You can link together up to eight Nintendo Switch family systems via local wireless in compatible games.
9. Can you share Mario Kart on Switch? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe supports wireless play, allowing up to 8 players to connect multiple Nintendo Switch consoles together via a local wireless connection.
10. Will Switch 1 games work on Switch 2? Purchases made on a Nintendo Account can be redownloaded and played on any Nintendo Switch system it is linked to.

Game Ownership and Data

11. Do I have to buy games again if I get a new Switch? Digital games are tied to your Nintendo account, so you can redownload all those games and start playing them again on your new Switch.
12. Do you have to rebuy games for a second Switch? No, Switch games are tied to your Nintendo account, so you don’t have to rebuy them.
13. Will I lose my games if I sell my Switch? No, with the Switch, you have to re-download all of them, and you can log into a new Switch and download all your games and save data that was uploaded.
14. Will they add more N64 games on Switch? Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers can look forward to the addition of at least two more Nintendo 64 games and three Game Boy Advance titles in the near future.
15. Can you play Wind Waker on Switch? The earliest single-player adventure of Link’s that is not available on the Switch is The Wind Waker, but it may be added to the Nintendo Switch Online service in the future.