Since the Nintendo Switch Online service first launched just over two years ago, Nintendo has rewarded its fans with the ability to play old classics, free of charge, through the ease of the Nintendo Switch Online apps. First launching the Nintendo Entertainment System app in 2018 and the Super Nintendo app in 2019, many Switch owners believe that the console is overdue for a Nintendo 64 application, which could pack in a collection of old 64-bit titles to play witha Switch Online subscription. With such a large catalogue of titles to choose from, there’s certainly no shortage of games that could be included in a Nintendo 64 online pack.
While some believe that the Game Boy is next, Nintendo 64 would certainly make sense, especially with the recentSuper Mario 3D All-Starsshowing that a Nintendo 64 emulator is already up and running on the hybrid console. Assuming this happens relatively soon or event at all, there’s a clear baseline of what games to expect from the service.
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N64: Multiplayer Fun
Seeing as the Switch Online service enables players to play old retro classics online with friends and the Nintendo 64 was well known for its 4-player multiplayer fun, it would only make sense for Nintendo to include some of its most famous multiplayer titles. The titles that immediately come to mind areMario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros., andMario Party(the second or third entries being more likely than the original, due to the first entry’s infamous joystick mini-games). These three games, in many ways, are what defined the Nintendo 64 and have each gone on to grow into some of the biggest franchises for Nintendo in the company’s long-running history.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxeis, after all,the best-selling Switch game, and bothSuper Smash Bros. UltimateandSuper Mario Partyeach rank in the top ten best-sellers for the console. Seeing as these titles are so popular, it would be nice to introduce the origins of the three respective franchises to those who may not have grown up with the original classics.
A few other noteworthy titles that would be great to see included are the twoMariosports titles,Mario GolfandMario Tennis. These titles are what kick-started the Mario sports sub-genre of games, and showed players how sports games can be made fun with a little Mario-energy sprinkled in.Mario Tennis Aces, like the aforementioned titles, has become a smash hit on the Switch console, so seeing the 64 original show up on Switch Online would be a fun way for fans to see the series' origins.
N64: Single-Player Classics
Many Nintendo mascots made their first leap into the third dimension on the Nintendo 64, and it would be great to see some of those titles show up on Switch. Many highlights includeDonkey Kong 64, Kirby 64, Yoshi’s Story, Star Fox 64,andPaper Mario. Each of these games are highly regarded as some of the best titles to come from Nintendo’s 64-bit era, and each offer something new and great.
Donkey Kong 64was the first tiem that the lovable gorilla got his own 3D-platformer, and seeing asall of his Super Nintendo games look to be slowly coming to the SNES app, this entry seems likely.Kirby 64andYoshi’s Storyare two great 2D-platformers that may not have been revolutionary when they first released, but have managed to withstand the test of time.
Star Fox 64, on the other hand, was quite ground-breaking upon its release and remains one of the best games to play on the console. Seeing as Nintendo loves to re-release this game, andeven remade it for the Nintendo 3DS, this one seems very likely. Finally,Paper Mariowould be perfect to see on the Switch Online Service. ThePaper Marioseries has received quite a bit of controversyin recent years, with the past few entries getting criticized for straying from the series' roots, althoughOrigami Kinghas been better received. Because of this, it would be fantastic to see the original game orThousand Year Doorget a re-release in some form or another.
N64: Other Console Highlights
While the ten titles mentioned above seem like the most likely games to arrive on the Nintendo Switch, there are several other games that feel like they are just as worthy and likely of being included. Some of those titles include:F-Zero X, 1080 Snowboarding, Wave Race, Pilotwings 64, Pokemon Snap, Excitebike 64. While none of these titles are quite as ground-breaking as some of Nintendo’s bigger franchises, each of these games were great additions to the console.
F-Zero Xis perhaps the most underrated of the bunch, with fantastic, high-octane races and featured the famous Captain Falcon.Wave RaceandPilotwings 64were great early release on the console that showcased just what it was capable of, and their inclusion would be great, even if they are a bit dated nowadays.
1080 Snowboardingwas a great sports title that released exclusively for the 64, and it would be a welcome inclusion as well. Finally,Excitebike 64andPokemon Snapwere two great first-party titles that, while weren’t necessarily ground-breaking upon their release, both have their merits and are very fun experiences.Pokemon Snapwould be especially nice to see re-released, seeing asa sequel was just announced for the Switch earlier this year.
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N64: Zelda and The Less Likely
Though there are plenty more great titles on the Nintendo 64, some of them simply won’t make the cut for one reason or another. The iconicSuper Mario 64is unlikely, seeing as the game is getting re-released viaSuper Mario 3D All-Stars. Maybe after the game stops being sold, Nintendo might change its mind, but it doesn’t seem likely any time soon.
On a similar note, bothThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeandMajora’s Maskseem like unlikely candidates, since theZeldafranchise is about to celebrate its own 35th anniversarysoon. The franchise might be receiving its own collection, and one of the Nintendo 64 entries –if not both of them– are likely to get included if such a collection exists.
It also seems very unlikely that thePokemon Stadiumgames, and any other titles that make use of any sort of special adapters or peripherals, will come to the Nintendo 64 Online service. Most of the game’s features are lost without the Game Boy adapter, so these seems unlikely.
N64 on Switch Online, and Games Fans Shouldn’t Expect
Finally, there are some other titles that seem to basically zero chance of getting re-released, for one reason or another. First, any games that are already on the Switch’s Eshop should be entirely ruled out – that meansStar Wars Pod-racer, Doom 64, and theTurokgames are out.
Next, any games developed by Rare – aside fromDonkey Kong 64– should also be ruled out.Since Rare was purchased by Microsoft, none of the company’s games have seen re-releases on a Nintendo platform, not includingDK 64. It’s true thatDiddy Kong Racingwas ported to the Nintendo DS, but both Conker the Squirrel and Banjo the Bear were removed in the new version. Since Microsoft now owns both characters, it seems unlikely that the original title will get a re-release. Because of the Rare acquisition, games likeBanjo-Kazooie, Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, andJet Force Geminiare very unlikely to get re-releases. Though it’s not impossible, it doesn’t seem likely that any of these games will get re-releases.
Overall, the Nintendo 64 has quite a library of great games, and these games listened seem like the most likely candidates to come to the Nintendo Switch Online service. With September being the Switch Online’s anniversary, it seems only like a matter of time before the company announces the next console to be included in its service.
