Now that SNES titles are part of Nintendo Switch Online, it’s only a matter of time before Nintendo 64 games end up on the platform. From platformers like Super Mario 64 to shooters like GoldenEye 007, the following are all the classics we hope to see join the service in the near future.
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | Super Mario 64
Chances are that if you haven’t heard of Super Mario 64, you don’t play video games very often. The title revolutionized the entire medium when it released in 1996, as it features 360-degree analog control and allows players to move around freely in its many colorful, imaginative worlds. Super Mario 64‘s non-linear level design is frequently cited as the inspiration behind countless franchises that fans may take for granted today, including Grand Theft Auto and Kingdom Hearts. People who haven’t experienced what this game has to offer are missing out on one of the most influential titles in video game history — if not the most important title released during the past 25 years.
ALSO: New Switch Online NES and SNES games won’t arrive on a set schedule
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | Star Fox 64
Though Star Fox 64 didn’t quite change gaming in the same way Super Mario 64 did, the title’s precise controls and fluid gameplay remain unrivaled, especially when compared to other software in the 3D shooter genre. Cinematic cutscenes, challenging boss fights, and plenty of well-hidden secrets helps the experience feel like an epic space opera, and the inclusion of competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes allows other friends to join in on the fun. Should Star Fox 64 arrive on Nintendo Switch Online one day, Nintendo would be wise to carry over the game’s multiplayer component. There’s no such thing as too many Landmaster duels, after all.
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | Super Smash Bros.
Considering how popular Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is on Switch, it seems natural for Nintendo to offer the first game in the franchise, Super Smash Bros, on Nintendo Switch Online. Though the title’s gameplay isn’t as impressive as modern entries, its multiplayer component remains just as addictive as fans remember. Super Smash Bros. on Switch would be a fascinating trip down memory lane for competitive veterans and people who stayed up late at night thinking about what other fighters could join the fray in the sequel. If you still can’t believe that Final Fantasy 7‘s Cloud and Street Fighter‘s Ryu are a part of the series’ roster today, you’re definitely not alone.
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | GoldenEye 007
Super Mario 64 wasn’t the only hugely influential game to release on Nintendo 64, as GoldenEye 007 reinvented the first-person shooter genre with its realistic aesthetic, first-person stealth elements, and multiplayer deathmatch mode when it launched in 1997. The game proved that free-roaming shooters could work on consoles, as it sold more than 8 million copies worldwide during its time on the market.
Some of the many features that GoldenEye popularized include glass transparencies, smoke effects, multiple-objective-based missions, and zoomable sniper rifles. That’s right — the next time shooter fans land a head shot, they can thank this game.
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | Pokemon Snap
It’s a shame that Nintendo hasn’t properly remade Pokemon Snap, as it continues to be one of the best spin-offs the company has ever conceived. Taking pictures of Kanto’s creatures in locations like beaches, tunnels, and volcanoes is surprisingly fun even to this day, especially when one manages to catch a monster in one of its “special” poses. While there is a competitive aspect involved, as the title does evaluate one’s skills at the end of a level, Pokemon Snap proves to be a fairly relaxing experience. It would make sense for Nintendo to include the game in its Nintendo Switch Online service, as tons of Pokemon fans would want an outlet to wind down with after participating in a slew of intense Sword and Shield matches.
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | Banjo-Kazooie
Now that Banjo and Kazooie are in Smash Ultimate, it makes sense for the pair’s first game, appropriately titled Banjo-Kazooie, to be a part of Nintendo Switch Online in the near future. While this classic platformer doesn’t diverge much from the foundation that Super Mario 64 built, it improves upon aesthetic details like draw distances, frame rate, lighting, and character animations and encourages players to explore its large levels. There are undoubtedly a ton of Switch owners out there who have fond memories of searching every nook and cranny Banjo-Kazooie has to offer. Suffice it to say that the game’s appearance on Nintendo Switch Online would make a lot of dreams come true.
Nintendo Switch Online N64 Games | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask
Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask continue to be praised as two of the best Zelda games of all time for good reason. Each is considered deeply emotional, as Link must fight against time in order to restore balance in Hyrule and preserve his relationship with other mascots like Princess Zelda. Though it’s clear that the pair borrow concepts like large open areas and complex animations from Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, both incorporate mechanics like context-sensitive actions and Z-targeting that keep the experience completely unique. It goes without saying that people remotely interested in action adventure games need to give Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask a shot. These are two titles definitely worth the price of an online subscription.
While it may be a while before Nintendo 64 games are added to Nintendo Switch Online, fans have plenty of NES and SNES titles to help them pass the time. That’s not to mention that a myriad of promising new games like Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Pokemon Sword and Shield are set to arrive on the system soon. If one thing’s for certain, Switch owners already have a lot of titles to occupy themselves with. Let’s hope that there’s plenty of more worthwhile software on the way.
