10 Best Games on Nintendo Switch Online (May 2026)

As far as 2D games go, Super Mario World is one of the greatest games ever made. And thus, a definite addition to the best games on Nintendo Switch Online. For the most part, the new cult-classic ports on Nintendo Switch Online retain their retro visual styles and mechanics. 

Top-ranking games like Golden Sun and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time still retain their nostalgic charm, making you feel like you might be in a time machine transported to the ‘90s. 

Curious where to start? How about in the order of the best games on Nintendo Switch Online that I’ve highlighted for you down below?

What is Nintendo Switch Online?

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription service for Nintendo Switch owners, where you can access hundreds of Nintendo Switch games, as well as modern ports of NES, SNES, Game Boy, and more retro Nintendo console games.

Best Games on Nintendo Switch Online

Handheld gamers now have the option of co-op and competitive play with other Nintendo players via Nintendo Switch Online. Be sure to start your run with the best games on Nintendo Switch Online below.

10. Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64’s visuals may look a bit choppy. It was released in the ‘90s on the Nintendo 64. But despite its age, it remains a remarkable moment in the Super Mario series when fans finally got a taste of 3D platforming. 

It created deeper and more strategic gameplay when you could navigate the environment through the pictures hanging on the walls. When the worlds you visited would have secrets and collectibles tucked away in harder-to-reach places, making your runs more deliberate and exciting.

9. New Pokemon Snap

How are your photography skills? You can practice in New Pokemon Snap if you need a refresher. It’s a little more than simply snapping photos of Pokemon hanging about in their natural habitat. You’ll be on a moving train, exploring, when you suddenly spot your favorite Pokemon and have to whip out your camera and take the best photo. 

In the end, you’ll have a collection of different Pokemon in your photodex, from the familiar to rarer species, and can share them with friends.

8. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!

WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania continues in the series’ tradition of wacky minigames. And this time, you get over 200 different minigames that take a few minutes to beat. It all plays at lightning-fast speed, perfectly fitting for game nights when you want the momentum to keep going.

The variety is also pretty impressive, with your usual baseball minigames and dodging arrows included. But there are also stranger types like competing on who’s the fastest to pick a disembodied nose.

7. The Legends of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

It was about time that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time introduced 3D adventures to the series. Since then, Hyrule has evolved, adding more regions to explore. You even have floating islands and underground depths in more recent games.

While journeying across Hyrule, you often run into things to do, whether solving puzzles or fighting formidable bosses. All along, you’ll level up your character from chapter to chapter, unlocking new weapons and items to use against the final Ganondorf boss.

6. Gunstar Heroes

How far are you willing to go to save your twin brother? Gunstar Heroes is betting “miles,” with the waves of enemies and bosses it throws at you. But just in case you second-guess your mission, it also gives you the extra incentive of stopping a dictator from using a dangerous weapon with apocalyptic consequences.

5. Metroid: Zero Mission

While most of the best games on Nintendo Switch Online retain their original visual styles and mechanics, Metroid: Zero Mission redesigns its levels and environments. The end-result is stunning, with mazes that consistently unlock new features like zip lines and Morph Ball launchers, as well as enemies and bosses the original game never had.

4. Super Mario Bros. 3

The Super Mario series has been one of the most impressive franchises in gaming because Nintendo always finds clever ways to make a new entry feel fresh. In Super Mario Bros. 3‘s case, you get eight massive worlds packed with countless secrets. 

You might never even hit 100% completion, even when you replay, because of how intricate the level designs are. And every run remains as thrilling as the last, thanks to diverse abilities. Mario, for instance, can fly, swim, throw fireballs, and even become an invincible statue.

3. Tetris 99

The true test of mastering Tetris is Tetris 99, where 99 players compete for the number one spot. It gets pretty competitive, with players sending Garbage Blocks your way that make it harder to clear lines. 

Meanwhile, you can try out the team battles, too, where up to four teams compete for the number one spot.

2.  Golden Sun

Among the best games on Nintendo Switch Online to leave a mark on the RPG genre is Golden Sun. Its story pulls you in, incorporating themes of alchemy and saving the world from forces looking to exploit magic for their own good.

Your gameplay is a mix of physical and elemental combat, with pretty complex variations for each. You can manipulate fire, water, wind, and earth magic, for instance, combining them to unleash unique magical effects, alongside a versatile spread of weapons.

1. Super Mario World

The Super Mario World venture into Dinosaur Land remains the most unforgettable, when Mario and Luigi teamed up with their new dinosaur friend, Yoshi. It looked stunning at the time of release, setting the bar for 16-bit 2D platforming. 

The world itself was also pretty expansive, interconnecting diverse regions through hidden routes. You might also remember the Cape Feather, first introduced in Super Mario World, which made all the difference in enhancing verticality. 

Today, Super Mario World remains a smooth and fluid platforming experience. The level design is just as clever, retaining multiple secret exits and intuitive, responsive controls.