Are Nintendo Putting Their Entire Back Catalogue on the Switch?

When the Nintendo Switch first came out and I first learned the virtual console from the Wii U was no more, it had me concerned for the ease of accessibility to Nintendo’s back catalogue. Despite being tied to a subscription service, Nintendo’s own Nintendo Switch Online is beginning to give me hope once again.

Starting with a humble collection of NES and SNES games, the drip-feed approach to Nintendo Switch Online was concerning. Over the years and most recently since the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo have slowly added Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Cube and the Game Boy Advance, each with a variety of classic Nintendo and third-party titles. It started to look a bit more positive.

In addition to the classic collections available on Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo have released a series of remasters and remakes such as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Metroid Prime HD Remaster, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, among many others. Almost the entire first-party Wii U library that was actually worth playing has been successfully ported. It feels as though, across all systems, Nintendo are attempting at making the Nintendo Switch 2 the place to go for Nintendo – past, present and future.

Recently, in the September 2025 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced the Virtual Boy would be coming to Nintendo Switch Online’s higher tier, along with a headset that can be purchased on Nintendo’s own online store. This further cemented the fact that it feels like nothing is off-limits. It’s surely just a matter of time until the DS library worms its way onto Nintendo Switch Online, with the Wii probably on the horizon with remasters or its own place on the subscription service, and then its a matter of what Nintendo do with the 3DS. Does the Nintendo Switch 3 take on this library, or do they begin to remaster or port those titles?

It seems a no-brainer for Nintendo to continue building these libraries permanently on the Nintendo Switch systems. Yes, third party titles are going to be limited and more difficult to come by. But the idea that one day, a Nintendo Switch could be the one place to go to literally play every first-party Nintendo game? Sign. Me. Up.