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How to Play Classic NES Games on Nintendo Switch 2

Play classic NES games on Switch 2 with the Nintendo Switch Online app. Here’s how to download the NES collection and what you need for offline play and multiplayer.
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To play classic NES games on Nintendo Switch 2, open the Nintendo Switch Online app, download Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics, and choose a game. You need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership; the Expansion Pack and the special wireless NES controller are not required.

What you need before you start

  • A Nintendo Account with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo says classic games are available only while the account’s membership is active. Nintendo’s Nintendo Classics overview and FAQ says the standard membership includes the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy collections; the Expansion Pack is not needed for NES games.
  • An internet connection for the initial download and membership verification. After that, offline play is available subject to the seven-day check described below.
  • Enough console storage for the app. The required space is shown in Nintendo eShop and may increase as the game libraries grow. Nintendo’s overview and FAQ does not give a fixed storage figure.

Download the NES collection and launch a game

  1. Connect your Switch 2 to the internet and open the Nintendo Switch Online icon from the HOME Menu. Make sure the Nintendo Account in use has an active membership.
  2. Select Nintendo Classics, choose the NES library, and download Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics. Nintendo’s startup instructions for Nintendo Classics games describe this download process.
  3. Open the NES collection, select a game, and follow its on-screen instructions. Nintendo says one player can play in handheld, tabletop, or TV mode. For multiple players on one system, use tabletop or TV mode with compatible controllers; which modes and player options are available depends on the game.

Can you play NES games offline?

Yes, but the Switch 2 must connect to the internet at least once every seven consecutive days so Nintendo can verify the active membership. If you do not renew the membership, access to the classic games ends, although save data remains on the console. Nintendo’s FAQ sets out both conditions.

Which membership includes NES games?

The standard Nintendo Switch Online membership includes access to Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack also includes NES access, but is only necessary if you want the additional libraries Nintendo offers with that tier. Membership pricing and terms can vary by region, so check the current options for your country before subscribing.

Nintendo says there are no plans to sell these classic games individually outside Nintendo Switch Online. The collections continue to grow, but Nintendo has not set a regular release schedule for new games. See Nintendo’s overview and FAQ.

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Controllers and multiplayer

You do not need a special controller. Use a controller compatible with Switch 2 and the selected play mode; Nintendo also lists its wireless Nintendo Entertainment System Controller as compatible. That NES controller is an optional accessory intended for the NES collection. Nintendo’s controller compatibility information lists it for Switch 2.

Nintendo lists rewind and online play with friends among the NES collection’s features. Online functions require an internet connection and membership. The collection’s online play is for playing with friends, not random matchmaking, and multiplayer availability depends on the game. Nintendo’s NES collection page describes these features.

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Nintendo’s UK page says it will stop offering the NES controller on Nintendo Store after mid-February 2027. That statement applies to Nintendo Store in the UK; it does not establish availability in other regions or at other retailers. Check local stock if you want the accessory. Nintendo UK’s NES Controller page has the regional notice.

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What to expect from the games

The collection reproduces classic NES games, but Nintendo cautions that performance and presentation can differ from the original versions. Its US listing describes “more than 100 total NES and Super NES classic games” across those two collections combined; that is not an NES-only game count. Nintendo does not provide a fixed schedule for additions or a current NES-only total. Nintendo’s collection information and FAQ cover the library and its changing catalog.

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