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Choose Nintendo Switch Online if you will regularly use its compatible online play, supported cloud saves, classic-game libraries, or included Expansion Pack content. Buy games individually if you mainly want a few current titles and want to keep access to them without an active membership. You can also do both: Expansion Pack DLC does not include the full game it is made for.
What each option gives you
| Option | What you get | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Buy games individually | Access to the games you purchase, independent of Nintendo Switch Online membership. | You pay for the specific games you want; Nintendo Switch Online benefits such as paid online play are separate. |
| Nintendo Switch Online | Online play in compatible games, Save Data Cloud for compatible games, NES, Super NES and Game Boy libraries, Nintendo Music and special offers. | Membership is recurring. Some features work only with compatible games, and classic-game access requires an active membership. |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | Standard benefits plus select Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy and SEGA Genesis libraries, along with selected DLC and Switch 2 upgrade packs. | Some benefits depend on console: Nintendo GameCube classics are exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Included DLC requires an active membership and the relevant full game, sold separately. |
Nintendo Switch 2 owners can also use GameChat with either membership tier, subject to Nintendo’s online requirements. Nintendo’s feature descriptions qualify online play and cloud saves as compatible-game benefits, not guarantees for every title. See Nintendo’s US membership overview and Nintendo Support’s membership FAQ.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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How much does Nintendo Switch Online cost in the US?
Nintendo of America’s US-facing pages list these prices as of October 4, 2026. Regional prices and availability may differ; check your local eShop before deciding.
| Plan | Individual | Family (up to eight accounts) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, annual | $19.99 USD per year | $34.99 USD per year |
| Standard, shorter terms | $3.99 USD for one month; $7.99 USD for three months | Not stated in Nintendo’s US price table |
| Expansion Pack, annual | $49.99 USD per year | $79.99 USD per year |
At these listed annual US prices, Expansion Pack costs $30 more per year than standard for an individual, or $45 more for a family plan. Those differences are calculated from Nintendo’s listed prices. A family membership covers up to eight accounts, so compare its cost with the individual plans your household would otherwise need; it is not automatically a better deal if only one person will use it. Prices vary by country and membership duration. Sources: Nintendo of America’s overview and Nintendo Support’s US price table.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What happens to classic games if you cancel?
The NES, Super NES, Game Boy and higher-tier classic libraries are membership access, not individual game purchases. Nintendo says subscribers can access classic games while membership is active. They can play offline, but the account must connect to the internet at least once every seven days to verify membership. When membership lapses, access ends; classic-game save data remains on the console and can be used again if membership resumes.
Asked whether the classic games will be sold individually, Nintendo Support says: “There are no plans to make the games available outside of the Nintendo Switch Online service.” That is Nintendo’s stated position on its support page, which may change. Read Nintendo Classics – Nintendo Switch Online Overview & FAQ.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
When Expansion Pack DLC is useful—and when it is not
Nintendo’s US comparison lists the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass and Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise among the included DLC. The full version of each relevant game is required and sold separately. Access to included DLC also requires an active Expansion Pack membership; if the membership lapses, access to that DLC pauses. So the offer can make sense if you already own a listed base game and will use its DLC, but it does not replace buying the base game.
For example, someone who wants the Booster Course Pass still needs Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Buying the game and relying on an active Expansion Pack membership for the included DLC are separate parts of that decision. Nintendo’s pages also list Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion; check its current platform and availability before choosing a plan. Included titles and benefits can change. See Nintendo’s US membership overview and Nintendo Support’s FAQ.
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Which choice fits your gaming habits?
Membership is a stronger fit if you
- Regularly play compatible games online and need Nintendo Switch Online for that feature.
- Want Save Data Cloud for games that support it.
- Expect to use the subscription-based classic libraries while your membership is active.
- Already own a base game whose included Expansion Pack DLC you want to play.
- Can share a family membership among multiple accounts and the family price compares favorably with separate memberships.
Buying games is a stronger fit if you
- Mostly want a small number of current games rather than the membership libraries.
- Do not need Nintendo’s paid online features.
- Want continued access to purchased games without relying on an active membership.
A subscription and purchases are not mutually exclusive. You might buy the games you care about, then subscribe for online play or classic libraries; an Expansion Pack member may still need to own a full game to use its included DLC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical way to compare the cost
- List the games and features you will actually use. Separate games you plan to buy from online play, cloud saves, classic libraries and specific included DLC.
- Check compatibility. Confirm that each game supports the online-play or Save Data Cloud feature you want; Nintendo limits both to compatible games.
- Compare your local prices. Compare the membership price available in your country with the prices of the particular games you intend to buy, rather than treating a subscription library as ownership of every game in it.
- Check the base-game requirement. For any Expansion Pack DLC you want, verify that you own the full game and are comfortable with DLC access depending on active membership.
- Account for sharing. If several accounts will use the service, compare the family price against the individual memberships they would otherwise need.
For people short on storage, Nintendo Support says compatible microSD Express cards can be used with Switch 2 and compatible microSD cards with Switch. Check the console’s current compatibility requirements and available space before downloading large libraries. Source: Nintendo Support’s FAQ.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
