Whether you have bought a Nintendo Switch or aiming to get one, you would definitely want to go for retro games. But before that, you’ll have to go through some essentials.

To help you out, we have prepared a list that should guide you to play the old classic Nintendo games on Switch. Here’s what today’s guide includes:

Setting Up User Profile On Switch
Subscription Plans For Retro Gaming on Switch
Sign Up To The Nintendo Switch Online
Now To Get Some Retro Games
Nintendo Retro Games Experience On Switch

Sounds fun, right? Let’s get right into it.

How To Play Retro Games On Switch?

Nintendo Switch offers both – home gaming consoles and playing games on the go. But you’ll need to set up the device before enjoying the old-school Nintendo games on it. So here is what you need to do:

1. Setting Up User Profile On Switch

There are two things that you need to create. One, an online Nintendo account on their official sites. Second, the user profile on the Switch console. Fill in the necessary information and then link both of your accounts to each other.

The online Nintendo account lets you access the Nintendo eShop. While the Switch user profile saves the gameplay data. You can set up more user profiles if you want to keep your game progress separate from other players on the same Switch console.

Now, the third thing that you need to install is the Nintendo Online Switch on your smartphone. It uses your smartphone for voice chat during Multiplayer mode and other in-game-specific services. For instance, some games may allow you to design levels or characters – depending on the game you play.

With these accounts, Nintendo manages your purchases from Nintendo eShop, cloud game saves from the Switch console, and Multiplayer features from the smartphone app. Plus, you’ll receive system updates, and downloadable content and buy games from Nintendo eShop even if you don’t subscribe to any plans on Nintendo Switch Online.

Note: Make sure to properly link your accounts. Otherwise, your Switch will get locked. And Nintendo Online Switch is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

2. Subscription Plans For Retro Gaming on Switch

Nintendo, no doubt, got a massive collection of hit classic games from its own franchise. The good news is that Nintendo Switch Online allows access to all your favorite retro games with their subscription plans. All you need to do is subscribe to one of its plans, which are:

Individual Plan for a single person
Family Plan for eight persons

Games like Sonic, Splatoon, and other similar games are available to play just on the go. Is that all? Well, Nintendo is also planning to release N64 games in their shop. While other benefits include Multiplayer mode, online voice chat, cloud game saves, and in-game-specific services. Not to forget, they’ll send you their latest offers and exclusive offers.

But wait! If you don’t want to go for the subscription plans, you can still play retro games on your Switch console by buying them from other sites. In this way, you don’t have to pay the whole amount of the subscription and just pay for the games that you actually play on your console.

You can go to the service subscription page by trying multiplayer mode on your Switch console. Then, complete the process and get access to many retro games from there on exclusive discounts.

However, once you unsubscribe from its subscription, you won’t be able to play the old Nintendo games. But if you re-subscribe within six months, then you can get back in the game where you left off. Otherwise, all of your game progress will be deleted by Nintendo.

So in our opinion, getting physical copies of the games is better than losing all scores and progress of your games – if for some reason you miss the payment. You can buy Switch games from other retro gaming sites too.

And just to be clear, even without any membership plan, you will still get system updates and other downloadable content. So having a Switch console for gaming is a safe bet as you get games from other sites as well.

4. Now To Get Some Retro Games

So, get your favorite games on your Switch console and enjoy the old-school games to their fullest. Some of the top-rated retro games available for the Switch console are:

For more Switch games, you can visit our online store. You might find many interesting retro games to play on your gaming console.

5. Nintendo Retro Games Experience On Switch

Much like the Nintendo consoles back in the day, Switch also lets you switch in-between three visual modes: CRT, Pixel Perfect, and 4:3 modes.

Plus, Switch is a hybrid gaming console, lets you experience gaming in two ways. First, set up the connection to a larger display using Nintendo Switch Dock and use Joy-Con or other Switch controllers as your gamepad. Second, the handheld gaming experience on the Switch console.

Also, Nintendo’s collection of NES and SNES games on Switch adds a lot of variety for gamers to play. Moreover, Nintendo is expected to release N64 games for the Switch console pretty soon. So in a way, Nintendo makes sure not to let you run out of stellar retro games to play on the Switch console.

Must read: 5 retro games like dark souls you will love.

FAQs About Playing Retro Games On Switch

Still, got some questions? Let us answer some of them here:

Can you play retro games on the Nintendo Switch?

There are lots of old-school games that are already released for the Switch console. And yet, more retro games of N64 are expected to be released in the coming days. But to play all these games, you must create an online Nintendo account and set up your Switch user profile to enjoy playing retro games.

Are retro games free on Nintendo Switch?

You can either go for digital or physical copies of the retro games. Some of the digital copies are free-to-play on the Switch console. While other free retro games come as an exclusive item for buying the Nintendo Switch console.

Can I play NES games on the Nintendo Switch offline?

You can play many NES games on the Nintendo Switch offline. But you have to go online from time to time to save your games’ progress on cloud games checkpoints. Also, do not forget to regularly pay for your subscription plan. Otherwise, Nintendo will delete your data, leading you to lose all of your gaming data.

What games can I play on switch without a subscription?

Nintendo Switch offers many games to play without a subscription plan. But you have to subscribe for features like using Multiplayer mode, online communication, and other in-game-specific services. Plus, you can use the console for two to three multiplayer games.

Can you play Nintendo Switch with others online?

With the Nintendo Switch Online app, you can play many multiplayer games with your friends and family. This is the very theme of Nintendo games. It supports multiplayer gaming options with other features, such as voice chat, split-screen, multiple players up to three players, etc.

To Wrap Up

With the Switch gaming console, you can enjoy lots of retro games. Plus, more games are going to be released in the coming days, making this console much more appealing for retro gamers. You can either go to Nintendo eShop for digital games or get physical copies of games from other sites.

Fortunately, the shop has tons of stellar games stored just for you. Plus, there is more yet to be released since Switch has become Nintendo’s inclusive gaming console dominating the handheld gaming market. So grab your Switch console now!

Also, read about the 5 best multiplayer retro games for couples.