Nintendo Switch Expansion N64 Games Like Smash Bros. Leak In Datamine
Super Smash Bros., Mario Party, and Wave Race 64 have been named in a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack datamine of the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis game apps. Nintendo Switch Online's $50 premium subscription comes with a handful of N64 and Sega Genesis games with more on the way, as well as access to the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC expansion.
The lineup of N64 games available on Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack is limited at launch, but Nintendo has promised more games will be added over time. The list of launch games includes Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Nintendo has confirmed it will add more games in the future, with titles like Banjo-Kazooie and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask confirmed to be arriving in later updates. Like the NES and SNES apps for Nintendo Switch Online, there's no guarantee on when these games will arrive. Historically, though, Nintendo has introduced major retro games during lulls in the Switch release schedule.
It seems many more Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games are planned for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack according to datamined information. MondoMega on Twitter has shared evidence suggesting the Switch will receive 38 N64 games in total. The list appears to be in alphabetical order, making it easier to possible to guess some of the unnamed games. These could include the original Super Smash Bros., the first three Mario Party games, and Wave Race 64. The original Mario Party would be an unexpected Nintendo Switch Online N64 game addition, considering the health and safety concerns surrounding one of its minigames. Meanwhile, a datamine of the Sega Genesis app also revealed 52 games could release in total.
The potential leak additionally revealed that the internal numbering system for the Switch's emulated consoles seems to be missing an entry. NES and SNES are numbered one and two, N64 is three, and Sega Genesis is five. It's possible Game Boy/Game Boy Color comprise the missing fourth entry, as the handheld library has been heavily rumored for Switch. That's currently unconfirmed, but it's wonder if Game Boy games would be available through base Nintendo Switch Online or the Expansion Pack.
If this datamine is accurate, then it seems Nintendo Switch Online's expansion is due for a considerable amount of games in the future. It's unclear if this will impress Nintendo players disappointed in the quality of the Switch's N64 emulated games, and Nintendo should probably focus on fixing the existing issues with its new subscription tier before adding more games to it.
The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack is available now.