Nintendo has quietly expanded the Nintendo Switch Online NES catalogue with three classic additions.
Beginning today, subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online on Nintendo Switch can access Ninja Gaiden III, Ikari Warriors, and R.C. Pro‑Am II through the service’s NES library.
For Nintendo Switch Online members in Japan, Nintendo has substituted Dragon Buster for R.C. Pro‑Am II.
Nintendo also published a short trailer highlighting the new arrivals on its official channels.
What was announced
Nintendo’s update makes these legacy titles available to current Switch Online subscribers without additional purchase through the NES – Nintendo Switch Online app.
In a straightforward announcement, Nintendo indicated that the three titles had been added to the service’s NES catalogue, and that the line-up differs slightly for the Japanese region where Dragon Buster is offered instead of R.C. Pro‑Am II.
Quick background on the games and developers
- Ninja Gaiden III (Tecmo): The third NES entry in Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden series originally released in the early 1990s.
Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden trilogy on NES is well known for its cinematic presentation and challenging platforming.
The series has been a notable part of Tecmo’s catalogue since the franchise debuted in arcades and on home consoles.
- Ikari Warriors (SNK): Ikari Warriors began as an arcade run-and-gun from SNK in the mid-1980s and has seen multiple ports and home versions since.
The title is frequently cited as an influential early co-op shooter from SNK’s arcade era.
- R.C. Pro‑Am II (Rare): Developed by Rare and originally released for the NES, R.C. Pro‑Am II continued the top-down radio-controlled racing formula that Rare pursued on Nintendo’s 8-bit hardware.
Rare’s work on NES-era racers and later high-profile projects has cemented the studio’s place in industry history.
- Dragon Buster (Namco, Japan replacement): Dragon Buster is an early Namco arcade action-adventure that received home ports in Japan; it appears on the regional Switch Online roster in place of R.C. Pro‑Am II.
Why it matters
Adding these titles continues Nintendo’s practice of rotating and expanding the NES catalogue available to Switch Online subscribers.
For preservation-minded players and series enthusiasts, the update provides immediate access to historical examples of Tecmo, SNK, Rare, and Namco’s NES-era output on modern Nintendo Switch hardware.
Where to play
Subscribers can find the new additions in the NES – Nintendo Switch Online app on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo’s trailer for the update is available via the company’s official channels for those who want a quick look before jumping in.
Beginning today, subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online on Nintendo Switch can access Ninja Gaiden III, Ikari Warriors, and R.C. Pro‑Am II through the service’s NES library.
For Nintendo Switch Online members in Japan, Nintendo has substituted Dragon Buster for R.C. Pro‑Am II.
Nintendo also published a short trailer highlighting the new arrivals on its official channels.
What was announced
Nintendo’s update makes these legacy titles available to current Switch Online subscribers without additional purchase through the NES – Nintendo Switch Online app.
In a straightforward announcement, Nintendo indicated that the three titles had been added to the service’s NES catalogue, and that the line-up differs slightly for the Japanese region where Dragon Buster is offered instead of R.C. Pro‑Am II.
Quick background on the games and developers
- Ninja Gaiden III (Tecmo): The third NES entry in Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden series originally released in the early 1990s.
Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden trilogy on NES is well known for its cinematic presentation and challenging platforming.
The series has been a notable part of Tecmo’s catalogue since the franchise debuted in arcades and on home consoles.
- Ikari Warriors (SNK): Ikari Warriors began as an arcade run-and-gun from SNK in the mid-1980s and has seen multiple ports and home versions since.
The title is frequently cited as an influential early co-op shooter from SNK’s arcade era.
- R.C. Pro‑Am II (Rare): Developed by Rare and originally released for the NES, R.C. Pro‑Am II continued the top-down radio-controlled racing formula that Rare pursued on Nintendo’s 8-bit hardware.
Rare’s work on NES-era racers and later high-profile projects has cemented the studio’s place in industry history.
- Dragon Buster (Namco, Japan replacement): Dragon Buster is an early Namco arcade action-adventure that received home ports in Japan; it appears on the regional Switch Online roster in place of R.C. Pro‑Am II.
Why it matters
Adding these titles continues Nintendo’s practice of rotating and expanding the NES catalogue available to Switch Online subscribers.
For preservation-minded players and series enthusiasts, the update provides immediate access to historical examples of Tecmo, SNK, Rare, and Namco’s NES-era output on modern Nintendo Switch hardware.
Where to play
Subscribers can find the new additions in the NES – Nintendo Switch Online app on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo’s trailer for the update is available via the company’s official channels for those who want a quick look before jumping in.
