Nintendo Switch Online members can now add fresh retro character icons to their profiles featuring two puzzle classics: Dr. Mario and Panel de Pon.
Panel de Pon originated on the Super Nintendo (developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo), while Dr. Mario is one of Nintendo's long-running puzzle-series characters dating back to the NES and Game Boy era.
Both icons are distributed through Nintendo's Switch Online service and must be unlocked using the Nintendo Classics apps on the console.
How the “play to redeem” icons work
"These icons are 'play to redeem,' requiring players to launch the original titles in the Nintendo Classics apps to unlock them," reads a clear, journalistic restatement of the available instructions.
In practice that means members must open the relevant retro app on Nintendo Switch and run the corresponding game to make each icon eligible for redemption.
Where to find each icon
- Panel de Pon: Available through the SNES app within the Nintendo Classics collection.
Any Nintendo Switch Online member with access to the SNES library can boot the game to unlock the associated icons.
- Dr. Mario: Located in the Game Boy Advance (GBA) app of Nintendo Classics.
Accessing these icons requires membership in the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack tier because the GBA library is part of that subscription level.
Costs, quantities, and timing
Both Dr. Mario and Panel de Pon offer seven distinct character icon designs apiece.
Each design costs 10 Platinum Points to redeem, payable through the Nintendo Switch Online Platinum Points catalogue system.
These icon packs are available until November 30, 2026; after that date, Nintendo has indicated new titles and icons will rotate into the Switch Online rewards lineup.
Why this matters
The release demonstrates Nintendo's ongoing strategy of leveraging classic IP in the Nintendo Classics apps and Switch Online rewards.
For collectors and long-time fans, the icons provide a low-cost way to personalize profiles with recognizable Nintendo characters, while also encouraging engagement with the SNES and GBA libraries.
For step-by-step access, open Nintendo Switch Online on your console, navigate to the Nintendo Classics section, launch the appropriate SNES or GBA app, and follow the on-screen prompts to redeem with Platinum Points.
For further Switch Online updates and feature rotations, consult Nintendo's official channels and the Nintendo eShop news panels.
Panel de Pon originated on the Super Nintendo (developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo), while Dr. Mario is one of Nintendo's long-running puzzle-series characters dating back to the NES and Game Boy era.
Both icons are distributed through Nintendo's Switch Online service and must be unlocked using the Nintendo Classics apps on the console.
How the “play to redeem” icons work
"These icons are 'play to redeem,' requiring players to launch the original titles in the Nintendo Classics apps to unlock them," reads a clear, journalistic restatement of the available instructions.
In practice that means members must open the relevant retro app on Nintendo Switch and run the corresponding game to make each icon eligible for redemption.
Where to find each icon
- Panel de Pon: Available through the SNES app within the Nintendo Classics collection.
Any Nintendo Switch Online member with access to the SNES library can boot the game to unlock the associated icons.
- Dr. Mario: Located in the Game Boy Advance (GBA) app of Nintendo Classics.
Accessing these icons requires membership in the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack tier because the GBA library is part of that subscription level.
Costs, quantities, and timing
Both Dr. Mario and Panel de Pon offer seven distinct character icon designs apiece.
Each design costs 10 Platinum Points to redeem, payable through the Nintendo Switch Online Platinum Points catalogue system.
These icon packs are available until November 30, 2026; after that date, Nintendo has indicated new titles and icons will rotate into the Switch Online rewards lineup.
Why this matters
The release demonstrates Nintendo's ongoing strategy of leveraging classic IP in the Nintendo Classics apps and Switch Online rewards.
For collectors and long-time fans, the icons provide a low-cost way to personalize profiles with recognizable Nintendo characters, while also encouraging engagement with the SNES and GBA libraries.
For step-by-step access, open Nintendo Switch Online on your console, navigate to the Nintendo Classics section, launch the appropriate SNES or GBA app, and follow the on-screen prompts to redeem with Platinum Points.
For further Switch Online updates and feature rotations, consult Nintendo's official channels and the Nintendo eShop news panels.
