There are classic games fans want, but Nintendo’s not providing.
As part of a subscription to the Nintendo Switch’s online service, the aptly named Nintendo Switch Online, users gain access to online play, a few online-only games like Tetris 99, and constantly-expanding libraries of games from the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. While those two libraries do have plenty of classic games like Super Mario Bros. and Kirby Super Star, there are numerous beloved games missing from the lists.
Fans have been extremely vocal about the games they want added to the libraries, with common requests for the SNES library in particular including Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Earthbound, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. Unfortunately, every time Nintendo posts a new announcement video featuring new additions to the libraries, the included games are often extremely obscure, prompting annoyance and frustration from the userbase.
At time of writing, the newest Switch Online video on Nintendo’s YouTube channel announcing the addition of Claymates, Jelly Boy, and Bombuzal (three games that neither I nor any of my friends have ever heard of) to the SNES library has a like/dislike ratio of 2.6K to 9.6K, which has become a fairly common sight on these videos. While Nintendo always turns the comments off on these videos, users on social media sites like Twitter have made their concerns known, as well as the unusual familiarity the situation brings about in comparison to the days of renting games from Blockbuster.
Nintendo Switch Online really is bringing back the experience of having to play whatever is still available to rent at Blockbuster. https://t.co/UfMFrQ753E
— ※KZ🗝️ (@KZXcellent) July 21, 2021
you can now play jelly boy on nintendo switch online and see this pic.twitter.com/L35FcjGkrY
— Cinos (@CinosLikesPizza) July 21, 2021
Laugh it up, this will be the Nintendo Switch Online games for next month. pic.twitter.com/rDs83Ntn0C
— JohnRiggs (@johnblueriggs) July 21, 2021
Adding to the western users’ frustrations, the users on the Japanese eShop, who have access to a library of games from the Japanese SNES equivalent, the Super Famicom, have repeatedly received frequently desired cult classic games such as Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei. Nintendo recently conducted a survey of Switch Online users, many of whom made clear their displeasures. As for whether or not Nintendo will heed these complaints remains to be seen.