Is Nintendo Switch Online still worth it in 2026?

Before the Nintendo Switch, the company’s consoles offered free online play. But these days, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to enjoy most online modes. To sweeten the deal, you get other goodies in the package. And if you want to get the most out of the service, Nintendo also offers a second tier called the Expansion Pack.

If you’re just getting started with the Switch or Switch 2 ecosystem, you may be wondering if this subscription is worth the cost. Or maybe you’ve been a subscriber for years and have forgotten what you’re getting for your money. Reviewing what’s on offer helps you gauge how much you’re actually using a subscription so you can spend your money wisely.

I have been a subscriber since the service arrived in September 2018; I used the service on Switch and Switch 2, including the expansion pack.

The Nintendo Switch Online Basic Package, available for $20/year, includes all the essentials. Its main appeal is allowing you to play games online, either with friends or with random people via matchmaking. You don’t need Switch Online to play free download games like Rocket League Or Fortnitebut it is mandatory for paid games (like Splatoon 3 Or Mario Kart World). So the value here depends on what you’re playing.

Another essential feature is the Nintendo Classics library, which includes around 200 NES, SNES and Game Boy games. You will find everything from masterpieces like Super Metroid And Super Mario Bros. 3 to more obscure titles like Games and Watches Gallery 3 And Cristalis. There are probably a lot of things in the library that you’ve never tried before or would like to play again, making it a great way to learn about Nintendo history. Some offer online multiplayer, but only with your friends.

It’s important to note that the subscription also provides cloud storage for your save data. This way, if your system ever stops working, all your progress can easily be replaced. Considering how long some games are, that alone is worth the price of admission.

Your subscription also provides access to Nintendo Music, a separate streaming app (and web tool) with various Nintendo soundtracks. It’s good, but not essential unless you’re a big fan of video game music. Finally, “special offers” include trials of certain games, missions to earn Nintendo Platinum Points and customize your profile avatar, access to Tetris 99 And F-Zero 99and the ability to purchase retro replica controllers.

For $50/year, you can upgrade to the awkwardly named Nintendo Switch Online+ expansion pack. This unlocks access to additional consoles from the Nintendo Classics collection: N64, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis and Virtual Boy. Many N64 and GBA games offer much longer runtimes than games on previous systems, so there’s a lot to dig into here. If you want to try the Virtual Boy titles, you’ll need to purchase either the replica Virtual Boy model or Nintendo’s cardboard viewfinder.

Another benefit of the expansion pack is the inclusion of DLC for three major Switch games. You can download Happy Home Paradise For Animal Crossing: New Horizons (normally $25), the Octo Extension For Splatoon 2 ($20), and Mario Kart 8 DeluxeIt is Refresher course pass ($25). If you don’t already own them and want to play them all, there’s a lot of value here, although buying them outright saves you money in the long run. Octo Extension is easily beatable in a year, but the other two packs are theoretically playable forever.

All of the above is available on Switch and Switch 2. If you own Nintendo’s new and improved console, being a Switch Online member brings additional benefits. Either tier allows you to use GameChat, which is the Switch 2’s built-in communications feature accessible with the controller’s C button.

You can voice chat with friends and share your screen (and video if you have a camera connected to your console). The GameShare feature also works on GameChat with friends to play a handful of select games with Switch 2 owners who don’t have them. If you don’t already use Discord, it might be worth it. I haven’t touched it since owning a Switch 2 on day one because I rarely play Switch games with friends.

Expansion pack subscribers with a Switch 2 have access to the GameCube Nintendo Classics library. It currently only offers a handful of games, such as Wario World And Luigi’s Manor. Nintendo regularly updates these classic collections with new titles, although it has been slow for the GameCube in particular.

Finally, the top tier grants free access to Switch 2 upgrade packs for both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild And Tears of the Kingdom. These upgrades, normally $10 each, enhance the original games with higher resolution, 60fps gameplay, and other additions like a companion tool in the Nintendo Switch app.

Overall, Switch Online’s base plan is a good value for almost everyone. $20 a year is less than $2 a month, and you get a lot of value for your low cost. The Nintendo Classics library is worth checking out, many Switch games offer enjoyable online play, and the Nintendo Music app is fun if you want something different – ​​it even works with Android Auto and CarPlay. Backing up backup data pays for itself by protecting your time investment.

The expansion pack depends more on the type of player you are. Treating it as a one-year “sample tray” is a good way to start. If you are interested in the extensive Nintendo Classics libraries, you can browse these catalogs. The same goes for the three DLC packs and two Zelda upgrade packs. A one-year subscription is sufficient to complete at least one of the Zelda games and Octo Extensionand try the other DLCs. At the end of the year, if you’ve lost interest in the classic games and are done with the DLCs, you can go back to the lower tier.

Switch Online gets even better with Family Plans. For $35/year (basic plan) or $80/year (expansion pack), up to 8 people can each enjoy the benefits. Plus, unlike many group plans, Nintendo doesn’t care if you live in different locations. You also have the option of allowing family group members to borrow your Switch games, which is another way to save.

Even with three or four people, the price drops to an affordable amount per member. The basic plan offers a seven-day free trial, as well as a $4/month deal, so you can try before committing to a year.