Even on Switch, your hands tighten around the controller just before you leap over one of Donkey Kong’s barrels. It’s a tone-downed look from the Mario you know, trading side-scrolling levels for a single climb toward Donkey Kong and the lady he’s kidnapped, Pauline (whom you may recognize from Super Mario Odyssey).ĭonkey Kong emphasizes timing and sound, giving you simple controls and a pile of stress. It’s the Mario origin story and, unlike many of the other NES games on the Nintendo Switch online service, not in a curated pack like Super Mario All-Stars or Super Mario 3D All-Stars. The original Donkey Kong is the definition of a classic. Donkey Kong (NES) Image: Nintendo via Polygon Here are the must-play retro games available on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Some of these games are historically significant, while others may be hidden gems you’ve never played. We’ve looked through all the libraries and compiled a list of the top 14 games available across all four retro consoles. But with the addition of the Expansion Pack this fall, players are also able to check out a small collection of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis titles from the late 90s and early 2000s. įor a few years now, Nintendo Switch Online has allowed players to run emulated versions of their favorite Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System games. To see a collection of other titles we recommend that might not have made the Essentials lists, check out Polygon Recommends. We’ll be updating these lists often, with entries listed in reverse chronological order.
For long-term fans, consider it a list of what to play or watch next. For folks new to a platform, think of this as a starter kit. Polygon Essentials is a collection of persistently updated lists of the best of the best games for each platform - from the hardware’s launch to its end of production - as well as the best entertainment across virtually every medium.