Please, Nintendo

Earthbound and 8 more games that Switch Online needs

by Robin Bea
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
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Nintendo

While online services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus seem to get better every month, Nintendo Switch Online has yet to live up to its promise.

Square Enix

Getting a handful of free old-school games now and then is nice, but Nintendo’s back catalog is full of gems that could make Switch Online a must-have.

Here are 9 games that need to come to Nintendo Switch Online ASAP

9. Super Castlevania IV
Konami

Super Castlevania IV is the peak of classic Castlevania’s straightforward monster-slaying action before the series veered into RPG character-building and more complex mechanics.

8. Little Nemo: The Dream Master

Based on an animated movie adapted from a 1900s comic strip, Little Nemo is a bonkers, fun, and wildly creative game. Nemo borrows powers from the denizens of Slumberland to fight the Nightmare King a few years before Kirby.

7. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

On top of being an excellent game in its own right, Super Mario RPG kicked off a whole new direction for Nintendo’s mascot, leading to the popular Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi RPGs.

6. Dragon Quest IV

Dragon Quest has never been as popular as Final Fantasy in the West, and Switch Online could show players what they’re missing. The final NES entry of the series spotlights character backstories early on, making for a more developed party later on.

5. Ogre Battle

Ogre Battle was an early experiment in combining RPG mechanics and tactical combat, paving the way for games like Final Fantasy Tactics. It piles on a dense political story and deep battle systems just to assure its legacy as a classic.

4. Final Fantasy VI

Any of the early Final Fantasy games would be welcome on Nintendo Switch Online, and Final Fantasy VI is the best among them. Its music and graphics pushed the SNES to its limit, while its story set the standard for future RPGs.

3. Chrono Trigger

One of the most beloved RPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger has been ported a few times, but a re-release of the original version would be worth subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online for on its own.

2. Terranigma

One of the best hidden gems on the SNES, Terranigma was never released in North America. This top-down action RPG plays similarly to Secret of Mana, with an engrossing story and an unrivaled sense of discovery.

1. Earthbound

Earthbound is the definition of a cult classic. Despite a fiercely loyal fanbase begging for a modern port, the bizarre RPG series is now supported more by fan translations and ROMs than official releases.