10 Essential NES Games Still Missing From Switch Online

The Nintendo Entertainment System is widely credited with rescuing a floundering industry back in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Over the years, hundreds of phenomenal titles launched for the legendary console, and many of those most cherished experiences are now readily accessible on Nintendo Switch Online. However, dozens of equally brilliant gems remain absent from the library—an oversight that desperately needs correction. Out of those lingering omissions, here are 10 exceptional NES games that deserve to arrive on Switch Online as soon as possible.

1

Paperboy

Released: December 1988

Paperboy landed on nearly every major platform of its generation, but the NES adaptation possessed a unique charm. While other hardware ports closely mirrored the arcade cabinet’s aesthetic, the NES version utilized softer palettes and simplified visuals that suited the console’s architectural limits brilliantly. Precise controls merged with timeless mechanics to make it the ultimate weekend rental. Players guide a diligent delivery driver supplying loyal subscribers (while occasionally shattering the windows of non-subscribers) across a hazard-laden week. Between daily routes, players tackle treacherous training courses before diving right back into the suburban chaos. Surviving the week with remaining lives and satisfied customers intact offers pure arcade euphoria. Though it isn’t an expansive epic, it provides the ideal nostalgic diversion and serves as a reminder that the concept deserves a proper modern reinvention.

2

Kiwi Kraze

Released: March 1991

Taito reigned as one of the most thrilling publishers of the NES era, boasting a stellar catalog of releases. Many of those titles have since evolved into coveted collector’s rarities—even if they haven’t reached the stratospheric valuations of Stadium Events. Kiwi Kraze, a brilliant localization of The New Zealand Story, remains relatively affordable on the secondary market today, but that affordability shouldn’t detract from its brilliance. Mirroring the arcade masterpiece, the game challenges players to run, leap, and float on balloons through vibrant environments populated by endearing monsters equipped with bows and laser blasters. The overarching mission is to rescue your feathered companions from a nefarious walrus who has bird-napped them. Filled with concealed warp zones, transient weapon power-ups, lethal spiked corridors, and sprawling aquatic depths, the experience is delightfully challenging—particularly during boss encounters. An abundance of hidden secrets ensures exceptional replay value, even for players who struggle to reach the final credits. It would make a phenomenal addition to the Nintendo Switch Online library.

3

Adventure Island 3

Released: July 1992

Crafted by Now Production and brought to life by Hudson Soft (the creative force behind Mario Party), Adventure Island 3 represents the third installment in the iconic platforming franchise starring Master Higgins. Known as the shirtless icon who sprints across tropical stages, he gorges on tropical fruit to sustain his vitality while hurling stone hammers to obliterate hostile wildlife. The series is notoriously demanding yet deeply rewarding, which makes the third chapter’s notable absence from Nintendo’s historical Virtual Console platforms (such as the Wii and Wii U) all the more baffling. The same fate befell the fourth sequel—which, to compound matters, never even received an official western release back in the day. Either title would inject a thrilling burst of energy into the subscription service.

4

Destiny of an Emperor

Released: May 1989

Destiny of an Emperor evidently underperformed commercially for Capcom, resulting in the publisher passing on a localized release for its NES sequel. However, devoted role-playing enthusiasts of the era who took a chance on the title discovered a surprisingly sophisticated adventure chronicling the valiant heroes who united to purge ancient China of the notorious Yellow Scarves bandit factions. It features a sweeping narrative canvas, an enticing overworld to traverse, and tactical combat encounters pitting entire battalions against one another. One can easily trace its influence in later genre landmarks like Suikoden. There is no time like the present to orchestrate a triumphant comeback for Destiny of an Emperor.

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5

The Battle of Olympus

Released: March 1988

The Battle of Olympus marked the impressive debut of prolific Japanese studio Infinity (renowned for Ribbit King). Published stateside by Broderbund, this overlooked masterpiece tasks the protagonist, Orpheus, with a perilous quest to reunite with his beloved Helene. Success demands navigating diverse mythological landscapes while wielding swords and arcane magic to vanquish terrifying beasts. The mechanics bear a striking resemblance to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, bolstered by evocative art design that authentically captures the atmosphere of ancient Greece. This ambitious adventure earned a fiercely loyal fanbase, and its original creators are actively spearheading a Steam remake slated for early access in January 2027, just ahead of its 40th anniversary.

6

Bubble Bobble Part 2

Released: August 1993

While the original Bubble Bobble cartridge remains surprisingly affordable—despite ranking among the 35 greatest NES games ever crafted—its successor is exceptionally scarce and prohibitively expensive. The franchise centers around adorable bubble-blowing dinosaurs bounding across single-screen stages, collecting valuables, and trapping adversaries before progressing. The sequel retains the arcade blueprint while introducing robust cooperative multiplayer, charming visuals, and infectious musical compositions. While either game would be a welcome addition to the platform, bringing the elusive sequel to Switch Online would save players from hunting down an astronomically priced collector’s item just to experience it legally.

7

Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom

Released: May 1988

Another Hudson Soft gem, Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom casts players as the valiant Sir Cucumber on a mission to rescue the titular royalty. She has been abducted by Minister Pumpkin—a treacherous royal advisor whom nobody in their right mind should have trusted. Locating her requires exploring a vibrant realm populated entirely by anthropomorphic vegetables. Utilizing a menu-driven interface reminiscent of traditional text adventures, it pairs cerebral puzzling with delightful visual storytelling. It is wonderfully eccentric, subverting expectations in all the right ways. Nintendo previously made the title available via the Virtual Console, but it unfortunately vanished alongside over 200 other classic titles when that storefront was shuttered. Bringing the whimsical adventure to Nintendo Switch Online would make perfect sense today.

8

Faxanadu

Released: November 1987

For veterans who experienced it firsthand, Faxanadu remains etched in memory as one of the most compelling quests ever hosted on the NES. Many historians even recognize it as a foundational precursor to the modern Metroidvania genre. Published across North America and Europe by Nintendo, the game was developed by Hudson Soft as an offshoot of Falcom’s acclaimed Dragon Slayer franchise. Seamlessly blending side-scrolling action with deep role-playing mechanics, it recounts the journey of an exiled wanderer returning home only to find his sanctuary largely abandoned. With the dwarven populace—once staunch allies of the elves—now sowing discord, the hero must uncover the sinister root of the crisis. Provided lingering licensing hurdles can be navigated, this atmospheric classic is entirely primed for a Switch Online resurgence.

9

Shadowgate

Released: March 1989

ICOM Simulations originally created a trio of point-and-click adventure games that Kemco masterfully ported to NES architecture. Among them, Shadowgate stands as the most famous, immersing players in a foreboding medieval fortress that terrified and transfixed gamers of the era. The labyrinthine halls teem with lethal hazards and vicious monsters capable of bringing an untimely end to the expedition with zero warning. Fortunately, battery backups mitigated catastrophic progress loss for attentive players who utilized them. Bolstered by striking fantasy art direction, macabre tones, and unforgiving puzzles, Shadowgate was a frequent fixture in the pages of Nintendo Power during its heyday. While modern interest in the property persists—highlighted by Steam releases like Beyond Shadowgate demonstrating what a continuation might look like—having effortless access to the original NES masterpiece remains a high priority.

10

Bionic Commando

Released: July 1988

In 1987, Capcom debuted an arcade cabinet titled Top Secret, which arrived in Western markets under the banner of Bionic Commando. Its protagonist navigated platforming sectors by running, gunning, and deploying a specialized bionic arm to latch onto distant anchor points, swinging across chasms to reach elevated ledges. Capcom subsequently engineered a vastly expanded NES port the following year. While the Japanese release retained certain narrative specifics, western editions underwent creative alterations—substituting explicit Nazi motifs and iconography with a more generic hostile regime. The stellar NES iteration later inspired Game Boy adaptations, while Capcom eventually revisited the property via Grin’s critically acclaimed Bionic Commando: Rearmed and subsequent revivals. The IP clearly retains plenty of enduring vitality, and a Nintendo Switch Online rollout would offer the ideal avenue to rediscover it.

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Source: Polygon