Nintendo Just Added One of Its All-Time Greatest Racing Games to Switch Online

Nintendo has once again expanded its retro library, rolling out a fresh selection of titles for the Switch Online subscription. Spanning multiple genres, these additions are all renowned NES classics. Fire up the application on your Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 to dive into Ninja Gaiden 3: The Ancient Ship of Doom, Ikari Warriors, or the undisputed crown jewel of the drop, R.C. Pro-Am 2.

Among the lineup, R.C. Pro-Am 2 quietly steals the show as the most entertaining experience. While the Ikari Warriors franchise—previously featured in the SNK Anniversary Collection—originated in arcades, its console ports always felt somewhat underwhelming, with the inaugural title being particularly lackluster. Meanwhile, Ninja Gaiden 3 serves as a punishing conclusion to the original trilogy, though many retro enthusiasts still regard its predecessor (already available on Switch Online) as the superior game. That leaves R.C. Pro-Am 2 to claim the title almost by default—though it certainly helps that it is genuinely exceptional.

Developed by Rare—now widely celebrated for modern hits like Sea of Thieves and Banjo-Kazooie—R.C. Pro-Am 2 took everything that made its precursor great and refined it. Nintendo published the original release, which remained an entertaining racer despite notable drawbacks: sparse track variety, minimal vehicle upgrades, occasionally punishing rubber-banding AI (even when utilizing explosives), and strictly single-player limitations.

Tradewest took over publishing duties for the sequel, successfully resolving every single one of those grievances. On original NES hardware, R.C. Pro-Am 2 stood out as one of the few titles compatible with the multitap accessory, permitting four simultaneous players. Back then, few players had access to that setup, and rounding up friends for local couch multiplayer today might prove difficult—thankfully, online matchmaking offers a seamless alternative.

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R.C. Pro-Am 2 also introduces three distinct settings: lush grasslands, bustling urban environments, and sun-baked deserts. The grassland tracks, featured early on, bear a strong resemblance to the original game’s courses but boast meaningful enhancements. Tire stacks border sharp apexes, shallow streams cut across the asphalt to slow down careless drivers, and dynamic elevation changes prevent the tracks from feeling flat and uninspired. The city environment incorporates branching pathways and overpasses that occasionally obstruct the camera view. Finally, the desert throws treacherous terrain into the mix alongside low-flying aircraft that strafe the track with hostile gunfire.

In the first R.C. Pro-Am, racers collected scattered letters to upgrade their miniature vehicles—a mechanic that required memorizing track layouts to avoid missing crucial parts. The sequel swaps letters for money bags, allowing drivers to spend their hard-earned cash in an in-game shop between heats. While upgrades still target engines, tires, and weaponry, the system offers far greater depth and player agency. Deciding whether to splurge on advanced missiles or bank your cash for a superior engine introduces rewarding strategic choices.

Much like its predecessor, R.C. Pro-Am 2 maintains a steep difficulty curve, but it strikes a much fairer balance. With persistent effort and smart resource management, players can conquer every original track and reach the game’s proper conclusion. Fortunately, extra continues can be purchased along the way to offset any particularly brutal races.

To break up the pacing, the game periodically features engaging bonus minigames, including intense drag races and tug-of-war challenges. You will encounter these events multiple times across the sprawling 32-course campaign, providing a welcome opportunity to secure extra resources for upgrades—provided your reflexes are up to the task.

While R.C. Pro-Am 2 earned a devoted cult following upon release, its late arrival in the NES lifecycle meant many gamers overlooked it in favor of emerging Super Nintendo hardware. Prior to its integration into the Nintendo Switch Online library, the most accessible way to experience the title was through the Rare Replay compilation on Xbox One. Today, original NES cartridges command high prices among collectors, and limited physical re-releases often fetch triple-digit sums. Giving it a spin on your Switch or Switch 2 is an effortless way to discover what makes this classic so special.

Source: Polygon