Nintendo Switch fans need to play these legendary free games

Nintendo Switch Online is a great subscription service if you enjoy dipping your toe into yesteryear and experiencing some retro classics. With the service broken down into different Nintendo platforms, every era is covered and a great deal of amazing games can be played.

Today, we’re focusing on where it all began. The Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as the NES, was the starting place for a bunch of iconic Nintendo franchises and so many of these are worth playing. Along with a couple of lesser-known gems, this is your ‘must-play’ list for the Nintendo Switch Online NES collection.

Snake Rattle N Roll

Nintendo

While Rare wouldn’t hit its stride until the SNES and Donkey Kong Country, the developer got started with this isometric action-puzzler that was a huge hit back in the day and still holds up now. It’s easy to see why Snake Rattle N Roll is so engaging even today, the visuals are simple and colourful and the concept is equally easy to grasp.

This part-puzzler, part-platformer saw players controlling a snake as it trekked downhill in search of food to eat while avoiding obstacles. It was difficult to master due to its perspective, but many players loved the Pac-Man-style gameplay with a surreal twist.

Blaster Master

Nintendo

2D side-scrolling action games never really age and Blaster Master, with its moreish hook shot and grapple abilities makes the game feel fresh even after several decades. The action here balances vehicular and on-foot combat that gives the game a fast-paced feel although that does come with a higher difficulty level. Think of the MetroidVania genre, or Mega Man platforming and you’re on the right track here. It’s a little rough around the edges but it shows how far action games have come in the years since.

Double Dragon

Nintendo

Double Dragon is somewhat timeless if you look past the visuals and the stereotypes. Its simple two-button action allows for some impressive moments of action whether you’re pounding the faces of bullies or flying through the air to kick criminals to the ground. As with any beat-em-up of the era, don’t expect this to be a walk in the park. It was tricky then and it’s perhaps more so now due to the archaic controls, but there’s no denying the charm here and the all-out badassery of the genre.

Kirby’s Adventure

Nintendo

Here is where the pink blob first emerged, gobbling up enemies and taking on their powers and forms. Of course, being an early appearance for Kirby, it’s an understated and simple affair. But, that’s why it’s so great. Kirby’s Adventure is very unique for its little hero who takes on the abilities of those enemies he gulps down. This means one moment Kirby has a sword and in another, he takes to a UFO to move around the wonderfully designed levels. Still a brilliant adventure after so many years.

Wario’s Woods

Nintendo

One of the final NES games to emerge in the 1990s was Wario’s Woods, a Tetris-esque game featuring Mario’s rival. There’s a fluffy story backing the concept but much of it is forgettable in the face of an engaging game where you’ll use your brain and reactions to clear screens of cluttered enemies by lobbing bombs into a grid. As you can imagine, with a game like this, the visuals don’t matter as much, but the art and animation here are still gorgeous, as you’d expect from a Nintendo title.

Donkey Kong

Nintendo

Coming out of the arcades and onto home consoles, Donkey Kong was a landmark game that revolutionised the hobby and industry. It’s not a hard sell for Donkey Kong, most people have already played it and its gameplay is far-reaching. Taking control of Mario, or Jump Man as he was known then, it’s a battle with the giant gorilla to save the fair maiden by navigating a wealth of hazards like falling barrels and leaping critters. It’s a classic for a reason and you can still play it today and strike up competition over high scores with family and friends.

The Legend of Zelda

Nintendo

Another origins title, The Legend of Zelda was the first step for a franchise that has, for so many years, never put a foot wrong. Is it still playable now? Absolutely. Of course, it’s hard to ignore where the series has reached and, of course, this is a much simpler adventure for Link and Zelda. One thing this title has is heart. It’s a great fairy tale of good versus evil and one that is filled with action and delight. You’re going to need a guide handy as the game relies on a map and plenty of world knowledge, but every step, every fight, every dungeon, is as great now as it once was.

Super Mario Bros 3

Nintendo

Perhaps the best NES game of all time. I could have put any Mario title on this list (and I’m a big supporter of the second, quirky game) but really, Super Mario Bros 3 distills everything that makes Mario such a fantastic series and expands it further. The powerups are great, the level design is Nintendo perfection, and the advent of the overworld map still retains its charm. The themed worlds are a joy and, most importantly, it feels unique and astounding to play. Even today, after so many Mario games. Stomping Goombas, dashing for the finish line of each level, and snagging a warp whistle, none of this gets old. It’s not just the best NES game on Nintendo Switch Online, it’s the best NES game hands down, and one of the best platformers ever made.