Nintendo drops surprise freebie with dozens of classic games you can download now

If you want to relive some classic Nintendo games of yesteryear, now is your chance with this free trial.

Since its launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has blessed us with some amazing games including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Metroid Dread and much more. Also, when the Nintendo Switch launched it came with free online multiplayer for a limited time.

Check out the Metroid Dread trailer below!

The free online multiplayer came to an end in September 2018 with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. While this wasn't the news that everyone wanted to hear (although it was expected), the basic Nintendo Switch Online tier is cheaper than its PlayStation and Xbox rivals.

That being said, Nintendo added further value to its online subscription service with the introduction of classic NES and SNES games the following year, a library that is ever-expanding which now includes Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles.

In 2021, not content with just the one subscription tier, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion launched which included Game Boy Advance, N64 and SEGA Mega Drive offerings as well as expansions for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Splatoon 2.

I think it’s fair to say that whatever tier of Nintendo Switch Online that you subscribe to, each offers a decent amount of value, especially if you’re a fan of retro games. Yet, if you’re not a subscriber to the service, now is the perfect time to see what all the fuss is about.

Nintendo is currently offering a free 7-day trial to the basic Nintendo Switch Online subscription tier (sadly, not the + Expansion tier). This means that you can get access to a variety of classic Nintendo games at no cost whatsoever.

Some of those games include Super Mario Bros. (NES), The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES), Tetris (Game Boy), Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy Color) and much more. You of course get access to online gaming during the trial period as well as cloud saves.

What’s more, while the trial isn't available to active subscribers of Nintendo Switch Online, if you were a previous subscriber but no longer are, you can still take advantage of the free 7-day trial. Just remember not to activate auto-renew if you do not intend to subscribe once the trial is over.