Nintendo drops surprise Switch free downloads you've until 8 December to claim

Nintendo has just released a surprise batch of free downloads retro gamers are sure to appreciate.

We specify retro gamers because some of you youngsters may not recognise the game the downloads are inspired by.

Even Nintendo Switch users closer to my age probably haven't heard of it.

Watch the trailer for EarthBound below to instantly get hit with nostalgia

Available until 8 December, Nintendo is offering users a chance to download one of several EarthBound icons.

EarthBound, also known as Mother, is an RPG franchise dating back to the early 1990s.

It’s fair to say that this is a niche franchise, not least of all because it launched in Japan first.

Unlike nowadays where games typically launch at the same time across the globe, in the 90s that was less common.

Sometimes, if a game didn’t do well, it didn’t get a European launch at all.

All of this is to say that there’s no shame if you’ve never heard of this series.

Should you have been blessed with knowledge of its existence, now is the time to show your appreciation of the games.

As is the norm for NSO icons, there are several options to choose from.

Earthbound #NintendoSwitchOnline icons are back for a limited time! Claim them before they expire on December 8th. #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/G5yYkxBMzn

— ឵឵NSO Icon Alerts (@IconsNSO) November 25, 2024

I won’t pretend to be able to name each of the characters depicted – it would embarrass us both if I tried.

However, from an outsider's point of view, the selection looks quite diverse.

Oh, and before you ask, these are available for everyone.

“I don't really need these, but I'll certainly grab a few,” posted @Lhjc_50, which is a reaction we can all relate to.

It’s a “wonderful day” to be an EarthBound fan.

Make the most of this win by fully appreciating the selection of free downloads available while you can.

As previously mentioned, these are time sensitive and will be gone come 8 December.