Nintendo surprises fans with free game never before released outside Japan

Nintendo has blessed us with a new F-Zero game to play but don’t get too excited, it’s only new to those outside of Japan.

As part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, F-Zero Climax has landed on the Nintendo Switch and it’s the first time players in the west have been able to get their hands on the game.

We loved the new Zelda game and was overjoyed to see the return of classic dungeons

The game comes as part of the Game Boy Advance catalogue, along with F-Zero GP Legend.

This is great news for fans of the fast-paced racing series that has been sat dormant at Nintendo, aside from the recent F-Zero 99 online multiplayer game.

Writing this news story has given me a good reason to complain that Nintendo is sitting on a brilliant franchise that deserves a new entry.

It doesn’t even have to be 3D, give us old-school sprite work if you must, be please, for the love of Mario, give us a new F-Zero game.

The series was a huge success - the GBA had three entries alone, these two plus F-Zero: Maximum Velocity - and yet Nintendo hasn’t seen fit to give us anything new in 20 years.

A part of me wants to see this release on Nintendo Switch Online as a positive sign that they might be cooking up a game for the Switch 2, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.

I can’t be the only one pining for a new installment. Instead of hoping to see a new release, I guess I’ll play F-Zero Climax, seeing as it’s the only entry I’ve not played before.

Speed demons can at least be excited that several of the titles are available to play on the Switch via the subscription, and having them handheld is a joy.

If you need me, I’ll be cursing Nintendo while still happily playing this gem.