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In October 2021, the arrival of the Nintendo Switch Online + Additional Pack was announced, an expansion of the already existing hybrid console subscription service. From then on, in addition to being able to play online, save game progress in the cloud and have access to several NES and SNES games, subscribers also had the option of receiving even more perks.
By subscribing to the expansion pack, players were also released from playing a portion of N64 and Mega Drive titles, in addition to receiving “for free” the latest Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC. But all of this had its price — quite hefty, by the way — and that’s why we decided to check if it’s worth subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (as the subscription is called in English).
What’s up with the Nintendo Switch Online + Add-on Pack?
To better understand what it is about and find out whether or not the subscription is a good investment, you must first understand what it is about and what modalities are currently available.
What is Switch Online?
Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) is the subscription service for Big N’s hybrid console. Like PSN on PlayStation and Xbox Live Gold on Microsoft’s video game, NSO releases gameplay over the internet, whether in competitive multiplayer modes or co-op, plus other online features. For example, in the recent and extremely popular Pokémon Legends: Arceus it is only possible to exchange pocket monsters over the internet if the player is a subscriber to the service.
In addition to being able to play online, subscribers also gain extra security that their saves are safe with the ability to store their progress in the cloud. So, in addition to having a backup in case you need to format the device or perhaps accidentally lose it (who hasn’t accidentally deleted a save?), you can also access your progress on any other Nintendo Switch.
As Nintendo’s current video game does not support native voice chat, the solution found by the company was to release an application that allows subscribers to chat with friends using their cell phones.
Another great feature of the service is the possibility of accessing a library that, despite being limited, offers legal NES titles such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Metroid and Kirby’s Adventure; and SNES, with games like Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Donkey Kong Country, among others. Earthbound, one of Nintendo’s most nostalgic games, recently arrived on the service.
Finally, players who choose to pay the service’s monthly fee are also eligible for some special offers, such as the Pac-Man 99 and Tetris 99 battle royale “for free” and items to use in Splatoon 2 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
What is the Switch Online Add-on Pack?
Now that you know exactly what NSO is, we can finally talk about the Expansion Pack. As the name says, this is an extra package that adds some rewards to those who choose to open their wallet even more to Mario’s company.
One of the biggest attractions of the expansion is, without a doubt, the selection of N64 titles available to subscribers, allowing — in the words of the Big N itself — to “party like it was 1996”. Below is the list of Nintendo 64 games available to Nintendo Switch Online + Add-on Pack subscribers:
- banjo kazooie
- doctor Mario 64
- mario kart 64
- Mario Tennis
- Paper Mario
- Sin & Punishment
- star fox 64
- Super Mario 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Win Back: Covert Operations
- Yoshi’s Story
It is important to point out that the intention of the Japanese manufacturer is to continue feeding the retro library with new titles. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is already on its way to the service. Another point that seems to be of some priority on the company’s list is the quality of the emulation of Nintendo 64 titles, which has been improving since the launch of the Expansion Pack.
Subscribers can also play a handful of Mega Drive games, which you can see listed below:
- Altered Beast
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Against: Hard Corps
- doctor Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- Dynamite Headdy
- Ecco the Dolphin
- golden ax
- Gunstar Heroes
- MUSHA
- Phantasy Star 4: The End of the Millennium
- Ristar
- Shining Force
- shinobi 3
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Streets of Rage 2
- Strider
- Sword of Vermillon
- Thunder Force 2
- ToeJam & Earl
Last but not least, NSO + Add-on Pack subscribers also gain access to paid DLCs. The novelty started with Happy Home Paradise, the expansion of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it has already been announced that players with the monthly fee will also be able to download the Pass of additional tracks of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Both DLCs are sold separately on the eShop, but will be accessible at no additional cost in the Expansion Pack.
What is the subscription price for Switch Online and the Expansion Pack?
Subscribing to NSO is not especially expensive, especially if you like to play online with friends and strangers. While the standard subscription offers three different subscription options, covering monthly, quarterly and annual terms, the Add-on package only allows you to subscribe to the service for 12 months.
Both the simple and expanded subscription versions can be subscribed individually or as a family (up to 8 Nintendo Account users). Below you can see the prices and subscription terms for both the standard NSO and the Nintendo Switch Online + Add-on Pack:
- Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership
- 1 month (30 days): BRL 20.00
- 3 months (90 days): BRL 40.00
- 12 months (365 days): BRL 100.00
- Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership
- 12 months (365 days): BRL 175.00
- Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership + Add-on Pack
- 12 months (365 days): BRL 262.99
- Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership + Add-on Pack
- 12 months (365 days): BRL 421.99
If you have a lot of friends who also have a Switch, it might be interesting to get the gang together and subscribe to one of the family packs, adding the other seven players as members of your family.
Is it worth subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online + Add-on Pack?
At the end of the day, the question that remains is this: is the subscription to Nintendo’s online service worth my money? And the answer, of course, will depend solely and exclusively on you.
If you want to enjoy Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart matches with friends, save your progress in the cloud and have lots of old games to play whenever you want, then it might be a good idea to subscribe to the standard version. In this case, the basic Switch Online will meet your needs and, taking the 1 year version, the price is relatively cheaper.
If all of this is of interest to you, but you also want to be able to enjoy N64 games on Switch, for example, the Additional Pack will meet your needs. But this modality is much more expensive, hitting your pocket without mercy unless you share the price in the family subscription. Dividing the most expensive value of the Additional Package family subscription by eight people, each player ends up paying just R$ 52.75.
However, if you have Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, adding the two DLCs to the service practically ends up paying the monthly fee: you save on game expansions by taking the subscription expansion. And all of this comes “almost free” on the eight-member family plan.
Now, if you don’t care about online multiplayer and just want to enjoy your Mario, Zelda, Metroid, or whatever the single player of your choice is, then you won’t miss the subscription.
Nintendo Switch Online, 12 months
Subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for 12 months to access classic NES games, play online, and even secure a cloud backup.
In Nuuvem BRL 74.25
