Nintendo Switch Retro Update
Nintendo Switch Online Expands Classics Library With Four Game Boy, GBA Titles
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Key Points
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Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 originally released on January 21, 1994, and marks Wario's playable debut.
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Fortified Zone is a 1991 top-down shooter that lets players switch between two mercenaries with distinct abilities to infiltrate a heavily defended military complex.
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The Sword of Hope II, released in 1992, blends first-person dungeon exploration with turn-based RPG gameplay and uses command-based actions such as Look, Open, and Hit.
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Dr. Mario & Puzzle League includes an unlockable vertical mode, adding an extra twist to the Game Boy Advance compilation.
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Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is notable for bringing Wario's playable debut to the Nintendo Switch when added to Switch Online.
Nintendo has added four classic games to its Switch Online Classics library, giving subscribers fresh retro content spanning two handheld generations. Game Rant reports the July 2026 update brings Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Fortified Zone, The Sword of Hope II, and Dr. Mario & Puzzle League to the service.
Three of the four titles — Wario Land, Fortified Zone, and The Sword of Hope II — land in the base Game Boy catalog, available to all Switch Online subscribers. Dr. Mario & Puzzle League, a Game Boy Advance compilation, is exclusive to Expansion Pack members, according to Twisted Voxel.
Wario Makes His Switch Debut After 32 Years
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 first released on January 21, 1994 — over 32 years ago. OtakuKart notes the game marks Wario's very first turn as a playable character. That milestone now comes to Switch for the first time through the Online Classics library.
The game stars the greedy anti-hero Wario as he hunts treasure across a series of side-scrolling levels. It helped launch one of Nintendo's most enduring spin-off series and remains a fan favorite from the original Game Boy era.
Two More Game Boy Classics Round Out the Base Tier
Fortified Zone, released in 1991, is a top-down shooter. Players switch between two mercenaries, each with different abilities, to fight through a heavily defended military complex. It is a short but action-packed game that holds up as a solid handheld shooter.
The Sword of Hope II, from 1992, takes a different approach. It blends first-person dungeon exploration with turn-based RPG combat. Players use command-based actions — Look, Open, and Hit — to navigate its world. Netto's Game Room highlights all three Game Boy titles as part of the same update package.
Dr. Mario & Puzzle League Adds a Hidden Vertical Mode
Expansion Pack members get Dr. Mario & Puzzle League, a Game Boy Advance compilation that bundles two classic puzzle games into one package. Game Rant points out the title includes an unlockable vertical mode, adding an extra twist for players who finish the main content.
The Expansion Pack tier costs more than the base Switch Online plan but unlocks Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis titles. Dr. Mario & Puzzle League joins that growing GBA library as one of its newer additions.
Nintendo's Retro Strategy Keeps Building Momentum
This update follows recent additions like Donkey Kong 64, showing Nintendo's steady push to grow its retro catalog. OtakuKart notes the July 2026 trailer spotlighted the new titles. Nintendo also quietly added Tomato Adventure to the Game Boy Advance library for Japanese players in the same update.
The ongoing rollout reflects Nintendo's clear strategy: keep subscribers engaged by adding classic games at regular intervals. With Game Boy, GBA, N64, and other libraries all growing, the service continues to expand its value for long-term fans.
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