What Nintendo Switch Online actually includes
Nintendo Switch Online is Nintendo's subscription service for playing online multiplayer games on your Switch console. The service costs either $20 per year for the basic plan or $50 per year for the Expansion Pack, which adds access to a library of older Nintendo and Game Boy games. You need an active subscription to play online against other people in games like Mario Kart, Splatoon, or Animal Crossing. Single-player games work without it.
The basic plan includes cloud saves for most games, letting you back up your progress to Nintendo's servers. It also gives you access to the NES and Game Boy libraries — about 100 older games you can play as much as you want while your subscription is active. The Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, plus the DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Nintendo Switch Online does not include new games. You still buy new releases separately. The service is purely for online play and access to the retro game catalog. If you stop paying, you lose online access and the retro games, but games you own outright stay on your console.
Key Takeaways
- Nintendo Switch Online ($20/year basic, $50/year Expansion Pack) is required to play online multiplayer, but single-player games work without it.
- The basic plan includes cloud saves and access to about 100 NES and Game Boy games; the Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and DLC for certain titles.
- Nintendo Switch Online does not provide new games — you purchase those separately at full price.
- Nintendo Game Pass for Xbox is a different service entirely and does not work on Nintendo Switch consoles.
Nintendo Switch Online vs. the Expansion Pack
The choice between the basic plan and the Expansion Pack depends on whether you want access to older games. If you only play current Switch titles online and do not care about retro games, the basic $20 annual plan is enough. You get online multiplayer and cloud saves, which are the core features most players need.
The Expansion Pack costs $30 more per year and is worth it if you grew up with Nintendo 64 or Sega Genesis, or if you want the DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons without buying it separately. The N64 library includes games like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Mario Kart 64. The Genesis library has Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, and others. These games are playable only while your subscription is active.
Nintendo also offers a family plan for both tiers. The family basic plan ($50 per year) covers up to eight accounts on one console or linked accounts across multiple consoles. The family Expansion Pack ($80 per year) does the same but includes the retro game libraries. If multiple people in your household play, the family plan is cheaper per person than buying individual subscriptions.
How to set up and manage your subscription
To start a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, go to the eShop on your Switch console, select your profile, and choose "Nintendo Switch Online." You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or Nintendo eShop gift card. Nintendo will charge you automatically on the renewal date unless you cancel.
You can manage your subscription from the Nintendo Account website. Log in with your Nintendo account, go to "Subscriptions," and you will see your current plan, renewal date, and payment method. From there you can upgrade from basic to Expansion Pack, switch to a family plan, or cancel. Cancellations take effect on your next renewal date — you do not lose access immediately.
If you have a family plan, the account holder can manage it, but any family member can use the online features and retro games on their own profile. You do not need separate subscriptions for each person; one family plan covers everyone linked to that console or account group.
What happens if you cancel or let it expire
When your subscription ends, you lose the ability to play online multiplayer immediately. Any games you own stay on your console and work in single-player mode. Cloud saves remain stored on Nintendo's servers for six months after your subscription ends, so if you renew within that window, your progress is still there.
The retro games (NES, Game Boy, N64, Genesis) become unplayable once your subscription expires. You cannot download them or keep them on your console. If you resubscribe later, you can play them again, but there is no permanent ownership.
If you want to keep playing online or access the retro library, you need to renew before your subscription ends. Nintendo sends email reminders before the renewal date, but it is your responsibility to cancel if you do not want to be charged.
Nintendo Switch Online is not the same as Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass is a separate subscription service run by Microsoft that works only on Xbox consoles and PCs. It does not work on Nintendo Switch. Game Pass includes hundreds of new and older games you can download and play, but it is not available for Switch owners.
Nintendo does not have a service like Game Pass that includes new games. If you want to play new Switch games, you buy them individually. Nintendo Switch Online only covers online play and the retro game catalog. This is an important distinction if you are comparing subscription costs across different gaming platforms.
Common reasons to pause or cancel
Some people cancel Nintendo Switch Online when they are not playing online multiplayer games. If you only play single-player titles like Zelda, Pokémon, or Stardew Valley, you do not need the subscription. You can turn it off and turn it back on whenever you want to play online games again.
Others cancel the Expansion Pack but keep the basic plan if they finish the retro games or lose interest in them. You can downgrade from Expansion Pack to basic at any time, and Nintendo will refund the difference if you are mid-cycle. Canceling or downgrading takes effect on your next renewal date, not immediately.
If you have a family plan and someone moves out or stops gaming, you can remove them from the plan and potentially lower your cost. You manage this from the Nintendo Account website under family group settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to play single-player games?
No. Single-player games work without any subscription. You only need Nintendo Switch Online to play online multiplayer, use cloud saves, or access the retro game libraries. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokémon, and Stardew Valley work fine offline.
Can I share a family plan with friends or people outside my household?
Technically, yes — Nintendo does not enforce a household requirement the way some other services do. However, the family plan is designed for people who share a console or linked accounts. Nintendo's terms of service state that accounts should be used by the person who created them, so sharing with unrelated people is at your own risk.
What if I forget to cancel before my renewal date?
Nintendo will charge you automatically. If you catch it within a short window, you can contact Nintendo Support to request a refund. They sometimes grant one-time refunds for accidental renewals, but it is not may provide. The best approach is to set a phone reminder before your renewal date if you plan to cancel.
Can I use my Nintendo Switch Online subscription on multiple consoles?
Yes, if you use a family plan or link your account across consoles. Your primary console can be used by anyone on that system with your subscription. Secondary consoles require you to be logged in to use online features. A family plan is simpler if multiple people in your household have their own Switch.
Is the Expansion Pack worth it if I only want to play one or two retro games?
Probably not. The Expansion Pack costs $30 more per year than the basic plan. If you only want to play one or two games, it might be cheaper to buy them used or wait for a sale. The Expansion Pack makes sense if you plan to play multiple retro games regularly or want the DLC for Mario Kart 8 and Animal Crossing.