Five classic Rare games hit Nintendo Switch Online today

The February 2024 Nintendo Direct announced that five classic Rare games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online today, including Killer Instinct and Blast Corps.

Nintendo and Rare once had an incredibly close relationship, with Rare creating some of the best platformers on Nintendo systems, which is no small boast, considering they were up against titans like Mario and Yoshi.

When Microsoft purchased Rare in 2002, it seemed to end not only new Rare games on Nintendo platforms but re-releases of older titles, save for the ones wholly owned by Nintendo, such as the Donkey Kong Country games.

The relationship between Microsoft and Nintendo has grown over the years, leading to Banjo-Kazooie joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the long-awaited return of GoldenEye 007. It seems that Microsoft is even more open to collaborations than anyone realized.

Classic SNES & N64 Rare games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online

The February 2024 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase is now available on the official Nintendo of America YouTube channel. One of the final reveals was that five classic Rare titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online today.

The five games Skate Rattle ‘N’ Roll and RC Pro-AM for the NES, Battletoads in Battlemaniacs and Killer Instinct for the SNES, and Blast Corps for N64. Fans will need a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online for the NES and SNES games, while an Expansion Pack sub is needed for Blast Corps.

This marks the first rerelease of Blast Corps since it first landed on the N64 in 1997, making it one of the most exciting reveals of the Direct.

There’s also the fact that this could lead to more Rare games coming to Nintendo Switch Online in the future, such as Killer Instinct Gold or Donkey Kong 64.

The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase actually had a lot of Microsoft representation, as Xbox games like Grounded and Pentiment were also revealed to be coming to Nintendo Switch. The old-school fans will be way more excited for the classics, especially the ones that let you smash up buildings in massive vehicles.