The current generation of video games has introduced a lot of exciting new prospects, and Nintendo’s Switch has already made waves in some significant ways. One of the biggest additions to the Switch in the past few years has been the Switch Online service, which has included a library of retro Nintendo games to enjoy.
Audiences have been eager for the service to dip into Nintendo 64 releases, and this has at long last happened with the Switch Online’s “Expansion Pack.” Nine Nintendo 64 games will launch, with at least seven more that have been promised. A number of classic titles have already been included, but there are some games that may never find their way to the service despite their acclaim.
10 Goldeneye 007 Was The Ultimate Multiplayer Experience But Lost In Legalities
Goldeneye 007 is still held up as a superlative N64 game, and similar titles have failed to capture its magic. Goldeneye wasn’t perfect, but it was the perfect combination of elements that came at the right time. Fans have gotten used to the idea that they won’t get to work through Goldeneye 007 on a modern Nintendo console. There are just too many issues involved, not only with Rare now being owned by Microsoft, but also the fact that Goldeneye is a part of the massive James Bond franchise. There’s just too many parties that need to get involved.
9 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Is The Start Of A Classic Franchise But Part Of A Bigger Whole
Much like with Goldeneye 007, even though Star Wars: Rogue Squadron represents one of the better games to hit the Nintendo 64, it’s still a Star Wars and Disney property more than anything else. The Rogue Squadron games are iconic for both the N64 and the Gamecube, so it’s a shame the strong start to the franchise probably won’t hit Switch Online. If any Star Wars game makes it to the service, it will probably be Shadows of the Empire, which holds the honor of being an N64 launch title.
8 Turok: Rage Wars Is Specifically Catered Around Multiplayer
The Turok: Dinosaur Hunter series was very important for the Nintendo 64, not only as a more creative type of mature shooter, but also between Nintendo’s relationship with Acclaim. Turok: Rage Wars is an offshoot that specifically caters to the series’ multiplayer and delivers a deathmatch experience.
Turok: Rage Wars was a significant multiplayer shooter for the N64, but not anymore. The Turok games have received remasters, but the fact that it’s also technically a comic adaptation doesn’t help its chances. If a Turok game were to make it to Switch Online, it’d be the original, not Rage Wars.
7 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Is Another Outside Property Unlikely To Return
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six represents an iconic tactical shooter franchise, which were certainly in short supply on the Nintendo 64. The broader Tom Clancy series is still strong in the gaming industry, but the N64’s introduction to this world isn’t the smoothest translation of the product. It’s an impressive enough game for the time, but there’s not enough nostalgia to make the Nintendo 64’s Rainbow Six seem worthwhile in a modern context. The fact that it’s a Ubisoft property also likely seals the deal. The Switch Online selections are gearing toward friendlier titles, and they already have WinBack.
6 Bomberman 64: The Second Attack Is One Of The Rarest & Most Valuable N64 Games
Bomberman is a character who doesn’t discriminate between consoles, but he’s had some exciting Nintendo exclusives that push the character into the adventure and platforming genres and manage to stick the landing. Bomberman 64, Bomberman Hero, and Bomberman 64: The Second Attack are all excellent, but the latter has become one of the rarer and more coveted titles for the retro Nintendo console. Unfortunately, for this reason it probably won’t become readily available on Switch Online and mess with these numbers. Both of the other Bomberman titles are more likely, but they’d still come as a major surprise.
5 Space Station Silicon Valley Is Too Weird & Bound To Slip Between The Cracks
Space Station Silicon Valley is as weird as it sounds, and it’s an inventive puzzle-platformer where the player hops between animals through the use of a sentient microchip. The game is a little rough around the edges, but that adds to its character, and it deserves credit for the original premise that takes advantage of the Nintendo 64’s hardware.
Space Station Silicon Valley has its devoted hardcore audience, but if Nintendo has to narrow their choices down to around two-dozen games then their more mainstream hits are going to be the games that get highlighted.
4 Snowboard Kids Is Unlikely To Beat Out Nintendo Racing Properties
Atlus is responsible for some especially creative and unpredictable video games, and they’ve been a valuable partner for Nintendo over the years. Snowboard Kids and its sequel are surprisingly deep racing games that have unique characters and attempt something different through snowboarding. They’re some of the better racing games for the Nintendo 64, but Switch Online already has Mario Kart 64 with F-Zero X also on the way. That’s likely enough racing games for them, and if they really want a snowboarding title, they’ll turn to 1080 Snowboarding. It’s a shame that more people won’t experience Snowboard Kids’ quirkiness.
3 Rayman 2 Is A Platformer Classic That Feels Like A Pipe Dream
Some of the most pleasurable gaming experiences on Nintendo consoles are experienced through the platformer genre, and the Nintendo 64 has some excellent games that don't stumble with the push into 3D gaming. The Rayman series continues to go strong, but Rayman 2: The Great Escape is viewed as an early high mark in the franchise. Rayman 2 stands out as a fulfilling and lengthy platformer for the Nintendo 64, but even though it makes its mark on the console, it's a multi-platform game that's developed by Ubisoft, not Nintendo. They have their own platforming heroes to use.
2 Gauntlet Legends Is An Arcade Experience That’s Hard To Recreate
Gauntlet Legends is one of those games that’s at its best when it’s enjoyed with four friends who can utilize all of the different characters and attack this fantasy world as hard as possible. Beginning as an arcade title, the Nintendo 64’s Gauntlet Legends is one of the better party experiences for the console, but it’s a Midway property, which is the biggest reason that it probably won’t show up. There are other more popular Midway contributions for Nintendo that haven’t been featured, which indicates the same fate for Gauntlet Legends.
1 Rare’s Perfect Dark Has Moved On To Microsoft
As much as the N64’s Goldeneye 007 is heralded as a multiplayer masterpiece, Rare improves upon the formula with Perfect Dark. The original shooter creates a formidable new heroine with Joanna Dark, and it’s more ambitious than Goldeneye in nearly every way. There’s a lot to love in the game, both in terms of its wild story and creative weapons. The Perfect Dark series has lived on through the Xbox and while Banjo-Kazooie is on the way for Switch Online, it’s unlikely that other Rare games like this will make the cut.