Nintendo has always been a major player in each generation of gaming and their latest console, the Nintendo Switch, has been a major success for the company. The Switch continues to break new ground and add more innovative features to its package. One of the biggest changes to hit the system is the addition of the Switch Online service.

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Updates to Switch Online have been gradual and it’s taken some time to properly develop, yet right from its launch there has been tons of interest in Nintendo 64 games joining the service. Finally, Nintendo has broken the news regarding a fancy Expansion Pack to their Switch Online service that will bring forward both N64 and Sega Genesis titles. Each of these inclusions have their own unique advantages.

10 N64: The Four-Player Multiplayer Capabilities

Games Mario Kart 64

One of the immediate advantages that certain Nintendo 64 titles have over Sega Genesis releases is that the former is able to cater towards four-player multiplayer experiences. The launch line-up for the Switch Online's multiplayer games is a little anemic with Mario Kart 64 and Mario Tennis 64 being the stand out selections. However, it's already been announced that F-Zero X and Mario Golf are also on the way, which are also just such satisfying multiplayer games. Sega Genesis games aren't without their co-operative experiences, but they're limited to just two players.

9 Genesis: What It Implies For Future Non-Nintendo Switch Online Additions

Ristar explores the jungle in the Sega Genesis game, Ristar

There’s a tendency for audiences to want to hit a sweet spot of retro gaming that’s still appropriately modern, whether it’s Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, or even GameCube releases. The addition of the Genesis may come across as a lateral move to the Super Nintendo, but it’s more significant for how it represents Switch Online straying beyond Nintendo consoles. The inclusion of the Genesis means that other Sega consoles could later show up, or even more niche console contributions, like the Neo Geo or WonderSwan.

8 N64: The Most Defining And Signature Games Are The Ones On Display

N64 Super Mario 3D All-Stars Mario 64 Bowser Battle

The Nintendo 64 has dozens of games that aren't just significant for their time, but are still considered all-time gaming classics. The importance of the Nintendo 64 cannot be emphasized enough. Even though the Switch Online has only announced 16 entries at this point, they cover the majority of the console's signature releases.

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All of the breakthrough games that immediately come to mind like Super Mario 64, Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, and the two Zelda games are available, but it also covers other essentials like Yoshi's Story, Banjo-Kazooie, and Paper Mario.

7 Genesis: Wider Range Of Content And Genres On Display

Genesis Ecco The Dolphin Screenshot

The Sega Genesis may be the more simplistic of the two consoles featured in the Switch Online's Expansion Pack, but the library of games featured definitely provide more to do for a broad range of gamers. The selections carefully cater towards each major genre, whether it's platformers, action, puzzles, RPGs, or more unconventional titles like Ecco the Dolphin. There's something for everyone among these games and even Phantasy Star IV and Shining Force represent two very different styles of RPGs. All of this proves that the Genesis was far more than a home for Sonic the Hedgehog.

6 N64: The New Nintendo 64 Controllers That Are Being Produced

Two Nintendo 64 controllers sit idle on a table

The Switch has created a versatile infrastructure that allows their audience to play retro games with current hardware and controllers. Nintendo's also cornered a market for gamers who would like to replicate the original experience as closely as possible. Nintendo has created retro controllers for this very purpose and the Switch Online’s Expansion Pack also came with the news of newly released Nintendo 64 controllers. Admittedly, this same courtesy is being extended with Sega Genesis controllers, but those are much simpler than the N64’s controller, especially when they’re both priced at $49.99.

5 Genesis: The Incorporation Of Online Play Into Retro Games

Gunstar Heroes also similar to Mega Man

One of the biggest perks of retro games getting added to modern services like Switch Online is that there's often an online component that's incorporated into the co-op or multiplayer, which obviously wasn't present upon the games' original releases.

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This also applies with the Nintendo 64, but it feels significantly more revolutionary with the older Genesis titles that are on display. Golden Axe, Gunstar Heroes, and Streets of Rage 2 are just a fraction of the games that allow multiple people to play and they all wildly benefit from an online factor.

4 N64: They're Not Purely First-Party Nintendo Titles

N64 Winback Cropped

One of the factors that’s separated Nintendo from Sony and Microsoft is their unique relationship with third-party developers. It’s common for the strongest releases on Nintendo consoles to be first-party games and nobody would have been too surprised if the Switch Online’s entire list of Nintendo 64 games adhered to this principle. It might not be much, but it goes a long way to see titles like WinBack and Banjo-Kazooie included in the mix, mostly for what they imply regarding what’s possible in the future. Non-Nintendo games are possible, even if they're not currently in the majority.

3 Genesis: The Third-Party Selections

Genesis castlevania bloodlines

When it comes to the contrasting line-ups offered on the Switch Online's Expansion Pack service, it's the Genesis games that reflect a more generous range of third-party love and don't limit themselves to purely Sega's heavy hitters – which feels like the approach that's taken with the Nintendo 64 games. It makes such an impact to have games like Castlevania: Bloodlines, Contra: Hard Corps, and Gunstar Heroes make the cut. There’s clearly no bias present towards Sega releases and it’s happy to share the wealth and give a better indication of the Genesis’ full library.

2 N64: They Reflect Nintendo's Past

N64 Pokemon Snap Jigglypuff Singing

Nintendo has always done a good job with their ability to use new releases to celebrate anniversaries for their foundational series. In this sense, it feels intentional that so many of the N64 games featured in the Switch Online Expansion Pack list have connections to recent Switch releases. Mario Golf, the Pokémon Snap photography spin-off, Kirby, and Zelda games are on display, all of which have games that have either just been announced or recently hit the Switch

1 Genesis: Healthy Appreciation Towards Sequels

Genesis phantasy star iv

 It’s easy to erase sequels and just focus on the flagship titles that kicked off iconic series, but it's appreciated that the Genesis line-up from Switch Online highlights many of the superlative later entries in a franchise rather than the introductory chapters. Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Phantasy Star IV, and Shinobi III are all included in favor of their predecessors, all of which are smart decisions.

NEXT: The 10 Best Remastered Nintendo Games