To save or resume progress in an N64 or Sega Genesis game on Nintendo Switch Online, open the Suspend Menu, then choose a save slot or Load Suspend Point. The button that opens the menu depends on the game library and controller.
Open the Suspend Menu
Start the Nintendo Classics app and launch a game. Use the matching button input below to open the Suspend Menu:
| Game library | Standard Switch controller | Matching retro controller |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics | Minus (−) | ZR on the Nintendo 64 Controller |
| SEGA Genesis – Nintendo Switch Online | ZL + ZR | MODE on the SEGA Genesis Control Pad |
Nintendo’s Suspend Point creation guide notes that the shortcut may vary when Joy-Con are held horizontally as individual controllers in Tabletop or TV mode. To see the menu input on screen, enable Show controls in game in Settings.
Save progress to a suspend point
- Open the Suspend Menu with the shortcut for your game and controller.
- Choose an available slot to save the game’s current state. The slot displays when the point was created.
- If all four slots are occupied, choose an existing point to overwrite it. Nintendo warns that overwritten save data cannot be recovered.
A suspend point is a saved state you can return to later. It is separate from rewind, which lets you move back through recent gameplay.
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Load a saved suspend point
- Open the Suspend Menu.
- Choose Load Suspend Point.
- Select the saved entry with the timestamp you want to return to.
Loading is a separate choice from creating a point. Nintendo’s load guide says Player 1 navigates the menu during multiplayer play.
Sort out controller and button confusion
- For N64 games, Minus is the standard-controller shortcut; for Genesis games, use ZL + ZR. The retro-controller shortcuts are ZR for N64 and MODE for Genesis.
- If you are unsure which input applies, turn on Show controls in game to display the Suspend Menu input.
- For N64 games, Nintendo supports per-game/controller button customization through the View/Change Controls menu. See Nintendo’s button assignment instructions.
Membership and optional controllers
Nintendo’s support guides require an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership to access the N64 and Genesis libraries. The SEGA Genesis Control Pad is optional; its MODE button opens the Suspend Menu, but you do not need that controller to play the collection or use suspend points. See Nintendo’s Genesis Control Pad FAQ.
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Rewind is a different feature from saving a suspend point. Nintendo’s Genesis collection page describes rewind as holding ZL + ZR; use the Suspend Menu when you want to save a state you can load later.
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