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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsShort answer: In the US, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack costs $49.99 per year for one account or $79.99 per year for a Family membership covering up to eight Nintendo Accounts. It includes standard Nintendo Switch Online benefits, selected N64 and other classic games, and several DLC packs—but the access is temporary. You do not permanently own the classic games or included DLC.
If you mainly want the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, buying it separately for $24.99 is usually the better long-term choice. You need to own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe either way.
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Prices and plan details in this guide are for the United States and were checked against Nintendo’s current information on August 16, 2026.
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Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the higher annual membership tier for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It includes everything in standard Nintendo Switch Online, plus additional classic-game libraries, selected DLC, and certain Switch 2 benefits.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
The membership grants access only while the subscription is active. It is not a purchase of individual ROMs, games, or DLC.
Standard Nintendo Switch Online benefits generally include:
- Online play in compatible games;
- Save Data Cloud for compatible games;
- NES, Super NES, and Game Boy libraries;
- Nintendo Music and other current membership features where supported; and
- Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat access under Nintendo’s current plan structure.
Expansion Pack adds the following benefits, subject to platform and regional availability:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Benefit | Important qualification |
|---|---|
| Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics | Selected games, not every N64 release; catalogs vary by region. |
| Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics | Accessed through the separate Nintendo Classics application. |
| Sega Genesis – Nintendo Switch Online | Separate library with regional differences. |
| Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics | Listed by Nintendo as an Expansion Pack benefit; check the current app and platform requirements. |
| Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics | Exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 according to Nintendo’s current US comparison page. |
| Included DLC | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise, and Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion. |
| Selected Switch 2 upgrade packs | Includes listed upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom; the original games are required. |
See Nintendo’s current membership comparison.
US prices: Individual versus Family
| Plan | Annual price | Accounts | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online Individual | $19.99 | One Nintendo Account | Online play and standard classic libraries. |
| Expansion Pack Individual | $49.99 | One Nintendo Account | One player who wants the premium libraries and DLC. |
| Expansion Pack Family | $79.99 | Up to eight Nintendo Accounts | Households or trusted groups sharing a Nintendo Account Family Group. |
Expansion Pack costs $30 more per year than the equivalent standard plan. If eight people genuinely use the Family membership, the cost works out to about $10 per person per year.
The Family plan is account-based, not simply a license for eight profiles on one console. Eligible accounts must belong to the same Nintendo Account Family Group, and the membership can be used across consoles. Make sure the group understands the trust and administration involved before sharing the cost.
These are US prices. Nintendo’s prices, taxes, catalogs, and included benefits can differ in Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and other regions.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
An existing Individual Nintendo Switch Online membership can be changed to an Individual or Family Expansion Pack membership. A Family Nintendo Switch Online membership can be changed to a Family Expansion Pack membership. Nintendo may apply a prorated adjustment depending on the remaining term and plan details, so check the final eShop or account-settings screen before paying.
The North American N64 catalog
Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics is a curated, region-specific library—not a promise that every N64 game will be added. North American, European, and Japanese catalogs can differ in names, language, censorship, content, and release timing. Features such as online multiplayer, rewind, and save states also vary by title.
Nintendo’s live service page confirms access to the N64 library and examples such as online multiplayer in Mario Kart 64, but the supplied official pages do not provide a reliably complete, static North American roster. Because Nintendo can add games and reorganize the application, the live Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app should be treated as the final authority immediately before publication or purchase.
Frequently searched titles that readers should check in the current North American app include:
- Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie;
- Blast Corps;
- Dr. Mario 64;
- F-Zero X;
- GoldenEye 007;
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards;
- Mario Golf, Mario Kart 64, Mario Party, Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3, and Mario Tennis;
- Paper Mario;
- Pokémon Puzzle League and Pokémon Snap;
- Star Fox 64;
- Super Mario 64;
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time;
- Wave Race 64; and
- Yoshi’s Story.
Do not interpret this list as a worldwide or permanently fixed catalog. The service does not provide permanent ownership of these games, and not every title supports every emulator feature or multiplayer mode.
Check Nintendo’s current Nintendo Switch Online overview and catalog information.
Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
Other classic libraries
Game Boy Advance
Expansion Pack includes the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics library through its own application. It remains part of the Expansion Pack benefits on Nintendo Switch 2, subject to Nintendo’s regional and platform support.
Sega Genesis
The separate Sega Genesis library is included with Expansion Pack. Available games and features can differ by region, and online play applies only to supported games and modes.
Virtual Boy
Nintendo’s current US comparison page lists Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics as an Expansion Pack benefit. Do not assume that its catalog, accessories, or platform support exactly matches the other classic applications; check the current Nintendo application and service listing for your region.
GameCube on Nintendo Switch 2
GameCube – Nintendo Classics is listed as exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. An Expansion Pack subscription on the original Nintendo Switch does not give that console GameCube access. GameCube availability also depends on the supported catalog, storage, compatible controllers, and Nintendo’s platform requirements.
Included Switch 2 upgrade packs
Nintendo currently lists selected upgrade packs for:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition; and
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
An upgrade pack is not the full game. You must own the eligible original game, and the membership benefit applies to the specified Switch 2 Edition upgrade content.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
Expansion Pack includes the complete Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass while your paid membership is active. The full Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game is required separately.
The Pass contains:
- 48 additional courses;
- 12 cups across six waves released from March 18, 2022, through November 8, 2023;
- Additional characters including Funky Kong, Diddy Kong, Pauline, and Peachette; and
- 18 Mii racing suits.
The standalone Pass costs $24.99. It is a permanent DLC purchase for the account that buys it, rather than a subscription benefit.
| Access method | Up-front price | How long it lasts | Base game required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion Pack Individual | $49.99 per year | While the membership is active | Yes |
| Expansion Pack Family | $79.99 per year | While the family membership is active | Yes |
| Buy Booster Course Pass | $24.99 | Indefinitely | Yes |
The prices are not a like-for-like comparison: Expansion Pack also includes classic libraries, online play, cloud saves, and other DLC. But if Mario Kart is your only goal, the separate Pass is cheaper than one year of Individual Expansion Pack and remains usable after cancellation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens when the subscription ends?
Included access ends when the Expansion Pack membership expires. That includes the Booster Course Pass, Happy Home Paradise, Octo Expansion, and subscription-based access to classic-game libraries. The underlying games are not supplied by the membership.
Your save data remains on the console, so progress can continue if access is restored or the DLC is purchased separately. A separately purchased Booster Course Pass remains available after the subscription ends.
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With an Individual membership, the subscribing account may need to launch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to validate access for local users on the same console. With a Family membership, eligible accounts in the Nintendo Account Family Group can use the included DLC while the membership remains active. An internet connection may be required when launching a game to verify membership access.
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
A player without the DLC or Expansion Pack can still encounter Booster Course Pass tracks online when another player with access causes one to be selected. Nintendo Switch Online is still required for online multiplayer.
How to download the included Mario Kart DLC
- Confirm that the Nintendo Account has an active paid Expansion Pack membership.
- Own and install Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
- Open Nintendo eShop on Switch or Switch 2.
- Find the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass page.
- Choose the download or redownload option provided through the membership benefit instead of purchasing the Pass separately.
- Launch or update Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and check that the additional courses and characters appear.
Nintendo also says members may redownload the content through their virtual game-card list.
If the DLC does not appear
- Confirm that the plan is Expansion Pack, not standard Nintendo Switch Online.
- Check that the membership belongs to the account being used.
- For a Family plan, confirm that the account is in the correct Family Group.
- Install and update Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
- Download the DLC; seeing it listed as an entitlement is not always enough.
- Connect the console to the internet for membership verification.
- Make sure you are not confusing the DLC with the separately sold full game.
- Check that the membership has not expired.
- On another console, verify the account’s virtual game-card or online-license status.
Nintendo’s DLC download and redownload guidance provides the relevant account and virtual game-card steps.
How to disable auto-renewal
Nintendo says auto-renewal can be disabled through Your Subscriptions in Nintendo eShop or Nintendo Account settings. Check the displayed expiration date after changing the setting. Nintendo also warns that once auto-renewal is turned off, it cannot simply be turned back on for that same subscription setting without going through the relevant subscription process again.
Turning off auto-renewal does not immediately remove access; the membership generally remains active through the paid term.
Is Expansion Pack worth it?
Choose Expansion Pack if you:
- Regularly play N64, GBA, Genesis, or Virtual Boy games;
- Own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and want its additional courses;
- Own Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Splatoon 2 and want the included DLC;
- Share a Family membership with two or more reliable users;
- Own a Switch 2 and want GameCube access or eligible Zelda upgrade packs; or
- Prefer official, convenient subscription access over permanent ownership.
Buy the Mario Kart DLC separately if you:
- Mainly want the 48 additional courses;
- Do not care about the other classic libraries or included DLC;
- Want continued access after cancelling Nintendo Switch Online; or
- Already have standard Nintendo Switch Online and do not need its premium benefits.
Choose standard Nintendo Switch Online if you:
- Only need online multiplayer and cloud saves;
- Want NES, SNES, and Game Boy access but not the Expansion Pack libraries;
- Do not own the games associated with the included DLC; or
- Want the lowest-cost Nintendo online plan.
Who should not subscribe?
Expansion Pack is a poor fit for a single player who wants only Mario Kart’s extra tracks, an original Switch owner subscribing mainly for GameCube, or anyone expecting to permanently own the classic games and DLC. In those cases, standard Nintendo Switch Online or a direct DLC purchase is more appropriate.
For the latest US prices and benefits, consult Nintendo’s official comparison page. Catalogs, platform support, and plan benefits can change after this guide’s August 16, 2026 check.
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