The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Choose Nintendo Switch Online if you’ll use its compatible online play, supported cloud saves, classic-game libraries or included Expansion Pack content enough to justify a recurring fee. Buy games individually if you mainly want a few current titles and want to keep access to them without an active membership. Expansion Pack access to its classic libraries and included DLC depends on an active subscription; DLC does not include the full base game.
What you pay for Nintendo Switch Online in the US
Nintendo’s US prices below are annual unless a shorter term is shown. Prices and availability vary by country, so check the local eShop before choosing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Membership | One account | Family membership |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, one month | $3.99 USD | Not stated |
| Standard, three months | $7.99 USD | Not stated |
| Standard, one year | $19.99 USD | $34.99 USD for up to eight accounts |
| Expansion Pack, one year | $49.99 USD | $79.99 USD for up to eight accounts |
These are Nintendo of America and Nintendo Support listed US prices accessed in 2026; Nintendo says prices depend on membership duration and country. The annual Expansion Pack premium over standard membership is $30 for one account or $45 for a family membership, calculated from Nintendo’s listed prices. A family plan can improve the per-person cost when multiple accounts actually use it.
What standard membership gives you
Standard Nintendo Switch Online includes online play in compatible games, Save Data Cloud for compatible games, NES, Super NES and Game Boy classic-game libraries, Nintendo Music, and special offers. Nintendo Switch 2 owners can also use GameChat with either membership tier, subject to Nintendo’s online requirements. Support for online play and cloud saves varies by game; neither benefit should be assumed to cover every title or feature. Nintendo’s US membership overview and Nintendo Support’s membership FAQ describe the current benefits.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Classic games are subscription access, not individual purchases
Nintendo Support says classic games are accessible while membership is active. They can be played offline, but the account must connect online at least once every seven days so membership can be verified. If the membership ends, access to those games ends; classic-game save data remains on the console and can be used again if membership resumes.
Asked whether the classic games will be sold individually, Nintendo Support says: “There are no plans to make the games available outside of the Nintendo Switch Online service.” That is Nintendo’s stated position on its support page, which may change.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
What Expansion Pack adds
Expansion Pack includes standard membership benefits plus select classic libraries: Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy and SEGA Genesis. Nintendo GameCube classics are exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. The plan also includes selected DLC and selected Switch 2 upgrade packs; the available benefits depend in part on which console you use. See Nintendo’s Expansion Pack overview for the current selection.
Included DLC still requires the full game
Nintendo lists the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass and Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise among included DLC. The full version of the relevant game is sold separately, and using included DLC requires an active Expansion Pack membership. If membership lapses, access to that included DLC pauses. The value is therefore greatest if you already own the base game and would otherwise pay for that specific DLC; it is not a replacement for buying the game itself. Nintendo also lists Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion, but check current platform and DLC availability before making a game-specific decision.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
For example, Expansion Pack may cover the Booster Course Pass, but you still need the full Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game to use it. Buying the base game gives you access to that purchased game independently of membership status; the included DLC remains subscription-dependent.
When membership is the better fit
- You regularly play online in games that require Nintendo Switch Online.
- You want Save Data Cloud for games that support it.
- You expect to use the classic libraries while your membership is active.
- You already own a base game for DLC included with Expansion Pack, or plan to buy it and will use the DLC during an active membership.
- Several eligible accounts can share the family membership, making its total cost worthwhile for the group.
Compare the membership cost with the features and specific games you expect to use, not with the retail value of every title in a library. The library is access through a subscription, not ownership of each game.
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
When buying games individually is the better fit
- You mainly want a small number of current games rather than ongoing access to online features or classic libraries.
- You do not need Nintendo’s paid online features for the games you play.
- You want continued access to the games you purchase without keeping a membership active.
- You would have to buy a base game anyway to use included Expansion Pack DLC and do not expect to use enough other membership benefits to justify the subscription.
Membership and purchases are not mutually exclusive: you can buy games you want to keep and subscribe for online play, classic libraries or eligible DLC.
Quick Recap
How to decide: a five-step check
- List the games and features you’ll actually use. Separate specific games you want to own from online play, cloud saves, classic libraries and Expansion Pack DLC.
- Check game compatibility. Confirm that each game supports Nintendo Switch Online online play or Save Data Cloud before counting those benefits.
- Compare local costs. Use the membership price in your country and compare it with the purchase price of the particular games you want, rather than the entire subscription library.
- Check DLC prerequisites. For Expansion Pack DLC, confirm that you own the full base game and are comfortable losing DLC access if membership ends.
- Consider how many accounts will use it. Compare individual subscriptions with the family price; Nintendo’s family membership covers up to eight accounts.
Console and practical details to check
- Switch or Switch 2: Nintendo GameCube classics are a Switch 2-exclusive Expansion Pack benefit; other listed benefits may also differ by console.
- Virtual Boy library: Nintendo says an additional accessory is required to play Virtual Boy games.
- Storage: Nintendo Support says Switch 2 uses compatible microSD Express cards and Switch uses microSD cards. Check the console’s compatibility and current requirements before buying storage.
- Country and changing benefits: Prices, included games and DLC, and availability can change. Nintendo notes that features may be limited to compatible games or countries.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
