The February 2023 Nintendo Direct promised an update on Nintendo games releasing in the first half of 2023, including Pikmin 4, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It also unveiled a significant amount of surprises for retro gaming fans.
Nintendo has made it clear since the Switch's inception that it's focused on modernizing older games to appeal to both veteran gamers and a new generation interested in older games. So what could be better than announcing over 20 Game Boy and GBA games for the Nintendo Switch?
Here is the list of all 24 Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games announced during the last Direct.
Game boy games
During the February 2023 Nintendo Direct, the company announced thirteen Game Boy games for the Nintendo Switch Online bundle. All of them were originally released for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Pocket.
These nine Game Boy games are available to play today:
- Tetris
- Super Mario Land 2 – 6 Golden Coins
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
- Gargoyle's Quest
- Game & Watch Gallery 3
- Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Metroid II – Return of Samus
- Wario Land 3
- Kirby's Dream Land
Players can choose from three screen filters when playing Game Boy games: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Pocket. The Game Boy features the handheld console's iconic pea-bottom color screen. Additionally, up to two Nintendo Switch Online members can play together locally or online if the game has a multiplayer component.
These four more games will be added in the future:
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
- Pokemon Trading Card Game
- Kirby Tilt 'n Tumble
Game Boy Advance games
The February 2023 Nintendo Direct also confirmed eleven Game Boy Advanced games coming to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
Expansion Pack subscribers can play these six GBA games on their Nintendo Switch starting today.
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
- Kuru Kuru Kururin
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Standard subscribers will only have access to Game Boy games, not GBA games. Instead of two people, up to four people can play GBA games together locally and online.
Five more GBA games will be released at a later date:
- Metroid Fusion
- Kirby: Amazing Mirror
- Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
- Golden Sun
A release date for the next games?
Unfortunately, no. The February 2023 Nintendo Direct teased games coming at a later date, but without any real time frame for what to expect.