Nintendo Expands Switch Online’s Game Boy Library With Two Classic Titles

Nintendo has expanded its Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy catalogue once again, adding two more classic titles to the growing retro lineup as February gets underway.

The latest update brings Balloon Kid and Yoshi to the service, giving subscribers access to two early-1990s games that highlight Nintendo’s experimentation on the original Game Boy. Both titles are now available to play for all Switch Online members at no additional cost.

The additions continue Nintendo’s steady rollout of legacy content, reinforcing its strategy of refreshing the Switch Online libraries with a mix of recognisable franchises and more obscure releases from its back catalogue.

Yoshi Brings Puzzle Action to Game Boy

Released in the early 1990s, Yoshi is an action-puzzle game starring Mario’s long-time companion, long before the dinosaur became a standalone franchise star.

In the game, Yoshi has been trapped inside an egg while waves of familiar Mario enemies—including Goombas, Bloopers and Boo Buddies—rain down from above. Players must catch the falling enemies on trays, stacking matching pairs to make them disappear. Successfully surrounding enemies with eggshells can trigger the appearance of Yoshi himself, boosting the player’s score.

As levels progress, the pace intensifies, with enemies falling faster and requiring quicker decision-making. The challenge lies in constantly shuffling and switching trays to prevent stacks from growing too high, creating a blend of reflex-based action and puzzle strategy that was distinctive for its time.

Though it carries the Yoshi name, the title plays quite differently from the later platformers the character would become known for, offering Switch Online players a look at one of the franchise’s earliest interpretations.

Balloon Kid Floats Back Onto Modern Hardware

Joining Yoshi is Balloon Kid, a side-scrolling platformer originally released in 1990 and inspired by Nintendo’s earlier arcade title Balloon Fight.

Set in the small town of Pencilvania, the game tells the story of siblings Alice and Jim, whose balloon adventures take a dramatic turn when a sudden gust of wind carries Jim away into the sky. Players take control of Alice, navigating through eight stages while following her brother’s trail of balloons.

Gameplay revolves around careful aerial movement, with players needing to manage Alice’s balloons while avoiding enemies and environmental hazards. Balloons can be released to drop to the ground, offering an alternative way to deal with threats, while collecting additional balloons earns bonus points.

In addition to the main adventure, Balloon Kid includes Balloon Trip mode, a score-attack challenge that tests players’ endurance and precision as they aim to climb the leaderboard.

The game’s simple mechanics, paired with its charming premise, made it a memorable entry on the Game Boy and a natural fit for Nintendo’s retro subscription service.

Switch Online Continues Its Retro Push

The arrival of Balloon Kid and Yoshi reflects Nintendo’s ongoing effort to flesh out the Game Boy library on Switch Online, which already features a mix of first-party classics and lesser-known titles from the handheld’s early years.

While Nintendo has not announced additional Game Boy releases for later this month, the company has typically rolled out new additions at a steady pace, keeping long-time fans engaged while introducing younger players to older games they may have missed.

With the Switch approaching the later stages of its lifecycle, retro content remains a key pillar of Nintendo Switch Online’s value proposition, offering subscribers an expanding archive of games that helped define Nintendo’s history.

For now, players can dive into two more slices of Game Boy nostalgia, whether they prefer puzzle-based action or balloon-powered platforming.