Nintendo Switch Online vs Expansion Pack: GBA Games?

The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the only subscription tier that includes Game Boy Advance (GBA) games. The standard Nintendo Switch Online membership does not include any GBA titles. This article explains the difference between the two tiers, what each one offers, and how to access the GBA library if you’re interested.

Formula

The calculator above works out your average running pace and speed. The pace is the time it takes to cover one kilometer, and the speed is the number of kilometers you cover in one hour. The formulas are:

Pace (min/km) = Finish time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Finish time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• Finish time is the total time taken, in minutes.
• Distance is the total distance covered, in kilometers.
• Pace is expressed in minutes per kilometer (min/km).
• Speed is expressed in kilometers per hour (km/h).

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: a finish time of 50 minutes and a distance of 10 kilometers.

Step 1: Calculate the pace.

Pace = 50 min ÷ 10 km = 5.0 min/km

Step 2: Calculate the speed.

Speed = 10 km ÷ (50 min ÷ 60) = 10 km ÷ 0.8333 h = 12.0 km/h

So, for a 10 km run completed in 50 minutes, your average pace is 5:00 per kilometer, and your average speed is 12.0 km/h.

What Each Subscription Tier Includes

Nintendo offers two paid tiers for the Switch Online service. The standard plan gives you access to NES and Super Nintendo (SNES) games, online play for compatible titles, cloud saves, and a few other perks. The Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) games on top of everything in the standard plan, and it is also the only tier that includes Game Boy Advance games. The GBA library is a curated selection of titles that have been re-released for the Switch, with features like save states and rewind.

How to Access GBA Games

If you want to play GBA games on your Switch, you need to subscribe to the Expansion Pack tier. Once you have an active Expansion Pack membership, follow these steps:

1. From the Switch home menu, open the Nintendo Switch Online app.
2. Select the “Game Boy Advance� option from the list of classic game libraries (NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, GBA).
3. Browse the available GBA titles and select one to download. The games are free to download for members, but they only run while your subscription is active.
4. Once downloaded, you can launch the game directly from the app or from the home screen if you add it as a shortcut.

The GBA app itself is separate from the NES, SNES, N64, and Genesis apps, so you may need to download it first if you haven’t already.

GBA Game Library Highlights

The GBA selection on the Expansion Pack is smaller than the NES or SNES libraries, but it includes several well-known titles. Some of the games that have been added include:

• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Metroid Fusion
• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
• WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
• Golden Sun
• F-Zero: Maximum Velocity

Nintendo has been adding new titles over time, so the list is not static. If you’re specifically looking for a particular game, it’s worth checking the current lineup before subscribing.

Cost Comparison: Standard vs Expansion Pack

The Expansion Pack costs more than the standard plan. In the United States, the individual standard plan is $19.99 per year, while the individual Expansion Pack is $49.99 per year. The family plans are $34.99 and $79.99 per year, respectively. The price difference is significant, so you should consider whether the extra games (N64, Genesis, and GBA) are worth the higher cost. If you only care about NES and SNES games, the standard plan is the more economical choice.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A common misconception is that all classic games are available on both tiers. That’s not the case—GBA games are exclusive to the Expansion Pack. Another issue some users run into is that the GBA games may not appear in the app if the subscription has lapsed or if the console hasn’t checked for an active membership recently. If you’ve purchased the Expansion Pack and still don’t see the GBA option, try restarting the Switch or re-downloading the app from the eShop. Also, note that the GBA games do not support online multiplayer or cloud saves; they are single-player only, and save data is stored locally on the console.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play GBA games with the standard Nintendo Switch Online plan?

No. GBA games are only available with the Expansion Pack tier. The standard plan only includes NES and SNES games.

Are all GBA games available on the Expansion Pack?

No, only a curated selection of titles. Nintendo has not made the entire GBA library available, and the lineup has been growing slowly since the Expansion Pack launched in October 2021.

Do I need to download each GBA game separately?

Yes, each game is downloaded individually from the Game Boy Advance app. You can delete a game to free up space and re-download it later as long as your subscription is active.

Can I play GBA games offline?

Yes, once a GBA game is downloaded, you can play it offline. However, the app itself may require an online check when you first open it to verify your subscription status.

Is the Expansion Pack worth it just for GBA games?

That depends on how much you value the GBA library and the other included games (N64 and Genesis). If there are several GBA titles you want to play, the higher annual cost might be justified. Otherwise, you could consider buying individual GBA games on the Wii U Virtual Console (if you have that console) or using other means, but the Expansion Pack is the only official way to play them on Switch.

Will more GBA games be added in the future?

Nintendo has not announced a specific schedule, but they have been adding games periodically. It’s reasonable to expect more titles, but there is no guarantee which ones or when.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2