The Nintendo Switch 2 is the most recent console from the famous Japanese developer, Nintendo. While it has a number of new titles to play, some gamers may want to play more classic titles on it. Or perhaps some remasters or remakes of releases that they have played in the past. The purpose of this guide is to share a list of retro video games that are currently available for the system.
Just to be clear, this guide is to specifically list Nintendo Switch 2 games. It doesn’t include Nintendo Switch 1 games that have upgrades when played on Nintendo Switch 2. This means that Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 are not in this list. They are technically Nintendo Switch 1 releases.
Post Sections:
- The Different Types of Releases
- Regular Game Releases
- Hamster ACA Releases
- Hamster Console Archives Releases
Note: The tables are wide and are designed to work on a desktop screen. Apologies in advance if the tables look poor on a phone!
Finally, here is a list of the genre abbreviations used in this guide,
- ACT = Action
- AADV = Action Adventure
- BB = Brick Breaker
- CFS = Combat Flight Simulation
- FSIM = Farming Simulation
- FG = Fighting Game
- FPS = First-person Shooter
- PLT = Platformer
- 3DPLT = 3D Platformer
- RAC = Racing
- RPG = RPG
- JRPG = Japanese-style RPG
- TRPG = Tactical RPG, or Strategy RPG
- SHM = Shmup
- SHT = Shooter
- SIM = Simulation
- SPT = Sports
A lot of the genres used in this guide are based on what is listed on the Nintendo eShop store pages.
The Different Types of Releases
For the purposes of this guide, I’m not distinguishing between rom dumps, ports, remasters or remakes. As of this writing, there are at least four different ways to purchase Nintendo Switch 2 games.
- The most straightforward way is to buy the game digitally at the Nintendo eShop. This is what is linked to in the lists below.
- The best way to buy a game physically is purchase a cartridge that has most or all of the game on the cart. In the list below I refer to these as Cart.
- Many third-party games are on Game Key Cards. It is basically a physical box that contains a cartridge that when you put it into your system, the game will download to your system and you’ll be able to play it when the cartridge is in your system. You will be able to sell the cartridge. However, you cannot play the game if you lose the card.
- Finally, there is code in a box. This is a physical box that has a code in it. You enter the code at the Nintendo eShop and the game is downloaded to your system and associated with your Nintendo account. You cannot sell the game to someone else.
Regular Retro Game Releases
Here is the list of regular retro game releases available, or announced, for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Again, these may be rom dumps, ports, remasters, or remakes. All the links in the game titles are to the Nintendo eShop.
For physical games available in North America, the links are typically to the game’s sales page on Video Games Plus. Asia-specific releases link to Play Asia. If I’m not able to find a game at those two places, I may also check Amazon or elsewhere. As of this writing, none of these are affiliate links.
For ease of reading and viewing on phones, I’ve also prepared a PDF version of the three tables found in this post. While it can be shared for free publicly, don’t modify the file. Also, the “New” column in the PDF denotes games that were added or changed since the last update. The file is provided “as is” without any warranty or condition, express or implied.
Note: If you see a game that has a Cart version and a GKC version listed, make sure that you are getting the version you want before purchase. Some Play Asia listings are not clear as to whether the game is on the cart.
Hamster ACA Releases
These are Hamster’s Arcade Archives releases that are available digitally at the Nintendo eShop specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2. To my knowledge, all of these are also available on Nintendo Switch 1, but are missing the Time Attack Mode that is in the Nintendo Switch 2 versions.
Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 releases are more expensive than their Nintendo Switch 1 counterparts, even if the title doesn’t take advantage of the new hardware.
Note: Every game in this series technically has “Arcade Archives 2” at the start of the title. I have removed that part for space and simplicity reasons.
| Game | Release Date | Developer | Genre | Price |
| Air Combat 22 | 7/3/2025 | Bandai Namco | CFS | $16.99 |
| Aqua Jet | 8/14/2025 | Bandai Namco | RAC | $16.99 |
| Battlantis | 10/09/2025 | Konami | SHT | $9.99 |
| Bomb Bee | 11/20/2025 | Bandai Namco | BB | $9.99 |
| Bomb Jack Twin | 10/15/2026 | Koei Tecmo | ACT | $9.99 |
| Galactic Warriors | 11/13/2025 | Konami | FG | $9.99 |
| Gee Bee | 10/2/2025 | Bandai Namco | BB | $9.99 |
| Labyrinth Runner | 01/22/2026 | Konami | SHT | $9.99 |
| Mach Breakers | 9/4/2025 | Bandai Namco | SPT | $16.99 |
| Midnight Landing | 10/23/2025 | Taito | SIM | $9.99 |
| Quester | 01/29/2026 | Bandai Namco | BB | $9.99 |
| Ridge Racer | 6/5/2025 | Bandai Namco | RAC | $16.99 |
| Roc’N Rope | 12/11/2025 | Konami | ACT | $9.99 |
| Scion | 10/30/2025 | Seibu Kaihatsu | SHM | $9.99 |
| Scrambled Egg | 8/28/2025 | Technos | ACT | $9.99 |
| Steel Worker | 9/18/2025 | Taito | ACT | $9.99 |
| Space Invaders | 12/25/2025 | Taito | SHT | $9.99 |
| Space Invaders Part II | 01/01/2026 | Taito | SHT | $9.99 |
| Tokyo Wars | 11/06/2025 | Bandai Namco | FPS | $16.99 |
| Top Speed | 02/05/2026 | Taito | RAC | $9.99 |
| Video Hustler | 9/11/2025 | Konami | SPT | $9.99 |
Hamster Console Archives Releases
These are Hamster’s Console Archives releases that are available digitally at the Nintendo eShop specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Note: Every game in this series technically has “Console Archives” at the start of the title. I have removed that part for space and simplicity reasons.
| Game | Console | Release Date | Developer | Genre | Price |
| Cool Boarders | PS1 | 02/05/2026 | UEP Systems | SPT | $11.99 |
| Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos | NES | 02/05/2026 | Tecmo | ACT | $7.99 |
Cheap Retro Gaming 
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