If all you need is online multiplayer, cloud saves and a solid library of NES, SNES and Game Boy games, the standard membership is usually enough.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the premium tier. It includes everything in the regular plan, then adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis and Virtual Boy libraries, Nintendo GameCube classics on Switch 2, selected DLC and several Switch 2 upgrade packs.
So which one should you buy?
Quick answer: Choose standard Nintendo Switch Online if you mainly want to play online and protect your saves.
Choose Expansion Pack if classic Nintendo games are a major reason you own the system, especially if you want N64, Game Boy Advance or GameCube games, or if you already own games covered by its included DLC and Switch 2 upgrade packs.
Table of Contents
What is Nintendo Switch Online?
Nintendo Switch Online, usually shortened to NSO, is Nintendo’s paid online membership for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Its most basic function is straightforward: it enables online multiplayer in supported paid games.
If you want to race other players in Mario Kart, fight online in Super Smash Bros., visit friends in Animal Crossing or use the online features of many other full-price Switch games, you will normally need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Free-to-play games are a notable exception. Games such as Fortnite generally do not require an NSO membership simply to play online.
But multiplayer is only one part of the service.
NSO also provides cloud save backups for supported games, classic Nintendo libraries, Nintendo Music and several member-only benefits.
What does standard Nintendo Switch Online include?
The base subscription currently includes:
- Online multiplayer in supported Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games.
- Save Data Cloud for supported titles.
- NES – Nintendo Classics.
- Super NES – Nintendo Classics.
- Game Boy – Nintendo Classics.
- Nintendo Music, Nintendo’s soundtrack streaming app.
- Member special offers and selected promotions.
- GameChat on Nintendo Switch 2.
That makes standard NSO the practical choice if your main reason for subscribing is simply getting your console online.
It also contains more retro Zelda than you might expect. Depending on the current library, the standard collections include classics from the NES, SNES and Game Boy eras.
What is Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack?
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the higher membership tier.
You keep every feature from regular NSO and gain a much bigger retro catalog alongside selected modern-game benefits.
The additional classic libraries currently include:
- Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics
- Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics
- SEGA Genesis – Nintendo Classics
- Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics
- Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2
The Zelda difference alone can be substantial.
Expansion Pack is the tier that gives subscribers access to games such as Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask through the N64 collection, The Minish Cap through Game Boy Advance and The Wind Waker through GameCube Classics on Switch 2.
Virtual Boy is slightly different from the other libraries because compatible Virtual Boy hardware accessories are required to actually use that collection.
Which DLC comes with Expansion Pack?
The membership also includes access to selected DLC at no additional charge while your subscription remains active.
Nintendo currently lists:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise
- Splatoon 2 – Octo Expansion
You still need to own the base game.
If your Expansion Pack membership ends, access to subscription-provided DLC also ends unless you purchase that DLC separately.
What Switch 2 upgrade packs are included?
Expansion Pack also includes access to Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Packs for:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Again, you need to own the corresponding base game.
Nintendo Switch Online vs Expansion Pack
| Feature | Nintendo Switch Online | + Expansion Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Online multiplayer | Yes | Yes |
| Save Data Cloud | Yes | Yes |
| NES | Yes | Yes |
| SNES | Yes | Yes |
| Game Boy | Yes | Yes |
| Nintendo Music | Yes | Yes |
| GameChat on Switch 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Nintendo 64 | No | Yes |
| Game Boy Advance | No | Yes |
| SEGA Genesis | No | Yes |
| Virtual Boy | No | Yes* |
| GameCube on Switch 2 | No | Yes |
| Selected DLC | No | Included |
| BOTW / TOTK Switch 2 upgrade packs | No | Included |
*Virtual Boy titles require a compatible Virtual Boy accessory. GameCube Classics are exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
Which Nintendo Switch Online membership is right for you?
Get standard NSO if you mainly play online
If you bought a Switch primarily for current games and just need online multiplayer, standard Nintendo Switch Online is the sensible option.
You still get cloud saves, Nintendo Music and three classic libraries, so it is not exactly bare-bones.
Best for: Mario Kart, Smash, Animal Crossing and Splatoon players who do not care much about Nintendo 64 or GameCube games.
Get Expansion Pack if retro Nintendo is a big part of the appeal
This is where the price difference starts making sense.
If you specifically want Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, The Minish Cap, GameCube games on Switch 2 or the wider N64/GBA catalog, standard NSO simply does not include those libraries.
Expansion Pack is therefore the obvious choice for Nintendo history fans.
Best for: Zelda fans, retro players and Switch 2 owners who want GameCube Classics.
Get Expansion Pack if you already own its supported games
The calculation changes if you own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Splatoon 2, Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom.
If several included DLC or upgrade packs are useful to you, Expansion Pack can provide value outside its retro catalog.
Skip the upgrade if: you would never use those DLC packs and have little interest in N64, GBA or GameCube.
Individual vs Family Membership
Nintendo offers both tiers as Individual and Family memberships.
An Individual Membership covers one Nintendo Account.
A Family Membership can cover up to eight Nintendo Accounts in the same Nintendo Account family group.
That can make the family option dramatically better value if several people need access.
At Nintendo’s current US list prices:
Nintendo pricing varies by country and currency. Expansion Pack and all Family Memberships are sold in 12-month terms.
Get more from G2A Plus
G2A Plus members can earn Plus Points on eligible purchases, while Premium can also provide member prices and additional purchase benefits on eligible marketplace offers.
Is Expansion Pack more useful on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes.
The value gap between the two plans is wider on Nintendo Switch 2 because Expansion Pack unlocks several benefits that the original Switch cannot use.
The biggest one is Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics.
That library is exclusive to Switch 2 and includes games such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker alongside other GameCube releases.
Expansion Pack subscribers on Switch 2 can also access selected Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Packs at no additional subscription charge, including the upgrade packs for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Standard NSO still gains one significant Switch 2 feature: GameChat is available with either membership tier.
So owning a Switch 2 does not automatically mean you need Expansion Pack.
But if retro games and included upgrades matter to you, Expansion Pack makes substantially more sense on the newer hardware.
Nintendo Switch Online FAQ
Do you need Nintendo Switch Online to play online?
For most paid Nintendo Switch games with online multiplayer, yes. Some free-to-play games do not require an NSO subscription for online play.
Does Nintendo Switch Online work on Switch 2?
Yes. Membership is connected to your Nintendo Account and works across supported Switch and Switch 2 systems. Some features, such as GameCube Classics, are exclusive to Switch 2.
Is Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack a separate subscription?
It is the premium NSO tier. It includes every standard NSO benefit and adds additional classic libraries, DLC and selected Switch 2 benefits.
Can you buy Expansion Pack monthly?
No. Nintendo currently offers Individual and Family Expansion Pack memberships in 12-month terms. Standard Individual NSO can also be purchased for one or three months.
Does the Expansion Pack include full Switch games?
Its main game offering is the Nintendo Classics catalog. It also provides selected DLC and upgrade packs, but you need the relevant base game to use that content.
Can Family Membership really cover eight accounts?
Yes. A Nintendo Account family group can contain up to eight accounts, and all accounts in the group can receive the benefits of the relevant Family Membership.
What happens to included DLC if Expansion Pack expires?
You lose subscription access to that DLC. Your base game remains yours, and you can regain access by renewing the membership or purchasing the DLC separately.
Standard NSO is enough for most players, but Expansion Pack is much more than a retro add-on
For someone who just wants to play Mario Kart or Smash online, the decision is easy: standard Nintendo Switch Online does the job.
It gives you multiplayer, cloud saves, Nintendo Music and enough classic games to make the membership useful beyond online play.
Expansion Pack becomes worthwhile when you start checking several extra boxes at once.
You want Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. You want Game Boy Advance games. You own a Switch 2 and want GameCube Classics. You already own Mario Kart or Animal Crossing and would use the included DLC. You own Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom and want access to their Switch 2 upgrade packs.
At that point, Expansion Pack stops looking like a more expensive version of NSO and starts looking like Nintendo’s broader retro-and-content subscription.
If none of those extras sound appealing, save the difference and stick with standard NSO.