Nintendo Switch Online Shadowdrops Two Game Boy Classics

On February 3, Nintendo Switch Online shadow released two more titles for the Game Boy: Nintendo Classics app, which Yoshi and Balloon child were made available for subscribers to enjoy. The latest Game Boy update from Nintendo Switch Online is the first for the app in 2026, with the previous drop in fall 2025.

As a benefit of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, users can play through a growing catalog of games through the Nintendo Classics app. While some apps like the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 are locked behind the Expansion Pack upgrade, access to the Game Boy: Nintendo Classics app simply requires the base Switch Online subscription, priced at $20 per year. The previous Nintendo Switch Online game update took place in early January, and saw the arrival of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the GameCube app for Switch 2.

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Nintendo Switch Online users can now play Yoshi and Balloon Kid

Months after Kid Icarus: About Myths and Monsters and Bionic Commando appeared on the Game Boy app, Nintendo surprised fans by adding two first-party titles for subscribers to play. Balloon child and Yoshi originally released in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Yoshi is an action puzzle game where Mario controls vertical stacks of tiles. waves off Mario cartoon monsters like Goombas and Piranha Plants will drop from the top of the screen, and Mario must match two or more of them in each stack to clear them out. Periodically, eggshells drop from the top, which can be used to stack some monster tiles. If too many monsters fall on a stack and cross the black line at the top of the screen, it's game over. Yoshi has both single and two player game modes for the users to enjoy.

In comparison, Balloon child is a 2D side scrolling platform game. As the sequel to the classic NES platformer Balloon fight, Balloon childs main game mode is inspired by Balloon fights Balloon Trip mode, where the screen moves to the left. The player character, Alice, must avoid obstacles as he travels towards the end of each level. Along with floating and flying on two balloons, Alice can jump and stomp on enemies from above, allowing her to defeat some of the game's enemies. Balloon child also features a two-player mode, where the goal of each player is to collect more balloons than their opponent while navigating through different stages. However, to play Yoshi and balloon child, Switch Online users must first connect to the Internet and update the Game Boy: Nintendo Classics app to the latest version. With the arrival of Yoshi and Balloon childGame Boy: The Nintendo Classics repertoire now consists of 43 games.

Games Available on Game Boy: Nintendo Classics App (February 3, 2026)

Alleyway
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
Balloon child
Baseball
Bionic Commando
Blaster Master: Enemy Below
BurgerTime Deluxe
Castlevania Legends
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Land
Donkey Kong Land 2
Donkey Kong Land 3
Dr. Mario
Game & Watch Gallery 3
Gargoyle's Quest
Gradius: The Interstellar Assault
Kid Icarus: About Myths and Monsters
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble
Kirby's Dreamland
Kirby's Dreamland 2
Kirby's Star Stackers
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Mario Golf
Mario Tennis
Mario's Picross
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge
Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Pokemon Trading Card Game
Search for Camelot
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Gold Coins
Survival child
Sword of Hope
Tetris
Tetris DX
Wario Land 3
Yoshi

February will be busy for fans of Nintendo's legacy products

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers still have more to look forward to throughout February. The Virtual Boy: Nintendo Classics app goes live on February 17, with seven games for players to enjoy, such as Virtual Boy Wario Land. Two more Virtual Boy titles, D-Hopper and Zero Racercoming later. However, the Virtual Boy app requires both an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription and an external Virtual Boy accessory that connects to the Switch 2 console. Despite being the worst-rated Nintendo system of all time, the Virtual Boy created a niche as Nintendo's first attempt at a VR headset.

Click or tap the games that match the category

Even if Yoshi and Balloon child are first-party Nintendo titles, the app still lacks some of the Game Boy's best-selling titles. With Pokémon franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, fans remain hopeful that older mainline Pokémon games like Pokemon Red and Blue will eventually make its way to the Nintendo Classics lineup. Currently, Pokemon Trading Card Game is available on the Game Boy app, and both Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness and Pokemon Coliseum are confirmed to launch on the GameCube app sometime in the future.