Nintendo Switch Online is a paid subscription that lets you play online multiplayer games, access a library of classic games, and back up your save data to the cloud
Nintendo Switch Online is Nintendo's membership service for the Switch console. You pay a monthly or yearly fee, and in return you get online multiplayer access for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 3, a collection of NES and SNES games you can play anytime, cloud save backup, and a few other perks. Without it, you cannot play online multiplayer on most Switch games, though some games like Fortnite and Pokémon Unite have their own separate online systems.
Nintendo offers two tiers: a basic plan and an Expansion Pack that costs more and adds Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, plus DLC for certain titles. Both plans renew automatically unless you cancel, and you can pause your subscription for up to three months without losing your membership date.
Key Takeaways
- The basic Nintendo Switch Online plan covers online multiplayer, NES and SNES games, and cloud saves, while the Expansion Pack adds N64 and Genesis games plus some game DLC.
- You can buy a subscription for one month, three months, or one year, and it renews automatically on your billing date unless you turn off auto-renewal in your account settings.
- Family memberships let up to eight people on the same Switch console play online and access the game library, though each person needs their own Nintendo account.
- Cloud saves back up most games automatically, but a few titles like Pokémon Sword and Shield do not support cloud backup and require a manual backup cartridge instead.
- You can cancel or pause your subscription anytime through your Nintendo Account settings without penalty.
What the Basic Plan Includes
The basic Nintendo Switch Online plan gives you online multiplayer for any Switch game that supports it. This means you can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe against people worldwide, join Splatoon 3 matches, or team up in games like Minecraft. Without the subscription, the online features in these games are locked.
You also get access to a rotating library of NES and SNES games. Nintendo adds new titles periodically, and you can read them to your console and play them offline anytime. The library includes games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and Kirby Super Star. You do not own these games — they are only available while your subscription is active.
Cloud save backup is included, which means your game progress is automatically uploaded to Nintendo's servers. If your Switch breaks or you get a new one, you can read your saves and pick up where you left off. This works for most games, but some titles opt out of cloud backup for technical reasons.
The Expansion Pack and What It Adds
The Expansion Pack costs more per month or year than the basic plan and includes everything in the basic plan plus additional content. The main addition is a library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, which Nintendo adds to over time. These include titles like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Kirby 64.
The Expansion Pack also includes DLC (downloadable content) for specific games. For example, it covers the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC packs that add new tracks and characters, and the Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC pack. If you plan to buy these DLC packs separately, the Expansion Pack can save you money, though you only have access to them while your subscription is active.
Nintendo also includes a Game Boy and Game Boy Color game library with the Expansion Pack, though this library is smaller than the NES and SNES collections. You get access to games like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Metroid II.
Subscription Plans and Pricing
Nintendo offers three billing periods for the basic plan: one month, three months, or twelve months. The yearly option has the lowest cost per month if you divide it out, but you pay the full amount upfront. The monthly plan lets you cancel anytime without losing money on unused time.
The Expansion Pack follows the same billing structure — one month, three months, or twelve months — and costs more than the basic plan at each tier. Exact prices vary by region and change occasionally, so check your Nintendo Account settings or the eShop to see current pricing in your area.
Family memberships are available for both the basic plan and the Expansion Pack. A family plan covers up to eight Nintendo Accounts on the same console, so multiple people in your household can play online and access the game libraries without each person buying their own subscription. The family plan costs more than an individual subscription but is cheaper per person if you have multiple players.
How to Buy and Manage Your Subscription
You buy Nintendo Switch Online through your Nintendo Account, which you set up on your Switch console. Go to the eShop, select your account, and choose Nintendo Switch Online. You can then pick your plan (basic or Expansion Pack), your billing period, and your payment method. Nintendo accepts credit cards, debit cards, and Nintendo eShop gift cards.
Once you buy a subscription, it renews automatically on your billing date. You can turn off auto-renewal in your Nintendo Account settings on the Nintendo website or through your Switch console. If you turn off auto-renewal, your subscription ends on your current expiration date and does not renew.
You can also pause your subscription for up to three months without canceling it. This holds your membership date so that when you resume, your renewal date stays the same. To pause, go to your Nintendo Account settings and select the pause option.
Cloud Saves and What Games Do Not Support Them
Cloud save backup happens automatically for most games once you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Your progress uploads to Nintendo's servers, and if you get a new Switch or yours stops working, you can read your saves on a different console using the same Nintendo Account.
A small number of games do not support cloud saves. These include Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, and Violet; Animal Crossing: New Horizons; and a few others. For these games, you can use a manual backup cartridge (a separate device you buy) to back up your saves, or you can accept the risk that your progress is only stored on your console.
If you cancel your subscription, your cloud saves remain on Nintendo's servers for six months. If you resubscribe within that time, you can read them again. After six months, Nintendo deletes the saves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to play single-player games?
No. You only need the subscription to play online multiplayer. Single-player games work without it. You also do not need it to read games from the eShop or to use other Switch features like taking screenshots or watching videos.
Can I share a family membership with people who do not live with me?
Technically, a family membership covers up to eight accounts on the same console, so they must have access to that console. Nintendo's terms say the service is for household members, but enforcement is limited. Check Nintendo's current terms if you are unsure.
What happens to my game library if I cancel my subscription?
The NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and Game Boy games you accessed through the subscription become unavailable. Your save data for those games stays on your console, but you cannot play the games themselves. Games you bought separately are unaffected.
Can I upgrade from the basic plan to the Expansion Pack?
Yes. You can upgrade anytime through your Nintendo Account settings. Nintendo prorates the cost, so you only pay the difference between what you already paid and the higher Expansion Pack price for the remaining time on your current billing period.
Does Nintendo Switch Online work on the Switch Lite or Switch OLED?
Yes. The subscription works on all Switch models — the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED. Your subscription is tied to your Nintendo Account, not to a specific console, so you can use it on any Switch you sign into.