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Choose the standard Nintendo Switch Online plan if the Mario games you want are in the NES, Super NES or Game Boy Nintendo Classics libraries. Choose Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack for Nintendo 64 or Game Boy Advance Mario games, the additional classic systems, or the included Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass. In the United States, Expansion Pack costs $30 more per year for one account or $45 more for a family membership, so the right choice depends mainly on the systems you want to play.
The short answer: match the membership to the Mario system
Nintendo divides its classic-game service by original console. The standard membership includes Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super NES and Game Boy libraries. That tier is sufficient for Mario titles released on those systems, provided the particular game is in the current catalog.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Expansion Pack includes everything in standard Nintendo Switch Online and adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy and SEGA Genesis Nintendo Classics. It also includes selected downloadable content, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass. On Nintendo Switch 2, the service additionally brings a growing GameCube Classics library and selected Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs.
There is no permanent, universal list of “all classic Mario games” attached to either subscription. Nintendo curates and changes the libraries, and catalogs can differ by country. Check the live Nintendo Classics catalog for your region before subscribing, especially if you are choosing a plan for one specific game.
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What both Nintendo Switch Online tiers include
Standard and Expansion Pack are not separate online-multiplayer services. Both provide the core Nintendo Switch Online benefits, while Expansion Pack adds more classic systems and selected content.
| Benefit | Standard Nintendo Switch Online | Expansion Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Online multiplayer in supported games | Included | Included |
| Save Data Cloud for supported games | Included | Included |
| NES Nintendo Classics | Included | Included |
| Super NES Nintendo Classics | Included | Included |
| Game Boy Nintendo Classics | Included | Included |
| Nintendo Music | Included | Included |
| Member offers | Included | Included |
| GameChat on Nintendo Switch 2 | Usable with either membership | Usable with either membership |
“Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack builds on that by adding:” is Nintendo’s description of the higher tier. The additions are the extra classic libraries, selected downloadable content and, where applicable, Nintendo Switch 2 benefits—not a different level of access to the NES, Super NES or Game Boy collections.
Where the Mario games fit by system
Use the original platform of the game you want, rather than its character or release date, to decide which tier is required. The following examples use systems named in Nintendo’s current membership information.
| Original system or content | Membership needed | Mario-related examples or notes |
|---|---|---|
| NES | Standard or Expansion Pack | Mario games in the current NES Classics catalog |
| Super NES | Standard or Expansion Pack | Mario games in the current Super NES Classics catalog |
| Game Boy | Standard or Expansion Pack | Mario games in the current Game Boy Classics catalog |
| Nintendo 64 | Expansion Pack | Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 are examples named by Nintendo |
| Game Boy Advance | Expansion Pack | Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit are examples named by Nintendo |
| Virtual Boy | Expansion Pack | Virtual Boy Classics are an Expansion Pack library; check the current catalog for a particular title |
| SEGA Genesis | Expansion Pack | Genesis Classics are an Expansion Pack library; Mario availability is determined by the live catalog |
| GameCube on Nintendo Switch 2 | Expansion Pack and Nintendo Switch 2 hardware | The GameCube Classics library is growing and is not available on the original Nintendo Switch |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass | Expansion Pack | Included DLC for the modern Switch game, not a classic-game release |
What you can play with the standard membership
NES Classics
The standard tier gives access to the NES Nintendo Classics library. If your target Mario game originally appeared on NES and Nintendo currently offers it in your region, standard is enough. The service entitlement covers access while the membership is active; it does not turn each game into a permanently purchased copy.
Super NES Classics
Super NES titles are also part of standard Nintendo Switch Online. This is the relevant tier for Mario games that Nintendo places in its Super NES collection. Because Nintendo can add, remove or otherwise curate entries, use the current catalog rather than an old list from a launch-era article.
Game Boy Classics
Game Boy Nintendo Classics are included in standard as well. This can make standard the best-value option for someone interested in handheld-era Mario games but not Nintendo 64 or Game Boy Advance software.
Standard also includes online multiplayer in supported games, Save Data Cloud for supported games, Nintendo Music and member offers. Those benefits are not removed when you skip Expansion Pack.
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Nintendo 64 Mario games
Expansion Pack is required for the Nintendo 64 Classics library. Nintendo specifically names Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 as examples. If either is your deciding game, the standard membership will not provide the necessary library access.
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Game Boy Advance Mario games
Expansion Pack also unlocks Game Boy Advance Classics. Nintendo highlights Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Nintendo describes the service as providing “a collection of classic and colorful Game Boy Advance games to play anytime, anywhere!” The exact collection remains subject to Nintendo’s current catalog and regional availability.
Virtual Boy and SEGA Genesis Classics
These libraries are part of Expansion Pack even when the particular game you want is not a Mario title. They matter if your subscription decision includes broader retro access rather than one platform-specific game. Check the live regional listings for the titles you care about.
More than 270 combined Classics titles
Nintendo reported more than 270 combined Nintendo Classics titles across the listed systems in 2026. That figure covers the combined service libraries, not a Mario-only total, and the catalog is described as curated or growing. It should not be read as a promise that every title is available in every country or remains available indefinitely.
Expansion Pack’s modern Mario value
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
Expansion Pack includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass at no additional charge while the membership is active. This is downloadable content for the modern Nintendo Switch game, not a Nintendo Classics version or a separate retro game. You still need Mario Kart 8 Deluxe itself to use the courses.
For a player who already owns Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and wants the Booster Course Pass, the DLC can be the reason Expansion Pack is worth considering even without an interest in Nintendo 64 or Game Boy Advance games. If you do not own the base game, count its separate purchase when comparing your total cost.
Other selected downloadable content
Nintendo describes Expansion Pack as including selected downloadable content. The specific list and eligibility terms can change, so verify the current Nintendo membership page for the DLC relevant to your games. Do not assume that every paid add-on for every Nintendo title is included.
Nintendo Switch 2 requirements and limits
GameCube Classics require Switch 2 hardware
Expansion Pack membership alone does not provide access to GameCube Classics on an original Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s GameCube Classics library is a Nintendo Switch 2 benefit, and it is described as growing over time. You need both compatible Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and the qualifying Expansion Pack membership.
Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs
Selected Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs are another Expansion Pack benefit. Eligibility applies to the selected titles Nintendo designates, not automatically to every Switch game with a Switch 2 edition. Check the current list before treating an upgrade pack as part of your subscription value.
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GameChat works with either tier
Nintendo Switch 2 users can use GameChat with either Nintendo Switch Online membership. Upgrading to Expansion Pack is therefore unnecessary if GameChat is the only Switch 2 feature you need.
U.S. prices and the cost of upgrading
The following are Nintendo’s stated U.S. prices for 2026. Prices are country-specific and can change, so verify the live Nintendo pricing page before purchase.
| Plan | Price | Accounts covered | Difference from standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard individual, annual | $19.99 per year | One Nintendo Account | Baseline |
| Expansion Pack individual, annual | $49.99 per year | One Nintendo Account | $30 more per year |
| Standard family, annual | $34.99 per year | Up to eight Nintendo Accounts | Baseline |
| Expansion Pack family, annual | $79.99 per year | Up to eight Nintendo Accounts | $45 more per year |
| Standard individual, monthly | $3.99 per month | One Nintendo Account | Standard option only in the supplied U.S. pricing |
| Standard individual, three months | $7.99 per three months | One Nintendo Account | Standard option only in the supplied U.S. pricing |
For one U.S. account, the annual Expansion Pack premium is $30. For a family membership, the premium is $45 total, regardless of whether all eight account slots are used. Dividing that premium among a full household makes the upgrade substantially less expensive per person than buying several individual memberships, but the accounts must be covered by the family plan under Nintendo’s account-sharing rules.
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- Write down the exact games you want. Include the original platform, not just the franchise name. “Mario” can mean an NES game, a Super NES game, a Game Boy Advance game or modern Switch DLC, and those fall into different membership categories.
- Match each game to its library. NES, Super NES and Game Boy point to standard. Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy and SEGA Genesis point to Expansion Pack. GameCube Classics additionally require Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.
- Check Nintendo’s live regional catalog. Libraries are curated and can grow or change. Confirm that the specific title is listed for your country before paying, particularly when one game is the entire reason for subscribing.
- Add the value of modern DLC. If you own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and want its Booster Course Pass, include Expansion Pack in your comparison even if your retro targets fit standard.
- Choose individual or family coverage. A family plan supports up to eight Nintendo Accounts. Compare the total household cost, not only the price shown for one player.
- Separate hardware from membership decisions. Expansion Pack does not make GameCube Classics available on an original Switch. Confirm that you own Nintendo Switch 2 if those benefits matter.
- Decide whether temporary access is acceptable. The membership grants service access while it is active. It is not the same as purchasing and permanently owning each classic game.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Buying Expansion Pack for an NES or Super NES game
If every target game is in the NES, Super NES or Game Boy libraries, Expansion Pack does not add a higher-quality version of the standard catalog. The extra fee buys the additional systems, selected DLC and related benefits. Standard is the sensible starting point unless another Expansion Pack feature matters to you.
Assuming every Mario title is included
Nintendo Classics are curated collections, not complete historical archives. A game’s release on a qualifying console does not guarantee that it is currently offered. Confirm the title in the live catalog.
Confusing Booster Course Pass with a classic game
The Booster Course Pass is modern downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is included with Expansion Pack, but it is not a Nintendo 64 or other classic-library release and does not replace the base game.
Expecting Switch 2 benefits on older hardware
GameCube Classics and selected Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs depend on Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility. An Expansion Pack subscription on the original Switch cannot provide those hardware-specific features.
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Forgetting regional and price differences
The figures above are U.S. prices stated for 2026. Nintendo can set different prices, catalogs and availability in other countries, and terms can change. Use the Nintendo page for your account region as the final check.
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Treating cloud saves as universal
Save Data Cloud is included for supported games. “Supported” is an important qualification: not every Nintendo Switch game necessarily participates, so check the individual game’s support status if cloud backup is a deciding factor.
Controllers and the classic-game experience
Nintendo’s 2026 Nintendo Classics information says members have access to purchase classic-style controllers. A product such as the “Nintendo Switch Online Super NES Controller” is an optional accessory, not a requirement for playing the catalog. Availability, regional pricing and stock should be checked separately from the membership decision.
Access, ownership and subscription timing
Classic games and included downloadable content are service entitlements tied to an active qualifying membership. Ending the membership does not establish permanent ownership of the games you accessed through Nintendo Classics. Before subscribing for a short period, consider whether you need continued access to saved progress, online features or included DLC after the membership expires.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBecause Nintendo can update the libraries and Expansion Pack benefits, recheck the current catalog and terms when renewing. A plan that is ideal for a specific Mario game today may not be the best choice for a different household lineup next year.
Decision examples
You want only an NES or Super NES Mario game
Choose standard, assuming the title appears in your regional catalog. Expansion Pack would provide the same standard libraries plus extras you may not use.
You want Super Mario 64
Choose Expansion Pack. Nintendo identifies Super Mario 64 as a Nintendo 64 Classics example, and Nintendo 64 access is not part of standard.
You want Super Mario Advance 4
Choose Expansion Pack because Game Boy Advance Classics are an Expansion Pack benefit.
You want Mario Kart 8 Deluxe extra courses
Choose Expansion Pack only if you already have, or plan to buy, the base game and want the included Booster Course Pass. The membership does not supply the base game itself.
Your family has several Nintendo Accounts and wants multiple classic systems
Compare the $34.99 standard family price with the $79.99 Expansion Pack family price in the U.S. The family Expansion Pack plan is the practical choice when different household members need N64, GBA or other added libraries; standard is enough when everyone’s targets stay within NES, Super NES and Game Boy.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
