Nintendo Switch Online has expanded its retro library again, this time with a surprise drop for fans of classic handheld games. Nintendo has added Yoshi and Balloon Kid to the Game Boy – Nintendo Classics app, giving subscribers two more early-1990s titles to revisit starting February 3, 2026.
This update marks the first new Game Boy addition to the service in 2026. Nintendo last refreshed the Game Boy catalog in fall 2025, making this shadowdrop a notable start to the year for retro fans.
Yoshi Joins the Game Boy Classics Lineup
Originally released in 1991, Yoshi delivers a fast-paced action-puzzle experience built around stacking and matching falling enemies.
Players catch Mario-universe characters on trays, match pairs to clear them, and use falling eggshells to trigger chain reactions. The game supports both single-player and two-player modes, adding a competitive edge to its puzzle mechanics.
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The rising speed of falling enemies keeps the pressure high, making Yoshi one of the more intense puzzle titles from the original Game Boy era.
Balloon Kid Brings Side-Scrolling Action
Balloon Kid, first released in 1990, takes a very different approach. As a sequel to Balloon Fight, it shifts the action into a side-scrolling platformer format. Players control Alice as she floats through stages using balloons, dodges enemies, and collects bonuses while following her brother’s trail.
The game includes a competitive two-player mode where players race to collect more balloons, adding replay value beyond the main story.
No Expansion Pack Required
Both titles are available with the base Nintendo Switch Online subscription, which costs $20 per year. Players do not need the Expansion Pack tier to access the Game Boy – Nintendo Classics app, making this update accessible to all standard subscribers.
Subscribers only need to update the Game Boy Classics app to the latest version and connect to the internet to start playing.
All Available Classic Game Boy Games on Nintendo Switch Online (Full List)
With the addition of Yoshi and Balloon Kid, the Game Boy – Nintendo Classics catalog now includes 43 games. The library already features popular titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Mario Land, and Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Full Game Boy – Nintendo Classics Library
- Alleyway
- Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Balloon Kid
- 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: Of Myths and Monsters
- Kirby Tilt ’n’ Tumble
- Kirby’s Dream Land
- Kirby’s Dream Land 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 II
- Mega Man III
- Mega Man IV
- Mega Man V
- Mega Man: Dr. Wily’s Revenge
- Metroid II: Return of Samus
- Pokémon Trading Card Game
- Quest for Camelot
- Super Mario Land
- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
- Survival Kids
- The Sword of Hope
- Tetris
- Tetris DX
- Wario Land 3
- Yoshi
This lineup covers many of the most important Game Boy releases from the early 1990s, including flagship franchises like Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Metroid, Mega Man, and Pokémon. Nintendo continues to expand the catalog gradually, with shadowdrops and periodic updates rather than fixed schedules.
While some iconic Game Boy titles remain missing, Nintendo continues to steadily expand its retro lineup, keeping long-time fans engaged with regular updates. Play Now!
