Nintendo Switch Online Adds Wario Land and Three More Classics

Nintendo has confirmed four new additions to the Nintendo Switch Online Classics library, highlighted by Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3—making this an immediate win for retro fans who want fresh handheld history on modern hardware.

What happened

Nintendo Switch Online Classics has expanded again, with four newly available games now playable through the service. The update brings three Game Boy titles and one Game Boy Advance entry, with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 serving as the headline release.

The newly added games are: Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Game Boy), Fortified Zone (Game Boy), Sword of Hope 2 (Game Boy), and Dr. Mario & Puzzle League (Game Boy Advance). Importantly, the Game Boy Advance title is not included with the base Switch Online tier; it requires Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

Nintendo also positioned this release as part of a broader, ongoing effort to build out the handheld Classics catalog. The Game Boy and Game Boy Color library has been growing steadily since Nintendo introduced that library back in February 2023. Today, the Game Boy side totals 46 games in the Classics catalog, featuring familiar names such as Kirby’s Dream Land, Super Mario Land 2, Metroid 2: Return of Samus, and Tetris.

On the Game Boy Advance side, the collection is smaller, with 29 games currently available as part of Switch Online’s Classics lineup.

Why it matters

For long-time Nintendo players, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is the most notable addition because it marks Wario’s playable debut on the Nintendo Switch via the Classics library. The source also notes that Wario Land 3 was among the earliest Wario-related Game Boy entries added when the service launched its Game Boy library in February 2023, while other Wario entries have arrived later—Wario Land 4 in February 2025 and Virtual Boy Wario Land in February of this year.

Still, the update doesn’t complete the Wario lineup. Wario Land 2 and 3 are described as missing from Nintendo Switch Online, as is the GameCube title Wario World. That means today’s release is a meaningful step for collectors and series fans, but it also underlines how much the catalog remains incomplete.

Beyond Wario, the other additions broaden the variety of the handheld Classics offering. Fortified Zone is a 1991 top-down shooter where players switch between two mercenaries with distinct abilities while attempting to infiltrate a military facility. Sword of Hope 2 stands out as a fantasy RPG that uses point-and-click-style commands—such as looking, opening, and striking—continuing a series that previously had its first entry added to Switch Online in May 2025.

Finally, Dr. Mario & Puzzle League adds a two-in-one experience. Originally released for Game Boy Advance in 2005, it pairs Dr. Mario gameplay with Puzzle League, which differs in look and feel from earlier Puzzle League entries, even if the Dr. Mario portion is closer in spirit to the Nintendo 64 version.

What to watch next

Nintendo’s Classics rollouts for 2026 have already included multiple platforms and eras, and the momentum appears to be continuing. The source highlights that, across the first eight months of 2026, Nintendo Switch Online’s Classics program has added new Pokémon and Fire Emblem titles to the GameCube library, finally brought Donkey Kong 64 to the service, expanded NES offerings, and debuted a Virtual Boy library that now has 14 games available.

With that pattern in mind, players should expect Nintendo to keep filling out its handheld back-catalog—especially as the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance libraries continue to grow in parallel. The next question for fans is which series Nintendo will prioritize next: more Wario entries to close the gaps, or further diversification with shooters and RPGs like Fortified Zone and Sword of Hope 2.

Quick takeaways

• Base-tier Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can play three of the four new additions starting today, while the Game Boy Advance title needs the Expansion Pack.
• Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is the standout release for Wario fans because it brings Wario’s playable debut to the Switch via Classics.
• Fortified Zone adds a top-down, mercenary-switching shooter experience to the Game Boy lineup.
• Sword of Hope 2 continues the fantasy RPG streak with point-and-click-style command inputs.
• Dr. Mario & Puzzle League is a two-game bundle that pairs familiar Dr. Mario gameplay with a distinct Puzzle League presentation.

New Nintendo Switch Online Classics additions

Expert View

This kind of targeted Classics expansion is exactly how Nintendo Switch Online stays relevant between larger platform drops: it delivers recognizable franchises like Wario while also diversifying with niche handheld genres. For players, the immediate value is straightforward—more games to play today—while for the platform, it’s a signal that Nintendo is still willing to mine its handheld back-catalog aggressively rather than letting the library plateau.