Nintendo Switch Online Still Needs DS Games and These 5 Are the First That Should Be Added

September 16, 2025, 1:00pm

There’s a rumor floating around that Nintendo DS games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online in the near future. While there are certainly going to be some technical limitations given that the DS and its games were designed around two screens, which is something neither the Nintendo Switch nor the Switch 2 has. Still, it can work because Nintendo can add controls to offset things and just split the screen into two halves within the one large Switch screen. If and when this happens, there are five DS games that need to be up first.

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1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Classic Zelda is a staple of Nintendo Switch Online. Each option has at least one The Legend of Zelda game, providing a great way to access some of the best games Nintendo has ever released. Even the newer consoles on the online service, like N64 and GameCube, had Zelda games early on, so the DS should be no different.

Enter Phantom Hourglass. It’s a sequel to The Wind Waker, which literally just got dropped onto the GameCube section of Nintendo Switch Online, making it a fantastic opportunity to build on that release. Plus, both Zelda DS titles (this one and Spirit Tracks) are locked on the DS, so this marks a really good opportunity to bring them to a wider audience.

2. Mario & Luigi Bowser’s Inside Story

The Mario & Luigi games are some of the most beloved, and Brothership was a really strong entry to the franchise. It should honestly revitalize that series and spark new sequels later down the line. Whether or not that’s going to happen remains to be seen, but what Nintendo can do is bring back some old games through Switch Online.

3. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

There is currently a Mario & Sonic game on the Nintendo Switch, but it’s the underwhelming Tokyo Games edition. That’s probably the worst Summer Olympics game in the series, but at least players can use their Switch to run track, swim, and throw a discus. On the winter side, there’s no option.

Enter the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, which is arguably the superior version anyway. Adding this to Nintendo Switch Online fills a void with a beloved franchise and adds some gameplay that’s sorely lacking on Switch Online in general.

4. Metroid Prime Hunters

The Metroid series has been strangely ignored for far too long, but now is the ideal time to start bringing it back. For one, Metroidvanias are having a huge moment thanks to Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally has a release date. Things are looking firmly up for this series, so there’s never been a better time to revisit Metroid Prime Hunters, a fantastic DS title.

With the December release date of the new game looming, the remaining months of the year would serve perfectly to whet the appetites of Metroid fans. It would drive that anticipation up even higher and bring back a strong outing for a character that desperately needs more love.

5. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Time

For whatever reason, Nintendo does not like adding mainline Pokémon games to Switch Online. They would be outrageously popular, but Nintendo prefers to leave the originals lost to time. Nevertheless, what Nintendo does add are Pokémon’s offshoot games, like Pokémon Snap or Colosseum.

That’s where a game like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time could shine. It’s a spin-off series within Pokémon that is still pretty unique among all the games out there, and this DS version is a pretty good outing in general. It would scratch the classic Pokémon itch without breaking Nintendo’s self-imposed ban on bringing back actual Pokémon games.

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