Nintendo Switch Online subscribers have another batch of classic games to revisit, as Nintendo has added three more NES titles to its growing collection. The latest update brings Ninja Gaiden 3: The Ancient Ship of Doom, Ikari Warriors, and R.C. Pro-Am 2 to the service, giving subscribers another selection of retro games to check out.
All three games are now available through the NES library on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Perhaps more importantly for anyone who has been keeping track of Nintendo’s various subscription tiers, these additions do not require a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. A standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription is enough to access them.
Leading the new additions is Ninja Gaiden 3: The Ancient Ship of Doom, the third NES entry in Tecmo’s classic action platforming series. The game once again puts players in control of Ryu Hayabusa as he battles through a series of dangerous stages filled with enemies, traps and challenging platforming sections. It is a particularly notable addition for fans who have been following the Ninja Gaiden series across its various generations.
The NES version of Ninja Gaiden 3 originally arrived in 1991 and represented another evolution of the formula established by its predecessors. While the game is known for its demanding difficulty, it also gives Ryu new abilities and expands the series’ action-focused gameplay. Its arrival gives Nintendo Switch Online subscribers the opportunity to experience the complete original NES trilogy through the service.
Also joining the lineup is Ikari Warriors, SNK’s classic run-and-gun action game. Originally released for the NES in 1987 after debuting in arcades, the game follows soldiers Ralf and Clark as they fight their way through enemy territory. Players have to contend with waves of enemies while managing limited ammunition and making use of weapons and power-ups along the way. Nintendo’s current NES library already contains a wide variety of action games, but Ikari Warriors adds another arcade-inspired experience to the collection.
Rounding out the update is R.C. Pro-Am 2, the sequel to Rare’s popular top-down racing game. The original R.C. Pro-Am is already part of the NES collection, making the addition of its sequel a nice opportunity for fans to see how Rare expanded on the formula. R.C. Pro-Am 2 builds on the arcade-style racing mechanics of its predecessor with additional tracks, vehicles, weapons and multiplayer-focused gameplay.
Together, the three additions offer a fairly varied selection. Ninja Gaiden 3 provides fast-paced platforming and combat, Ikari Warriors focuses on shooting and arcade-style action, while R.C. Pro-Am 2 gives the update a racing option. That makes this another update that should have something for different types of retro players.
Nintendo Switch Online’s standard membership continues to provide access to a growing collection of NES, Super NES and Game Boy games, while the Expansion Pack tier adds additional libraries and other benefits. Nintendo’s current lineup includes more than 100 NES and Super NES classics, with the service continuing to receive new additions over time.
For Switch 2 owners, Nintendo Switch Online also continues to provide access to the classic game libraries alongside the system’s other online features. Nintendo confirms that Switch Online memberships work across both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, although certain benefits are exclusive to the newer hardware.
With Ninja Gaiden 3: The Ancient Ship of Doom, Ikari Warriors, and R.C. Pro-Am 2 now available, subscribers have three more reasons to return to Nintendo’s NES library. Whether you’re looking to revisit these games from the NES era or are experiencing them for the first time, the latest update adds another small piece to Nintendo’s increasingly extensive retro lineup.