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Nintendo Switch Online: The ultimate guide
Just what can you get for $20 a year with Nintendo Switch Online? A lot, actually!
Lory Gil
Source: iMore/ Rene Ritchie
Nintendo has a special online service that Switch owners can subscribe to for a small fee. It gives us access to game-specific content within the Nintendo Switch Online app, online gameplay for compatible games, access to play classic NES game titles, and special discounts in the eShop. Here's everything you need to know about Nintendo's online subscription service.
All the options available
Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions
There are a couple of different options available to you if you'd like to dive into Nintendo Switch Online. There's a 3-month subscription, a 12-month individual subscription, and a 12-month family subscription, which gives you and seven other people access to Switch Online.
$8 for 3-month subscription
$20 for 12-month subscription
$35 for 12-month family subscription
What does a subscription get me?
Can't I just use my Wii U or 3DS account?
Which countries are supported?
How do I subscribe?
What does not having a subscription get me?
With a subscription to Nintendo Online, you'll get five major exclusive features:
Online gameplay - You'll have to pay to play with others online in most games. For example, if you're a high-ranking racer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you're going to want to protect your rank, and the only way to do that is to pay for online play. This includes co-operative and competitive games.
Access to the Nintendo Switch Online app - Nintendo has a special app that is exclusive to Switch and offers special content for specific games. It includes voice chat, leaderboards, a special gear shop, game invites for friends, and more. Without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you won't be able to get any of this exclusive content.
Game save data backups - With a subscription, you can back up your game save data to the cloud, so it is significantly less likely that you'll lose those hours and hours of gameplay if something should happen to your Switch. Unfortunately, some games won't support cloud saves, such as Pokémon Sword and Shield and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Classic Game Selection - Nintendo has included a library of classic NES and SNES games you can play alone or with friends on your Switch — games like Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Star Fox, and more. We don't have to pay anything extra for these games, but if you cancel your Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you'll lose access to them. Here's a list of the games you can play.
Discounts on eShop games - In addition to dropping some classic titles in our laps at no additional charge, Nintendo gives us deals on eShop purchases that non-subscribers don't get.
Exclusive games In addition to the NES and SNES games, you'll also get access to Super Mario Bros. 35 and Tetris 99, two very unique battle royale games exclusive to the service.
You can subscribe to an individual Nintendo Switch Online membership for one month, three months, or one year for $3.99, $7.99, or $19.99, respectively. A family membership allows a total of eight people to share one subscription, but it is only available in yearly increments and costs $34.99.
3-month subscription ($8 at Amazon)
This is the quarterly subscription for a single person. Only choose this if you are still not sure after the free trial.
12-month subscription ($20 at Amazon)
This is the yearly subscription for a single person. Perfect for a person on their own.
12-month family subscription ($35 at Amazon)
The family subscription gives you and seven other people access to Switch Online. It is the cheapest way for people to play.
Nope. Sorry. This subscription is exclusive to Nintendo Switch. No sharesies.
Right now, Nintendo Switch Online is only available in the following countries:
You'll need a Nintendo Account to subscribe. Chances are, you've already got one, but just in case you don't, here's how to sign up for one:
How to sign up for a Nintendo Account
Once you sign up for a Nintendo Account and login, just mosey on over to the Nintendo eShop, go to the Nintendo Switch Online section, choose your membership option, and start your 7-day trial or just sign up fully for the service.
How to sign up for Nintendo Switch Online
Just in case you're faced with the decision to pay for Nintendo Switch Online or go without, here's what you still get to do on your Switch, even without the subscription:
Access to the Nintendo Switch eShop - You know, so you can buy all of the great Nintendo Switch games.
Register and manage friends - You don't get to talk to them or anything, but you'll know when they're on and what they're playing (if they've got that info turned on).
Share screenshots to social media - No one gets left out of their social media feeds.
Access to Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app - Because Nintendo would be stupid to restrict this behind a paywall.
The ability to take screenshots - It doesn't matter if you're online or not; you can still take screenshots to show your friends.
You're still able to access YouTube - Despite YouTube being an online app, you don't need Switch Online to use it.
You can still connect your Nintendo Switch account to a friend's Switch - It doesn't matter whether you've got online or not; you can still change your primary account on the Nintendo eShop.
You can still play free-to-play games - Games like Fortnite, Arena of Valor, Warframe, and Paladins can still be played without an online subscription.
Do you have any questions about Nintendo's online subscription service? Put them in the comments, and I'll help you out.
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Lory is a renaissance woman, writing news, reviews, and how-to guides for iMore. She also fancies herself a bit of a rock star in her town and spends too much time reading comic books. If she's not typing away at her keyboard, you can probably find her at Disneyland or watching Star Wars (or both).