Nintendo Switch Online Adds Three GBA Classics, Including First Western Release of Kururin Paradise

Key points

• Three new GBA games are now available in the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack tier.
• The titles added are Metal Slug Advance, Monster Rancher, and Kururin Paradise.
• Kururin Paradise is the first time the game is officially available in Western regions.
• The update is accessible on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2.
• A Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription is required to play these titles.

Background

This addition follows a pattern of Nintendo expanding its retro library on the Switch platform. Recent updates have included new NES titles and GameCube games like Star Fox. The expansion of the GBA library continues a trend of making previously region-locked or unreleased games available to a global audience.

How outlets are covering it

Nintendo Everything and Nerdvana Media both confirm the addition of the three titles. Nerdvana Media provides additional detail on Kururin Paradise, noting that a North American release was planned and revealed at E3 in 2002 but was later canceled. Both sources agree that an Expansion Pack membership is required. There is no disagreement between the sources regarding the facts of the update.

Why it matters

The inclusion of Kururin Paradise is significant because it resolves a long-standing gap in the Western gaming market, where the title was previously unavailable. This move demonstrates Nintendo's continued effort to make its full retro catalog accessible globally, potentially increasing the value of the Expansion Pack subscription for retro gaming enthusiasts.

What to watch

Nintendo may continue to add more GBA and other retro titles to the Switch Online service in future updates. Subscribers should monitor the service for additional announcements regarding new game additions or other retro library expansions.