Ten Classic NES Games Remain Absent From Switch Online
Ten notable NES titles from the late 80s and early 90s, including Paperboy and Bionic Commando, are still missing from Nintendo's subscription service
Ten specific NES games, including Paperboy, Kiwi Kraze, and Bionic Commando, are still not available on Nintendo Switch Online despite their historical significance and fan demand. These titles, released between 1987 and 1993, are being revisited for their influence on modern game design and recent re-releases.
Paperboy was released in December 1988. It appeared on most major platforms of the era, but the NES port used more muted colors and simplistic visuals matching the console’s capabilities. Kiwi Kraze, a port of New Zealand Story, arrived in March 1991. Its gameplay involves running, jumping, and riding balloons through a zoo world with cute monsters.
Adventure Island 3 was released in July 1992. It was developed by Now Production and published by Hudson Soft. Destiny of an Emperor, depicting heroes fighting the Yellow Scarves in China with strategic battles, came out in May 1989.
The Battle of Olympus was released in March 1988. It was the debut title from Infinity, the studio behind Ribbit King, and was published in the US by Broderbund. Bubble Bobble Part 2 offers multiplayer support and is rare and expensive compared to the original. It launched in August 1993.
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom was developed by Hudson Soft and released in May 1988. It features a menu-based interface resembling a text adventure. Faxanadu, published by Nintendo in North America and Europe and developed by Hudson Soft as a spinoff of Falcom’s Dragon Slayer series, debuted in November 1987.
Shadowgate was developed by ICOM Simulations and ported to NES by Kemco, featuring a battery save system. It launched in March 1989. Bionic Commando originated from the 1987 arcade game Top Secret and had Nazi imagery altered in its North American NES release, which arrived in July 1988.
Context and Legacy
These games reflect the technical limits and creative ambitions of the NES era, with several seeing modern revivals or maintaining cult followings. The Battle of Olympus has a Steam remake in early access scheduled for January 2027, ahead of its 40th anniversary.
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom had a Virtual Console release but is now unavailable after the service ended. Interest in the Shadowgate franchise remains high, with Beyond Shadowgate on Steam showing what a sequel might look like. Capcom later returned to the Bionic Commando franchise with Grin-developed Bionic Commando: Rearmed and other releases.
"The Nintendo Entertainment System is credited with rescuing a flailing industry back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s." The absence of these foundational titles from modern services shows ongoing challenges in digital preservation. The Battle of Olympus is set for a Steam remake in early access in January 2027.
