Get Ready for Pokémon's Latest Adventure on NSO!

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team Joins Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack

Get ready for another classic Pokémon adventure! Nintendo announced the addition of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service, launching August 9th. This beloved roguelike title joins the growing library of retro games available to Expansion Pack subscribers, encompassing Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis titles.

Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in 2006, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team puts players in the paws (or fins, or wings!) of a Pokémon. Unravel the mystery of your human-to-Pokémon transformation by exploring dungeons and completing missions. A companion title, Blue Rescue Team, was released for the Nintendo DS, and a remake, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, arrived on the Switch in 2020.

Mainline Pokémon Games Still Sought After

While the Expansion Pack regularly adds new classic games, the inclusion of primarily Pokémon spin-offs (like Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Puzzle League) has left some fans wanting more. Many are hoping to see mainline entries, such as Pokémon Red and Blue, added to the service. Speculation regarding this absence ranges from potential N64 Transfer Pak compatibility issues and Nintendo Switch Online infrastructure limitations to complexities involving the Pokémon Home app and its integration with the Switch. The fact that Nintendo doesn't fully own the Pokémon Home app is cited as a possible hurdle.

Nintendo Switch Online Mega Multiplayer Festival

In addition to the PMD: Red Rescue Team announcement, Nintendo is running a Mega Multiplayer Festival until September 8th. Resubscribing to a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership via the eShop or My Nintendo Store will net you two extra months free! Further perks include bonus Gold Points on game purchases (August 5th-18th) and free trials of four multiplayer Switch titles (August 19th-25th; titles to be announced). A Nintendo Mega Multiplayer game sale follows from August 26th to September 8th, 2024.

Looking Ahead to the Switch 2

With the Switch 2 on the horizon, the future of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack remains uncertain. How the service will integrate into the next-generation console is yet to be revealed. For more details on the upcoming Switch 2, check out the link below!