Nintendo's Red-Tinted Revival: Is the Virtual Boy Worth a Second Look?
This week, Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack unleashed a blast from the past with the Virtual Boy app, finally giving modern gamers a chance to experience this quirky console's library. But here's where it gets controversial: while the Virtual Boy is infamous for its commercial flop and headache-inducing red-and-black graphics, could there be hidden gems within its limited game selection? And this is the part most people miss: for many, especially outside of Japan and North America, this marks the first official opportunity to play these games.
Sure, dedicated retro enthusiasts might have tracked down an original Virtual Boy (good luck finding one in working condition!), but for the majority, this is a chance to see what all the fuss (or lack thereof) was about. Yes, the Virtual Boy was a commercial failure, but its small library holds some surprisingly innovative titles. The promise of more games, including two long-lost treasures buried in Nintendo's vaults for decades, makes the NSO Expansion Pack a tempting gateway to this red-tinted world. Granted, the $99.99 / £66.99 price tag for the Virtual Boy Switch accessory isn't exactly pocket change, but it's a fraction of the cost of a functioning original console.
The initial lineup features seven games, with nine more scheduled for release throughout 2026, including the inaugural entry in the beloved Mario Tennis series. Here's what's available now:
- 3D Tetris: A mind-bending twist on a classic.
- Galactic Pinball: Red-hued pinball action in space.
- Golf: A surprisingly immersive take on the sport.
- Red Alarm: Intense space combat with a unique visual style.
- Teleroboxer: Futuristic boxing with a robotic twist.
- The Mansion of Innsmouth (Innsmouth No Yakata): A chilling horror adventure.
- Virtual Boy Wario Land: Wario's wacky platforming antics in 3D.
We've dusted off our retro reviews from the early 2010s, but we want to hear your take on these games in 2026. Now that you've had a chance to play them, what score would you give each title? Cast your votes in the polls below and let us know how these classics hold up today.
Don't worry if you haven't had time to dive into every game yet – you can always rate them later on their individual game pages. We'll be compiling a dynamic, real-time ranking of the Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics soon, but if you're impatient, check out our existing ranked list of all 22 Virtual Boy games, NSO or not.
So, are you ready to see red? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Is the Virtual Boy a forgotten gem deserving of a second chance, or a relic best left in the past? And while we're at it, what other forgotten consoles would you like to see revived on modern platforms?
