Nintendo adds classic titles Mario's Picross and Donkey Kong '94 to Switch Online

Nintendo enhances its Switch Online service by introducing two iconic games, Mario's Picross and Donkey Kong '94, captivating both new and nostalgic players.

Nintendo has surprised its fans by adding two classic titles, Mario's Picross and Donkey Kong '94, to its Nintendo Switch Online service. Released in 1995, Mario's Picross is a spin-off featuring the beloved plumber and offers players engaging nonogram-style puzzles. Although it didn't achieve the same success in Western markets when it launched, the game has preserved its legacy over time, now inviting a new generation to experience its challenging logic mechanics.

On the other hand, Donkey Kong '94 is a reinvention of the classic arcade game from 1981, introduced for the Game Boy. This title expands upon the original formula, providing over 100 new levels and introducing acrobatic moves and flips for Mario, gameplay elements that would later influence titles like Super Mario 64.

Both games are now available with the usual features of the subscription service, such as quick save options and graphic filters that emulate the original experience. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can access Mario's Picross and Donkey Kong '94 starting today.

In a related announcement, Nintendo revealed on February 28 that, for the first time in seven years, it would remove a game from the Nintendo Switch Online service: Super Formation Soccer (known as Super Soccer in the West). This title, part of the Super Famicom collection in the Japanese eShop, will no longer be available after March 28, 2025. This decision has sparked dissatisfaction within the community, prompting voices such as developer Hideki Kamiya to call for the return of the Virtual Console, which allowed players to purchase classic games individually.