Credit: Nintendo
One of Nintendo’s most bizarre announcements of 2025 was the return of the Virtual Boy, a hardware (and software) failure that had been overhyped over the years. However, many gamers have a soft spot for it, so its inclusion in the Nintendo Switch Online offerings was likely a simple decision, as the video game giant sought to reinvigorate the subscription.
Now the company has revealed new details about the Virtual Boy Classics library, which will soon be available on Nintendo Switch Online. A new trailer showcases a specific list of titles. At launch, on February 17, 2026, users will have access to seven games: Teleroboxer, Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Golf, Virtual Boy Wario Land, 3-D Tetris, and The Mansion of Innsmouth. The latter, originally released only in Japan under the title Innsmouth no Yakata, will be officially available outside of the country for the first time.
The catalog will be expanded with new releases throughout the year. Mario Clash, Mario Tennis, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, Vertical Force, and V-Tetris have already been confirmed. The collection will also include Zero Racers and D-Hopper—both truly new titles that were never released in the 1990s due to the short lifespan of the Virtual Boy.
In addition to the games themselves, Nintendo will add modern usability enhancements. These include save-at-any-time functionality, control remapping, and a rewind function that will make it easier to navigate difficult or frustrating sections. As an added bonus, later in 2026, the ability to swap out the Virtual Boy’s signature red color scheme for alternative colors—white, green, or yellow—will be available.
While many expressed disdain for Nintendo’s second attempt at the Virtual Boy, it seems nostalgia may make the whole endeavor a success. In any case, it’s nice to see a major publisher actually trying to preserve older games that weren’t financially successful.
