3 Retro Games Coming to Nintendo Switch Online This August

Nintendo has confirmed the August lineup for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The Virtual Boy additions include two games that were finished in 1996 but never actually released. Super Mario Sunshine is also coming to Switch Online as well, getting a confirmed release date for the new GameCube library on the Switch 2.

Here are the three games hitting the service in August.

D-Hopper

Originally titled Dragon Hopper, this top-down action-adventure game from Intelligent Systems was shelved after the Virtual Boy failed. It finally releases on August 4. I am curious to see how a Zelda-style game starring a dragon named Dorin plays on the stereoscopic hardware. The game was fully completed in 1996, and it is great to see it finally escape the archives.

Zero Racers

Another casualty of the Virtual Boy's short lifespan, this 3D F-Zero spin-off also arrives on August 4. It introduces Jody Summer and James McCloud to the franchise canon. Nintendo originally planned to release it in late 1996 under the working titles G-Zero and Zero Racers. Like D-Hopper, it was completely finished before Nintendo pulled the plug on the console.

Super Mario Sunshine

Nintendo previously teased GameCube games for the Switch 2, and now we have an exact date. Super Mario Sunshine hits the service on August 13. It is coming to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service. The 2002 platformer remains a divisive entry in the series, but cleaning up Isle Delfino with FLUDD is still a good time. It was previously available on the Switch in the limited-release Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, but this marks its standalone debut on the modern emulation platform.

August is shaping up to be a solid month for the Expansion Pack tier. The Virtual Boy app is also getting a color customization update, so you won't have to burn your retinas with the default red display.