Nintendo Switch Online Added the Infamous Virtual Boy, Prepare for Fun and Headaches – NSO Roundup February 2026

February was a busy month for Nintendo Switch Online. In addition to two Game Boy classics, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack also added a new retro system to its retro game collections. The infamous Virtual Boy is now part of Nintendo Switch Online, although you need to purchase an accessory in order to experience the Virtual Boy in its intended 3D. So, let’s take a look at the new additions, along with the cardboard Virtual Boy accessory.

The New Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Games

Before we look at the Virtual Boy main attraction, let’s look at the two Game Boy games that Nintendo Switch Online added in February. 

Balloon Kid

This Game Boy game is a spin-off of the NES classic, Balloon Fight. You control a kid floating around on balloons, and you have to get the kid through various obstacles, much like in the “Balloon Trip” mode in the original Balloon Fight. The controls can take some getting used to since you have to repeatedly push A to keep afloat, but once you get used to the controls, this is a very fun game. 

Yoshi

If you’ve played the NES puzzle game, Yoshi (which has been on Nintendo Switch Online for years), this is just the Game Boy version of that game. Mario enemies fall from the sky, and Mario has to rotate platforms to match enemies up to make them disappear before they stack up to the top. Stack the enemies between two halves of a Yoshi egg, and Yoshi cutely hatches, giving you a bunch of points. There isn’t really much of a reason to play this game over the NES version, since the NES version has a full color palette. 

The Virtual Boy Came to Nintendo Switch Online!

For those not in the know, the Virtual Boy was Nintendo’s failed attempt at 3D gaming back in the nineties. It was largely criticized for the bulky design, the red and black graphics, and its tendency to cause headaches and dizziness. In order to experience the games in their full 3D glory on Nintendo Switch Online, you need to purchase either the $100 plastic headset or the $25.00 cardboard headset. While you can technically play the games without the headsets, you get two tiny screens next to each other without them, which is, of course, distracting.

I got the cardboard headset, and I have to say, it’s pretty well made, considering it’s made of cardboard. The Switch 2 fits snugly inside, and while I was expecting my arms to get tired from holding the headset up to my eyes, it was pretty comfortable to play with. As for the 3D, it’s pretty fun. Different games utilize 3D in different ways, which can be fascinating. However, it’s best to only play in short bursts, since I did get a little dizzy after playing for a while. Fortunately, Nintendo Switch Online has save states. 

Now, let’s take a look at the seven Virtual Boy games that Nintendo Switch Online added in February.

3-D Tetris

You know about Tetris, but in this game, you have to fill up layers at the bottom of a cube instead of lines. As such, the larger playing field means that games last much longer than in traditional Tetris. The game overstays its welcome if you’re playing on the easier modes, but if you turn the difficulty up, you can have some fun. There is also a mode where you’re challenged to fill up different shapes.

Galactic Pinball

This is a space-themed pinball game with four tables – however, there’s a twist. Instead of a ball, you play with a puck that flies out from the plunger and slides around the table. This works really well in the 3D space. The music is also really catchy, which makes for a beautifully atmospheric game, despite the red and black graphics. 

Golf

Well, this game doesn’t win any awards for creative titles. I’m terrible at most golf video games, so I’m terrible at this one too. I never got a hole under par, but this game is strangely addictive. The 3D effects of the ball flying around are neat, and the music is relaxing. I’m not much of a golf person, but I found myself playing for longer than I thought I would.

Innsmouth no Yakata

The was previously a Japan-exclusive game, but the language barrier doesn’t hinder the gameplay. It plays like an early first-person survival horror game, where you must escape a haunted house. You have limited ammo, so it might be smarter to run from monsters instead of fighting them. It’s a great idea, but the very restrictive time limit damages the experience. I found myself running out of time before I could even figure out what I was supposed to do. I kept trying, but I was never able to get far before time ran out.

Red Alert

This is a 3D on-rails space shooter similar to Star Fox on the SNES, but instead of polygons, Red Alert uses wire frame graphics, which makes it look similar to old vector arcade games like Tempest. At first, you might have to orient yourself to the wire-frame graphics, but this takes only a minute, and after that, the 3D effect is actually pretty neat. The gameplay might not be anything original, but it’s addictive and fun.

Teleroboxer

Fans of Punch-Out! should feel comfortable with this first-person sports game where you box robots. You use different combinations of buttons to punch, dodge, and unleash special moves on your opponents. Even though I was largely mashing buttons, I still managed to win my first match, and I had fun while doing it.

Virtual Boy Wario Land

This is almost unanimously considered the best game on the Virtual Boy, and for good reason. Wario’s treasure has been stolen, so of course he sets out to get it all back. Like in other Wario Land games, you can ram into enemies to defeat them and get loot. The game utilizes 3D by allowing Wario to leap from the front of the screen to the back of the screen. While the 3D effect might be minimal, the adventure is super fun and satisfying, and it was a crime that this game was stuck on the Virtual Boy for so long. Now, a new generation can discover this game’s amazing wackiness.

Virtual Boy Games are Better than You Think

The Virtual Boy was a failed experiment, but that doesn’t mean its games aren’t good. There’s a lot of fun to be had with the games themselves. Now, thanks to Nintendo Switch Online, people can discover that the Virtual Boy games are better than the console’s reputation would have you believe. Just make sure you play the Nintendo Switch Online Virtual Boy games in short bursts so you don’t get a headache.