Classic Game Boy Games Are Finally Coming To Nintendo Switch

If you want a fresh dose of retro nostalgia, it looks like those rumours of classic Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games coming to the Nintendo Switch are legitimate. If you want to play Super Mario Land, The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and Pokemon Gold like back in the day, you're in luck.

While Sony struggles with its backward compatibility and Microsoft leads the charge, Nintendo is somewhere in the middle as it expands its Nintendo Switch Online subscription to resurrect retro consoles from that great gaming graveyard. We've previously heard Game Boy games were on the way, but now, there's more to it.

Are Game Boy Games Coming To Nintendo Switch?

As reported by Twitter user @trashbandicoot, a Game Boy Advance emulator for Nintendo Switch has leaked online. The files have apparently been doing the rounds on Discord servers, with a Game Boy emulator called "Hiyoko" and a Game Boy Advance emulator called "Sloop" appearing to be the real deal.

If you are a sceptic, both these emulators have seemingly been developed by the publisher's NERD (Nintendo European Research & Development) department, which is known for dealing with Nintendo emulation. Notably, NERD handled the emulation of N64, GameCube, and Wii for Super Mario 3D All-Stars. 

There's also an impressive leak of titles that include everything from Minish Cap to Yoshi's Island, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow to Mario Tennis. Others claim the emulator has support for netplay via link cables, meaning each Switch can emulate two Game Boys at the same time. 

Is More Emulation On The Way?

If a trio of Game Boy consoles are bringing their various catalogues to the Switch, it'll be a major leap for emulation. Remembering that we've already got NES, SNES, SEGA Genesis, and Nintendo 64 emulation, we're running out of systems to emulate. Hopefully, it's just a matter of time until the GameCube gets the same treatment and we're finally able to play Wind Waker on the Switch.

Of course, Nintendo emulation comes at a cost. There were previous complaints that you need an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription AND had to pay extra to access the upper-tier of SEGA and N64 titles. Considering there are so many GB, GBC, and GBC games to pick from, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for the privilege.