Nintendo Switch Online Adds Retro Classics Including Game Freak's First Game
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Nintendo Switch Online adds three classic NES titles to its library this month, highlighted by Mendel Palace, the very first game developed by Pokémon creator Game Freak.
Nintendo is expanding the retro catalog for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers with three notable NES additions. The lineup brings back the absolute arcade staple Pac-Man alongside two deep cuts from Namco and Game Freak. For players who love gaming history, this drop offers a fascinating look at where some of the industry's biggest studios got their start before they built the massive franchises we play today.
The standout addition for history buffs is Mendel Palace, originally released in Japan as Quinty. This 1989 puzzle action game is notable for being the very first title developed by Game Freak years before the studio created Pokémon and became a household name. Players flip floor tiles to clear out enemies and rescue Princess Candy, and the game even features solo play or co-op options. Seeing the early design sensibilities of a studio that later shaped decades of handheld and console gaming is a real treat for long-time players.
Rounding out the April update are the NES version of Pac-Man and Namco's 1984 dungeon crawler The Tower of Druaga. Both titles bring that classic arcade tension where high scores and precise maze navigation are everything. These additions are available now for anyone with a standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription. As modern gaming continues to push hardware limits with cloud streaming and massive open worlds, dropping a few pieces of interactive history into the library is a welcome reminder of where the culture started.
Tags: Nintendo Switch Online, Game Freak, Retro Gaming, NES, Polygon
Original article: Polygon