The September 12 Nintendo Direct included a number of surprising announcements, with the reveal of retro Virtual Boy games set to launch for Nintendo Switch Online catching audiences off guard in a delightfully unexpected way. Fans of the old-school gaming headset-console will be able to relive the nostalgia of the old days by playing these ported versions of classic titles on a new version of the Virtual Boy head-mounted system, which will be necessary to play the games with either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.
Originally launched in 1995, the Nintendo Virtual Boy gaming system was a 32-bit tabletop console that allowed players to experience virtual reality gaming with stereoscopic 3D. While the Virtual Boy may seem outdated compared to modern virtual gaming headsets, fans of old-school titles will be happy to know that they will soon be able to once again experience the unique gameplay of the Virtual Boy. However, they will need to add more than just one gaming system to their collections to actually play the retro games.
Nintendo Virtual Boy Games and Headset Release Date
- February 17, 2026
Nintendo will be launching 14 different Virtual Boy games via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack library, but players will only be able to play these games if they also purchase a new Virtual Boy tabletop console system. The headset features a holding slot where either a Nintendo Switch or a Switch 2 can be inserted, and this mounted display sits on two legs that are placed upon a tabletop. Players then set their faces into the eye rests of the headset and can once again experience the stereoscopic gameplay of the original Virtual Boy. While no price has yet been revealed for this new Virtual Boy, Nintendo has confirmed that the new system will be launching on February 17, 2026, with the 14 games planned to release over time.
Some of the Virtual Boy Games coming to the Nintendo Classics collection on Nintendo Switch Online include Mario's Tennis, Galactic Pinball, Teleroboxer, Tetris 3D, and Mario Clash. While the Virtual Boy only achieved a minimal library, due to mixed reviews of its available titles and critiques of its overall design, many remain fond of the unique gaming system and its impact on the evolution of virtual reality gameplay.
Nintendo's new iteration of the Virtual Boy will join a growing lineup of retro Nintendo hardware re-launches, which has previously seen the re-release of old-school Nintendo controllers with Switch console compatibility. Fans have enjoyed using the newer NES controllers when playing classic games on Nintendo Switch Online, and the upcoming launch of both a new Virtual Boy and the return of its gaming library via the Nintendo Classics catalog could be a perfect rush of nostalgia for old-school gamers, assuming they can afford the still-unknown price tag.
