Switch 2 Adds Exclusive Features to N64 Games for a Nostalgic Boost

You know that jittery feeling when a big event’s looming and everyone’s buzzing, but the info just sort of trickles out like a leaky faucet? Yeah, that’s me with the whole Nintendo Switch 2 thing. It’s literally, what, a week away? And Nintendo keeps tossing little breadcrumbs of updates, like some kind of video game Hansel and Gretel. Found out through the Nintendo Today app—on a random Tuesday, of course—that they’re adding some cool bits to the Nintendo Switch Online stuff for N64 games. More on that in a sec.

So, imagine you’re in the middle of your usual epic Mario Kart showdown. And then boom, you’re off the track because you miscalculate one turn (story of my life, just saying). Well, with the new Switch, you can apparently hit rewind and snatch that victory from the jaws of defeat. Like, who wouldn’t want a redo button in life sometimes? Probably just me…

Then there’s this retro vibe they’re pushing—throwing in some CRT filters to make everything look like your old TV from the ‘90s. You know, scan-lines and all that jazz. It’s like they want us to lean into the nostalgia hard. I guess Zelda deserves some nostalgia dressing-up occasionally. Not that I’m complaining, but why would I want my game to look intentionally… old?

Oh, and get this—whether you’ve got the OG Switch or you’re jumping on the Switch 2 bandwagon, there’s controller remapping for N64 games. Finally! I suppose this means less hand cramp from wrestling with that slightly awkward N64 controller layout? Could apply to Joy-Cons too. I can almost see myself fumbling through settings to fix it all.

Anyway… yeah, the clock’s ticking down to launch day. Nintendo’s keeping us on our toes. Or maybe they’re just lost in their own nostalgia trip. Who really knows.