Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online is a membership service that grants players online play for compatible Nintendo Switch games. It was launched on September 18, 2018 in North America and on September 19, 2018 in Japan, Europe, and Oceania. Prior to its launch, players were able to play online at no charge during a "free trial" period, after which they must pay a subscription fee for a plan lasting in increments of one month, three months, or 12 months. A week long trial period is available to use, after which payment will automatically begin renewing for the specified plan unless auto-renewal is turned off. The Nintendo Switch is also able to synchronize with smartphones via an application of the same name; this allows for online capability to invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and voice chat with friends on online matches. Members can also find Nintendo Switch Online-specific news and information in an application of the same name on the Switch's home menu. Standard online features such as the Nintendo eShop and system updates do not require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to access.

The Nintendo Switch Online service also includes an application called Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online, which gives members access to a selection of Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer games that can be played cooperatively or competitively with other players online. The Nintendo Switch Online service also includes a cloud backup feature that allows the player to save their data online for easy access. When playing NES/Famicom games online, other players can display a cursor on-screen to point out hints and secrets. Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros., Dr. Mario, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Yoshi were among the 20 NES titles made available at the service's launch, with new titles added in the following months.

As part of the service's exclusive offers, members can also purchase a pair of Joy-Con controllers styled after NES controllers, which feature extra L and R shoulder buttons similar to the Joy-Con's and  buttons and can be connected to the console itself to recharge in a similar fashion. While both NES controllers are identical, as with the original Famicom controllers, the Famicom Joy-Con exclusive to Japanese members are slightly different from each other, with the left controller featuring the and  buttons, and the right controller featuring the volume slider and microphone.

In the September 2019 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online, a follow-up to the previous application featuring a selection of Super Nintendo Entertainment System / Super Famicom titles, which launched on September 5, 2019 in North America and on September 6, 2019 in Japan, Europe, and Oceania. Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World, and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island were among the 20 SNES titles made available at the service's launch, with additional titles being added thereafter. SNES / Super Famicom-styled Joy-Con controllers were also made available.

In the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced an "Expansion Pack" (Japanese: 追加パック, Tsuika Pakku) to the subscription, and was released on October 25, 2021 in North America and on October 26, 2021 in Japan, Europe, and Oceania. The membership plan includes all of the content in the base plan with the addition of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise (added on November 5, 2021), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass (added on March 18, 2022), and Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion (added on April 22, 2022). As with previous platforms, Nintendo 64- and Sega Genesis-styled wireless controllers were also made available.

Compatible games
The following games require a subscription to play online: Super Mario Odyssey does not require a subscription, while WarioWare: Get It Together! only requires an online subscription to upload high scores.
 * Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
 * Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
 * Mario Tennis Aces
 * Super Mario Party
 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
 * Super Mario Maker 2
 * Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
 * Super Mario Bros. 35
 * Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
 * Mario Golf: Super Rush

Pricing
* - Up to eight Nintendo Accounts can use the same Nintendo Switch Online service.

Missions & Rewards
From March 2022, Nintendo Switch Online members can access a "Missions & Rewards" section in the Switch's Nintendo Switch Online app where they can complete Nintendo Switch Online-specific tasks, such as opening the app, using the cloud backup feature, or playing online or a specific game on Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online, to earn My Nintendo Platinum Points which can then be exchanged for "icon parts" (characters, backgrounds, and frames) for use in their Switch profile pictures. Icon parts can only be redeemed via a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription, i.e. they are not redeemable for members who only have an active free trial. The redeemable icon parts are categorized by game: a monthly "spotlight software" category that features a weekly selection of icon parts from a specific game, and an Animal Crossing: New Horizons category that features icon parts for residents who have birthdays in the current month. On occasions, another game can be added as a "special reward", such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Mario Strikers: Battle League.

Characters cost 10 Platinum Points each while backgrounds and frames cost five. After redeeming icon parts, the player can then assemble them in the icon collection sub-screen, after which they can then be applied to their profile picture. Some of the character icons are indicated with "Character with background", meaning that some icons of the character have the background baked in for them, and thus a different background cannot be selected for them. A background or frame cannot be redeemed without redeeming a character from the same game first.