According to Eurogamer.net, the GameCube title Wario World was added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack catalog for Switch 2 owners immediately, just a day after new N64 games were announced. Developed by Treasure, the 2003 game was the first home console and 3D platformer starring Wario. It joins other Wario games on the service like Wario Land 3 and 4, but its addition is notable as it wasn’t part of the initial GameCube announcement for Switch 2. The most recent GameCube addition before this was Luigi’s Mansion in October. The service also recently announced two Ubisoft N64 games, Rayman 2 and Tonic Trouble, for later this month.
A surprise Wario
Here’s the thing: Wario World is a deep cut. It wasn’t a massive hit back in 2003, and it’s been totally overshadowed by the WarioWare series ever since. So its surprise drop, outside of any official announcement, is fascinating. It feels like Nintendo is testing the waters or just filling a gap while the bigger titles cook. I think it’s a cool move for hardcore fans, but for the average subscriber? It’s a pretty niche get. Basically, it’s a reminder that the GameCube library on Switch 2 is still growing in a weird, unpredictable way.
The missing GameCube games
And that brings us to the real story: the games we’re still waiting for. Remember that initial hype? We were promised heavy hitters like Super Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, and the Pokémon RPGs Colosseum and XD. Those are system-sellers for a lot of people. But they’re still MIA. When you drop a cult classic like Wario World instead of, say, Super Mario Sunshine, it sends a message. Is the emulation for those bigger titles more complex? Are there licensing snags with the Pokémon games? It’s hard not to be a little skeptical about the pace. The drip-feed is starting to feel slow.
What this means for the service
Look, adding any GameCube game is a win for preservation and gives newer players access to classics. But the strategy here seems scattershot. One day it’s a headline-grabbing Luigi’s Mansion, the next it’s a quiet Wario World drop. For subscribers paying for the Expansion Pack tier, this inconsistent trickle can feel underwhelming. The value proposition hinges on those major announced titles actually arriving. So while Wario World is a fun bonus, it probably won’t quiet the growing murmur of “Where’s the rest of it?” Nintendo’s playing the long game with this catalog, but they need to deliver the pillars they promised to keep the faith.
