Nintendo Switch Online allows you to play numerous retro Nintendo titles straight from your Nintendo Switch. Regardless of whether you're playing classic Nintendo or Sega titles, Nintendo ensures access to some of the most popular retro games ever made.

However, retro games like Metroid (1986) or The Legend of Zelda (1987) can be quite jarring to play on a Nintendo Switch. Luckily, Nintendo Switch Online also provides features that can ease some issues surrounding retro gaming. But what exactly are these features, and how can you use them? Let's find out.

1. Create Your Own Save Points

One of the flaws you may experience when playing a retro Nintendo game is a lack of save points, or checkpoints, throughout the game.

Even for some of the best games available through Nintendo Switch Online, like Super Mario Bros. for the NES, if you die with no lives there are no save points to prevent you from having to start the game all over again.

A screenshot of the title screen for Super Mario Bros taken through Nintendo Switch Online

While this arbitrarily increases the length of some retro games, it also makes replaying or attempting to play them for the first time on Nintendo Switch infuriating. Luckily, with Nintendo Switch Online, you can create your own save points no matter what retro game you're playing.

To create your own save points in Nintendo Switch Online and ease some of the difficulty of playing retro games on your Nintendo Switch, follow these steps:

  • From the Home screen of your Nintendo Switch, select any of the Nintendo Switch Online retro game services.
A screenshot of the home screen for a Nintendo Switch with the Nintendo Entertainment System service highlighted
  • Select the retro Nintendo game you want to create save points for.
A screenshot of the available games in the Nintendo Entertainment System emulator available with Nintendo Switch Online
  • Once the game has loaded, press ZL and ZR together to open the Suspend Menu.
A screenshot of the Suspend Menu available for Nintendo Switch Online emulators
  • From the displayed menu, select Create Suspend Point and choose a Save Slot.
A screenshot of a created Suspend Point in the Nintendo Entertainment System emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online

With a Suspend Point created you can re-load your created save point at any time by re-entering the Suspend Menu and selecting Load Suspend Point.

A screenshot of the ability to load a Suspend Point in the Nintendo Entertainment System emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online

And with that, you're ready to set as many save points as you want in any retro game available on Nintendo Switch Online.

2. Rewind Any Retro Game Available Through Nintendo Switch Online

Similarly to the ability to create your own save points, Nintendo Switch Online also allows you to rewind any retro game you can play through Nintendo Switch Online to the most recent frames you have just played.

For games like Super Metroid on the SNES, there are multiple moments in which failure leads to unnecessary backtracking. However, you can get around these unfortunate scenarios using the rewind feature available with Nintendo Switch Online.

A screenshot of the title screen for Super Metroid taken through Nintendo Switch Online

To rewind any game available through Nintendo Switch Online on your Nintendo Switch, no matter the platform, follow these steps:

  • Load any of the Nintendo Switch Online services from the Home screen of your Switch.
  • Select the retro game you wish to use the rewind feature within.
A screenshot of the available Super Nintendo Entertainment System games taken through Nintendo Switch Online
  • With the game loaded, hold down ZL and ZR at the same time.
  • Select the past frame you want the game to rewind to.
A screenshot of the rewind feature for Nintendo switch Online emulation with prior frames highlighted

With a prior frame selected, your Nintendo Switch will instantly rewind the game to that frame, allowing you to jump back to a gameplay element you want to retry but without the unnecessary backtracking.

3. Enable Cheat Codes for Certain Nintendo Switch Online Games

Another classic element of retro gaming that can be missing when playing on Nintendo Switch is the ability to use classic cheat codes or have a physical guide by your side as you play.

While you can't access digital versions of physical guides through Nintendo Switch Online services, you can access SP versions of certain games like Super Mario World or Kirby's Dream Course to fully unlock a game.

Playing an SP game also allows you to analyze a game in its entirety, like viewing the completed map for Super Metroid, while giving you unlimited lives in games like Super Mario World and acting as a cheat code.

A screenshot of the completed Super Metroid map with all unlocks taken through an SP game on Nintendo Switch Online

So if you want to play a fully unlocked retro Nintendo game available through Nintendo Switch Online services, all you have to do is look out for an SP version of a game when choosing a retro title from the Nintendo Switch Online library.

A screenshot of the available Super Nintendo Entertainment System titles with SP games highlighted

The SP-enhanced games available on Nintendo Switch are just one of the more overlooked things you may need to know about Nintendo Switch Online and how it can help to better your retro gaming experience.

And with completely unlocked retro games at your fingertips, you're given the choice to explore a retro title in its entirety even if you're unable to crack the standard version of a retro game.

4. Customize the Layout of Your Nintendo Switch Online Retro Games

With Nintendo Switch Online providing numerous games, especially when it comes to NES and SNES titles, navigation through the service can be quite difficult. Luckily Nintendo also provides you with ways to customize each service to make playing specific games easier for you.

Nintendo Switch Online allows you to customize the layout of each emulator, regardless of platform, to prioritize certain games or to filter games to your requirements. To customize your Nintendo Switch Online services to highlight certain retro games, follow these steps:

  • Load the Nintendo Switch Online service you want to customize.
A screenshot of the home screen for the N64 emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online
  • On the Home screen for a Nintendo Switch Online service, press Y to move a specific game to your preferred location.
A screenshot of the layout of the N64 emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online with the option to Move a game highlighted
  • Otherwise, hold Y to filter the entire game library By custom order, By Title, By release date, By time last played, or By total play time.
A screenshot of the N64 emulator taken through Nintendo Switch Online with the Filter customization options highlighted

While simple, these quick and easy steps can help ease navigation through Nintendo Switch Online and avoid having to constantly scroll through an ever-increasing list of games to find a title you want to play. Instead, with filters and customization, you can make playing your favorite retro titles from a certain platform quick and easy.

5. Select a Retro Inspired Game Screen for Nintendo Switch Online Titles

A final way to enhance your retro gaming experience on Nintendo Switch is by utilizing visual filters available through Nintendo Switch Online.

Classically many of the retro games you may play on Nintendo Switch would've been visualized through a CRT screen. But with Nintendo Switch, visual quality has drastically increased.

Luckily, visual filters are available for every Nintendo Switch Online emulator, aside from the N64, that can mimic retro visuals or modern standards.

A screenshot of The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past with the CRT Filter enabled through Nintendo Switch Online

To choose a visual display filter for any applicable emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online, follow these steps:

  • Load any Nintendo Switch Online emulator on your Nintendo Switch, aside from the N64 emulator.
  • Navigate to the options displayed on the left-hand side of the home screen for the emulator, and select Settings.
  • Under Game Screen, you will then find the various visual filters available for your selected emulator.
A screenshot of the Game Boy emulator available through Nintendo Switch Online highlighting Game Screen options

For Sega Genesis, NES, and SNES titles, you can choose to use a 4:3 ratio screen, a Pixel Perfect screen that enhances pixel quality, or apply a CRT Filter that gives your games a retro feel.

A screenshot of the Game Screen options for the Super Entertainment System available through Nintendo Switch Online

Similarly, for Game Boy titles, you can choose between Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color visuals. And for Game Boy Advance titles, you can choose to Reproduce classic feel or to Display with small screen.

A screenshot of the Game Screen options available for the Game Boy Advance emulator taken through Nintendo Switch Online

With some emulators locked behind the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, the added bonus of enhancing visuals for platforms like the Game Boy Advance stands as one of the many reasons you might want to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.

Regardless, the feature is universally available for nearly all the emulation options on the Nintendo Switch and stands as a great feature that can enhance the feel and look of retro games.

Enhance Retro Gaming With Nintendo Switch Online

With retro emulators available through Nintendo Switch Online, and multiple enhancing features, officially playing retro games on Nintendo Switch could be the best way for you to experience some of the best classic games from Nintendo.

And with Nintendo constantly increasing its roster of retro games available, as well as expanding the platforms available through Nintendo Switch Online, you can be certain that the retro gaming experience on your Nintendo Switch will only continue to improve.