Wario World just dropped on Nintendo Switch Online — but you can only play it on Switch 2

Wah! Wario World quietly reappeared on Nintendo Switch Online – and there’s a catch

Nintendo snuck a pleasant little surprise into its Switch Online + Expansion Pack today: Wario World, the oddball 2003 GameCube platformer from Treasure, is now part of the GameCube collection. Good news for fans – bad news if you don’t own a Switch 2. The title is only playable on Nintendo’s new hardware and is locked behind the Expansion Pack subscription, which is shaping up to be the gatekeeper for Nintendo’s retro playroom.

• Wario World (Treasure, 2003) just arrived on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
• The GameCube release is playable only on Switch 2 hardware – your original Switch won’t run it.
• Nintendo also announced N64 additions (Rayman 2, Tonic Trouble) for Dec. 17; Expansion Pack required for GameCube and N64 libraries.
• With Wario World, Nintendo’s GameCube catalog on Switch now totals seven entries.

Why this actually matters

This caught my attention because Wario World is one of those weird, fondly remembered GameCube games that rarely gets love outside collectors. Treasure’s spin on a Wario platformer blends punchy combat, bouncy platforming and a weird sense of humor that doesn’t fit neatly in Nintendo’s usual museum of reissues. Seeing it show up — without fanfare — hints that Nintendo is mining less obvious corners of the GameCube library, which is exciting for people tired of seeing the same “greatest hits” rotated forever.

Breaking down Nintendo’s quiet move (and the annoying parts)

First the good: Wario World’s arrival expands the GameCube offering and makes a cult gem accessible again without hunting for a physical disc and a working Cube. For preservation-minded gamers, more titles surfacing on modern hardware is a win. Now the frustrating part: Nintendo is leaning on two exclusivity levers at once — a paid Expansion Pack subscription and hardware restriction to the Switch 2. That combination screams “upgrade incentive” more than “service convenience.”

Why lock it to Switch 2? There are plausible reasons: the new console likely has extra horsepower or emulator hooks Nintendo prefers for GameCube emulation, or the company wants a clear technical distinction between generations. But from a consumer perspective it feels like a soft nudge to buy into the new system even if you already paid for the Expansion Pack.

What Wario World brings to the table

For readers who haven’t played it since the early 2000s: Wario World is a single-player platformer that leans into brawling and exploration rather than collectible-heavy pacing. Treasure’s pedigree shows in tight combat mechanics and oddball level design. It’s never been a Mario-sized seller, but it has a solid niche following — exactly the sort of title that benefits from being rediscovered on a modern platform.

How to play it (and what to check)

If you want to jump in: you’ll need a Nintendo Switch 2 and an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. Nintendo is also adding N64 titles — Rayman 2 and Tonic Trouble — to the Expansion Pack on Dec. 17, so this subscription is increasingly where Nintendo’s retro catalog lives. Check for any system firmware updates and the Nintendo Classics/GameCube hub on the Switch 2 eShop.

What this likely means going forward

Nintendo’s approach signals two clear patterns: 1) it’s willing to surface more obscure GameCube gems (good), and 2) it’s using platform and subscription limits to steer purchases and hardware upgrades (annoying but predictable). If you own a Switch 2, expect more surprise drops like this — hidden nostalgia treats that also double as reasons for late adopters to buy in. If you’re on the original Switch, prepare for frustration if you hoped the whole GameCube library would become cross-generation.

TL;DR

Wario World’s quietly added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, but you can only play it on Switch 2. It’s a welcome revival of a Treasure cult classic, yet it also underlines Nintendo’s ongoing strategy: put retro games behind a paid tier and occasionally lock them to newer hardware. Fun for collectors on Switch 2; annoying gatekeeping for everyone else.