Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team Joins Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack

Get ready for a dungeon-crawling adventure! Nintendo has announced that the classic Game Boy Advance title, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, will be added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on August 9th. This beloved Pokémon roguelike joins the growing library of retro games available to subscribers.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team originally launched in 2006 and lets players experience the Pokémon world from a unique perspective – as a Pokémon! Solve the mystery of your transformation by exploring dungeons and completing various missions. A Blue Rescue Team version was also released, and a remake, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, arrived on the Switch in 2020.

The Demand for Mainline Pokémon Games on NSO

While the Expansion Pack regularly adds classic titles, the inclusion of primarily Pokémon spin-offs (like Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Puzzle League) has left some fans wanting more. Many are eager to see mainline Pokémon games like Pokémon Red and Blue added to the service. Speculation about why this hasn't happened yet includes potential challenges with N64 Transfer Pak compatibility, Nintendo Switch Online infrastructure limitations, and integration with the Pokémon Home app (which Nintendo doesn't fully own). One fan theorized that ensuring fair and secure trading functionality is a key factor.

Nintendo Switch Online Mega Multiplayer Festival

Alongside the PMD: Red Rescue Team announcement, Nintendo revealed a special offer: Resubscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for 12 months via the eShop or My Nintendo Store and receive two extra months FREE! This is part of the Mega Multiplayer Festival, running until September 8th. Additional bonuses include extra Gold Points on game purchases (August 5th-18th) and free multiplayer game trials (August 19th-25th; specific titles to be announced later). A Mega Multiplayer game sale will follow from August 26th to September 8th, 2024.

Looking Ahead to the Switch 2

With the Switch 2 on the horizon, the future of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack remains to be seen. How the service will integrate with the new console is currently unknown. For more details on the upcoming Switch 2, check out the link below!