Donkey Kong 64 Is Finally Playable on Nintendo Switch Online

After years of fan requests, leaked imagery, and an agonizing wait since the Wii U's online services disappeared, Nintendo has officially confirmed that Rare's 1999 platformer Donkey Kong 64 will join the Nintendo Switch Online library on June 4, 2026 . The game lands on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members .

This isn't a stealth drop—Nintendo announced the release on May 27–28, giving fans a week to prepare . It's a rare moment for a title that's been inaccessible for years, and it kicks off what looks to be a major year for the Donkey Kong franchise .

What is Donkey Kong 64?

Originally released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, Donkey Kong 64 was Rare's ambitious attempt to bring the Donkey Kong series into full 3D . It was the franchise's first fully 3D platformer, and it remains one of the Nintendo 64's most memorable—and at the time, most divisive—collect-a-thons .

The game introduced five playable Kongs—Donkey, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky—each with distinct abilities needed to navigate eight sprawling worlds and recover Golden Bananas from King K. Rool's Kremling army . Its sheer scale (and the infamous requirement of the Expansion Pak) made it a technical showcase for the hardware, if a polarizing one for players overwhelmed by its massive collectible count .

Why the return matters now

Until this re-release, Donkey Kong 64 was effectively stranded on aging hardware. The title was previously available via the Wii U's Virtual Console, but that door closed permanently when Nintendo shut down the Wii U's online services . For several years, there was no legitimate way to buy or play the game on a current system, making fans' frustration understandable .

Rumors of a Switch revival had been swirling since mid-2025, when leaked images purportedly showing the game running on the service first surfaced online . Nintendo's official confirmation on May 27–28 finally put the speculation to rest .

How to play it on Switch and Switch 2

Access is straightforward but locked behind a paywall:

• Subscription tier: Only the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (priced at $50 per year versus the $20 base plan) includes access. Nintendo does not offer Donkey Kong 64 as a standalone eShop purchase .
• How to download: Subscribers need to download the free Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app from the eShop. Once installed, the game appears in the library on June 4 (or June 3 in Western time zones) .
• Multiplayer: The original four-player split-screen battle mode is included, though Nintendo notes that additional accessories may be required and are sold separately .

For those new to the service, Nintendo offers a seven-day free trial for the base Switch Online membership, but accessing the N64 library requires the paid Expansion Pack tier .

A quiet year for N64 games—until now

Donkey Kong 64 is the first new N64 title added to Nintendo Switch Online in 2026 . That's a noticeable slowdown from the previous year, when five N64 games arrived—Ridge Racer 64, Killer Instinct Gold, Forsaken 64, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, and Tonic Trouble .

With this addition, the N64 library available in the West now sits at 43 games, with the total reaching 45 globally when including Japan-exclusive titles like Custom Robo and Custom Robo V2 .

Setting the stage for Donkey Kong Bananza

The timing isn't accidental. Donkey Kong 64's arrival serves as a strategic warm-up for Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new 3D Donkey Kong adventure scheduled to launch later in 2026 . Until Bananza was announced, Donkey Kong 64 remained the only full 3D outing for the character . For fans looking to revisit the series' 3D roots before the new game ships, June 4 can't come soon enough.

Nintendo also used the announcement to remind players that the Expansion Pack tier offers growing libraries of Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, and—for Switch 2 owners—GameCube titles . But for one week in June, the spotlight belongs squarely to five Kongs, eight worlds, and a king-size pile of Golden Bananas.