Home Nintendo is adding another classic Pokémon game to Switch Online

Nintendo is adding another classic Pokémon game to Switch Online

TL:DR

  • Nintendo adds Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team to Switch Online Expansion Pack on August 9.
  • Fans are excited but puzzled by the exclusion of Blue Rescue Team from the announcement.
  • Many are still hoping for the addition of classic mainline Pokémon games to Switch Online.

Nintendo continues to add classic games to the Nintendo Switch Online service, enabling players to revisit favorites of the past. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team is perhaps one of the more surprising additions, but fans are excited nonetheless.

Both Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team were initially released on the GameBoy Advance in 2005, but Nintendo released a remake of both games called Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX for the Switch in 2020. This led many fans to assume that there would be no remake or port of the original Blue Team and Red Team games to modern consoles.

However, Nintendo dances to its own tune and has announced that Red Rescue Team will be releasing on Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack on August 9.

Not Blue Rescue Team though, for some reason known only to Nintendo.

Fans are excited but somewhat bemused

As well as some confusion about this release, people are clamoring for Nintendo to drop Switch Online versions of the classic Pokémon games (Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal are all highly sought-after). But for the most part, people are highly excited.

One user on Reddit said, “Well, interesting, since much like Link’s Awakening. There is a very faithful remake already on Switch. But they are putting the original game on NSO. Anyways it’s also interesting how we continue to get Pokemon spin-offs on NSO, but still no mainline game.”

Another Reddit user chimed in with, “I guess for a lot of people this won’t mean much due to DX, but the original hits different. Some of it’s nostalgia, but there are some artistic differences (incl. things like music) that give it all a different feel. So I’m still pretty excited. The old friend areas are tempting too.”

Multiple fans had the same question about the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team release. Namely that it looks good but where is Red and Blue?

Who knows if Nintendo will ever add the original mainline Pokémon games to Switch Online (or even Switch Online Expansion Pack) – it’s clear that there would be a huge amount of interest if they were to do so. For now, fans will have to make do with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and other classics added to Switch Online.

Featured image credit: Nintendo

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Ali Rees
Tech journalist

Ali Rees is a freelance writer based in the UK. They have worked as a data and analytics consultant, a software tester, and a digital marketing and SEO specialist. They have been a keen gamer and tech enthusiast since their childhood in are currently the Gaming and Tech editor at Brig Newspaper. They also have a Substack where they review short video games. During the pandemic, Ali turned their hand to live streaming and is a fan of Twitch. When not writing, Ali enjoys playing video and board games, live music, and reading. They have two cats and both of…

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