To be honest, over the past two years, every time a friend gets a Switch, the first question they ask is almost always: should I get a Nintendo Switch Online membership? I'm afraid of missing out on online play if I don't, but I'm also worried about wasting money if I do. And now that there are two tiers—Standard and Expansion Pack—with a significant price difference, it's even harder to decide.

Today, let's skip the fluff and break down the actual value based on real-world usage scenarios.

What Does the Nintendo Switch Online Membership Actually Give You?

Let's start with the three core features: Cloud Saves, Online Play, and Classic Game Libraries.

Cloud saves are a must-have for many. Especially if you're playing an RPG that takes hundreds of hours, or you regularly hop into Splatoon or Animal Crossing, losing your save data can make you quit on the spot. But note: not all games support cloud saves—the Pokémon series explicitly does not, to prevent item duplication.

Online play is straightforward: without a membership, you can't play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Splatoon 3 online with friends, and you miss out on the online multiplayer experience in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If you primarily play solo or only play local multiplayer with family on the couch, online features aren't very relevant to you.

The classic game library is often overlooked. The standard NSO membership gives you access to NES and SNES games—quite a large collection, but honestly, aside from nostalgic players, not many actually dive into them seriously. However, gems like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Mario World are in there, so if you haven't experienced them before, they're worth checking out. This section often overlaps with lists of recommended Nintendo games, making it a low-cost way to experience "vintage masterpieces."

Is the Expansion Pack Worth Upgrading To?

Nintendo later introduced the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (commonly called the Expansion Pack), which adds N64 and SEGA Genesis games, along with the paid DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The price doubles—from ¥150 to ¥325 for an individual annual plan.

There's a real dilemma here: many N64 games are the pioneers of 3D action, but their controls feel "retro and stiff" by today's standards, and many are only in Japanese or English. Unless you're the kind of person willing to adapt to older systems for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you'll probably give up after an hour. The SEGA Genesis side has some nostalgic arcade titles, but the overall library isn't huge.

That DLC bundle, however, is a major selling point. If you were already planning to buy the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass or the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise DLC separately, they'd cost over ¥200 combined. In that case, getting a year of the Expansion Pack essentially gives you those DLCs for free, plus a bunch of classic games. So, if you plan to play those two games' DLC content in the next year, the Expansion Pack actually saves you money.

Who Should Really Buy It, and Who Can Skip It

From what I've seen, a few typical scenarios illustrate this well:

  • Scenario 1: You regularly play online with a fixed group of friends in Splatoon or Mario Kart. Without a membership, you can't play at all. A family membership averages out to about ¥30–40 per person per year—roughly the cost of two bubble teas. A no-brainer.
  • Scenario 2: You mainly play single-player titles like The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, or Xenoblade Chronicles, occasionally checking out the Switch game recommendations lists for new purchases, and rarely touch online play. In that case, your main concern is cloud saves—if you lose your console or upgrade, your saves are gone. But if you regularly back up manually or don't mind starting over, you can skip the membership.
  • Scenario 3: You're a retro enthusiast or want to revisit classic games with your kids. The standard NSO membership's NES/SNES library is plenty to keep you busy, and you can even find two-player Double Dragon series in the best two-player Switch games. At just over ¥100 a year, it's very affordable. No need to upgrade to the Expansion Pack.
  • Scenario 4: You just bought a Switch and aren't sure how much you'll play. I'd say don't rush—play for a month first and see what your gaming habits are like. If you realize, "Oh, I don't need online play at all," then the membership is purely an extra expense for you.

Also, many people looking for indie game recommendations will find that the Switch has a huge number of high-quality indie titles, most of which are single-player and don't require a membership at all. Games like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Stardew Valley play just fine without it. If your gaming time is mostly spent on these, you'd be better off spending that membership fee on a discounted indie gem instead.

How to Get the Best Deal

If you've decided to get a membership, don't rush to buy an individual plan. Find a reliable friend group or join an online team. A family membership costs ¥450 per year for up to 8 people, which breaks down to about ¥56 per person. The Expansion Pack family membership is just over ¥100 per person. The only risk is that the admin can kick anyone at any time, so try to stick with real friends or trustworthy large-group subscriptions. You'll often see carpool posts in the discussion sections of game encyclopedias or game ranking lists—keep an eye out.

Additionally, there's a free trial week every year, and sometimes they even give out 7-day trial vouchers. If you only occasionally need online play for a short period, wait for those windows. The Nintendo Switch Online membership isn't a necessity—it's a service you buy on demand. First, take a good look at your game library, then decide whether to subscribe and which tier. Don't let the anxiety of "everyone else is doing it" pressure you into buying.

At the end of the day, the practical value of a Nintendo Switch Online membership depends entirely on your specific gaming habits and social circle. Just ask yourself one question: If you removed every game that requires online play, how many games would be left on your Switch? If the answer is less than two, wait until you actually need it before buying. No rush.