Get ready to see gaming history in red and black! Nintendo is finally bringing its most infamous hardware, the Virtual Boy, to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on February 17, 2026. This isn’t just a simple emulation—it’s a full recreation of the unique 3D experience, and the first previews from critics are in. Is it a painful nostalgia trip or a hidden gem worth rediscovering?

Beyond the Failure: Reassessing the Games

The Virtual Boy’s commercial failure in 1995 often overshadows its library. But as Nintendo Life’s Ollie Reynolds notes, the games themselves hold surprises:

“Virtual Boy Wario Land is an incredible 2D platformer that makes spectacular use of perspective, while Red Alarm is a solid wireframe shoot-em-up with clear Star Fox inspirations… The sheer fact that [unreleased games] will be fully playable for the first time ever is reason enough to celebrate.”

This sentiment is echoed across early hands-on reports. Critics are finding value in titles once written off by history.

The Hardware Experience: Authentic… For Better or Worse

The Switch Online version offers two ways to play: a handheld “Cardboard VB” or a tabletop “Plastic VB” replica. The goal is authenticity, and that includes the original’s… physical quirks.

• The Comfort (or Discomfort) Factor: Many reviewers noted the familiar strain. Mashable reported, “after just a few minutes, my eyes and neck began to hurt,” while IGN conceded, “it’s still kind of a pain to play… At least it’s that authentic neck pain I’ve always wanted.”
• A Surprisingly Positive Spin: Others found it more tolerable than expected. Game Informer summed it up: “When the baseline expectation is ‘headache, neck pain, and nausea’ but the actual experience is ‘huh, pretty neat,’ I think it’s fair to say this exceeded my expectations.”

Critical Praise for the Games

Despite the awkward hardware, the software is getting genuine applause:

• Virtual Boy Wario Land is the standout. CGMagazine called it a “legitimate platformer,” praising how “hopping between the 3D planes became more than a gimmick.”
• A Retro Appeal: DualShockers walked away “a believer in these games,” perfect for fans of “retro, arcade-y titles.”
• The Best Way to Experience It? Game Informer may have put it best: “It’s far from a perfect device, but it very well may be the best way to revisit Nintendo’s worst console.”

Ready to Take the Plunge?

The Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics library launches for Switch Online + Expansion Pack members on February 17, 2026. It promises a unique, deeply historical, and admittedly unconventional gaming session.

Will you be diving into the red-hued world of the Virtual Boy? Which game are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments below!