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The Virtual Boy ended up being the one Nintendo handheld that never caught on due to a number of factors. A shame in a way, due to its unique properties and unexpected library prioritizing early 3D effects. The Switch and Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack return of the Virtual Boy marks an opportunity to see both its notable and unreleased titles. After going hands-on with the $99.99 peripheral and its seven launch games ahead of the February 17, 2026 debut, it feels quite faithful to the original device.
We already got an idea based on early photos, but the Switch or Switch 2 completely disappear when placed in the Virtual Boy peripheral. You don’t see the console at all. There aren’t many adjustments to be made when the system’s Joy-Cons are removed and it’s inserted into the device. You can adjust the tilt, but any other arrangements are done personally by moving closer or further once its on a table. In my situation, it was on a desk and I was seated in front of it, and the positioning and height seemed appropriate, but at home you might need to fiddle with things a bit to get things just right.
One thing I noticed is that it did seem it was easy to immediately begin playing. I did need to sit slightly back from the headset, in order to ensure everything looked proper and the 3D effect was in full-force. It ended up being an easy adjustment to make, and I found I didn’t need to shift my positioning at all when swapping between games once I got situated.
As for optimal experiences, there were already a few games that seemed to be the best Virtual Boy Switch and Switch 2 showpiece titles during this short session. Teleroboxer, a first-person boxing game akin to Punch-Out, is one of the best examples of balancing the 3D effect with actually offering a compelling gameplay experience. Virtual Boy Wario Land ended up being my favorite, as it’s a genuinely great platformer that uses the 3D effect to show Wario moving between the foreground and background, but isn’t as in your face about the perspective. Instead, it feels more like a useful gameplay mechanic. And of course 3-D Tetris does force you to think about the different dimensions as you see the pieces move in that space and adjust them from all angles to fill spots.
What I didn’t expect to be as fascinated by in this session was The Mansion of Innsmouth (Innsmouth no Yakata). That’s the Japan-exclusive that will appear worldwide for the first time. It involves going through a haunted, monster-infested mansion by going through mazes in the first person, searching for keys, while also either fleeing monsters or attacking them with your gun and limited ammo. Not only is there the threat of the otherworldly entities, but the timer counting down. The 3D effect worked here and, since it was the one I’d never seen before, it ended up being most mechanically fascinating as I tested out the peripheral and support. It felt a bit like early first-person RPGs, but with more of an element of desperation to get through things in time. Of all the titles I sampled, I feel like it and Virtual Boy Wario Land are the two I’d love to play more.
The Switch and Switch 2 Virtual Boy peripheral and game launch library seem like they could be quite a fitting tribute. The titles I sampled felt like a good showcase, with ones like 3-D Tetris, The Mansion of Innsmouth, Teleroboxer, and Virtual Boy Wario Land being great examples of the handheld at its best and most fascinating. The accessory itself also seems like a pretty good recreation of the device that’s also easy to use. I look forward to seeing what it’s like during more extended gameplay sessions.
The Virtual Boy Switch and Switch 2 NSO games and headset peripherals will appear for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack members on February 17, 2026.
