As of this morning, Nintendo Switch Online subscription holders can access free Yoshi And Balloon Kidtwo legendary games from the Game Boy era. No expansion pack is required: these two titles are available to all basic subscribers of the service.
A timing that owes nothing to chance: Nintendo celebrates Mario’s 40th anniversary in 2026and what could be better than putting the spotlight back on a spin-off centered on his faithful sidekick, Yoshi? This little green dinosaur marked an entire generation upon its arrival on the portable console in 1991 in Japan, then in 1992 in Europe.
Yoshi, the addictive Mario-style puzzle
Behind his childish appearance, Yoshi is a puzzle game where players must stack enemies to eliminate them and prevent the stack from going over the screen. Simple, but terribly addictive gameplay that has spanned generations. Here we find the very essence of what made Nintendo games successful: immediate handling, endearing aesthetics, and instant gaming pleasure.
According to the GAMINGbible website, “It’s a fun little game cycle that you’ll keep coming back to again and again thanks to its addictive nature.” The title retains its identity as a spin-off in the Mario universe, but offers an experience all its own. Enough to appeal to nostalgic fans and newcomers alike to Switch.
Balloon Kid, the forgotten ancestor of Flappy Bird?
Less known than Yoshi, Balloon Kid nonetheless remains a pleasant curiosity. Released in 1990, it is a horizontal platform game in which you play Alicea young girl who moves through the air using balloons. Each level involves traversing environments avoiding obstacles, while collecting other balloons along the way.
The experience inevitably evokes more recent games like Flappy Bird, but with an undeniable 90s charm. As GAMINGbible points out, these titles “are not designed for long sessions, but offer a quick dose of fun and fantasy.”
A community shared between joy and frustration
On the networks, the reactions were not long in coming. Some fans did not hide their enthusiasm. “BALLOON KID? I love this game,” gushed a user named Manny_GM on Twitter/X. Another, KongGokGunzer, said: “Playing Yoshi on Switch 2? It’s going to be awesome.”
But other, more impatient voices were heard, particularly on the absence of certain highly anticipated games in the catalog. “WHERE IS DONKEY KONG 64 ON NINTENDO?” exclaimed user Yiga_CC. In a similar vein, Gilition wrote: “I know I ask this all the time, but Nintendo, please.”
A strategic return to basics for Nintendo
With these additions, Nintendo continues to rely on nostalgia to retain its Switch Online subscribers. Accessible, fast, regressive: the Yoshi/Balloon Kid duo plays the card of emotion rather than technical novelty. An assumed choice, which is part of a broader strategy around backward compatibility, while waiting for announcements around the future Nintendo Switch 2.