Nintendo has unexpectedly added the 2003 GameCube classic Wario World to its Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service, available exclusively to Switch 2 owners. Developed by Treasure, the 3D platformer marks the first home console entry in the Wario series. This addition brings the GameCube library on the service to seven titles.
Overview
Wario World, originally released in 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube, is a 3D platformer developed by Treasure, the studio behind titles like Gunstar Heroes and Sin and Punishment. In the game, the antihero Wario embarks on a quest for payback after his treasure is stolen and his castle destroyed. It represents the first Wario game for a home console and the series' debut in full 3D, predating the microgame-focused WarioWare series that launched the same year.
On December 11, 2025, Nintendo surprise-released Wario World for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on the Switch 2 console. This unannounced addition follows Luigi's Mansion, which arrived in October, and expands the GameCube catalog to seven playable titles. Unlike the initial lineup announced earlier, Wario World was not previously teased, making its inclusion a notable holiday surprise.
Service Details
Access to Wario World requires the Expansion Pack tier, priced at $50 annually ($80 for family plans), on top of the base Nintendo Switch Online membership costing $20 per year. The GameCube library remains exclusive to Switch 2 owners. Other Wario titles already available on the service include Wario Land 3 for Game Boy and Wario Land 4 for Game Boy Advance.
Upcoming Releases
Several GameCube games announced for the service are still pending, including Super Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Pokémon Colosseum, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. Separately, Nintendo revealed that N64 classics Rayman 2: The Great Escape and Tonic Trouble will join the service on December 17.
This release highlights Nintendo's ongoing effort to bring retro libraries to modern hardware, potentially reviving interest in underappreciated titles like Wario World, which was not among the console's biggest hits.
