Owning a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 is only half the experience. Online play in games like Mario Kart, Splatoon and Animal Crossing, cloud backups of your save data and a growing library of classic Nintendo games all sit behind a Nintendo Switch Online membership. The question most players have is not whether they need it, but which version and how long.
There are four options worth knowing about: two standard memberships of different lengths and two Expansion Pack memberships, one for a single player and one for a family. Here is what each includes and who it suits best.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
- How many people in your home play online? If more than one person has their own Nintendo Account, a family membership usually works out better than buying separately.
- Do you love retro games? The standard membership includes NES, Super NES and Game Boy classics; the Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Mega Drive titles.
- Which games do you already own? The Expansion Pack also unlocks downloadable expansions for select Nintendo Switch games, which can be worth it on its own if you play those titles.
- Do you want to commit for a year? A shorter membership is a good way to test online play before signing up for twelve months.
Four Memberships Compared
Each of these Switch Online codes is delivered digitally and redeemed in the Nintendo eShop, so there is no card to post and nothing to keep track of.
Nintendo Switch Online 3 months
The three month membership gives you everything in the standard service: online play in co-operative and competitive games, the NES, Super NES and Game Boy library with added online modes, cloud save backups, smartphone app voice chat and member-only offers. It is the natural choice for a new console owner who wants to try online play over a school holiday or around a new release.
Nintendo Switch Online 12 months
A full year is the set-and-forget option for a single player who plays online regularly. Cloud saves alone make it worthwhile, since your progress is protected if a console is lost, replaced or upgraded to a Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (Individual Membership)
The Expansion Pack keeps every standard benefit and adds a growing library of Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Mega Drive games. It also gives access to downloadable expansions for select Switch games, which turns it into a strong pick for anyone who already owns those titles and wants the extra content without buying it separately.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (Family Membership)
The family option is where the membership becomes great value for households. Up to eight Nintendo Accounts can share it through a Family Group, so parents and children each keep their own saves and friends lists while sharing one membership. Every account gets the full Expansion Pack, including the classic libraries and the select game expansions.
Setting Up a Family Group in Three Steps
- Redeem the family membership code on the Nintendo Account that will act as the group admin.
- From the Nintendo Account website, invite each family member’s account to join the Family Group.
- Once they accept, every member can play online and use the classic libraries on their own Switch or Switch 2.
Children’s accounts can still be managed with the parental controls app, so adding them to the family membership does not mean losing control over what they play or who they talk to.
A Note on Gifting and Timing
A membership code makes a thoughtful gift for a new console owner, because it unlocks online play in the games they already have. If you are giving it alongside a new Switch 2 or a new game, redeem it on the same day so the first online session works straight away. Codes can also be used to extend an existing membership, so there is no risk of wasting days if the person already subscribes; the new period simply starts when the current one ends.
Wrapping Up
For a single player who just wants online play and cloud saves, a standard membership is all you need. If retro favourites and game expansions appeal, the individual Expansion Pack is the upgrade to make, and if several people in your home play, the family membership is hard to beat. Choose the length that fits and keep your Switch connected all year.
All four memberships are available as instant digital codes from Startselect, with no credit card needed. For more guides on consoles and family gaming, visit BlogsBuddy again soon.