Nintendo Switch offers 3 new free games, an offer not to be missed this weekend.

This weekend is shaping up to be retro for owners of Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: three new 8-bit classics have just been added to the base catalog of Nintendo Switch Online. Without any extra charge, these NES titles can be downloaded now if you are a subscriber.

Since April 9, 2026, subscribers can launch Pac-Man, Mendel Palace, and The Tower of Druaga via the NES – Nintendo Classics application. Three different atmospheres, three levels of difficulty, and one common goal: to fill your weekend with quick but engaging retro gaming sessions.

Nintendo Switch Online: what are these 3 new free NES games? The first heavyweight, Pac-Man, returns in its NES version from the late 80s. The principle remains unchanged: a maze, pellets to gobble up, ghosts to avoid, and power pellets that turn the tables for a few seconds, perfect for chasing high scores.

Mendel Palace, on the other hand, is an action puzzle game released in the late 80s, the first game by Game Freak, the future creator of Pokémon. You control Bon-Bon, tasked with saving Candy by flipping floor panels to push back or eliminate enemies. Finally, The Tower of Druaga, developed by Namco and now integrated into Bandai Namco, offers an ascent of a tower in a dungeon crawler style, floor by floor, while collecting a key and facing monsters and traps.

Are these free games on Switch worth your retro weekend? Pac-Man is the most immediate option: ultra-short games, obvious rules, and a quick tension build-up. It’s the perfect game for a few minutes between outings or for challenging your friends to beat your high score on the couch.

Mendel Palace is for players who like to think quickly. Every panel you flip can push enemies away or trigger a specific effect, creating a real-time strategic puzzle. Those familiar with Game Freak’s career will find it a pleasant historical curiosity to master despite its quickly increasing difficulty.

The Tower of Druaga is clearly the most demanding of the three. Each floor is timed, filled with punishing enemies and essential hidden items, requiring you to memorize the solutions. Note: the game is offered in an unlocalized version in French, with texts in English or Japanese, further solidifying its niche appeal for enthusiasts.

How to play these 3 free NES classics on Nintendo Switch this weekend? To enjoy them, you just need to have a standard subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, the basic tier without any additional packs. Once connected, open the Nintendo eShop, download or update the NES – Nintendo Classics application, and launch it from your console menu.

The three games will then appear in the NES library, ready to be played on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Whether you want a dose of nostalgia with Pac-Man, explore the beginnings of Mendel Palace, or take on the ruthless challenge of The Tower of Druaga, this update provides a great reason to turn on your console this weekend.