As far as monthly subscriptions go, Nintendo's online service - while not as good a deal overall as PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold - was relatively affordable. But it's just gotten even cheaper, after Twitch announced that Twitch Prime subscribers would get a year-long subscription to Nintendo Switch Online as a bonus.

Last week, Nintendo added the cult-classic 1990 NES game StarTropics to the Switch Online library. There’s just one problem: it doesn’t contain the secret clue necessary to actually beat the game.

Yesterday Nintendo announced and released Tetris 99, a battle royale-style multiplayer Tetris game for the Switch in which you play against, wait for it, 98 other players in a merciless puzzle-off. It’s out now and free to download. There’s just one problem: the game doesn’t tell you how it works.

As usual with Nintendo’s classic game services, Switch Online’s NES app now has more games in Japan than it does in the rest of the world. While today’s worldwide update included Blaster Master and Zelda II, Japan also got a very cool fighting game called Joy Mech Fight. Fortunately, since Switch is region-free, anyone with an Online account can play it.

Switch Online’s NES classics app now has titles and descriptions for 22 Super Nintendo games buried in its code, according to dataminers who have looked at the program. That’s a welcome glimmer of hope for anyone hoping to play Super Mario World on their Switch, but it doesn’t necessarily mean those games will show up any time soon.

Nintendo has continued to build out the NES library in its Switch Online app with the previously-announced addition of NES Open Tournament Golf, Solomon’s Key, and Super Dodge Ball. But it also had a surprise: “Living the life of luxury!,” a hacked save file for The Legend of Zelda that starts players out with a full inventory and lots of cash..

Nintendo Switch Online went live last week, marking the first time the Japanese gaming giant has asked its customers to pay a subscription fee to play with and against others over the internet. Like similar services from PlayStation and Xbox, there are a number of benefits to signing up, but is it worth the price of admission?

This week, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe got online voice chat as part of Nintendo Switch Online. Before now, I didn’t think I would want to hear from any of my competitors in Mario Kart. Turns out, it rules.

Nintendo Switch Online hasn’t even been out for a day and hackers have already found a way to upload new NES games to its existing library.

If you've been waiting to check out the Nintendo Switch Online service, it's live now -- as are all of the NES games that come with it, and the free 7-day trial.

Nintendo Switch Online launches tomorrow on September 18, and in the past few days, we’ve learned a bit about the new features coming as part of the service and how they will affect the games involved.

If you've been waiting for more concrete details on the Switch Online service, Nintendo--barring any last minute interruptions--will finally have some news for you tomorrow morning. Let's tune in.

As Nintendo starts to take a more strict approach to ROMs, players’ access to older games is changing. Sure, you could try to find a working retro console and pony up for expensive cartridges, but there has to be a better way.

A small update for you all: Nintendo has narrowed the window for when their online service will launch later this year, although we're still hanging out for an exact date.

Chatting with your friends is great and all, but the Switch online app's best Splatoon 2 feature is Annie's SplatNet Gear Shop, featuring a rotating stock of exclusive items for the discerning squid kid.