Nintendo Switch Online finally lets Nintendo’s adorable Starfy shine on the world stage

By James On Jul 12, 2024

Nintendo Switch Online members who have upgraded to the subscription service’s premium Expansion Pack subscription now have access to three Game Boy Advance games previously released only in Japan: Densetsu no Starfy, Densetsu no Starfy 2, And Densetsu no Starfy 3.

While Starfy has been the star of five games from the GBA and Nintendo DS eras, only one of his games is a standalone title: 2008’s. The legendary Starfy for DS — had not been released outside of Japan until now. Starfy’s creators at developer Tose have said that Nintendo of America would at some point found the series “too Japanese” for Western audiences; some Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will agree, as the game’s dialogue is in Japanese.

But the trio of Densetsu no Starfy GBA games are undeniably a boon to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service, giving Switch owners a chance to experience games they may have never played before. The Starfy games are cutesy platformers, with an emphasis on swimming and special abilities. Densetsu no Starfy 3 introduces a new playable character: Starfy’s sister Starly, and features a cameo from Wario.

The arrival of Starfy’s GBA trilogy follows the recent release of another Japan-only rarity on Nintendo Switch Online: the 1986 game The Mystery of Atlantisa NES platformer and maze game from Sunsoft. Mother 3but? That’s still stuck in Japan.

Nintendo Switch Online costs $19.99 per year, and in addition to online multiplayer access, the service offers Switch owners a library of games from the original NES, Super NES, and Game Boy. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is a premium upgrade to Nintendo’s online subscription service, offering a variety of expansions and downloadable content, as well as access to a library of Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis games. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack costs $49.99 per year for an individual user and $79.99 per year for a family subscription (for up to eight users).