Donkey Kong 64 Finally Swings Onto Nintendo Switch Online - Here’s What You Need to Know

After nearly three decades, one of the most requested Nintendo 64 classics is finally making its way to modern consoles. Donkey Kong 64 arrives on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on June 4, 2026, ending a years-long fan campaign and giving a new generation the chance to experience Rare’s landmark collectathon. With the DK Rap still stuck in our heads and a recent Donkey Kong renaissance powered by the critically acclaimed Bananza, the timing couldn’t be better. Here’s everything you need to know about the game’s arrival, its legacy, and how to play it.

The Long-Awaited Announcement

Nintendo confirmed on May 27, 2026, that Donkey Kong 64 would join the N64 Classics library on June 4 in North America (June 3 in some regions, due to timezone differences). This marks the first N64 game added to Nintendo Switch Online so far in 2026 and the 43rd title in the US library. The game is exclusive to the Expansion Pack tier, which costs $49.99 per year, it is not available with the base Nintendo Switch Online subscription ($19.99 per year).

Fan speculation had been building since July 2025, when a blurred section of a Nintendo Switch Online trailer appeared to show DK64’s box art alongside Forsaken 64, Glover, and Super Smash Bros. Forsaken 64 was added later in 2025, but DK64 remained conspicuously absent, until now. The wait is finally over, and the game will be available to download and play on June 4.

A Legendary Collectathon, What to Expect

Donkey Kong 64, originally released in 1999 by Rare, was the franchise’s first 3D platformer and remains one of the defining collectathons of the era. Players control five distinct Kongs, Donkey, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky, each with unique abilities that must be used to explore massive, themed worlds. From the lush Jungle Japes to the crystalline Creepy Castle, every area is packed with bananas, golden bananas, blueprints, and other collectibles. That said, modern players should be prepared for some dated design elements: the sheer volume of items to gather can feel repetitive, the camera can be finicky at times, and some boss fights rely on trial-and-error. It’s a product of its era, but one with undeniable charm and ambition.

The game famously required the Nintendo 64’s Expansion Pak accessory to run; on Nintendo Switch Online, the emulation handles this automatically, so no extra hardware is needed. The NSO emulation offers convenient features like save states and rewind, but it’s worth noting that some players have reported minor input lag or audio quirks in other N64 titles on the service. For most users, these issues are negligible, but purists may notice a slight difference from original hardware.

One of the game’s most enduring legacies is the DK Rap, composed by Grant Kirkhope. The track, performed over the opening and ending credits, has become a beloved (and often ironically cherished) fan favorite. It remains one of the most recognizable video game songs of the late 1990s. For players new to the game, the DK Rap is an experience unto itself, equal parts cheesy and charming.

Local multiplayer is also included, with 4-player split-screen battle arenas where the Kongs face off in minigames like “Bharels of Bananas” and “Rat-A-Tap-Rap.” While the focus is on the single-player adventure, these side modes add replay value for groups of friends.

The Long Road to Re-Release

Donkey Kong 64’s re-release journey has been unusually long and fraught. Its last significant digital re-release was on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015, a console with low sales, meaning the vast majority of Switch owners never had a legal way to play it. The game was also notably absent from the Wii Virtual Console completely, unlike many other Rare-developed N64 titles such as Banjo-Kazooie or Perfect Dark.

Why the delay? A key factor is Rare’s acquisition by Microsoft in 2002. Since then, the rights to Rare’s back catalog have been split between Nintendo (who owns the Donkey Kong IP) and Microsoft (who owns the studio and some of its original IP). This has historically made re-releases of Rare-developed games more complicated, requiring cooperation between the two companies. For example, Banjo-Kazooie eventually came to Nintendo Switch Online in 2022 after years of Xbox exclusivity. Nintendo has never officially commented on specific hurdles for DK64, but the licensing landscape clearly played a role. Given that the game is now confirmed, those obstacles have been overcome. For fans who have campaigned for years on forums and social media, this addition feels like a long-overdue victory for retro gaming preservation.

The timing is especially sweet because DK64 is finally reaching a massive audience. The Nintendo Switch family of systems has sold well over 140 million units, and with the Switch 2 now on the market, the potential player base is larger than ever.

Perfect Timing, The Donkey Kong Renaissance

The arrival of Donkey Kong 64 comes almost exactly one year after the Switch 2 launched in June 2025, and even more significantly, it follows the July 2025 release of Donkey Kong Bananza for Switch 2. That game was met with near-universal acclaim, earning a rare 10/10 from IGN and quickly becoming the highest-rated Donkey Kong game in decades. Bananza reimagined the character in a bold new open-world direction, and its success sparked a resurgence of interest in the whole franchise.

Nintendo is clearly capitalizing on that momentum. DK64 now serves as a perfect companion piece: a chance for newcomers to explore the character’s 3D roots, and for longtime fans to revisit a game that defined a genre. The contrast between Bananza’s seamless open world and DK64’s hub-and-level structure offers an illuminating look at how far the series has come. At the same time, both games share a core DNA, collecting items, using unique character abilities, and exploring imaginative environments.

Is the Expansion Pack Worth It for DK64?

For Donkey Kong fans, this is currently the only legal way to play DK64 on a modern Nintendo system. No standalone remaster or re-release has been announced, and given Nintendo’s focus on its subscription service, it’s unlikely one is forthcoming. The Expansion Pack costs $49.99 per year, which also includes access to the entire N64 library (42 other games), plus SNES, Game Boy, and Sega Mega Drive classics. For context, the Wii U Virtual Console version cost $9.99, but that was a one-time purchase on a low-selling platform. The subscription model may be cheaper in the long run for players who enjoy multiple retro titles.

It’s worth noting that the same blurred trailer from July 2025 also teased Glover and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 64. Neither game has been added yet, leaving fans to speculate about future NSO additions. DK64’s arrival could be a sign that more of those teased titles will follow.

The Collectathon Begins on June 4

Donkey Kong 64’s arrival on Nintendo Switch Online is more than just a nostalgia trip, it’s a chance to experience a foundational 3D platformer that defined a genre, now with the convenience of modern emulation. Save states, rewind functionality, and the ability to play on the go make this the best version of the game ever released for most players. Whether you’re a longtime fan eager to revisit the DK Rap or a newcomer curious about the Kongs after Bananza, this is the perfect time to swing into action. Mark your calendars for June 4 (or June 3 in some regions), and make sure your Expansion Pack subscription is active, because the collectathon is about to begin.