Namco Icons and Game Freak’s Roots Arrive on NSO
Retro Revival: PAC-MAN, Mendel Palace, and The Tower of Druaga Join Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo has just expanded the NES library for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, and this latest batch is a certified Namco-fest. As of today, April 9, 2026, three classic titles have been added to the service: the iconic PAC-MAN, the challenging The Tower of Druaga, and the cult-favorite Mendel Palace.
Whether you’re playing on your original Switch or pushing pixels on the newer Switch 2 hardware, these titles are now live and ready for a trip down memory lane. Here’s the lowdown on what’s hitting your dashboard.
PAC-MAN (1988)
You know him, you love him, and you’ve probably spent enough quarters on him to buy a small island. While the arcade version is legendary, the NES port is a faithful translation of everyone's favorite yellow pellet-muncher. Navigate the maze, dodge Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, and grab those power pellets to turn the tables. It’s simple, it’s timeless, and it’s finally officially part of the NSO collection.
Mendel Palace (1989)
This is the "deep cut" of the update, and it’s a fascinating piece of gaming history. Before they were catching Pokémon, Game Freak made their debut with Mendel Palace (known as Quinty in Japan). This action-puzzle game has you flipping floor tiles to shove enemies into walls. It’s surprisingly addictive and features that early Game Freak charm that fans will immediately recognise.
The Tower of Druaga (1985)
Warning: This one is for the patient players. The Tower of Druaga is a proto-Action RPG that requires you to climb 60 floors to rescue the maiden Ki. Each floor has a hidden treasure chest that only appears if you perform a specific, often cryptic action. It’s notoriously difficult without a guide, but its influence on the Legend of Zelda series and the RPG genre as a whole is undeniable.
How to Play
All three titles are available now for all Nintendo Switch Online members (no Expansion Pack required for these NES classics). Just update your NES – Nintendo Switch Online app to the latest version and you’re good to go.
Out of Sync Gaming Take
I love that Nintendo is still giving us updates for games on the NSO. But it does feel like this latest round of updates my go unoticed by most. They are pretty deep cuts, besides PAC-MAN, but hey, more games is always nice.
Are you excited about any of these releases? Let us know in the comments below.