Donkey Kong 64 is joining Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on June 4, 2026. The 1999 platformer from Rare is the next N64 title confirmed for the service, arriving roughly five years after the Expansion Pack tier launched in October 2021 with its initial batch of N64 games.
The game’s absence from Switch Online had been a years-long topic. The embedded Jetpac mini-game is owned by Microsoft following its acquisition of Rare in 2002, making Donkey Kong 64’s inclusion on Nintendo’s service dependent on a licensing arrangement with a direct competitor.
The game follows the Kong family’s effort to stop King K. Rool from threatening DK Isles with a mobile island fortress. Players work through eight themed worlds collecting Golden Bananas, colored coins, and other items each tied to a specific character. Donkey Kong 64 required the N64 Expansion Pak to run on original hardware, one of the first Nintendo 64 titles to mandate the memory accessory.
Five playable Kongs and their abilities
Each of the five characters has a distinct ability set that gates access to different parts of each world. Donkey Kong relies on strength-based attacks, Diddy Kong uses a jetpack for aerial movement, Tiny Kong can shrink and glide, Lanky Kong stretches his arms to reach elevated platforms, and Chunky Kong grows large and moves heavy obstacles.
Most collectibles are assigned to a single Kong, so fully completing a stage requires cycling through all five characters. With hundreds of individual items spread across eight worlds and a final boss sequence involving each Kong in turn, the game builds its structure around collection from start to finish.
Multiplayer and Donkey Kong 64 Switch Online mini-games
The Donkey Kong 64 Switch Online release includes four-player split-screen multiplayer in competitive battle arenas alongside the full campaign. Two classic mini-games come embedded: Jetpac, the 1983 shooter from Ultimate Play the Game, and the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game. Both appear as unlockable content tied to campaign progression. The DK Rap, the opening song that introduces each Kong and their ability, is also present.
Subscription details and release date
Donkey Kong 64 Switch Online goes live on June 4 for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. Both western markets and Japan receive the game on the same date. The N64 library requires the Expansion Pack tier, which costs more than the base plan. The base Nintendo Switch Online subscription covers NES and SNES libraries; the Expansion Pack also includes Sega Genesis and Game Boy titles.
Nintendo has added N64 games to the Expansion Pack gradually since 2021. Previous additions include Mario Golf, Pokémon Stadium 2, and 1080° Snowboarding. With Donkey Kong 64 confirmed for June, Diddy Kong Racing remains one of the more prominent N64 titles absent from the service.