The recent confirmation of the Switch 2’s backward compatibility bodes well for the continued growth ofNintendo Switch Online’s classic game collections. While not much is known about the successor to Nintendo’s wildly successful hybrid console, there’s every reason to believe that the Big N will carry overNintendo Switch Onlinein at least some capacity. The most recent update to the service sees three new Sega Genesis games joining the console’s classic game collection available as part of the Expansion Pack subscription tier, with two of the titles being highly requested from fans since the moment Nintendo brought Sega games to the Switch.
The three classics from theSega Genesis librarymost recently added to Nintendo Switch Online areVectorman,Wolf of the Battlefield:Mercs, andToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron. While each of these titles is sure to have a dedicated fanbase excited about the games now being playable on the Switch, theToejam & Earlsequel is arguably one of the more interesting titles of the bunch, having become a cult classic in the wake of its initial poor critical and fan reception at launch.
Every New Sega Genesis Game on Switch Online as of July 04, 2025
Vectorman
Originally released in September 1995 as one of the late-era first-party Genesis games,Vectormanis a very solid action platformer with some unique mechanics. As the titular hero, players maneuver through fairly traditional levels while shooting enemies, but some interesting transformation abilities add variety to what’s otherwise a straightforward run n' gun.Vectorman’s developer, BlueSky Software, would also handle the port of the seminalShadowrunto the Genesis before closing its tenure on the system withVectorman’s sequel and the final installment ofWorld Series Baseball.Vectormanhad a positive critical and commercial response upon its release, but its release coinciding with the launches of theSega Saturnand Sony PlayStation led to it being somewhat overlooked. The title is arguably one of the great underappreciated gems in the Genesis catalog.
Wolf of the Battlefield: Mercs
Known in Japan asSenjō no Ōkami II(orWolf of the Battlefield 2),Mercsis the sequel toCapcom’s arcade classic:Commando. Like the original, players control a lone soldier from a top-down perspective in frantic run n' gun gameplay, albeit with improved visuals and sound. Notably, the Genesis port of the arcade hit features both Arcade Mode and Original Mode. As the naming suggests, Arcade Mode is a faithful port ofWolf of the Battlefield 2’s coin-op cabinet, while Original Mode is unique to the Sega Genesis version and contains a brand-new set of stages. Original Mode also allows players to switch between multiple different characters and even features some light RPG elements and progression. While players in North America may not remember this Genesis port of a beloved Capcom sequel, the title was the best-selling game on the console in the UK the month of its release.
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
Finally joining its predecessor on theNintendo Switch Online Expansion Packtier isToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron. This sequel to the classicToeJam & Earlis vastly different from its predecessor, swapping out theRogue-inspired random levels and treasure hunts for a more traditional 2D side-scrolling platformer. The change was hotly contested among players at the time ofFunkotron’s release, but the title has since become something of a cult classic among Genesis enthusiasts. And, despite an initially cool reception from critics, the legacy ofPanic on Funkotronis that it is among thebest games on the Sega Genesisand one of the console’s better platformers.
