Let’s be super clear: the Switch has no disc drive. No CD, no DVD, no cartridges from the Wii U or Wii. If you’re hoping to plug in that Xenoblade Chronicles X disc, you’re out of luck. Physically, it’s a no-go.
But hey, there’s a silver lining. Nintendo has been slowly bringing over some of those "lost" games as digital downloads or remasters. Pikmin 3 Deluxe? That came from the Wii U. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze? Yep, same story. It’s like a treasure hunt, with Nintendo digging up gems for you.
What About Virtual Console?
Ah, the Virtual Console—Nintendo’s old-school digital store for retro games. On the Wii U, you could buy Super Mario World or EarthBound for cheap. But the Switch? It replaced that with the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.
So you can play NES, SNES, and Game Boy games on the Switch, but only as part of a monthly subscription. It’s like a Netflix for old games, not an all-you-can-eat buffet. Bummer if you wanted to own them permanently, but the library keeps growing. Is it worth it? Depends on how many classics you want to revisit.
