Nintendo is bringing back the most underrated hardware in its storied history as an accessory for the Switch 2. The recreated Virtual Boy still has the classic kickstand and faceplate. However, instead of sporting its own screen, you’ll need to slot in your Switch 2 to create the classic black and red “3D” visuals.
At first glance, the new Virtual Boy appears like a pitch-perfect remodel of Game Boy creator Gunpei Yokoi’s odd kickstand-based console. The main difference is that there’s no screen built in. You open up the lid and pop in your Switch 2 or original Switch to act as the screen instead. This implies that users will be able to play these Virtual Boy games even without the extra peripheral, so long as they pay the $50 a year for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
If you don’t want to wait for the full plastic Virtual Boy to arrive, Nintendo said it’s also going to sell a cardboard version akin to its old Labo line of build-it-yourself paper Switch peripherals.
Either way, players will have access to 14 games at launch, including at least one former Japan-only title. The Mario maker said the peripheral will launch on Feb. 17 in 2026, though the games may roll out “over time.” Gamers will get to play titles like Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Mario Clash, VTetris, and Virtual Bowling. The plastic and cardboard peripherals will both be available exclusively to Switch Online subscribers. The Virtual Boy for Nintendo Switch 2 costs $100, while the cardboard version demands $25. Nintendo recently hiked prices on most of its peripherals and older Switch consoles, likely due to Trump tariffs. Those prices may not stay the same forever so long as U.S. import taxes keep fluctuating.
The original Virtual Boy was Nintendo’s worst-selling console in its history, only selling 770,000 units worldwide before the company pulled the plug. By comparison, the company’s next worst-selling console, the Wii U, sold 13.6 million.
I already know some of you reading this are about to ream me in the comments when I use the word “underrated.” Let me point you to the many Virtual Boy emulators available on VR headsets like the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro. Virtual Boy Wario Land is a true underrated gem that never received the attention it deserved at release, mostly due to the awkward and unnatural hardware. Now we’ll all get to try Wario Land and other titles like Mario’s Tennis in a more accurate way than emulation.
