The Virtual Boy Reborn on Switch: A Passion Project for Collectors and Nostalgic Gamers
Nintendo’s decision to resurrect the Virtual Boy experience through the Switch is equal parts preservation effort and collector’s paradise. While it’s easy to recall the Virtual Boy as one of Nintendo’s boldest and most infamous experiments, the renewed support offers a unique journey through a critical—if often misunderstood—chapter in gaming history.
A Premium Accessory: The New Virtual Boy Visor
To capture that original 3D effect, Nintendo now sells a meticulously crafted hard-shell Virtual Boy visor. Available exclusively through the Nintendo Store for $99.99, this accessory recreates the signature immersion with impressive fidelity. Within the package, users will find a sturdy stand, an adjustable eye shade, a lens cover, and adapters for both Switch 1 and Switch 2 models. The setup experience mirrors the classic Virtual Boy’s quirks: optimal comfort demands the right desk, chair, and posture. If you get these details wrong, you may discover the same neck and back twinges that helped doom the Virtual Boy the first time around—a commitment to authenticity that’s almost humorous in its honesty.
How the Setup Works
Sliding either Switch model into the visor feels daunting at first, but with no screws required for most configurations, swapping between Switch 1 and Switch 2 is relatively straightforward. However, the new Switch 2 fits tightly, and aligning everything for comfort can take trial and error. Nevertheless, once set, the visor and stand provide a surprisingly immersive window into Nintendo’s offbeat VR past.
The Virtual Boy Library on Switch: Nostalgia and Discovery
What makes this relaunch truly stand out is the curated library, featuring cult favorites and long-lost classics alike. Here’s the current line-up available for play on the Switch:
- Virtual Boy Wario Land
- Galactic Pinball
- RED ALARM
- Teleroboxer
- GOLF
- The Mansion of Innsmouth
- 3-D TETRIS
And more are coming soon, including Mario’s Tennis, Jack Bros. (a rare collector’s gem), VERTICAL FORCE, Mario Clash, and V-TETRIS, among others. For those with a taste for gaming history, Jack Bros. alone is a headline grabber, having fetched astronomical prices on the resale market.
Which Games Stand Out?
For both rookies and seasoned Virtual Boy fans, Virtual Boy Wario Land is the breakout performer, blending creative platforming with clever use of 3D. Teleroboxer brings a VR twist to the Punch-Out!! formula, thrusting the player face-to-face with robotic pugilists in exhilarating bouts. Pinball aficionados will find Galactic Pinball a charming sci-fi riff on the classic arcade game, while RED ALARM provides an early 3D flight experience reminiscent of Star Fox, showcasing how ambitious (and sometimes experimental) the Virtual Boy’s software could be.
Is the Price Worth It?
Accessing the Virtual Boy library comes with a cost: games are essentially bundled for those using the official accessory, pushing the investment to $100 for sixteen titles. For some, the value lies not just in the gameplay but in the preservation of a key fragment of Nintendo’s legacy.
Alternate Ways to Play: Cardboard and Third-Party Solutions
The official hard-shell visor isn’t the only option. Nintendo also offers a basic cardboard accessory for $24.99, evoking the spirit of Labo VR but with far less support or comfort. While it makes the experience more accessible, it lacks the polish and ergonomics of the premium visor, and the absence of a stand may affect longer play sessions. Moreover, if you try playing Virtual Boy games without any visor, the Switch simply displays two small screens—one for each eye—making proper gameplay nearly impossible without some kind of VR accessory.
The Switch 2’s larger frame also means most third-party or homemade cardboard visors aren’t a seamless fit, especially those designed originally for Switch 1.
No Docked Play Supported
If you’re hoping to fire up Red Alarm or Wario Land on the big screen, think again: docking the Switch automatically locks you out, reinforcing the VR-only intent behind this Virtual Boy revival.
Extra Perks for VR Fans and Nintendo Completionists
Beyond the Virtual Boy titles, owners of either the hard-shell or cardboard visor can revisit previous experimental VR content like the The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild VR camera mode or the specially designed VR levels in Super Mario Odyssey. With two official visor options now readily available, the Switch ecosystem finally feels like a genuine—if quirky—home for Nintendo’s VR ambitions, both past and present.
