Virtual Boy Returns

[VideoGameCritic]

I see they are bringing the infamous Virtual Boy back for the Switch. Any interest?

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/09/ ... 1#comments

I'm torn about the physical/digital nature of the thing. You get a physical device which can last indefinitely if taken care of, but runs on games on available via the ephemeral internet.

Since I have the system and games, I wouldn't go for this. But if they had a self-contained package with the system and games offline, I might consider paying for it. Maybe it could offer some perks like graphics that are multi-colored.

Thoughts?

[Zack Burner]

I used to think this was fun back in the day, but after seeing the health hazards, I realized it wasn't worth keeping. Makes me relish my old Gameboy Color that I have locked in dormancy more. I recall loving games like Mario Tennis, Mario Clash, Nestor's Funky Bowling, 3D Tetris, and Golf.

[BlasteroidAli]

If they are cheap, then it will be a good purchase. I would go for the DLC, yeah, I know you like Physical copies but when we remember these games are curios rather than must have games. I also wonder how they would work.
So you need to buy an accessory to get them to work, Cardboard one cost 20 bucks or hi tech plastic one costing 70 bucks. Interesting. They are not available until next February. The first time I have thought that the Switch has an essential novelty item.

[JohanOberg]

I used to think this was fun back in the day, but after seeing the health hazards, I realized it wasn't worth keeping.

Funny since any risks are more or less negated once you turned 7.

[BlasteroidAli]

I used to think this was fun back in the day, but after seeing the health hazards, I realized it wasn't worth keeping.

Funny since any risks are more or less negated once you turned 7.

[bluenote]

I can't help but wonder if VR games will be coming for nintendo in the future, seeing as how easy they can use the Switch to "switch" to a vr console, as la virtual boy and Labo that they did several years ago.

[travistouchdown]

I still have my original virtual boy with all the games, homebrews, and a link cable and all that, so I really don't need this.

Still....amazing that they went to the trouble to make the hardware! Maybe they'll release a new game or two for it?

I'm very picky about what first party accessories I buy from Nintendo. They charge an arm and leg for them, and I'm fine playing most of the retro stuff on a regular pro controller. I haven't bought a Switch 2 pro controller yet....using my 2 Switch 1 ones and they work just fine. $80 is absurd. I hade to cough up $125 for a second Switch 2 dock for my downstairs game room. I love Nintendo but man do they piss me off sometimes....

[m0zart]

I am definitely interested in this, but I've already played most of those games I care about over and over. The library is so limited ... it's the only system that didn't have any of the three major Nintendo properties: Zelda, Metroid, or Mario. The Wario game, I guess, might count for the last, but those games don't have the same dynamic as a typical Mario platformer. I guess if they make available to US consumers the Lovecraftian first-person shooter they put out in Japan only, I'd probably give it a try.

I saw that they had two models -- a cardboard one and a more solid one on a tripod that looks like the original system. Both of them are pretty expensive for an add-on. I mean the cardboard add-on is like $25.

I wish they would spend some time using this concept to bring some 3DS games to the Switch, and allow them to be played optionally in 3D with such an accessory. It would have to be games that didn't really so heavily on the lower screen, of course, but many games like "Zelda: Link Between Worlds" and the Metroid 2 remake could be made to work without it.

EDIT: Speaking of the 3DS, I do wonder now as I did then why Nintendo didn't release these games on that system. I realize the experience wouldn't be exactly the same, but they went through the trouble of making some 3D games of their 2D classics. It made little sense to me then, but it makes even less sense to me now that I know that the possibility o Nintendo rereleasing the Virtual Boy games is more than a fanboy pipedream.