You’ll be able to change the color of Virtual Boy games on Nintendo Switch Online | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.You’ll be able to change the color of Virtual Boy games on Nintendo Switch OnlineComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingYou’ll be able to change the color of Virtual Boy games on Nintendo Switch OnlineSeven Virtual Boy games will launch on February 17th, with additional titles coming later this year.Seven Virtual Boy games will launch on February 17th, with additional titles coming later this year.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiJan 27, 2026, 3:15 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.The color-changing feature is only available for Nintendo’s $100 Virtual Boy Switch accessory. Screenshot: YouTubePart OfThe Switch 2 is here: everything you need to know about Nintendo’s new consolesee all updates Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Following the initial reveal last September, Nintendo has released a new trailer detailing which Virtual Boy games will be available to Switch Online subscribers starting on February 17th alongside revamped headsets, and which titles will launch later this year. The company also revealed some new features for the games, including the option to change the color of Virtual Boy titles which were notoriously limited to only bright red on the original hardware.Both the $99.99 Virtual Boy headset accessory and the $24.99 cardboard version require a Switch or Switch 2 console to be inserted in order to play Virtual Boy games. The lineup of games launching alongside the accessories on February 17th include Teleroboxer, Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Golf, Virtual Boy Wario Land, 3-D Tetris, and The Mansion of Innsmouth.Virtual Boy titles coming later in 2026 include Mario Clash, Mario’s Tennis, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, Vertical Force, and V-Tetris. Nintendo Switch Online will also feature two previously unreleased Virtual Boy games “coming later this year.” Zero Racers, and D-Hopper.RelatedA high-speed camera reveals how the Virtual Boy’s unique displays worked.Players will be able to rewind and replay Virtual Boy games through the Switch Online service and remap controls. That’s especially useful as neither headset accessory includes the original Virtual Boy’s unique controller which featured a pair of D-pads. However, as welcome as the color changing feature will be when it also launches later this year, it will only be available for the more expensive Virtual Boy headset accessory and will require you to remove its lens cover first.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNintendoCloseNintendoPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NintendoTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMore in: The Switch 2 is here: everything you need to know about Nintendo’s new consoleBelkin’s new Switch 2 charging case earns its $100 price.Cameron FaulknerJan 24I tested a bunch of Switch 2 screen protectors, and these are the bestCameron FaulknerJan 21I’ve tested the latest Switch 2 controllers, and this one is the bestCameron FaulknerJan 15Most PopularMost PopularTikTok USA is brokenPayment processors were against CSAM until Grok started making itEven the big dick subreddit is mad about ICETikTokers are heading to UpScrolled following US takeoverIntel Panther Lake laptop CPU review: call it a comebackThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Nintendo Switch Online service is expanding its library with the revival of the Virtual Boy, a console notorious for its limited color palette and unique display. Starting February 17th, 2026, seven Virtual Boy titles – Teleroboxer, Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Golf, Virtual Boy Wario Land, 3-D Tetris, and The Mansion of Innsmouth – will be available to subscribers. Further titles, including Mario Clash, Mario’s Tennis, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, Vertical Force, and V-Tetris, will be added later in the year. This expansion is facilitated by a new accessory, the Virtual Boy headset, and a cardboard version, both of which require a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 console.

A key feature introduced alongside these games is the ability to change the color palette of the games, addressing one of the Virtual Boy’s most defining limitations. This functionality is currently exclusive to the $99.99 Virtual Boy headset accessory – requiring the removal of its lens cover – and will be available via a later release for the cardboard version. Furthermore, the service will include two previously unreleased Virtual Boy games, “Zero Racers” and “D-Hopper,” adding further value to the subscription.

Players will be able to utilize rewind and replay features through the Switch Online service, offering additional gameplay flexibility. It’s important to note, however, that the headset accessory does not include the original Virtual Boy’s unique controller, which featured a pair of D-pads. This presents a potential adjustment for players accustomed to the original hardware. Andrew Liszewski, a senior reporter at The Verge, highlights the significance of this color-changing feature, emphasizing its ability to overcome a core characteristic of the Virtual Boy’s design. This addition represents a thoughtful approach to classic gaming, aiming to provide a more accessible and visually appealing experience for modern audiences. The release represents a significant effort to reinvigorate a historically flawed console, leveraging the breadth of Nintendo Switch Online to deliver a compelling and nostalgic gaming experience.