Capcom has made a significant addition to its Street Fighter 6 roster by incorporating NES games, marking a nostalgic moment for gamers that surpasses many offerings from Nintendo Switch Online. This new update coincides with the highly anticipated arrival of Street Fighter 6 on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the release of the final character from the game’s DLC Season 2—Elena from Street Fighter 3—alongside a new balance patch.
The game has already provided players with access to classic Capcom arcade hits, including several iterations of Street Fighter and other beloved titles like Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. With this latest update, four iconic NES games have been integrated, likely in celebration of the game’s launch on Nintendo’s platform. Among these titles are Mighty Final Fight, which serves as a chibi-styled remake of the original arcade beat ’em up and fits within the Street Fighter universe, and Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight, a unique side-scrolling entry that diverges significantly from traditional Street Fighter gameplay.
Additionally, the update features two of the most acclaimed NES games: Bionic Commando, a classic 2D side-scroller requiring players to navigate environments using a grappling hook mechanism, and Mega Man 3, widely regarded as one of the high points of the Mega Man series. This addition satisfies long-time fans and offers an essential gaming experience that had been previously absent from the Nintendo Switch.
While Capcom has largely neglected the Nintendo Switch Online service—offering Ghosts and Goblins as the sole featured title—this move to include NES games within Street Fighter 6 is a welcomed surprise. It is reminiscent of earlier practices where NES games were bundled with contemporary releases like Animal Crossing or Metroid.
Historically, the embrace of retro games has proven valuable for companies, as demonstrated by the success of the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console, which taught developers that fans appreciate—and are willing to pay for—access to classic titles. With this strong entry, fans can hope that further collaborations between Capcom and Nintendo might yield even more retro delights in the future.