Nintendo Switch Online new retro games: Earthworm Jim, Dig-Dug 2, Mappy-Land

Subscribers can now access three more retro titles from Nintendo Switch Online: Earthworm Jim, Dig Dug 2, Mappy-Land. They are all available now.

Jim The EarthwormSuper NES launched this game in 1994. It started a series of side-scrolling platformers which lasted 15 more years. The original game has been remade in high-definition for consoles. It was launched by the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade on September 10, 2010. This game was also available on the Sega Genesis Mini console, launched September 2019.

Dig Dug 2 is a Nintendo Entertainment System port of Namco’s 1985 arcade game, itself a sequel to the 1982 breakout cabinet hit Dig Dug. The same three adversaries return — the oblate Pooka, the fire-breathing Fygar, and hero Taizo Hori (whose name is not, in fact, Dig Dug). This time, they’re on the surface of an island (viewed top down) as opposed to underneath the ground (viewed from the side). Taizo has the ability to use a Jackhammer to break up an island and strand his inflatable enemies.

Mappy-Land was the console-only sequel to Namco’s 1983 arcade platformer Mappy. This game is about a cop-rat, as opposed to an internal affairs bureau or rat cops. He must find birthday gifts for his kid and wife while also avoiding Nyamco’s predatory Meowkies. If that sounds straight-up weird, well, that’s arcade games in the 1980s for you.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers now have access to 91 NES games, and 64 SNES game. Sign up now for the Expansion pack announced back in September to get these games, plus 13 Nintendo 64 and 23 Sega Genesis titles.