Key Takeaways
1. Nintendo is adding two classic Game Boy Advance games, Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, to its Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on September 25, 2025.
2. These games will be available exclusively in the premium Expansion Pack tier, adding to a library that already includes over 20 GBA classics.
3. Mr. Driller 2 involves drilling through blocks while managing an air supply, while Klonoa: Empire of Dreams is a 2D platformer featuring puzzle-solving and exploration.
4. The Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics app received a significant update (version 3.0.0) in early September, improving emulation and adding customizable button remapping.
5. Switch 2 owners can enjoy a resolution upgrade to 1080p in handheld mode for GBA titles, and an Easter Egg allows activation of the classic GBA boot-up screen in the app.
Nintendo has broadened its Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service by revealing the addition of two classic Game Boy Advance games, Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, which are set to be released on September 25, 2025.
New Additions to the Service
These games are exclusive to the premium Expansion Pack tier and will enrich an already impressive library that boasts over 20 GBA classics, including hits like Metroid Fusion, Fire Emblem, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, as well as games from N64, Sega Genesis, and soon, Virtual Boy.
Both titles were created by Bandai Namco and launched in the early 2000s. Mr. Driller 2 first appeared in Japanese arcades in July 2000, before being adapted for the Game Boy Advance in 2001 during the handheld’s debut in Japan. However, it didn’t make its way to the West until 2005.
Gameplay Details
In Mr. Driller 2, players take on the role of either Susumi Hori or Anna Hottenmeyer, drilling through colorful blocks while keeping an eye on their dwindling air supply. Players must gather capsules to recharge their air.
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams will also be part of the GBA offerings. Released in 2001, this 2D platformer is a GBA-exclusive title. The story revolves around Klonoa, who is imprisoned, and his ring spirit friend Huepow. Players navigate through 40 stages, solving puzzles by collecting stars and Dream Stones. The game received a score of 34 out of 40 from Famitsu and a Metacritic score of 83 based on 14 reviews.
Recent Updates to the App
These game announcements follow a significant update to the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics app, as version 3.0.0 launched in early September, improving the GBA emulation on both the original Switch and the Switch 2.
The update brought in customizable button remapping, allowing players to hold down ZL and ZR during gameplay to select View/Change Controls. Owners of the Switch 2 can also experience a resolution upgrade to 1080p in handheld mode, letting them play GBA titles in HD, unlike the original Switch’s 720p limit.
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