You can try Nintendo Switch Online for free this July Fourth weekend

By Tomas Franzese July 1, 2024 12:56PM

Cloud saves, which are supported through Nintendo Switch Online — Nintendo

Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Nintendo will hold a free seven-day Nintendo Switch Online trial for all Switch owners, even if you’ve had a Nintendo Switch Online subscription before or participated in a previous free trial.

Nintendo Switch Online is Nintendo’s version of PS Plus or Xbox Game Pass Core. It gives members access to online play in games like Splatoon 3 or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, cloud backups for game saves, some exclusive discounts and game trials, and some retro game libraries. You can even buy Game Vouchers to get two first-party Nintendo games for $100 during this trial period, although you will have to spend them before the trial ends.

While the ones for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis are locked to the more expensive Expansion Pass that you’ll still have to pay for, this seven-day trial will still give you full access to the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy libraries in Nintendo Switch Online. If you’re looking for some recommendations on what to play from those game catalogs, you should check out The Legend of Zelda and StarTropics on NES, Donkey Kong Country and Earthbound on SNES, and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins and Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble on Game Boy.

It’s nice that this Nintendo Switch Online free trial offer is being refreshed ahead of a holiday weekend when many people will be off work. Nintendo Switch players can start the free trial today as long as they don’t have an active individual or family membership.

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Gaming Staff Writer

Tomas Franzese is a Staff Writer at Digital Trends, where he reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…

Gaming

Everything announced at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct

An image of the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Mario Red Edition.

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Nintendo Direct June 2024: How to watch and what to expect

Luigi with the Poltergust 5000.

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When is the June 2024 Nintendo Direct?
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How to watch the June 2024 Nintendo Direct
Nintendo Direct 6.18.2024 – Nintendo Switch

Gaming

Capcom Next: Summer 2024: how to watch and what to expect

Key art for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.

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When is Capcom Next: Summer 2024?
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How to watch Capcom Next: Summer 2024
CAPCOM NEXT - Summer 2024 (US)

If you want to watch Capcom Next live, it will be livestreamed on Capcom's official YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and TikTok channels. I've embedded the YouTube livestream above so you can watch the whole show straight from this article.