Nintendo Switch Online To Get Forsaken, Literally

The next update coming to Nintendo Switch Online is for its rarely updated Mature 17+ off-branch of the Nintendo 64 section. To date, just four games have been a part of it: Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Shadow Man, and Perfect Dark, with Shadow Man being the most recent update. They can’t hold out on Conker forever, but they’ve found another way to stall: Forsaken 64 will be added to the lineup tomorrow, September 4. So for all who missed it in the late 90s, what’s this about? First off, ignore the crying woman on the box because that’s just marketing and has nothing to do with the game. Forsaken, which was also released on the Playstation, is a first-person shooter where you’re piloting a flying bike through the tunnels of a ruined Earth, taking whatever you can loot. Along the way you’ll be fighting robotic enemies and gangs of rival bounty hunters. Here’s the full story: You are a ruthless mercenary, sent to the condemned remains of Earth as part of a covert operation codenamed “Forsaken.” Your mission is to infiltrate and destroy the last bastions of the mechanized terror that wiped out all life on […]
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I remember playing Forsaken back in the late 90s, and it was one of those games that tried to stand out with its 3D movement. At the time, I did not fully understand it, because controlling the bike in six directions was confusing for me as a kid. Now, seeing it come to Nintendo Switch Online feels interesting, because people who missed it can finally try it without having to dig out old hardware. Personally, I think this game is not as iconic as Perfect Dark or even Turok, but it does have value for historical reasons. It shows how developers experimented with new gameplay systems. For those who only know Nintendo 64 through Mario or Zelda, Forsaken is going to feel very different. It has more of a dark sci-fi look, less colorful, more technical. I think this addition is not really about popularity but about variety. If the leaks are true and Donkey Kong 64 and Smash Bros. are coming, then Forsaken is just the appetizer before the main dishes.

Honestly, I never heard of Forsaken before reading this. I grew up with Nintendo 64, but I mostly played games like Mario Kart, GoldenEye, and Ocarina of Time. I find it strange that Nintendo chose Forsaken before Donkey Kong 64, which is much more famous and has a strong fan base. Maybe they are trying to highlight games that are forgotten or that had smaller communities. If that is their strategy, it could make sense, because some people like to discover hidden gems. At the same time, I cannot ignore that many subscribers will be disappointed because they expect the big names. For me, this announcement feels like filler before the real updates. I will probably try it once, just out of curiosity, but I cannot imagine spending many hours on it.

I feel excited for Forsaken’s return. When I was young, I could not afford many games, and Forsaken was one I always saw in magazines but never owned. Now, thanks to Switch Online, I finally get my chance. What makes me curious is the six degrees of freedom gameplay. It reminds me of Descent, another PC classic. Piloting a bike in tunnels while fighting robotic enemies sounds fun, even if it is a bit old-fashioned today. I like when Nintendo remembers games that are not the usual mascot platformers. It shows respect for gaming history, even if not everyone will appreciate it. Of course, I also want Donkey Kong 64 and Smash Bros. to join the library. Those are must-have titles. But I am not angry at Forsaken’s inclusion. To me, the more variety, the better.

I do not see Forsaken as a great choice. The Nintendo Switch Online library is already thin when it comes to high-demand titles. By giving us Forsaken, they are wasting an opportunity to attract more attention. People do not pay for the service to play forgotten experiments; they pay because they want the classics that defined their childhood. Donkey Kong 64 should have been the obvious move, especially now with all the talk about Donkey Kong after Bananza. Nintendo sometimes feels disconnected from what their audience actually wants. I worry that they will continue to drip-feed smaller games while holding back the ones that matter. For me, this update does not add much value.

I think people underestimate how unique Forsaken was. It is not just a shooter, it is a test of spatial awareness. You need to manage full 3D movement, not only forward and backward. That kind of gameplay is rare even now. Modern players might find it refreshing. I do agree that Donkey Kong 64 and Smash Bros. should come soon, but I see no harm in giving room to something unusual first. Imagine if every update was predictable—Mario, Zelda, Pokémon—then the service would feel repetitive. Adding Forsaken makes the library more balanced. And if the leaks are true, then we are only waiting a little longer for the big ones.

I played Forsaken back in 1999 on PlayStation, and it left a strong memory. The atmosphere was heavy, the enemies were strange, and the movement was challenging. It was not perfect, but it felt different. That is why I am happy to see it on Switch Online. It means I can revisit it and see if it still holds up. Many people will dismiss it because they want Donkey Kong first, but sometimes revisiting games that did not get much attention is more rewarding. For me, Forsaken is not filler, it is a chance to re-experience a piece of gaming history.

This update feels like Nintendo is buying time. They know players want the bigger names, but instead they throw in something like Forsaken to stretch out the schedule. I do not think that is fair, because subscribers are paying money every month. If you already added Perfect Dark and Turok, why not balance it with a fun platformer like Donkey Kong 64? At least then the update would appeal to more groups. Forsaken looks fine, but I cannot imagine it being a long-term favorite. Most people will test it once and then wait again for the next update.

When I first saw the cover of Forsaken as a child, I thought it was a horror game because of the crying woman. Later I realized it was just marketing, and the game was more about shooting and flying. I always thought that was funny. Now, getting a chance to play it on Switch feels nostalgic. It is one of those titles that was easy to miss because it was not heavily promoted like Zelda. The gameplay may feel old, but I think it is worth trying at least once, especially if you enjoy sci-fi shooters. Personally, I welcome these smaller releases. They make me appreciate the variety of the Nintendo 64 library beyond the usual names.

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