Hamster Corporation has expanded its classic re-release lines to include console games on Switch 2 with the launch of Console Archives, and the first two entries are available on the eShop today. Hamster already operates Arcade Archives, a long-running series of emulated arcade re-releases that spans hundreds of titles from household names like Pac-Man to obscure but historically significant arcade games. Console Archives takes that approach to home-console releases rather than coin-op conversions.
The initial Console Archives releases are Cool Boarders, a 1996 extreme sports title originally for the PlayStation, and Ninja Gaiden 2, a 1990 action platformer from the NES era. Store pages describe the games only as a “32-bit home console” and an “8-bit home console,” which align with the PlayStation and NES origins, respectively.
Ninja Gaiden 2 is notable because it recently joined the Nintendo Switch Online Classics library in November as a subscription-only option. Console Archives offers an alternative path by letting players purchase individual classics outright instead of accessing them via subscription.
Console Archives echoes the old Wii Virtual Console model in that it provides a catalog of buyable retro games instead of bundling them behind a service. The key question now is what home-console licenses Hamster can secure going forward. Arcade Archives already covers a broad range of platforms and even includes coin-op versions of Nintendo properties such as Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong, which suggests a wide licensing pool is possible if rights holders agree.
The launch was revealed during Nintendo’s Partner Showcase on February 5, which focused on third-party releases for the Switch family of systems; the showcase ran about 30 minutes and included multiple partner updates. More partner announcements from the same event are available in the Partner Showcase summary. Which classic console games should Hamster prioritize next on Console Archives? Share your thoughts on X, Bluesky, YouTube, or Instagram.
