Nintendo has expanded its GameCube Classics lineup on Nintendo Switch 2 with a surprise release of Wario World, marking the first modern rerelease of the 2003 action platformer. The title is available now through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, giving subscribers immediate access to one of Wario’s most distinctive solo adventures. Its addition continues the ongoing growth of the GameCube library within the service and reflects Nintendo’s strategy of gradually building out a curated set of titles for the upgraded subscription tier.
Wario World places the notoriously greedy anti-hero in a rare leading role on a home console. The adventure begins as a cursed black jewel twists Wario’s castle and steals his treasure, prompting him to pursue revenge while reclaiming the riches scattered across four themed stages. The game blends 3D platforming with a beat ’em up structure, allowing players to defeat enemies, collect coins, rescue Spritelings, and traverse trap-filled areas. Wario’s recognizable moves, including the Wild Swing Ding and Piledriver, support both combat and environmental navigation, creating a hybrid format that gives the game a different rhythm compared to traditional platformers.
Developed by Treasure, Wario World originally launched exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube on June 23, 2003, in North America. Its compact structure, elaborate boss encounters, and character-driven humor helped the game develop a following over the years, even though it remained confined to its original hardware. Its arrival on Switch 2 now offers a broader audience an opportunity to revisit or discover the title with modern conveniences.
The Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics application is available only on the Switch 2 and serves as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, which grants access to a growing catalog of legacy GameCube releases. Introduced alongside the console on June 5, 2025, the catalog already includes The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Luigi’s Mansion. Wario World was added to the service on December 10, 2025, further strengthening the platform’s retro offerings and giving subscribers another standout entry from Nintendo’s GameCube era.
