Nintendo adds three Game Boy classics on October 27

Nintendo is adding three more Game Boy games to the Nintendo Classics library on October 27. The new batch is Avenging Spirit, Mole Mania and Pinball: Revenge of the ‘Gator, giving Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members another compact retro line-up to play this month. ¹²

The update is a small one, but it covers three very different kinds of Game Boy design. Avenging Spirit is an action game built around possessing enemies, Mole Mania is a puzzle game starring a determined burrowing mole, and Pinball: Revenge of the ‘Gator turns the handheld into a colourful pinball table. Nintendo’s announcement confirms the three games will arrive together on October 27. ¹

Three very different Game Boy returns

Avenging Spirit is the most unusual pick of the group. Its central gimmick lets the player take control of other characters after losing the original hero, changing the way each section can be approached. That possession system gives the game a stronger identity than a straightforward platformer, while its arcade-style action makes it a useful contrast to the two more deliberate games in this update.

Mole Mania takes the line-up in the opposite direction. Nintendo’s puzzle adventure asks players to work through compact stages by digging, pushing objects and finding a route through obstacles. Its bright presentation and readable rules have helped it remain one of the more fondly remembered Game Boy oddities, even though it never became as broadly known as Nintendo’s biggest handheld franchises.

Pinball: Revenge of the ‘Gator is the most immediately self-explanatory addition. It builds a pinball game around a playful alligator theme, with the screen scrolling through different sections as the ball moves between tables and targets. It is the sort of title that suits short sessions: easy to understand, but capable of turning a spare few minutes into a much longer attempt at a better score.

What subscribers need to know

The games are being added to the Game Boy – Nintendo Classics app on October 27. Access is tied to a Nintendo Switch Online membership with the Expansion Pack, rather than the standard tier alone, according to the announcement reported by Gematsu. ¹²

Nintendo’s update image presents the three games as an October Game Updates release, with the original Game Boy box art doing most of the promotional work. That is fitting for this particular selection: each title is old enough to feel like a discovery, but distinct enough that the batch is not simply three versions of the same experience.

The timing also gives the update a useful seasonal shape. Avenging Spirit brings a ghostly hook, Mole Mania offers a more relaxed puzzle challenge, and Pinball: Revenge of the ‘Gator supplies a score-chasing arcade diversion. None of them is likely to dominate the service on name recognition alone, but together they make a stronger case for browsing Nintendo’s less obvious handheld catalogue.

Our opinion

This is the kind of Nintendo Classics update that rewards curiosity rather than nostalgia alone. Mole Mania is the standout prospect because its digging-based puzzles still sound mechanically specific, while Avenging Spirit has a hook that should make it more than another routine action reissue. Pinball: Revenge of the ‘Gator is the wild card: it may be the easiest to dip into, but its appeal will depend on how well the scrolling tables and scoring loop hold up on a modern screen.

The three-game spread is more interesting than a larger batch of interchangeable platformers would have been. Nintendo is still leaning on the Game Boy library’s deepest cuts, and that is exactly where the service can feel most useful. These are not just famous games being placed in a museum; they are odd, focused experiments that give subscribers a reason to see what else the handheld had to offer.