Games

Forsaken 64 joins the Mature N64 app on Nintendo Switch Online this Thursday

8 September 2025
Nintendo Switch 2Nintendo Switch
9 min.
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Forsaken 64 joins the Mature N64 app on Nintendo Switch Online this Thursday

Summary:

Forsaken 64 is officially joined the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature library for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members on Thursday, 4 September 2025. We walk through what’s included, why this late-90s six-degrees-of-freedom shooter still feels fresh, and how to access the Mature app on the eShop. Forsaken 64 becomes the fifth mature-rated Nintendo 64 release alongside Perfect Dark, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Shadow Man, and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil. Expect the original single-player and four-player multiplayer, now with the conveniences of the modern service like online play and suspend points. If you’ve been waiting for a hard-hitting, high-speed N64 shooter to round out your library, this is the one to mark. Below, we map out the release timing, the simple steps to get playing, and the small setup tweaks that make those first sessions smooth and comfortable.

Forsaken 64 joins the Mature N64 lineup

Forsaken 64 is arrived on the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature app for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members on Thursday, 4 September 2025. That date matters because it plugs a noticeable gap in the Mature library with a fast, six-degrees-of-freedom shooter that still turns heads for its speed and style. It’s also a lean way to revisit late-90s design without digging out old hardware: download the Mature app, let the system handle the emulation layer, and jump right in. We get the original Nintendo 64 release, its distinct campaign framing, and the split-screen mayhem that made it a staple of after-school matchups. For anyone keeping score, this marks the fifth mature-rated N64 game on the service—a tidy milestone that signals Nintendo isn’t done curating punchier, older favorites.

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What we’re getting with this release (modes, movement, multiplayer)

We’re stepping into a shooter built around freedom of motion and immediate feedback. The N64 version offers single-player and multiplayer, with the trademark six-axis movement—forward, back, strafe, ascend, and descend—that makes arenas feel like twisting tunnels rather than flat corridors. That freedom changes how we fight: you’re not just circling foes; you’re spiraling past them, popping up from below, then corkscrewing away as explosions trail your bike. Multiplayer brings the same energy, now paired with the convenience of modern online support through Nintendo Switch Online. It’s the classic vibe with current-day match options, so those legendary four-player battles aren’t tied to one living room anymore, even though couch play is absolutely still on the table.

Why Forsaken 64 still clicks in 2025

There’s a reason this one sticks. Speed and readability are a big part of it: enemies pop against the environment, power-ups have clear silhouettes, and the control scheme rewards short, decisive inputs. The result feels like aerial dogfighting in a mine—tense, precise, and surprisingly graceful once the movement clicks. Nostalgia helps, sure, but we also get a flavor of design that’s rare today: levels pushed by motion first, and then by spectacle, so every room is a new line to trace in your head. If you bounced off shooters that lock you to a plane, this frees you up. If you love tuning sensitivity until a turn feels perfect, this welcomes you with open arms.

How the Mature app works and where to find it

The Mature version of the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app sits alongside the standard N64 library on the eShop and is available to anyone with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Once installed, it unlocks mature-rated Nintendo 64 titles under a separate icon. That simple separation keeps discovery clean while letting Nintendo add punchier classics without cluttering the base app. It’s the same flow you know: download, launch, pick a game, and enjoy features like suspend points, button remaps, and optional filters on supported hardware. If the Mature app isn’t on your system yet, grab it ahead of Thursday so you’re not scrambling when Forsaken 64 drops.

The current Mature lineup and where Forsaken 64 fits

With Forsaken 64, the Mature shelf now counts five releases: Perfect Dark, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Shadow Man, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, and Forsaken 64. That’s a sharp little set spanning stealth-shooter mastery, dinosaur-blasting arena runs, moody comic-book action, and now a true six-degrees-of-freedom dogfighter. Forsaken 64 doesn’t just pad the numbers; it adds a different feel. Where Perfect Dark leans on gadgets and Turok revels in raw firepower, Forsaken is about spatial control and energy management. If you’ve been craving variety between sessions, rotating through these five gives each a chance to shine without stepping on each other’s toes.

Release timing and regional availability

The rollout is straightforward: Thursday, 4 September 2025, with availability through the Mature N64 app for anyone on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Because the app is a separate download, double-check you’ve installed the Mature version—searching “Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature” in the eShop gets you there quickly. Regions that support the Mature app should see Forsaken 64 populate the carousel on launch day. If you keep multiple consoles or profiles, make sure the membership is active on the system you plan to use so the game shows up without extra prompts or account switching.

Controls, comfort, and first-timer tips

Six-axis movement feels incredible once the rhythm sets in, but the first thirty minutes can be wobbly if you’re new to it. Start by nudging sensitivity down a hair, then practice smooth arcs rather than hard pivots. Picture your bike as a jet ski in a flooded canyon—lean through turns, feather the throttle, and avoid over-correcting when you clip a wall. Keep your eyes on your reticle, not the geometry, and let the periphery carry map awareness. Weapon pickups come fast; don’t hoard them. Cycle tools, stay moving, and burn powerful shots when the angle’s there. After two or three missions, the motion becomes second nature and the game’s speed turns from “whoa” to “let’s go.”

Split-screen and online play for fast matchups

Forsaken 64’s four-player battles are where the movement model truly sings. Split-screen on a TV still feels right for a quick evening; if you’re remote from friends, the Nintendo Switch Online framework covers you with online sessions and invites. Keep matches snappy with small arenas while everyone settles in, then expand to larger maps once the group’s comfortable with vertical routes. The trick is to avoid dead air—short timers, first-to-five rules, and quick rematches keep the energy high. It’s arcade spirit through and through, and the Mature app makes that spirit easy to share, even if the crew is spread across different cities.

Multiplayer etiquette and quick setup

A couple of small habits make matches better for everyone. Agree on sensitivity before you start, so nobody spends the first round in settings. Rotate hosts if latency crops up, and call out arena picks so newcomers can anticipate sightlines. If someone’s learning, go light on homing weapons for a few games; dogfights are more fun when you win an angle rather than a lock. Finally, keep a friendly banter going—half the joy of this era’s shooters is the laughter between explosions, and that part never gets old.

Technical expectations and quality-of-life features

We’re getting the N64 version as part of the curated Nintendo Classics experience, which means familiar quality-of-life perks. Suspend points are perfect for pausing mid-mission, and online play extends multiplayer beyond the couch. On supported hardware, optional display filters add a nostalgic touch, while control remapping helps dial in comfort on modern controllers. It’s not about rewriting Forsaken 64; it’s about smoothing the edges so the original design can breathe. That balance—authentic core, modern convenience—has been the calling card of the Classics apps and is exactly what a fast, motion-driven shooter benefits from today.

Forsaken N64 versus PC/PlayStation differences

Forsaken shipped across platforms back in 1998, and the N64 release carved out a distinct identity. It framed the conflict from a different perspective than the PC and PlayStation versions and tuned arenas for console play and split-screen flow. That’s the build we’re getting here. If you remember set-pieces or layouts that feel slightly different from a PC memory, you’re not misremembering—this is the cartridge lineage, with its brisk pace and arena-first thinking. For our purposes, that’s a win: the version built to shine on Nintendo hardware returns to Nintendo hardware, with the added benefit of modern online features through NSO.

Why Nintendo is leaning into the mature catalog

The Mature app solves two problems at once: curation and clarity. By separating these titles, Nintendo can keep the Classics front page friendly while still delivering celebrated, edgier releases that defined the late 90s. It also lets licensing-heavy games live where they belong, next to peers like Perfect Dark and the Turok duo. The cadence has been measured rather than overwhelming, which gives each drop a little spotlight and avoids drowning the rest of the library. Forsaken 64 reinforces that approach—something different, something swift, and something fans have been asking to revisit without the friction of remasters or new purchases.

What this addition suggests about future drops

No crystal ball here, just a practical read: adding Forsaken 64 widens the tone and mechanics represented in the Mature shelf, which suggests future choices will keep balancing variety with name recognition. That could mean another movement-driven pick down the line or a campaign-heavy classic that complements what’s already there. The point is simple: when each new addition feels distinct, we all get more reasons to dip back in regularly. Forsaken doesn’t compete with Perfect Dark; it coexists, and that’s smart curation.

Preservation matters: keeping late-90s shooters alive

We talk a lot about preservation because it’s more than sentimentality—it’s about letting new players feel old ideas at full force. Forsaken 64 is a time capsule of bold design: aggressive camera speeds, tight arenas, and a control scheme that trusts you to adapt. Having it a button-press away matters. It keeps a specific flavor of shooter circulating, inspiring folks who might take these motion rules and remix them in new creations. And it gives long-time fans a legitimate, convenient way to keep their favorite dogfights going without chasing expensive carts or fragile hardware.

Getting ready: subscription, download, and storage steps

Setup is breezy. Make sure your Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership is active on the system you plan to use. Head to the eShop and search for “Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature,” then download the app if you haven’t already. Once Forsaken 64 appears in the carousel on launch day, open the Mature app, select the game tile, and you’re in. If you bounce between handheld and TV, consider tweaking sensitivity separately for each play style; what feels perfect docked can be a touch spicy in handheld. Keep a little storage free for the app and updates, and you’re set for takeoff.

Conclusion

Forsaken 64 adds speed, swagger, and a different kind of finesse to the Mature N64 lineup. We get the N64 flavor preserved, the multiplayer that made it a sleepover classic, and the convenience that modern players expect. It’s a great excuse to reconnect with old rivals, teach a new friend how to orbit a target, or just chase that feeling of threading a tunnel at the last second. Mark the date, grab the Mature app, and let the anti-grav bike carry you where muscle memory and reflexes meet. See you in the debris field.

We’re welcoming a fast, distinctive N64 shooter back into easy reach, and it’s landing exactly where it should: the Mature app that celebrates classics built for older players. With a clear release date, simple access steps, and a moveset that still feels wonderfully modern, Forsaken 64 is poised to be the kind of drop we return to often. Set your sensitivity, call a friend, and take the long way through the tunnels—you’ll remember why this one left a mark.

FAQs
  • When does Forsaken 64 launch on Nintendo Switch Online?
    • It goes live on Thursday, 4 September 2025, as part of the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature app for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members.
  • Do I need a separate download to play?
    • Yes. Install the “Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature” app from the eShop. Forsaken 64 will appear there when it launches, alongside other mature-rated N64 titles.
  • Is multiplayer included?
    • Yes. The original four-player multiplayer returns, and with Nintendo Switch Online you can set up online sessions in addition to local split-screen.
  • Where does Forsaken 64 sit in the current lineup?
    • It’s the fifth mature-rated game in the Mature N64 library, joining Perfect Dark, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Shadow Man, and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil.
  • What’s the easiest way to get comfortable with the controls?
    • Start with slightly lower sensitivity, practice smooth arcs instead of hard pivots, and keep moving. Treat it like aerial dogfighting: control space, rotate weapons often, and avoid over-correcting.
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