New Nintendo Virtual Boy Preview

by

As a longtime Nintendo enthusiast, the Virtual Boy was always the one console I hadn’t experienced. Despite growing up in the ’90s and loving the NES, SNES, and N64, my family – like many others – never bought a Virtual Boy when it came out in 1995.

As many know, the Virtual Boy was discontinued in 1996. By the time I started playing video games independently, it was long gone, and I never had a chance to experience it. Over the years, I’ve only heard about the system through podcasts and articles, leading me to believe I’d never actually play those classic red and black games.

Now that it’s 2026, Nintendo is bringing back one of its most unusual and innovative consoles for a new look. For those who missed it the first time, or like me, are curious, this is a second chance to experience the Virtual Boy – a device that was ahead of its time and can be seen as an early step towards the virtual reality technology we’re seeing today.

I recently got a chance to try out the redesigned Virtual Boy at a Nintendo event in New York City. It’s coming out in 2026, and after years of speculation, I can finally share what it’s like to use!

A Full-Measure Reimagining

Growing up in the ’90s, the Virtual Boy instantly grabbed my attention. It feels like a relic from that time, something you’d expect to see in a movie like Back to the Future Part II, with its depiction of a late ’80s future. It’s a really striking piece of hardware, and I quickly found myself wanting to try it out – several demo units were set up and waiting for people to use.

Unlike some VR headsets, this one doesn’t have its own built-in screen. You’ll need to use a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 console you already own and connect it to the headset. Unfortunately, this won’t work with the Switch Lite, as it’s not compatible with the connection slot. But if you have a standard Switch or Switch 2, setup should be simple.

The Virtual Boy is different from most headsets – it doesn’t have a strap to hold it on your head. Instead, it comes with a stand that you set on a table or other flat surface. You then lean down to look into it, similar to using a vision testing machine at the eye doctor, but with much more entertaining visuals than just blurry shapes and hot air balloons!

Because you’ll be wearing the headset for extended periods, it’s crucial to adjust it for a comfortable fit and good posture. You won’t be able to lean back and relax like you would in a chair or on a couch while using it. However, it’s still quite comfortable overall, since the headset doesn’t put any pressure on your face, as long as you’re sitting in a good position.

The part that touches your face is made of soft rubber, so it shouldn’t be uncomfortable. It doesn’t actually press tightly against your face, which is good. We tested it in a brightly lit room, but you’ll be able to adjust the fit and block out light more effectively at home. The sound comes directly from the Switch and sounds excellent when you’re using it inside the device.

Looking at the Switch screen through the Virtual Boy’s lenses is surprisingly impressive. While the games aren’t pushing graphical limits, the colors really stand out, especially the red against black, and everything is incredibly clear. This combination of factors makes the Virtual Boy feel like a high-quality, expensive device, which I didn’t anticipate. It’s a really cool and well-built piece of technology.

I didn’t get a chance to try out the less expensive cardboard Virtual Boy – it only cost $24.99 – so I can’t really say how well it works. Nintendo did have one on display behind glass, but my hands-on time was all with the more expensive version. I wish I could’ve compared the two!

A Fun Time, Though Personal Mileage Will Vary

On February 17th, new Virtual Boy games will be released for Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. To play them, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription. If you currently have the standard NSO membership, you might want to consider upgrading to the Expansion Pass – I personally think the extra features make it worthwhile.

Visually, looking through the eye lenses at your Switch screen is stupendous.

When Nintendo Switch Online launches, it will include seven Virtual Boy games: Teleroboxer, Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Golf, Virtual Boy Wario Land, 3-D Tetris, and The Mansion of Innsmouth. Nintendo plans to add more classic games over time, including popular titles like Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash.

I got to play all seven of the upcoming games, and as someone who hadn’t experienced them before, I made sure to try each one. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed playing every single game!

Teleroboxer is a really fun game and surprisingly feels like an early version of the boxing game in Wii Sports. I could easily spend a lot of time playing Galactic Pinball. Red Alarm has a similar feel to the classic game Star Fox. Golf looked fantastic. The Mansion of Innsmouth is a cartoonish, fast-paced shooter similar to DOOM that I hadn’t even heard of before, as it was originally only released in Japan. Wario Land cleverly used the system’s 3D features to make platforming on a 2D plane more engaging.

I unexpectedly spent a lot of my time playing 3-D Tetris. It was surprisingly fun to drop and rotate the pieces in a three-dimensional space, and the experience felt like something out of the movie Blade Runner, which is a huge compliment! I got really into it and kept checking to see if anyone was waiting to try the demo, as I lost track of time.

I genuinely had a good time with every game on offer.

Everyone will have a different experience with these games, and that’s perfectly normal. They’re designed as short, quick bursts of gameplay – something you can pick up and play whenever you have a few minutes. This approach will appeal to some players, while others might try each game once and then return to their usual favorites. The Virtual Boy isn’t going to be for everyone, and that’s perfectly fine.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more Virtual Boy coverage

Want deeper takes? Subscribe to the newsletter to get focused coverage of the Virtual Boy revival and broader retro gaming trends — detailed hands-on impressions, historical context, and thoughtful analysis to enrich your perspective.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Despite knowing these games weren’t a huge hit when they first came out 30 years ago, I really enjoyed them. Perhaps I’m just drawn to classic, arcade-style games as I get older, but I’m sure many others feel the same way. If you love retro games, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.

Worth the Cost of Admission

There’s been some discussion about whether the $99.99 price for the standard Virtual Boy is too high. As someone not involved in reviewing the product, and without receiving a free unit, I believe the price is reasonable. While it does need a Switch to work, the Virtual Boy still has a high-quality design and the included stand is a welcome bonus.

Whether the $99.99 price tag is worth it is up to each person, but considering new games often cost $79.99, I think the Virtual Boy offers enough to justify the price. I can’t yet say if the $24.99 cardboard version is a better value, so it’s still too early to tell which one is the better deal.

I’m really hoping to buy a regular Virtual Boy soon. I’m keeping an eye on the pre-order page, waiting for it to show back in stock so I can finally order one.

Read More

2026-02-03 17:17