Two classic Game Boy Advance role-playing games are coming to the Nintendo Switch next week: 2001’s Golden Sun and 2002’s Golden Sun: The Lost Age. The games will either be available on January 17th according to this tweet or the 16th according to this press release (presumably this confusion is timezone-related, and we’ve followed up with Nintendo for clarification). But regardless of the exact date, they’ll be available as part of a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
We’ve known at least one of these games was coming to the Switch ever since Golden Sun made an appearance as part of Nintendo’s original announcement about Game Boy games coming to its subscription service. But it’s taken roughly a year for that tease to pay off. If you’re unfamiliar with the titles, here’s how Nintendo’s press release describes them:
“From the humble village of Vale to the mystical peaks of Mt. Aleph, the Golden Sun game sets magic-wielding young heroes Isaac, Garet, Ivan and Mia on a quest to prevent the ancient power of Alchemy from being unleashed on their home world of Weyard. Their adventure takes them through towns, caverns and dungeons as they face wily enemies, confounding puzzles and epic challenges that push their magical abilities (Psynergy) to their absolute limits. Along the way, they get help from mysterious creatures known as the Djinn, who aid the heroes in harnessing their Psynergy to unlock potent spells and unstoppable attacks.”
“A direct sequel to Golden Sun, the Golden Sun: The Lost Age game presents a dramatic shift as the story now follows Felix – a young Adept (or magic user) who was the antagonist of the first game – on his mission to prove that Alchemy isn’t a destructive force, but one that could save Weyard after all. Forced to join Felix on his quest are Adepts Jenna and Sheba and the wizened scholar Kraden, all of whom struggle to keep Felix on task as powerful and enigmatic new challenges face them all.”
In addition to the single-player campaigns, Nintendo Life notes the releases should also support the games’ multiplayer battle mode. From the looks of Nintendo’s Japanese website, you’ll be able to transfer game data between the two titles via either a password or an emulated link cable.