Forsaken 64 Is The Next Game On Nintendo Switch Online’s Mature App

Nintendo has confirmed that Forsaken 64, the cult classic first-person shooter from 1998, will join the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature 17+ app on September 4, 2025. This surprise announcement marks the fifth addition to Nintendo’s segregated M-rated N64 collection.

Forsaken 64 represents a unique piece of gaming history as a six-degrees-of-freedom shooter that lets players pilot anti-grav vehicles through complex 3D tunnels and environments. Unlike traditional FPS games, this title offers full 360-degree movement in all directions, creating gameplay that was revolutionary for its time.

This addition comes as Nintendo continues expanding its retro gaming offerings through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription service, which now includes over 100 classic games from various Nintendo consoles.

What Is Forsaken 64?

Forsaken 64 is a 1998 first-person shooter with six-degrees-of-freedom gameplay coming to Nintendo Switch Online’s Mature app. Originally developed by Probe Entertainment and Iguana UK for the Nintendo 64, this cult classic distinguishes itself from conventional shooters through its unique movement system.

Instead of running on foot, players pilot anti-grav vehicles called “pioncycles” through underground tunnels and abandoned facilities in a post-apocalyptic setting. This six-degrees-of-freedom movement means you can fly in any direction—up, down, forward, backward, and strafe in any direction—creating a disorienting but thrilling experience that was inspired by games like Descent.

The game features both single-player campaigns with 27 levels and multiplayer modes supporting up to four players. Players must collect various weapons and power-ups while battling enemies and other pilots in maze-like 3D environments that truly test spatial awareness and reflexes.

Understanding Nintendo’s Mature App Strategy

Nintendo’s decision to place Forsaken 64 in the separate Mature 17+ app reflects their ongoing strategy to segregate M-rated content from family-friendly offerings. This approach allows Nintendo to maintain its family-friendly image while still offering mature content to subscribers.

The Mature 17+ app currently houses five titles: Perfect Dark, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Shadow Man, and now Forsaken 64. These games require the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which costs $49.99 annually.

This separation means that even with an Expansion Pack subscription, users must download the separate Mature 17+ app to access these titles. The app acts as a curated collection specifically for adult-oriented retro games, preventing accidental exposure to inappropriate content.

Six Degrees of Freedom Gameplay

Forsaken 64’s defining feature remains its revolutionary six-degrees-of-freedom movement system. Players pilot anti-grav pioncycles through complex 3D environments where traditional concepts of “up” and “down” become meaningless.

The Switch version appears to maintain the original’s control scheme, using the analog stick for movement and shoulder buttons for banking and rolling. This control setup allows for the full range of motion that made the original so unique, though new players may find the disorienting movement challenging initially.

Multiplayer functionality remains intact, supporting up to four players in various deathmatch and team modes. The game’s performance on Switch hardware appears solid, maintaining stable framerates that match or exceed the original N64 experience.

Weapons and power-ups scattered throughout levels include laser cannons, missiles, and special abilities that add strategic depth to the chaotic combat. The progression system rewards skilled play with access to more powerful pioncycles and weaponry.

Forsaken 64’s Place in Gaming History

Originally released in 1998 by Acclaim Entertainment, Forsaken 64 arrived during the golden age of first-person shooters on the Nintendo 64. While it never achieved the commercial success of games like GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark, it developed a dedicated following among players who appreciated its unique approach to the genre.

The game’s development involved collaboration between Probe Entertainment and Iguana UK, who created the impressive N64 port. Critics praised its technical achievements and innovative gameplay, though many noted the steep learning curve associated with the unusual movement system.

Forsaken 64 is perhaps infamous for its misleading box art, which depicted a horror-style scenario that had little to do with the actual sci-fi gameplay. This marketing disconnect confused many players and may have contributed to its commercial underperformance.

“The box art was completely misleading – I thought it would be horror based on the name and art, but it’s actually a sci-fi shooter.”

– Reddit user discussing their initial experience with Forsaken 64

The game represents an important piece of gaming history as one of the few successful six-degrees-of-freedom shooters on consoles, alongside the Descent series. Its inclusion in the NSO Mature app helps preserve this unique title for new generations of players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Forsaken 64 Matters for Switch Online

The addition of Forsaken 64 to Nintendo’s Mature app represents more than just another retro title—it demonstrates Nintendo’s commitment to preserving diverse gaming experiences beyond their most famous franchises. This cult classic offers something genuinely different from the typical platformers and RPGs that dominate Nintendo’s legacy.

For retro gaming enthusiasts, Forsaken 64 provides a rare opportunity to experience a six-degrees-of-freedom shooter that was largely overlooked during its original release. The game’s inclusion alongside other Mature titles suggests Nintendo recognizes the value of preserving these more experimental and mature-oriented games from gaming history.

While perhaps not a system-seller on its own, Forsaken 64 adds valuable variety to the NSO library and represents the kind of hidden gem that makes retro gaming services compelling. Its arrival on September 4, 2025 gives Expansion Pack subscribers yet another reason to explore Nintendo’s rich gaming legacy.

The continued expansion of the Mature app, now with five titles, shows Nintendo’s balanced approach to family-friendly entertainment while still acknowledging the importance of preserving gaming’s mature content for historical completeness.