Virtual Console Dreaming: The Platforming December 2025 Update
Tonic Trouble and Rayman 2 by Ubisoft
It’s a big day for people who prefer their protagonists limbless–or for fans of Michel Ancel.
This morning, Nintendo announced we’re getting two more games added to the Nintendo Classics collection.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape has a fantastic sense of style. It leans surreal and a little dark–closer to Tim Burton than Banjo Kazooie. The fact that we never got a follow-up to the nearly perfect Rayman Legends is an underrated tragedy. Can you imagine if Ubisoft (or whoever buys them) suddenly gets brave enough to make a new one?
Tonic Trouble is, well, a lot like Rayman. I had a promotional VHS tape for it at release (though it didn’t get as many rewatches as the Donkey Kong 64/Jet Force Gemini tape). I actually like the pairing of these two because if you enjoy one you’ll immediately have more shiny things to collect in the other.
Both of these titles will be available to Expansion Pack subscribers beginning December 17th. Even if I didn’t have these on THE list, they’re both strong additions for anyone looking to dig deeper into the Nintendo 64’s 3D platformer library.
Here are all my hopes and dreams for the service. There have been no new additions since the previous update.
SNES
Pocky and Rocky 2
Secret of Mana
GBC/GBA
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Metal Gear: Ghost Babel
Mother 3
Onimusha Tactics
Pokemon Pinball
Tony Hawk misc.
Nintendo 64
Beetle Adventure Racing
Bomberman 64
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!
Bomberman Hero
Castlevania 64/Legacy of Darkness
Goemon’s Great Adventure
Mischief Makers
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Quest 64
Snowboard Kids
Snowboard Kids 2
GameCube
1080 Avalanche
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
Battalion Wars
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Cubivore:: Survival of the Fittest
Donkey Konga 1-3 (rerelease the bongos!)
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Eternal Darkness
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Geist
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: From Russia with Love
James Bond 007: Nightfire
Killer 7 (if we’re not getting a port of the Steam version)
Kirby Air Ride
Lost Kingdoms
Lost Kingdoms II
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Mario Party 4-7
Metroid Prime 2 (if we don’t get a proper remaster)
P.N.03
Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Resident Evil 2, 3, and Code Veronica
Skies of Arcadia Legends (this is still the one I want the most)
SSX 3
Starfox Adventures
Starfox: Assault
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Super Smash Bros. Melee
TimeSplitters 2
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk’s Underground, Underground 2, and American Wasteland (if we don’t get remakes)
Turok: Evolution (if Nightdive doesn’t do its thing)
Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2
Wario World
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom
Preorders for the Switch 2 Virtual Boy shell went live yesterday and I scooped one up. All systems are go for me to review every title for the console as they drop starting in February. Will my willpower or eyes give out first? At this point, I’m pretty committed to the bit.
The Game Awards air tomorrow so I’ve been basking in fresh trailers all week. While you wait, you should check out my review for Windswept.
Until we meet again…
…
Hello, it’s me from the future. We’re going to meet again in 10 hours when Nintendo announces another game.