Have you caught them all? Don’t worry, now you can catch them all over again! Pokémon Stadium was added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership this past Tuesday. 

The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership is an extension of Nintendo Switch Online that allows users to access more features, including the Nintendo 64 library of console video games. 

The extension to Nintendo’s online service also lets players access a library of Game Boy Advance video games, a Sega Genesis video game library and other fun extras.

I am very excited to say that I played this Nintendo 64 classic in the best way possible. 

Just the thought of playing a classic like Pokémon Stadium online with my Nintendo Switch at a tap of a button is insane.

Pokémon Stadium is the 23rd Nintendo 64 video game to be offered through the Nintendo Switch Online library, according to an April 4 IGN article.

The video game lets players battle with 3D versions of classic Kanto Pokémon, according to the same IGN article. 

Pokémon Stadium is a video game I jumped on and couldn’t wait to battle it out with my team of beefed-up big boys. 

Watching Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur hack and slash at various other 3D Pokémon right in front of me never sounded so amazing. 

Pokémon Stadium is one of my favorite video games of all time and I’m extremely excited that I can see all my favorite characters on my flatscreen TV in high definition. 

Just thinking about it reminds me of the good ol’ days when I used to play it on my brother’s Nintendo 64.

Having been born with a congenital heart disease, I also have a plethora of memories playing Pokémon Stadium in the hospital, keeping myself occupied when I needed to stay there.

I have memories playing as an older teen staying at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto. 

I used to love going to the game room and watching 3D Pokémon fight on screen, then playing the outstanding selection of mini games also included on the cartridge. 

After playing this absolute classic again, I have to say, it’s just as good to play now as it was back in the day.

Every single piece of Pokémon Stadium’s gameplay remains intact, along with those unique mini games. 

Players can choose between all the main game modes, including Quick Battle, Gallery, or event battles at the Pokémon Stadium.

This requires the functionality of the Nintendo 64 transfer pack, which is not compatible with this version of the video game. 

Players would normally use this to connect their Game Boy cartridge to their Nintendo 64 and use their own Pokémon from their save files on their Game Boy video games.

Players can still access the multiplayer mode of the video game, but any multiplayer feature that utilized the Game Boy’s functionality won’t work, according to Nintendo’s website. 

Once inside the Pokémon Stadium, players are able to choose between a variety of game modes.

The stadium includes modes where single players can challenge themselves in four different tournaments or even face off against the gym leaders in the Kanto region, on top of having a four player multiplayer experience, according to the IGN article.

I had a great time battling with all my favorite Pokémon, but had even more fun with the mini games.

Some of my favorites include Sushi-Go-Round, Clefairy Says and Magikarp’s Splash.

Sushi-Go-Round lets players take control of a Lickitung and move around with the left Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, trying to use the A button to lick up the most plates of sushi before time runs out.

The A button will make your Lickitung extend its tongue and lick up the sushi on each dish. But watch out! Some plates are too spicy, causing your Lickitung to burn their tongue and frantically run around the inside of the circle, momentarily disabling your Pokémon.

It’s always comical to see your Lickitung whale out a cry in pain and run around highlighted in red.

Clefairy Says is a memory game.

In this mini game, the player must use the directional buttons to reiterate a series of commands presented on a chalkboard by a Clefairy, made to look like a teacher. 

You and three other players whose characters are also Clefairy, must press the directional buttons correctly and in the same order as the teacher does. You and the other players get bopped on the head with a mallet for every incorrect command.

Playing this mini game is extremely entertaining and tests a person’s memorization skills. It always puts a smile on my face at the end, when the players’ commands are reviewed and they face the consequences. 

This is just so hilarious to see, especially when it’s seen a lot clearer on my Nintendo Switch. 

Rather than relying on memory, Magikarp’s Splash relies much more on speed. 

Magikarp’s Splash is a mini game where players take control of a Magikarp and try to flop into the air, high enough to press little tickers at the top of the screen. 

The Magikarp who has the most times pressed on the ticker out of four players wins.

These are just a few of nine total mini games included in Pokémon Stadium. 

The other mini games include Rock Harden, Ekans’ Hoop Hurl, Dig! Dig! Dig!, Snore War, Thundering Dynamo and Run, Rattata, Run.

Pokémon Stadium is an amazing video game, whether you choose to battle 3D Pokémon through multiple matches or have the time of your life with your friends, playing the extremely rich library of mini games.

Pokémon Stadium was originally absent from the Nintendo Switch Online library when Nintendo had added both Pokémon Snap to the platform and later Pokémon Puzzle League. Both video games have been available on the platform since July 18, 2022, according to the Pokémon website.

Fans of the original Nintendo 64 Pokémon video games can finally experience almost every entry in their full glory on the Nintendo Switch platform. 

Hopefully Pokémon Stadium 2 isn’t too far away from being added to the platform as well.