Pokémon Stadium heading to Nintendo Switch Online service April 12

One of the most popular Pokémon games of all time is coming to Nintendo's Switch Online service.

Pokémon Stadium, the first 3D entry in the Pokémon franchise, will come to the Switch Online Expansion Pack on April 12. Pokémon Stadium pits the titular Pokémon against each other in a 3D arena, complete with fully animated attacks. The roster includes the first 151 Pokémon that were available in Pokémon Red and Blue.

The game will have multiplayer support, allowing Pokémon masters to battle their friends online. Additionally, players can challenge up to four friends in the various minigames in Pokémon Stadium, including silly sports like "Run, Rattata, Run" and "Clefairy Says." 

The full single-player experience is here as well. Players can compete in four cups in Stadium Mode or take on the Gym Leader Castle, in which they must challenge the original eight gym leaders in succession.

Sadly, this version of Pokémon Stadium doesn't allow players to transfer Pokémon into the game. This was a key feature of the original Nintendo 64 game; via an expansion device, it was possible to transfer Pokémon caught in the Gameboy games (Red and Blue). Obviously, that feature isn't available through Switch Online, which is a bit of a letdown.

As mentioned, Pokémon Stadium (like all other Nintendo 64 games) will only be available through the Expansion Pack add-on for the Switch Online service. It will join the other 22 N64 games available through the add-on.

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