Twenty-five years after its release, Pokémon Snap is still easy to find. The game has had three official re-releases, one of which is still available on Nintendo Switch. Here is every way to play it, what changes from one version to the next, and our advice on which to choose.
The available versions at a glance
| Version | European release | Available today? | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 64 cartridge | September 15, 2000 | Second-hand market | Original version, saves to the cartridge |
| Wii Virtual Console | December 11, 2007 | No (shop closed to purchases on January 30, 2019) | Sends photos to the Wii Message Board, recolored Jynx |
| Wii U Virtual Console | August 18, 2016 | No (shop closed on March 27, 2023) | No photo sharing |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | June 24, 2022 | Yes, with the subscription | Nintendo 64 library, also playable on Nintendo Switch 2 |
On Nintendo Switch: the simplest option
Since June 24, 2022, Pokémon Snap has been part of the Nintendo 64 library of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, available with the Expansion Pack option. The game launches from the Nintendo 64 app, now merged under the name Nintendo Classics. Today it is the only official version you can still get new. You can play it with Switch controllers or with the wireless Nintendo 64 controller that Nintendo sells for this service, which is closer to the original feel.
On Wii: the version that shared photos
Pokémon Snap was the first game in the series offered on the Wii Virtual Console, in December 2007. This version added something new: sending your photos to the Wii Message Board, then sharing them with the console’s contacts. It also recolored Jynx purple, to follow the evolution of its appearance. If you bought it before the Wii Shop closed, it is still playable on your console.
On Wii U
The Wii U version, released in August 2016 in Europe, makes Pokémon Snap the only Nintendo 64 Pokémon game re-released on this console’s Virtual Console. It does not carry over the photo sharing of the Wii version. Since the Wii U shop closed on March 27, 2023, it can no longer be purchased, but it remains playable for those who downloaded it.
On the original cartridge
The Nintendo 64 cartridge is easy to find second-hand. It saves your photos and your Report directly, with no memory card. Go for the European version to enjoy the French text and voices: the game is fully translated and dubbed, with the French voices of Todd and Professor Oak from the animated series. On the cartridge, Jynx keeps its original black skin (see the Wii version above).
Which version should you choose?
- To discover the game: Nintendo Switch Online, if you already have the Expansion Pack.
- For authenticity: the European cartridge on a Nintendo 64, with the original controller.
- To follow up with the sequel: the Switch version, on the same console as New Pokémon Snap.
Whichever version you pick, the content is the same: seven courses and 63 Pokémon, all detailed in our complete guide.
