Home >> Internet Games >> Online Games

Retro Games (Pokémon Red/Blue, Zelda) on DSi Shop? Gone Forever.

You cannot buy Pokémon Red/Blue or Zelda on the Nintendo DSi Shop. The DSi Shop **closed March 31, 2017**. All purchases, redownloads, and Nintendo Points redemption are permanently disabled.

Why They Weren't There Anyway

Virtual Console on DSi? No. DSi only had **DSiWare** (original small games/apps). No NES, GB/GBC, SNES, N64 Virtual Console.
Licensing: Pokémon (Game Freak/Nintendo/Creatures) and Zelda are flagship IPs. Nintendo reserves them for flagship platforms (3DS VC, Switch NSO, Mini consoles).

How to Play Them Legally Today

Game	Legal Modern Platforms
Pokémon Red / Blue / Yellow	Nintendo 3DS eShop (Closed March 2023) — if previously purchased, redownloadable. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack — GB/GBC games added Feb 2023: Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal. YES, on Switch NSO + Exp Pack.
The Legend of Zelda (NES)	Nintendo Switch Online (Base) — NES app.
Zelda II: Adventure of Link	Nintendo Switch Online (Base) — NES app.
A Link to the Past (SNES)	Nintendo Switch Online (Base) — SNES app.
Link's Awakening (GB) / DX (GBC)	Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack — GB/GBC app.
Ocarina of Time / Majora's Mask (N64)	Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack — N64 app.

Other Legal Routes

Game Boy / GBC / GBA Cartridges: Play on original hardware, GBA SP, DS/DS Lite (GBA slot), Analogue Pocket (FPGA, best screen), RetroN 5.
Official Re-releases: Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch Remake), Pokémon Yellow (3DS VC only, delisted).

Emulation/ROMs: Legal gray area (format shifting if you own cart). Use mGBA (PC/mobile), RetroArch. Support Nintendo by subscribing to NSO.

Online Games