R.C. Pro-Am 2 is now on Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online has added three NES games to its catalogue: R.C. Pro-Am 2, Ninja Gaiden 3: The Ancient Ship of Doom and Ikari Warriors. They can be played through the service on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
The standout is R.C. Pro-Am 2, a Rare-developed racing game that expands on the 1988 original with more varied tracks, deeper vehicle upgrades and support for up to four players.
Why R.C. Pro-Am 2 remains the pick of the trio
Ikari Warriors began as an arcade series, but its console version offered a less compelling experience. The first game is also included in the SNK Anniversary Collection. Ninja Gaiden 3 is a demanding conclusion to the original trilogy, although many retro players rate Ninja Gaiden 2, already available through Switch Online, more highly.
That leaves R.C. Pro-Am 2 as the most appealing new addition—and it earns that position on its own merits. Rare, later known for Banjo-Kazooie and Sea of Thieves, retained the original’s quick top-down driving while addressing several of its limitations.
More tracks, more hazards and four-player racing
The first R.C. Pro-Am had limited venue variety, modest upgrades, occasionally unfair computer opponents and single-player-only racing. Its sequel improves each area. Tradewest published the game, which supported the NES multitap accessory for races involving as many as four players.
Finding three friends for a 2026 NES session may be difficult, but online play provides another way to compete. The game’s 32 courses are divided across three environments:
- Grassland: familiar-looking early tracks gain tyre barriers, streams that slow vehicles and hills that add elevation.
- City: split routes and overpasses make navigation less predictable, while parts of the course can disappear from view.
- Desert: rough ground returns, and planes fly overhead, firing bullets across the track.
A better upgrade system
The original game used letter pickups to improve the remote-controlled cars, with many parts hidden on the track. R.C. Pro-Am 2 replaces those pickups with money bags that can be spent in a shop between races.
Engines, tyres and weapons remain the main upgrade categories, but the broader selection gives each purchase more weight. Players must decide whether to improve their missiles immediately or save their cash for a more powerful engine, with those choices affecting later races.
Extra events and a fairer challenge
The sequel is still difficult, but its progression feels more balanced. Persistent players can work through all the courses and reach the game’s ending, while extra continues can be purchased after an unlucky race.
Special competitions also break up the standard events. Tug-of-war and drag races appear several times during the campaign, offering opportunities to earn additional resources for upgrades if you can react quickly enough.
For more driving-focused games and hardware, browse RETROCADE’s racing simulators. Our arcade blog also covers classic gaming news, while the arcade machine buying guide can help when choosing a cabinet for an Australian games room.
How to play R.C. Pro-Am 2 today
The game arrived late in the NES life cycle, when many players had moved their attention to the Super Nintendo, so it was easier to overlook than it deserved. Before this Switch Online release, the most accessible official option was the Rare Replay collection on Xbox One.
Original NES cartridges have become expensive collector’s items. Strictly Limited Games also produced reproductions in limited quantities, and those copies may sell for prices exceeding three figures. Switch Online now offers a simpler way to experience Rare’s ambitious sequel on Switch or Switch 2.
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