Nintendo has a legacy of revolutionizing gaming with consoles that engage both kids and grown-ups. Nonetheless, they also produced the Virtual Boy, which turned out to be a flop.

Almost 30 years later, the infamous device known for its red-and-black graphics is making a comeback as an add-on for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. With a price tag of $99, it lets you relive the stereoscopic 3D experience, featuring the original lineup of Virtual Boy games now incorporated into the Nintendo Classics collection.

When Nintendo launched the Virtual Boy in 1995, it quickly became a critical and commercial disappointment, ceasing production by August 1996. Its price of $179.95 (approximately $382 in 2025), cumbersome headset, limited selection of games, and rudimentary red-on-black 3D effect all contributed to its downfall. Its notorious reputation for causing discomfort was so pronounced that X-Play once parodied Saw by depicting it as a device for torture.

The new Virtual Boy accessory is a replica that serves as a stand for Switch 2 and works as 3D spectacles for the same stereoscopic experience. The reason Nintendo didn’t pursue this with the 3DS remains a mystery.

Nintendo intends to reissue all 14 North American Virtual Boy games, including Teleroboxer, Mario Tennis, and Virtual Boy Wario Land, through the Nintendo Classics library. The replica headset will launch on February 17, 2026, for $99.99, alongside a budget-friendly cardboard version priced at $24.99.