Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Coming to Nintendo Classics in March 2026

The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness will be joining the Nintendo Classics GameCube catalogue in March 2026. The game will be available through the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack service on Nintendo Switch 2.

Originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness takes players back to the Orre region, where Trainers must rescue Pokémon that have been turned into Shadow Pokémon by the villainous organization Cipher. The game built upon the mechanics introduced in Pokémon Colosseum, adding new purification systems, new Shadow Pokémon to capture, and the iconic partner Pokémon Eevee.

To play Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness through Nintendo Classics, players will need an active paid Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack membership. These classic titles are accessed through Nintendo’s retro game applications, meaning the games are streamed or emulated within the Nintendo Classics library rather than purchased individually.

For many long-time fans, the GameCube Pokémon titles hold a special place in the franchise’s history. Between Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, these were some of the first Pokémon games to offer a fully 3D adventure on the big screen, letting players explore and battle on a television rather than a handheld device.

At the time, these games set a new standard for what a console Pokémon experience could look like. Even today, many fans still consider them among the most ambitious Pokémon games ever released, and some argue that the main series has yet to fully match the unique atmosphere and storytelling that the Orre region delivered.

With Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness returning through Nintendo Classics, a new generation of players will finally get the chance to experience one of the most memorable console entries in the Pokémon series.

You can check out the trailer for the Nintendo Classics release below.