Nintendo's forgotten Flash games made playable once again

We expect few tears have been shed as Adobe Flash has gradually disappeared from the internet. The proprietary format was a scourge that lasted for years, as companies seemingly competed to have the most bloated, over-animated websites using the format. 

But in the pre-HTML5 days Flash was the basis for a number of online games including, surprisingly, a number produced by Nintendo to advertise their upcoming releases such as Metroid Prime, Animal Crossing, and Super Mario Galaxy 2. 

Most of these games were thought lost as Nintendo pulled them after their marketing purpose was served. But now one intrepid internet archivist, going by the name Skelux, has made many of them playable on his personal site

Going way back

Unfortunately the resources available to the fan mainly consist of the internet archiving project the WayBack Machine, whose limitations mean that many of the games either have files missing or are absent entirely. 

Given these limitations, Skelux is offering a $50 bounty for access to the missing files. 

The games themselves vary a great deal in quality. Some are little more than microsites featuring information about the game alongside screenshots and videos, while others are more interactive like the (fully-restored) Metroid Prime tie-in game. 

You can check out the games for yourself on Skelux's website

Jon Porter

Jon Porter is the ex-Home Technology Writer for TechRadar. He has also previously written for Practical Photoshop, Trusted Reviews, Inside Higher Ed, Al Bawaba, Gizmodo UK, Genetic Literacy Project, Via Satellite, Real Homes and Plant Services Magazine, and you can now find him writing for The Verge.

Latest in Nintendo
An image of the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 could have AI upscaling similar to PS5 Pro’s PSSR according to patent, and it could be a gamechanger for graphics on the upcoming console
The Hori Split Pad Pro attached to a Nintendo Switch OLED and placed on a colorful desk mat.
I've used the Hori Split Pad Pro with my Nintendo Switch for years and it's still great, but there are some better options in 2025
An image of the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 patent suggests you’ll be able to use the console upside down for some reason
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds producer discusses potential Nintendo Switch 2 port: 'we'd need to take our time to get to know the exact nature of the hardware'
Nintendo Switch 2 rumored mouse mode
I don't care what the haters say, the Nintendo Switch 2's rumored mouse mode is by far the most exciting feature coming to the new console
An image of the Nintendo Switch 2
Don't worry about the Nintendo Switch 2 price, Nintendo says it will follow the 'affordable prices customers expect'
Latest in News
An image of the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 could have AI upscaling similar to PS5 Pro’s PSSR according to patent, and it could be a gamechanger for graphics on the upcoming console
PowerColor Red Devil AMD RX 9070 XT graphics card shown side-on
Your next GPU could be from AMD, not Nvidia, if Team Red’s success with PC gamers continues
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #1149)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #380)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #646)
Samsung Galaxy S24 hands on handheld back straight white
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is getting one of the S25’s biggest video upgrades with One UI 7 – here’s why Log Video matters