When Konami announced Contra: Operation Galuga, fans of the iconic run-and-gun franchise held their breath. Developed by WayForward (the studio behind Shantae and River City Girls), this reimagining of the 1987 arcade classic promised to honor the brutal difficulty and chaotic co-op action of the original while dragging it kicking and screaming into the modern era.

But as with many Switch releases, the launch version had rough edges: framerate dips, input lag, and a lack of content. Fast forward to today, and the conversation has changed entirely. Thanks to a series of critical updates, DLC drops, and the availability of the updated NSP (Nintendo Submission Package) for modded/hombrew Switch consoles, many players are now declaring: Contra: Operation Galuga on Switch is finally the definitive version.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly why the latest update + DLC make the game better, how to identify the correct NSP version, and what performance improvements you can expect.

The major DLC drop, often labeled the "Rising Pack" or "Character Pack," includes:

  • Challenge Mode Expansion: 10 new "Arcade Trials" that force you to master overcharge mechanics.

    • Note: If you see “Software requires an update,” you missed the update NSP or need to apply sigpatches.