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Start by checking which console a Mario game supports. Original Nintendo Switch releases, Switch 2 games and upgraded Switch 2 editions are separate purchases. This guide groups the main Mario-led games and selected crossover titles, rather than every appearance by a Mario character.
Which Mario game should you start with?
| What you want to play | Switch games to compare | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| A side-scrolling Mario adventure | Super Mario Bros. Wonder / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Wonder emphasizes changing course effects; U Deluxe includes the Luigi courses |
| A larger 3D world to explore | Super Mario Odyssey | Explore kingdoms and collect Power Moons |
| Course-based 3D play with friends | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | 3D World supports up to four; Bowser’s Fury has a separate two-player helper mode |
| Space-themed platforming | Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Check the individual releases or combined package |
| Making and sharing courses | Super Mario Maker 2 | Creation tools and community courses; check online requirements |
| A role-playing adventure | Super Mario RPG / Paper Mario / Mario & Luigi | Compare their battle systems rather than expecting a standard platformer |
| Racing or a group game night | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe / Mario Party games | Check local player counts and controllers for the specific game |
Nintendo‘s 3D World + Bowser’s Fury page explains the two adventures’ different multiplayer modes. Pick the mode you want before assuming the whole package is a four-player game.
Platformers and puzzle adventures on Switch
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe: side-scrolling courses, including New Super Luigi U.
- Super Mario Maker 2: create courses and play user-made challenges; online functions have their own requirements.
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury: a course-based 3D adventure plus a separate Bowser’s Fury experience.
- Super Mario Odyssey: exploration across larger 3D kingdoms.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder: a 2D adventure built around changing course effects.
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: puzzle-platform challenges.
- Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2: Switch releases are available separately or together; check the exact package.
RPG and tactics choices
- Super Mario RPG: the Switch remake of the classic role-playing adventure.
- Paper Mario: The Origami King: a paper-world adventure with its own battle system.
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door: a remake with turn-based battles and partners.
- Mario & Luigi: Brothership: an adventure centered on the brothers working together.
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle / Sparks of Hope: tactical battles; the sequel changes movement and combat systems.
For another strategy direction, compare Advance Wars-style games.
Racing, sports and parties
Switch choices include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Tennis Aces, Mario Golf: Super Rush, Mario Strikers: Battle League, Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars and Super Mario Party Jamboree. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit needs its physical kart setup and room to drive. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a crossover fighting game rather than a Mario-only adventure.
Check each game’s local player count, controller requirements and online membership conditions. Party games do not all support the same controllers or modes.
Switch 2 games and editions
Mario Kart World and Mario Tennis Fever are listed for Switch 2. Jamboree’s Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV and Wonder’s Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park are distinct from their original Switch editions. Nintendo’s current Mario storefront and platform-labeled collection show these differences.
Historical releases and subscriptions
Super Mario 3D All-Stars contains Super Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy, but its digital sale ended on 31 March 2021. Existing buyers can redownload it; Nintendo’s availability guidance explains the limits. Nintendo Switch Online classic-game libraries are subscription services, not a Switch “Virtual Console” storefront.
For older game versions and their timing, read NTSC and PAL in retro gaming. Always confirm regional store availability before paying.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Which Mario game should I choose for 3D exploration?
Super Mario Odyssey focuses on exploring larger kingdoms. Super Mario 3D World uses more course-based stages, while Bowser’s Fury is a separate adventure in the same package. Choose by the style of play you prefer.
Can I still buy Super Mario 3D All-Stars digitally?
Its digital sale ended on March 31, 2021. Existing digital buyers can redownload it. Do not confuse that collection’s availability with the separate Switch releases of Super Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2.
Will these Mario games work on Switch Lite or Switch 2?
For Switch Lite, check the game’s handheld-mode and controller requirements. It is not enough to read only the Switch logo. For example, Nintendo’s controller guidance says the original Super Mario Party needs separate Joy-Con controllers and a way to charge them. Other Mario games can support normal handheld play.
A Switch 2-only game does not run on an original Switch, OLED or Lite. A game labeled Switch 2 Edition and its upgrade pack also need to be distinguished from the original Switch game. Check the required base game, console and price on the product page; do not assume every upgrade is free. Nintendo’s Wonder product page shows the original game alongside the separate edition and upgrade options.