New Switch 2 update is an ideal reason to dive back in.
The finest Super Mario games are those I play repeatedly. I’ve lost count of how many Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World copies I own across Nintendo platforms, but replaying those classic levels is like revisiting a beloved album. They offer easy access with enough depth to constantly discover something new. Recently, I’ve included Super Mario Bros. Wonder on my list, bursting with fresh concepts and overflowing with playfulness. It’s a perfect way to relax — and the new Switch 2 upgrade offers the perfect opportunity.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is essentially a medium-sized game expansion. The most notable addition for me is a set of challenging levels, each featuring a boss battle centered on a Koopaling, who gains new powers through a “wonder” flower. As expected in Mario Wonder, these powers are unusual: being chased by a flying fish through portals in one level, or navigating platforms made of giant Piranha Plants in another. The final level includes elements like strong winds and lightning strikes.
The seven new levels exemplify Wonder’s charm, delivering both challenge and surprise. Completing them unlocks more difficult boss versions as part of the game’s “training camp,” which sets various challenges, like collecting every coin within a time limit or reaching the level’s end without losing invincibility. Each challenge grows progressively harder, with more obstacles and enemies, often requiring specific power-ups and badges for a unique play style.
Single-player content is limited, with the expansion focusing on a new multiplayer minigame area, akin to a mini-Mario Party minus the Mario Party frustrations.
The games are highly varied. One requires team coordination to collect a set number of coins or jumps without exceeding it, demanding collaboration and precise counting. Another allows one player to build platforms for their co-op partner, reminiscent of Mario Maker controls. The other games, totaling seventeen, are simpler, like coin collection and feeding baby Yoshi. A favorite is a chaotic tag version, where players disguise as objects.
Additional features include Rosalina as a playable character, a flower-themed power-up, park decoration options, and mouse controls. It’s a comprehensive package for a $20 upgrade, especially for those seeking fresh challenges in Wonder’s universe.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park releases on Switch 2 on March 26th.