Since the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, Mario has become impossible to escape. The mustachioed plumber has colonized nearly every corner of the system's library, with over 23 dedicated titles spanning everything from kart racing to strategy RPGs. As the Switch 2 rolls out, Nintendo shows no signs of pumping the brakes on Mario content.
The breadth of Mario's presence on Switch is staggering. There are Mario games for serious players and casual button-mashers, for competitive multiplayer sessions and solo adventures. Some represent genuine creative peaks for the franchise, while others offer straightforward fun wrapped in Nintendo's polish.
The Classics That Defined the Generation
Super Mario Odyssey stands as perhaps the finest 3D Mario platformer ever made. Released at launch in 2017, it fundamentally rewrote how 3D Mario games work by introducing Cappy, Mario's possessed cap that lets him absorb and transform into enemies. The game stretches across a series of kingdoms with zero filler, each level designed to make you discover what Cappy can do next. Nintendo is rolling out a free update to ensure it runs smoothly on Switch 2.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder became the standard-bearer for 2D Mario in 2023. Its Wonder Flower mechanic tears apart level design conventions, transforming familiar spaces into delirious playgrounds where gravity inverts or Mario becomes a swimming elephant. The Switch 2 version arrived in March 2026 with new DLC content called Meetup in Bellabel Park, proving Nintendo sees value in enhanced rereleases.
The Galaxy games, originally Wii titles, arrived on Switch in 2025 bundled together with improved resolution. Critics had called Galaxy 2 the pinnacle of Mario games, and both games now offer a second life on modern hardware.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains the system's best-selling title since 2017, bolstered by regular DLC track packs. The game combined Wii U content into one portable package, making it the obvious choice for anyone owning a Switch.
Super Mario Party Jamboree represents the biggest entry in the Mario Party series to date, with 110-plus minigames and a new Jamboree Buddies mechanic that layers complexity into competitive play. The Switch 2 version, called Jamboree TV, incorporates the new console's unique controller features, though reviews on that integration remain mixed.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door arrived as a 2024 remake of the beloved 2004 GameCube original. Nintendo upgraded the visuals without sacrificing the sharp comedy that made the original resonate with players. It stands as possibly the strongest Paper Mario game ever released.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope abandoned the grid-based combat of its predecessor for open-field strategy, letting players approach encounters fluidly. The cosmic adventure introduced new characters and streamlined the partnership between Ubisoft and Nintendo.
Super Mario RPG, released late in 2023, remade the classic SNES title with extraordinary attention to detail. Composer Yoko Shimomura returned to reorchestrate the original soundtrack, giving it modern grandeur while preserving its essence.
The Switch 2 Shift
Nintendo launched Mario Kart World as the Switch 2's flagship racer in June 2025. The game introduces free-roaming tracks, weather systems, and doubled on-track racers, expanding the mayhem considerably. It shipped bundled with the hardware, making it the first game most new owners would experience.
Mario Tennis Fever arrived in 2026 as the year's first Switch 2 exclusive, bringing back the tennis series with an expanded character roster. Reviews noted it captures the energy of the original GameCube Mario Tennis games.
Nintendo has not yet announced a major new 3D platformer for Switch 2, though future Nintendo Direct presentations could change that picture.
The full roster also includes Mario Strikers: Battle League, a soccer game that returned after 15 years with eight-player multiplayer and club competitions; Mario Golf: Super Rush, which introduced speed golf as a chaotic mode; and Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a 2024 puzzle-platformer remake of the 2004 GBA classic.
Younger audiences got Mario and Luigi: Brothership in November 2024, the first mainline entry in that series since 2015. The new art style and turn-based combat made it specifically designed for ages six to 12, positioning it as a gateway game for kids approaching gaming for the first time.
For those with a Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack subscription, classic Mario titles from the NES, SNES, N64, and Game Boy eras remain available, including the original Super Mario Bros., Mario World, and dozens of other vintage entries.
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