If there is one series that has never failed to innovate within the games industry and produce masterpieces, it is the 3D Mario series. There is nothing like a 3D Mario game. Each experience continues to redefine the genre, offering a fresh new take that is polished to perfection. With a series as iconic as Super Mario, it should come as no surprise that Nintendo celebrates its legacy of greatness each landmark year.
We saw the limited Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection release for the plumber’s 35th, packaging together Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy together in one bundle. This release was particularly memorable for its limited availability, as Nintendo discontinued the release after just six months. While 64 eventually returned to Switch and a pathway was made for Sunshine with GameCube’s inclusion in Nintendo Switch Online, Super Mario Galaxy was left forever on 3D All-Stars—or so we thought.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo has released Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Switch, finally bringing both games for good to the system. While Galaxy makes a welcome return, this is the first rerelease of Super Mario Galaxy 2 besides Virtual Console on Wii U. 2007’s Super Mario Galaxy and 2010’s Super Mario Galaxy 2 are widely considered to be two of the finest 3D platformers ever made. These editions offer careful preservation and support for 4K, ensuring that these masterpieces are better than ever on the Switch.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Super Mario Galaxy is a magical game. Even after all these years, there really is nothing like it. Nintendo took inspiration from the Super Mario 128 tech demo that utilized a spherical platform to build Galaxy, where Mario is constantly fighting gravity. It boldly differentiated itself from its predecessors by moving away from the major open world and turning to bite-sized worlds, each with a different theme and gimmick. Nintendo took special care in creating the almost cinematic aesthetic and visual presentation found in Galaxy—something that has yet to be replicated today.
This is driven by both the thematic storytelling and soundtrack, especially. Mario is stranded in space, a place with infinite possibilities, in the center of the universe, looking for Princess Peach. Rosalina’s Storybook opens the pages on the backstory of the mysterious character, allowing you to learn more about her across your journey. As for the soundtrack, the use of live, orchestrated instruments and unique melodies makes for an immaculate soundtrack that still sits as one of the best today. It’s the cherry on top of an unforgettable adventure.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 continued the iconic mascot’s journey in space, building upon the bones of its predecessor. While it does away with the narrative focus (and really, the entire plot of the first game), Galaxy 2 makes up for it and then some with its gameplay and creativity. The addition of Yoshi requires you to think about puzzles differently, presenting a mechanic that expands the moveset you likely became very familiar with in the first game.
Galaxies themselves are bursting with new ideas, offering mechanic after mechanic to discover and master. No two levels are the same, which keeps you thinking for the entire runtime. As a result of these ideas, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is also arguably much more challenging than the first game—a welcome difficulty that never feels unfair. Considering that this marks the first-ever re-release of Galaxy 2, it’s likely most players will be spending their time here. Whether newcomer or returning player, you will not be disappointed.
Something I have always loved about the Super Mario Galaxy games is the aspect of discovery they bring. Often, we see new games release with sprawling open worlds that can be daunting to fully take in and explore from top to bottom. Despite having small planets and galaxies, Nintendo uses this to incentivize exploration. You are always finding new things each time you jump into a Launch Star, and there’s no telling where you might fly off to.
For over 15 years, fans have debated whether Galaxy or Galaxy 2 is the better game. Both are tremendous experiences, yet each has aspects that prevail over the other. Super Mario Galaxy has a stronger narrative, atmosphere, and an incredible hub, while its sequel is more ambitious with its level design and gameplay offerings. It’s challenging to pick a favorite, but the atmosphere of Galaxy does just enough to give it the edge for me out of the two. I adore both games in their own right, and even now, I still respect Nintendo’s approach to Super Mario Galaxy 2, as it looked beyond simply recreating Galaxy and what that game was able to accomplish.
Needless to say, newcomers jumping in for the very first time are in for two of Nintendo’s best releases ever. The company has released games as good as these since, although that list is quite short. You can easily spend over 70 hours completing each of the challenges between the two Galaxy games, which I’m sure players will appreciate following 64 and Sunshine. The ability to finally complete the 3D Mario collection on Nintendo Switch (with the exception of Super Mario 3D Land) is something I’ve been waiting on for a long time, and it makes the Switch the ultimate place to play 3D Mario.
Looking Better Than Ever
I could write thousands of words about each of these games and what makes them so great, but the focus today is on the quality of the releases on Nintendo Switch. The terms remake and remaster are thrown around daily in the games industry, and while these two new versions do have a few significant enhancements, it’s best to think about them as light remasters.
Out of the box, you’ll likely notice the vastly improved textures all across the board. These were not present in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars release, so I was pleased to see Nintendo go back and put effort into touching up textures across each of the galaxies. The difference between the two is significant, even if you do not notice it right away. Players on Nintendo Switch will get a dynamic 1080p resolution docked, while Nintendo Switch 2 players can play through both games at a native 4K. It is incredible to see these two games brought up to modern resolutions. I greatly appreciated the stunning art direction back in the day, but I feel it is even more impressive now, considering how well it translates here on Switch. Of course, both games run at a smooth, locked 60 frames per second, something that was also available in the original releases.
Beyond visual updates, Nintendo has added a selection of welcome improvements that smooth out any rough edges of the experience. For starters, updates have been made to the control schemes. You can collect Star Bits by using the touchscreen or elect to use the Star Pointer with gyro controls. This is an area of contention for some, and I can understand why. No matter what Nintendo does, recreating the precision that came with the Wii remotes is extremely challenging.
I had no issues with the Star Pointer, considering that it is just how these games are controlled, but I did find that it would quite often get off-screen or unbalanced. This is especially true with a Pro Controller, as I would frequently need to reset it to the middle of the screen if I happened to move or hold the controller weirdly. Although this can get tedious rather quickly, the process to reset the Star Pointer is as easy as hitting the right bumper, so it’s not a hassle to fix.
One great new addition relating to gameplay is the Assist Mode, which gives Mario six life bars and automatically brings you back to the surface if you happen to fall off a planet. I found this to be a welcome addition that will serve newcomers especially well in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and its trickier platforming.
Beyond these, Nintendo implemented a few UI tweaks to make text easier to read, extra storybook content for Rosalina, amiibo support, the full soundtracks listenable on the main menu, and even a couple of new songs. This is the ultimate version of both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, without a doubt.
Neither game features any significant new or bonus content, but that is completely acceptable in my mind. Nintendo did not need to add anything to either game, as both are already exceptional. The polished, modernized versions we received are more than enough, especially considering the support for 4K and preservation aspects.
It’s Super Mario Galaxy.
At the end of the day, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are two of the greatest games Nintendo has ever released. You owe it to yourself as a Nintendo fan or even a fan of 3D platformers to experience both of these games at least once. Almost two decades later, Mario’s duo of adventures across the cosmos is just as inventive and blissful as I remember. It’s been over eight years since we last got a new 3D Mario adventure, and while I’m hoping that wait will be coming to a close soon, this is the next best thing right now.
Every generation of Nintendo hardware brings in new players of all ages who have never experienced some of the company’s best games. Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo’s remaster & remakes have brought many of these experiences forward, and this release adds two more incredible games to the mix for newcomers. The thought of new players experiencing the magic of Mario’s adventures in space has me thrilled. In time, I’m sure newcomers will have the same dazzling memories I have from my first playthroughs.
The $70 price tag (or $39.99 price individually) may be a deterrent to some, but it’s hard to argue the sheer brilliance this platformer duology still provides today. Adding this package to my collection was an unequivocal decision. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer hoping to dive in for the first time or a veteran coming back for a playthrough before The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, I cannot recommend these two games enough. Even in 2025, these almost two-decade-old classics remain every bit as captivating as they were in 2007 and 2010.
Disclaimer: Nintendo provided a Nintendo Switch copy of Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for review purposes.
