Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel are some of the finest Mario games Nintendo has ever made. That’s saying something given the series’s high bar for quality. It’s an inventive platformer that made perfect use of the Wii’s odd control scheme, while still giving fans that classic Mario gameplay. To celebrate the original Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary, Nintendo is launching a new remastered port of both games on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s not just the same old games, though. Nintendo is making several important changes to keep things fresh for the 40th anniversary.
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Super Mario Galaxy Switch 2 Visual and Gameplay Upgrades
The largest upgrade for Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel on Switch 2 is on the visual side. The upgraded hardware supports 4K resolution, making the platforming gameplay look better than ever. Reportedly, it’s also running at a solid framerate, so expect Mario’s jumps to feel as smooth as butter. You might notice a slight downtick when on the go, but everything points to this being another solid port from Nintendo.
The famed developer isn’t sticking to a simple visual overhaul. Players will also have several new ways to play the two Galaxy games. Most notably, you can now turn on Assist Mode, which is essentially the platformer’s version of “Easy” Mode, but with a nicer title.
In Assist Mode, Mario has more health, and when you fall off a platform, it’s no longer the end of the world. Instead of automatically losing a life, you’ll be enveloped in a protective bubble and taken back to the platform. It’s a great way for beginners to get used to Galaxy‘s gameplay, and an exceptional tool for parents to let their kids enjoy a challenge at their level.
Super Mario Galaxy on Switch 2 is also adding a new Storybook chapter. In the original games, this was how players learned more about Rosalina. This new chapter will shed more light on the fan-favorite character. Plus, Super Mario Galaxy 2 will now have its own Storybook. Nintendo is keeping this part of the games under wraps so it doesn’t spoil anything, but this should be a great addition for fans of the Galaxy story.
Of course, you’ll still be able to hop into multiplayer with Co-Star Mode. It would’ve been fun for this to be expanded since the second player isn’t doing much, but it’s still a nifty trick for anyone who wants one of their less-skilled friends or family to join in on the fun. Add in a cleaner UI and a Soundtrack Mode that lets you easily listen to all of your favorite songs, and you have a great (if expensive) package for Galaxy fans.
Super Mario Galaxy Adds Amiibo Support
Outside of all the visual and gameplay improvements, you’ll also be able to use Amiibo in both Galaxy games to give yourself small gameplay benefits. The even better news is that Galaxy fans are getting two new, super-sized Amiibo to collect. You’ll just have to wait a few months before they’re actually available.
For whatever reason, Nintendo has decided to stagger the games’ release and the Amiibo launch. While the two Galaxy games arrive on October 2nd, 2025, you’ll have to wait until Apirl 2nd, 2026, to pick up the two Amiibo. It must just take an extra six months to create the larger-than-usual Amiibo.
Once you do get them, the two Amiibo will give you different bonuses. Mario’s new Amiibo gives you a Life Mushroom. This boosts your health meter past its usual threshold, making it a bit easier to survive some of Galaxy‘s toughest challenges. Meanwhile, Rosalina’s new Amiibo gives Mario an extra life. Using both could make the difference between success and failure, making it all the more strange that the Amiibo aren’t launching day and date with the two games.
Part of the split might be because of the price. It is a first-party Nintendo game, after all. The Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 package will run you $70 at launch. You can buy them separately for $40 each, which sounds like a bad deal, but it’s important to remember that some players might have picked up Super Mario 3D All-Stars on the original Switch.
If you purchased that package, you can presumably use the free update for the first Galaxy to transfer it to Switch 2. Then, you can grab Super Mario Galaxy 2 later if you want to own both of them. Either way, those Amiibos will also cost $40 each, making it an expensive purchase if you want to pick up everything.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on October 2nd, 2025. The Amiibo will come out about six months later on April 2nd, 2026.
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