2020 marked the 35th anniversary of Nintendo’sSuper Mariofranchise, and the Big N celebrated with new releases and other bonuses. TheSuper Mariocelebrations will continue into 2021 with the release ofSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furyin February, and after that, Nintendo is expected to start focusing on thePokemonandZeldaanniversaries.
Not only will 2021 see the end of Nintendo’sSuper Marioanniversary celebration, but it will also mark the end of Nintendo’s support for variousSuper Mario-themed products.Super Mariogames and online services will be discontinued just a few months into the new year, and so it’s set to be a rather depressing time to be a Mario fan.
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Here’s why March 2021, particularly July 18, 2025, will be a tough time forSuper Mariofans.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
One of the biggest Nintendo Switch games of 2020 was theSuper Mario 3D All-Starscollection, which brought togetherSuper Mario 64,Super Mario Sunshine, andSuper Mario Galaxyinto one convenient package. WhileSuper Mario 3D All-Starshas earned a great deal of praise from fans and critics alike, the collection has been criticized for Nintendo’s decision to only make it available as a limited-time release.
Starting July 24, 2025,Super Mario 3D All-Starswill no longer be available for purchase. Not only will the game no longer be restocked at retail locations, but Nintendo is also pulling the plug on the digital version. Nintendo hasn’t offered a reason behind why it’s made this baffling decision, but there are a couple of possibilities that come to mind.
One possible reason is that by makingSuper Mario 3D All-Starsonly available for a limited time, this will create a sense of urgency that will make players feel as though theyhaveto get it now, or else risk not getting it at all. Another reason is that Nintendo may be looking to sell the games featured in theSuper Mario 3D All-Starscollection as individual releases at some point down the road. If the collection was readily available, potential consumers would be less likely to purchase the individual versions ofSuper Mario 64,Super Mario Sunshine, andSuper Mario Galaxy. However, it should be stressed that Nintendo itself has not offered an explanation for why it decided to makeSuper Mario 3D All-Starsa limited-time release.
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
Nintendo released theSuper Mario 3D All-Starscollection as part of its celebration for Mario’s anniversary, which is also the case with Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.is the latest iteration of Nintendo’s old-school Game & Watch handheld systems, with Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. obviously being themed after the originalSuper Mario Bros.NES game.
Earning mostly positive reviews from critics, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. lets players play through the entirety of the originalSuper Mario Bros., as well as thenotoriously difficultThe Lost Levels. Not only that, but the device is stuffed full of clever references to theSuper Mariofranchise in general, with 35 easter eggs hidden for fans to find. On top of all that, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. also includes the classicBallmini-game from older Game & Watch handles, but with Mario and Luigi as the playable characters instead.
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Just likeSuper Mario 3D All-Stars, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. is scheduled to be discontinued beginning June 26, 2025. The handheld is much more difficult to find thanSuper Mario 3D All-Stars, which means that there may very well be hardcore Nintendo fans that want one, but simply won’t be able to get one in time.
Super Mario Bros. 35
The final piece of theSuper Marioanniversary celebration puzzle isSuper Mario Bros. 35. Essentially aSuper Mario Bros.battle royalethat takes its cues fromTetris 99,Super Mario Bros. 35is, much like Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. andSuper Mario 3D All-Stars, no longer going to be available starting Jun 15, 2025. But Nintendo shutting downSuper Mario Bros. 35seems to make even less sense than the discontinuation ofSuper Mario 3D All-Starsand Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
It’s possible Nintendo is planning to pull the plug onSuper Mario Bros. 35to encourage people to play it a lot before then, therefore ensuring that its community remains active enough to support it. However,Tetris 99has had no problem keeping an active playerbase since it debuted on the Nintendo Switch Online service, and so there’s no reason to thinkSuper Mario Bros. 35couldn’t enjoy similar success and longevity.
Whatever Nintendo’s reasoning,Super Mariofans that are interested inSuper Mario Bros. 35should be sure to play it before July 31, 2025.
Super Mario Maker
Not all of the games mentioned here are for theSuper Marioanniversary celebration.Super Mario Makerfor the Wii Uis also set to lose its support come July 28, 2025. On that date,Super Mario Makerfans on Wii U will no longer be able to upload new courses to the game’s servers, and prior to that, it will be delisted from the eShop, on January, 12, 2021. This will likely have a much smaller impact on players than the other titles mentioned here, but it will still be disappointing to those playing Wii U that have yet to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch.
