
Super Mario 3D World plays like a side-scrolling Mario game, just in three dimensions. What I really love about this collection is the changes in perspective.

It actually works better as a short experience, as it has allowed Nintendo to adopt a breathless pace of unbound creativity, but it did mean that Nintendo needed to piggyback it onto something, lest the gamers decide it “lacked value.” By throwing the port of Super Mario 3D World on top of it, we get to play Bowser’s Fury as it was probably intended, padding-free, and it is an early contender for the game of the year. Bowser’s Fury is a magnificent romp through some of Nintendo’s most inspired creative moments, ever, and were it not so short it would almost certainly have been spun out into a stand-alone release. Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros.Related reading: Our review of the original Wii U release of Super Mario 3D World.Įven those that did own a Wii U and Super Mario 3D World should be sure to pick up this game, because the “bonus” – Bowser’s Fury – also represents Nintendo at its absolute best.Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (Game Boy).Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES).In addition, the Expansion Pass includes the massive Booster Course Pass of DLC tracks for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which doubles the number of tracks in the game to an incredible 96. It also includes the original Super Mario Kart and its better-in-every-way sequel, Mario Kart 64 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, which launched the Mario & Luigi RPG sub-series and the GBA version of Super Mario Bros.

That includes Mario 64, the seminal game that defined not only 3D Mario but also 3D platforming as a whole.

Getting the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass for $50 a year adds N64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis (no Mario there) games to the list.
