Super Mario 3D World Coming to Nintendo Switch in 2021

Super Mario 3D World is finally being ported to the Nintendo Switch alongside a mysterious expansion known as Bowser’s Fury. The collection is currently set to be released on February 12, 2021, but Nintendo notes that complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could force a delay of all their intended release dates.

To get the technical stuff out of the way, it sounds like this remaster will include all of the usual stuff that we’ve come to expect from such ports. The visuals and audio will be slightly enhanced so take advantage of the Switch’s capabilities, but this is not a remake, so don’t expect major upgrades. The game will also feature both local and online multiplayer options, which is great considering that so much of the fun of this game comes from its multiplayer mode.

As for Bowser’s Fury…well, that’s a bit of a mystery at the moment. The brief teaser we see of the expansion suggests that it’s an alternate universe companion/soft sequel to the base game that focuses on Bowser, but it feels safe to say that the expansion will at least add new levels to the game. In any case, Nintendo says that they’ll reveal more information about Bower’s Fury in the coming months.

Since we don’t know much about Bowser’s Fury at the moment, let’s focus on Super Mario 3D World for a second. Ever since Nintendo started porting Wii U games to the Nintendo Switch to great success (Mario Kart 8 is still the best-selling Switch game ever as of the time of this writing), people have wondered when Super Mario 3D World would come to the console. After all, many argued that the only reason Super Mario 3D World isn’t widely considered to be one of the best Super Mario games ever made is that it was released on the largely doomed Wii U.

What makes Super Mario 3D World so great? There are several noteworthy qualities that define the experience, but again, its multiplayer immediately sets it apart from other Mario games. This is arguably the most enjoyable co-op Super Mario game ever made, and we strongly suspect that millions who never gave the game a shot on the Wii U are going to be shocked by how much fun it is to play this game with friends.

Multiplayer aside, Super Mario 3D World features some of the best level design you’ll find in a 3D Mario game. It will be especially appealing to fans who felt that Super Mario Odyssey wasn’t challenging enough outside of its later levels. Actually, the back half of the game may prove to be too challenging for some fans.

While we’ve heard the rumors that Nintendo intended to make 2020 the year of Mario, we’re still pleased to confirm that Super Mario 3D World is coming to Switch alongside a new Super Mario collection and an intriguing Super Mario battle royale title.