Nintendo’s Removal of Super Mario Bros. 35 Still Stings

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To mark Mario’s 35th anniversary, Nintendo pulled out all the stops. They bundled together Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy in a collection called Super Mario 3D All-Stars, making the Nintendo Switch the go-to platform for 3D Mario games. Regrettably, only Super Mario Galaxy 2 cannot be played on this console. Furthermore, Nintendo celebrated their iconic character in style by offering a variety of special features. One such addition was a free battle royale game featuring Mario, which was available on the Nintendo Switch. Initially intended to be a temporary offering, we still feel the absence of Super Mario Bros. 35, even though it has since been removed.

Nintendo Had No Good Reason to Delist Super Mario Bros. 35

It’s no surprise that Super Mario Bros. 35 was removed since it was designed solely as a tribute for the character’s 35th anniversary. Now that we’ve entered the 40th anniversary of the Italian plumber, it was clear that Nintendo never intended this game to have a long lifespan, given its anniversary-specific title.

Despite no compelling need for restriction, Nintendo intentionally made the game Super Mario 3D All-Stars scarce by producing limited copies and offering digital purchases from September 18, 2020, to March 31, 2021. After this period, the game disappeared from the market, causing a significant increase in the price of physical copies. If you didn’t purchase it during that timeframe, you cannot play it now.

The game, Super Mario Odyssey, has become quite valuable over time, primarily due to its rarity, but this scarcity wasn’t organic; it was artificially created. Despite being an eight-year-old title, new copies of the game are still available. Nintendo had the option to continue producing Super Mario 3D All-Stars, yet they deliberately stopped its production, just as they decided to cut short the availability of Super Mario Bros. 35 prematurely.

In simpler terms, “Super Mario Bros. 35” offers an engaging twist on the battle royale genre, providing more enjoyment and amusement compared to many modern shooter battle royale games. The initial stages of “Super Mario Bros.” are deeply ingrained in our collective memory, as players have become quite familiar with them over time. However, when multiple players join in and start dispatching enemies to your level, the game becomes significantly more chaotic and demanding. Reaching a top position on the leaderboard was an exhilarating experience, while coming in second place could genuinely feel like a sorrowful defeat.

It appears clear that the game wasn’t overly complex or expensive to create since it was a complimentary offering from Nintendo, known for charging for demos like the one for the Nintendo Switch 2. Given their usual pricing strategies, a free giveaway is unexpected. In its brief availability, it’s likely that many (possibly hundreds of thousands) of people have downloaded it.

I get your point, but let’s consider this from a fan perspective: Just because Mario’s 35th anniversary has passed doesn’t mean the concept of “Super Mario Bros. Royale” or something equivalent isn’t appealing. If there are branding concerns, renaming it to reflect its unique gameplay would be a breeze. And regarding the 35-player limit, I believe it adds an exciting twist, even though it’s tied to the anniversary. It’s not about the number of players; it’s about the thrill and challenge that comes with it!

It seems like Nintendo intentionally made the Super Mario Bros. 40 game scarce by discontinuing it. Unfortunately, there’s no sign of a new installment this year, which means we’ll have to cherish our memories of it. The decision to release it on the 35th anniversary, an atypical milestone, adds to the peculiarity, as Nintendo subsequently took the game off the market.

There’s Money to be Made in a Return

Nintendo typically avoids live-service games, so it’s not shocking that they shut down the game. However, maintaining servers for a game with only 35 players might be manageable given its outdated graphics and basic mechanics. Yet, considering the potential player engagement due to the game’s nostalgia, it’s likely that there would have been enough players to warrant server maintenance costs.

If Nintendo were to re-release “Super Mario Bros. 35” at a cost, given their focus on profit, it’s likely to perform exceptionally well. This distinctive 2D platformer from the franchise taps into a specific genre that could cultivate a devoted, passionate player community. The game might even be priced as a new $60 or $70 title, and many players, including myself, would eagerly anticipate purchasing it.

As a dedicated gamer, here’s my take on the situation:

Instead of giving away the game again for free, Nintendo could consider offering additional content like fresh battle passes, level updates, and even cool new Mario skins – all available for purchase. Diving into the vast history of Mario levels would make this even more exciting! Now, imagine donning different Mario skins in your favorite games – that’s a dream come true for many of us fans.

However, it’s a bit disheartening to see Nintendo not recognizing the potential of Super Mario Bros. 35 and reconsidering its release. I mean, who wouldn’t love to get their hands on this classic game once more? It’s just unfortunate that they don’t seem to fully grasp its value and bring it back to us gamers.

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2025-08-28 20:10