Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 Remain Platforming Masterclasses After Nearly 20 Years (Review)

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Honestly, in the last 20 years, Nintendo hasn’t released many games better than Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. These two games are seriously the peak of Nintendo’s platforming, and I’d argue nothing has topped them since. It seems Nintendo agrees, because they’re building the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie around the worlds and style of the Super Mario Galaxy games. And to go along with that, they’ve finally brought both games to the Switch and Switch 2, making them way easier to get your hands on than ever before.

I was worried that going back to the Mario Galaxy games might feel dated-many Wii titles do now-but I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable and vibrant they still are. Even though there isn’t a lot of new content to justify buying them again, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 are still essential games, particularly if you’ve never played them before.

Rating: 4.5/5

Pros Cons
Both games hold up incredibly well No new content of note
Visual upgrades are modest yet welcome Price can be seen as steep
Dozens upon dozens of hours of gameplay included
This is the platforming genre at its best

Super Mario Galaxy Gets Just a Slight Visual Upgrade

As a big fan, I’d say the release of Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is pretty much what you’d expect from Nintendo. They’ve mostly just brought the original games over, so these aren’t remasters or remakes – Nintendo hasn’t made huge changes to either game. Both games run in 1080p on the Nintendo Switch, but the Switch 2 version can even reach 4K! I played the collection on the Switch 2 and I was really impressed with how clear and colorful everything looked. Honestly, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 have never looked this good.

However, since these are mostly the original games with enhanced visuals, it also highlights how dated they are in certain areas. The textures, especially on character models, sometimes appear a little blurry. There’s a clear difference in quality when you compare them to how Mario looks in a game like Super Mario Odyssey, for example.

Despite this minor issue, the slight visual imperfections are mostly only apparent during cutscenes. The game looks fantastic during actual gameplay, and it maintains a consistently smooth performance – it never falters. Considering these aren’t full remasters, I believe this is a reasonable outcome for Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy, meaning Nintendo delivered as expected.

Both Super Mario Galaxy Games Still Feel Fresh in 2025

What’s most striking about Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is how distinct each game still feels. Nintendo could release either title today, in 2025, and they wouldn’t feel outdated. They genuinely feel like games that stand the test of time, demonstrating how innovative Nintendo was when they originally released Super Mario Galaxy back in 2007.

Beyond its excellent basic controls, each Super Mario Galaxy game really shines because of how it constantly changes things up. One minute you might be playing as Bee Mario, flying between platforms and avoiding enemies. The next, you could be riding Yoshi through a challenging level that demands careful timing to reach the Power Star at the finish.

In terms of offering a wide range of experiences, the Super Mario Galaxy games truly stand out. They feature a huge number of power-ups and cleverly crafted levels that constantly challenge you. These games are incredibly engaging, making it difficult to feel bored – a quality that many other major titles don’t have.

Premium Price and Lack of New Content Could Make This a Hard Sell

Determining whether Nintendo’s price for this release is justified is probably the biggest challenge. The combined package of Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 costs $70, which is a higher price point we’ve become accustomed to from Nintendo. Unlike other companies who might charge less for just re-releasing these games on new consoles, Nintendo doesn’t follow that trend. However, considering how much fun both games are, $70 still seems like a great deal. Luckily, if you already own Super Mario Galaxy from the now-unavailable Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, you can buy Super Mario Galaxy 2 separately on the eShop for $40.

The higher price of this package is also noticeable because it doesn’t really offer anything new compared to the original games. Nintendo has added an extra storybook chapter to Super Mario Galaxy to expand on Rosalina’s background, and a completely new storybook to Super Mario Galaxy 2. Along with the addition of “Assist Mode,” designed to make the game more accessible for players who aren’t experienced with platform games, that’s essentially all that’s been changed from the Wii versions.

Ultimately, the most positive thing to say about this new release is that it’s finally here. Previously, Super Mario Galaxy was only available through the limited-time Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 remained stuck on the Wii (and technically Wii U), making it harder and harder to experience these games over time. Nintendo has now corrected a major oversight by bringing both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 to the Switch, and with the Super Mario movie coming out next spring, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

ComicBook reviewed Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2.

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2025-09-30 16:13