The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Perfect for a Mario Spin Off We’ve Never Seen Before

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Nintendo has consistently released innovative games for the Switch, and the upgraded Switch 2 provides even greater potential for creativity. The system’s increased power allows Nintendo to take more risks, particularly with established series like Mario. We’ve already seen this approach succeed with Mario + Rabbids Battle Kingdom, a standout title on the Switch. Now, the Switch 2’s new features open the door for Nintendo to create a type of Mario game unlike anything they’ve ever done before.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 could be ideal for a detailed Mario strategy game, largely because of its mouse support. While strategy games are traditionally played on computers with a mouse, the Switch’s Joy-Cons offer this functionality to console gamers for the first time. A strategy game starring Mario is something Nintendo hasn’t tried before, and a real-time strategy game set in the Mushroom Kingdom or a city-building game where Princess Peach leads the charge would be a bold new direction for the company and give fans a fresh way to play.

The Mushroom Kingdom Is Perfect For a Strategy Experience

Strategy and city-building games are becoming increasingly popular because today’s gaming systems can handle more detailed simulations. This is a great fit for the rumored upgrades coming with the Switch 2. A Mario game where you build up and defend the Mushroom Kingdom – a strategy title – would be a fresh, yet fitting, experience. It’s something we haven’t seen in a Mario game before, and as a longtime fan of both Mario and strategy games, the idea of managing the Mushroom Kingdom is incredibly exciting.

Picture yourself directing Toads to collect materials, fix areas damaged by Bowser, and even build entirely new parts of the kingdom. Things like adding warp pipes, rebuilding towns near Peach’s castle, or building guard towers would offer a new way to play, while still feeling like classic Mario. This kind of game needs a powerful console to smoothly handle lots of action on screen, and a Switch 2 could do just that – managing characters, animations, and physics better than the original Switch, especially with the potential of mouse support.

I’d love to see a Mario strategy game where you build and manage a city, but Nintendo could also go a more action-packed route with a real-time strategy (RTS) game. Players could lead characters like Princess Peach, Bowser, and Donkey Kong, each commanding their own forces. Think of a game similar to Warcraft III or Total War, with battles featuring familiar Mario enemies and characters. This would be a fresh direction for Mario and would appeal to the growing popularity of RTS games.

Mario Spin Offs Have Always Thrived When They Experiment

As a huge Nintendo fan, I’ve always loved how they aren’t afraid to try new things with Mario. So many of my favorite games – like Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, and Paper Mario – became classics because Nintendo let Mario jump into totally different game types. When Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle came out, I was honestly shocked to see Mario in a strategy game, holding a gun no less! But it totally worked. The game was a hit with critics and really proved that Mario fans like me are always up for something new, as long as it’s well-made and has good gameplay.

Even back in the GameCube days, Nintendo showed that Mario games can be reinvented with completely new gameplay. Super Mario Sunshine tried out unique ideas for how Mario moved and interacted with the world, something the series hadn’t done before. This worked because Nintendo used the GameCube’s new technology to make things possible that weren’t on older consoles. Now, with the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has a similar opportunity: to reimagine Mario with a system that allows for more complex and detailed gameplay.

I’m most excited by the potential for expanding the Mario universe. The Mushroom Kingdom is already rich with diverse environments, interesting characters, and possibilities for more complex game types. We see towns built by Toads, fortresses by Bowser, and Peach managing a whole kingdom. Surprisingly, Mario hasn’t really been involved in shaping that world until now, and the Switch 2 could be the perfect opportunity to let him do just that.

Why the Switch 2 Could Finally Make It Happen

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 gives Nintendo a great opportunity to really push the boundaries of what’s possible. A sharper screen would make detailed game worlds, like the Mushroom Kingdom, look even better and be easier to navigate. A more powerful processor could enable more complex game elements, such as smarter characters, detailed resources, and interactive environments. However, the biggest potential upgrade is adding mouse support, which would give Nintendo a competitive edge in a gaming space currently dominated by PCs. Given Nintendo’s history of creating games that cleverly use a system’s strengths, a city-building game set in the Mushroom Kingdom would be an ideal way to demonstrate these new capabilities.

Real-time strategy and city-building games are becoming increasingly popular on consoles. Titles like Age of Empires 3 and Anno 117: Pax Romana have shown that these genres can be genuinely enjoyable on console platforms. Game developers are now focusing on creating user-friendly control schemes, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 has the potential to improve this even further. While these games often require extended playtime, the Switch’s portability offers a new way to experience them, letting players enjoy them on the go for any length of time. Even a simpler strategy game featuring Mario could open up exciting possibilities for Nintendo’s audience.

Beyond just making technical sense, now feels like the perfect time for this. Nintendo has proven with the Switch that they can take existing franchises in exciting new directions. The Mario universe is incredibly well-known, adaptable, and full of possibilities. The upgraded power of the Switch 2 would allow Nintendo to create a groundbreaking Mario strategy game – one that would really showcase what the new console is capable of and stand out from the crowd.

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2026-02-19 00:11