Nintendo Celebrates Mario Day With Virtual Boy Games

Nintendo maintains a nuanced relationship with “Mario Day,” the annual March 10 celebration dedicated to its iconic plumber. Originally a fan-driven phenomenon—born from the linguistic coincidence that “MAR10” resembles the mascot’s name—the date has been officially embraced by the gaming giant for a decade. Historically, however, Nintendo has utilized this occasion for marketing promotions and retail discounts rather than blockbuster software reveals.

While the full scope of the 2026 festivities remains under wraps, Nintendo has confirmed it will bolster its “Nintendo Classics” library with three vintage titles. Available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on March 10, the update includes the original 2004 Game Boy Advance puzzle-platformer Mario vs. Donkey Kong, alongside two titles for the newly integrated Virtual Boy collection: 1995’s Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash.

The inclusion of Virtual Boy software is particularly noteworthy given Nintendo’s long-standing reluctance to acknowledge the commercial failure of its ill-fated 3D experiment. Exhuming these forgotten relics is a bold move; Mario’s Tennis, which launched alongside the console in North America, is often cited as the hardware’s premier title despite its limited scope. It utilizes an over-the-shoulder perspective to showcase the platform’s stereoscopic depth. Meanwhile, Mario Clash serves as a three-dimensional reimagining of the classic Mario Bros. arcade formula, tasking players with tossing shells between the foreground and background to clear enemies.

The arrival of the Game Boy Advance version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong is equally intriguing, especially considering the title recently received a full high-definition remake for the Switch. Since that modern reimagining introduced new stages and streamlined mechanics for casual audiences, the preservation of the more challenging 2004 original on the service is a welcome addition for purists.

By most standards, these are relatively obscure selections from the Mario catalog. Whether Nintendo is holding a more substantial surprise for the actual holiday remains to be seen, but fans will certainly be watching for further developments as March 10 approaches.

Source: Polygon