One of the Best 3D Mario Games is Finally Coming to Switch 2

Super Mario Sunshine is officially headed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members this August. Players can soon dive back into this beloved tropical adventure via the Nintendo GameCube Classics library on the Switch 2.

With a standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription, users unlock online multiplayer across Switch and Switch 2 platforms, exclusive profile badges, cloud save backups, the Nintendo Music application, and a sprawling vault of retro titles spanning the NES, SNES, and Game Boy. Priced at $19.99 annually—amounting to less than $2 a month—this foundational tier serves as the gateway. However, adventurous players can opt for the NSO Expansion Pack at $49.99 per year. For roughly $4 monthly, this premium tier unlocks additional retro libraries featuring the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, and Sega Genesis, alongside valuable expansion pass content and optimized Switch 2 performance patches for major Nintendo releases. Nintendo continually enriches these classic applications with fresh monthly additions.

The Nintendo GameCube Classics platform was initially unveiled during an April Nintendo Direct and debuted last July alongside the Switch 2 hardware launch. Its initial roster was intentionally modest, likely to keep the spotlight on contemporary console exclusives. Nevertheless, promotional trailers teased a robust pipeline of upcoming software, with Super Mario Sunshine highlighted among the anticipated heavyweights.

After a patient wait of over a year, the moment has arrived: Super Mario Sunshine launches on the Nintendo GameCube Classics app for Switch 2 on Thursday, August 13. Many enthusiasts eagerly anticipated this release, especially given that the physical Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation—which previously included the title—was restricted to a limited-time sale window. Consequently, numerous fans missed out on acquiring the game, fearing they would never again experience Sunshine on contemporary hardware. Now, players can step back into the shoes of Mario as he navigates community service on Isle Delfino, cleaning up graffiti while working to clear his name.

Unlike the iteration featured in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars bundle, this GameCube Classics release remains entirely faithful to the original hardware architecture. It functions as a direct emulation of the 2002 GameCube classic, scaled cleanly for modern display ratios without overarching graphical overhauls. Even two decades after its initial launch, Nintendo’s distinctive artistic direction ensures the visuals remain remarkably vibrant, proving that exceptional design withstands the test of time.

Source: Polygon