Every year on March 10, Nintendo pulls out all the stops to celebrate its most iconic character. The date, written as MAR10, spells out Mario, and that is all the reason Nintendo needs to throw a party.
This year is special as it marks the 40th anniversary of the Mario franchise, and the celebrations are bigger than ever, with major discounts on the Nintendo eShop and, most importantly, three classic game drops for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
Three classic Mario games are now live on Switch
Nintendo has officially added Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash to the Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics library, while Mario vs. Donkey Kong has been added to the Game Boy Advance Nintendo Classics collection. All three games are now live and available to play.
To access Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash, you need a standard Nintendo Switch Online membership. Mario vs. Donkey Kong, however, requires a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which gives you access to a broader library of retro titles.
Here is a quick breakdown of what just dropped:
- Mario’s Tennis: Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics
- Mario Clash: Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Game Boy Advance Nintendo Classics
The best part is that these games are not restricted to Nintendo Switch 2. Even if you are still running the OG Switch, you can enjoy these games.
Meet the new additions to your Switch Online library
Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash are two of the more obscure entries in the Mario catalogue, originally released for the Virtual Boy, Nintendo’s short-lived 3D console from the mid-90s. Getting these on the Switch is a genuine treat for retro game fans who didn’t have the chance to experience the Virtual Boy era.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a Game Boy Advance classic from 2004, and a direct callback to the original Donkey Kong arcade game. If you never played it, now is a great time to fix that.
Nintendo Switch Online members have been getting a steady stream of retro titles, but three games dropping in a single day for Mario Day is a nice bonus that makes this year’s celebration even more special for fans of Nintendo’s classic lineup.
