Nintendo has officially brought Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 to the Nintendo Switch family of systems, marking the first time both acclaimed platformers are available together outside of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. Launching October 2, 2025, the new release offers enhancements for both the original Switch and the more powerful Switch 2, and early analysis provides an interesting look at how the updated versions compare to previous releases.
According to a recent video breakdown, Super Mario Galaxy 2 in particular is receiving its first official revision since the Wii era. Unlike the first game, which had already seen some adjustments through 3D All-Stars, Galaxy 2 takes a more conservative approach, with few major changes to textures or assets. The biggest differences come from resolution and performance. On Switch, both games run at 1080p with a locked 60fps, while Switch 2 offers native 4K at the same framerate. There are some banding issues in the visuals on Switch 2, though these may be corrected in a future patch.
For comparison, the 3D All-Stars version of Galaxy 1 largely preserved the original Wii assets, offering higher resolution but little else in terms of texture work. In contrast, the new release showcases how dramatically resolution alone can alter the presentation of a game designed with strong underlying art direction. The improved sharpness, particularly on Switch 2, helps highlight details that were less noticeable on earlier hardware.
The bundle includes a few additional quality-of-life features. A new Assist Mode has been added for newcomers, alongside an updated user interface and an unlockable Storybook feature. Control options are also more flexible, with support for button, stick, and motion inputs via the Joy-Con controllers.
Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are available both as a physical bundle and as individual digital purchases on the Nintendo eShop. Owners playing on Switch 2 can also download a free update to enable the full 4K experience in TV mode.
