Super Mario Strikers is one of the most beloved sports video games out there. The Mario sports games always hit in a way that the standard sports franchises, like Madden, NBA 2K, FIFA (FC), MLB The Show, and others, just don’t.
Perhaps it’s the whimsy they utilize, or maybe it’s the simple fact that Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and the rest are such great characters. Whatever the reason, everyone typically loves the Mario sports titles and always has. Strikers has long been one of the most prominent, and it’s officially back in 2025, thanks to the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 Brings Original Super Mario Strikers Back
The Nintendo Switch did a lot of things really well en route to being one of the best-selling and critically acclaimed video game consoles of all time. One thing it sort of lacked, though, was good sports games. Nintendo Switch Sports failed to capture the magic of Wii Sports. Even the Mario sports games, like Mario Strikers: Battle League or Mario Golf: Super Rush, didn’t quite land. Battle League was particularly disappointing.
The Nintendo Switch 2, however, has not yet attempted to bring in new games to the franchises. It’s highly likely that the better technology this console has will lead to better Mario sports games, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, they’re not reinventing the wheel. Instead, they’re just bringing back the original.
Super Mario Strikers was a GameCube game, which is important. The Switch 2 has all the Nintendo Switch Online consoles the original has (like GameBoy Advance, N64, and NES, for example), but it also has the GameCube. It’s exclusive to the Switch 2 for now.
And on that platform, you can now play Strikers again in all its original glory. As long as you have a Switch 2 and the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, you have access to the game as of today. “Matches unfold with white-hot speed, intensity, and familiar items, like shells and mushrooms, to give you a boost in crushing your opponent. But the real key to winning is the Super Strike, a powerful shot that can net you two points at once!” the synopsis reads.
If you don’t have a Switch 2, there are some available at retail outlets, but they sell out quickly. They’ve already had to restock a couple of times. Oh, and Amazon doesn’t have them right now due to a conflict with Nintendo, so don’t check there. The Expansion Pack costs $50 for an individual for a year and $80 for a family in 2025.
What Else Does Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Have?
It’s very early in the life cycle of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the GameCube Switch Online catalog, so the options are very limited. Even with Super Mario Strikers joining the fun, there are only four games out right now. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, SOULCALIBER II, and F-Zero GX are available as well. Super Mario Sunshine is coming soon as well.
More should be on the way soon. Titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Pikmin 2, Super Monkey Ball, Metroid Prime, Luigi’s Mansion, and Animal Crossing might be good candidates. Those are not confirmed, though.
Final Level
This is the first addition to Nintendo Switch Online’s new GameCube platform. The gaming company has been trickling things in to prolong the initial wave of interest in the Switch 2. They released one game at launch, with another one set to arrive in two weeks. The GameCube platform had just three titles, with one more today and another coming later. Slowly but surely, the library for this console is expanding, and today, it’s marked by Super Mario Strikers.
