Mario 3D All-Stars Review — Worth Buying in 2026?

Super Mario 3D All-Stars Review — Is This Legendary Collection Worth It?

Introduction to Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Some games make you nostalgic. Some make you question why you ever stopped playing. Super Mario 3D All-Stars does both — sometimes in the same five minutes.

Released on September 18, 2020, as a limited Nintendo Switch exclusive to celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary, this collection bundles three of the most beloved 3D platformers ever made: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. The catch? Nintendo pulled it from shelves and the eShop on March 31, 2021, making it one of the most talked-about — and most searched — Nintendo titles of the modern era.

If you’re here asking whether the Super Mario 3D All-Stars review verdict still holds up, whether it’s worth the current resale price, or simply what’s actually included — this review covers all of it honestly.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars — Game at a Glance

Quick Info Table

What’s Included in Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Super Mario 64 (1996 → Switch Port)

Super Mario 64 is where 3D gaming as we know it began. The game sends Mario through 15 worlds inside paintings, collecting 120 Power Stars to defeat Bowser and rescue Princess Peach. On Switch, the controls have been remapped for Joy-Con and Pro Controller, and the resolution has been upscaled — but make no mistake, this is not a remaster. The textures are still soft, the camera still has its quirks, and the gameplay is still iconic despite showing its age.

For first-timers, it’s a remarkable piece of gaming history. For returning fans, it’s a loving but imperfect nostalgia trip.

Super Mario Sunshine (2002 → Switch Port)

Originally released for the GameCube, Sunshine has always been the “underrated one” — and this collection gave millions of players their first real chance to experience it. Set on the sun-soaked Isle Delfino, the game revolves around Mario’s FLUDD water-pack, which is used to clean graffiti, fight enemies, and pull off creative traversal moves.

Sunshine sees the most meaningful visual improvement of the three games here. Running in HD for the first time, the tropical environments genuinely pop on a modern display. The difficulty is noticeably higher than other Mario games, but that challenge is a big part of its charm.

Super Mario Galaxy (2007 → Switch Port)

If Super Mario 3D All-Stars has a crown jewel, it’s Galaxy. Originally a Wii masterpiece, Galaxy sends Mario through gravity-defying spherical planets in some of the most inventive level design Nintendo has ever produced. The orchestral soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission — full, sweeping compositions that make even routine platforming feel cinematic.

On Switch, Galaxy looks stunning and plays almost perfectly in docked and TV mode. Motion controls for the Star Bits mechanic have been adapted for Joy-Con, which works adequately — though in handheld mode, pointing at the screen feels less elegant than it did on the Wii sensor bar.

Included Music Player

Often overlooked in reviews, the built-in music player is a genuinely great bonus. It gives you access to the full original soundtracks of all three games — hundreds of tracks — and crucially, it plays with the Switch screen off. That means you can use it as a dedicated music player while your Switch is in your pocket. For anyone who grew up with these games, that feature alone carries real emotional value.

My Honest Super Mario 3D All-Stars Review

First Impressions of the Collection

Booting up Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the first time, you’re met with a clean, minimal menu that lets you jump into any of the three games or the music player. It’s functional — but also noticeably bare. There are no art galleries, no developer interviews, no behind-the-scenes features, no interactive museum content. For a 35th anniversary celebration, the presentation feels underwhelming compared to what Nintendo (and other publishers) have done with anniversary collections in the past.

It’s a collection that leads entirely with the games themselves. Fortunately, the games are good enough to carry that weight. Nintendo fans interested in anniversary celebrations should also check out our Legend of Zelda 35th Anniversary: 5 Essential Facts & Review, which explores how Nintendo handled another iconic franchise milestone.

Super Mario 64 — How Does It Hold Up in 2025?

Playing Mario 64 today is a fascinating exercise in gaming archaeology. The core loop — explore a hub world, enter paintings, collect stars — remains satisfying in a way that holds up surprisingly well for a nearly 30-year-old game. The movement system, the long jump, the triple jump, the wall kick — these controls still feel sharp and expressive.

What hasn’t aged well is the camera. It requires constant manual adjustment, and in certain stages, it actively fights you. The upscaled resolution helps the visuals look less blurry on modern TVs than the original, but it doesn’t fix the underlying low-polygon geometry. For new players, this is a piece of history worth experiencing — with tempered visual expectations.

Super Mario Sunshine — The Underrated Highlight

Sunshine is the surprise of the collection for many players. The FLUDD mechanics give it a completely different movement vocabulary compared to any other Mario game, and the tropical setting remains visually distinct and charming even today. The fact that it’s running in HD for the first time makes the colorful environments genuinely beautiful on Switch.

The difficulty curve is real — some of the secret courses that strip away FLUDD entirely are genuinely tough. But that challenge is part of what makes Sunshine feel rewarding and unique. If you’ve never played it, this collection is your best and most convenient opportunity.

Super Mario Galaxy — The Crown Jewel

Galaxy is simply one of the best games ever made. The gravity-based platforming, the inventive planet designs, the boss battles, the music — everything comes together in a way that feels as magical today as it did in 2007. Playing it on Switch in docked mode, with a big TV and the orchestral score filling the room, is a genuinely special experience. If Super Mario Galaxy ends up becoming your favorite experience in the collection, you should also explore our Ultimate 7 Best 3D Mario Game Ranked for Switch Fans to see how it compares against other legendary Mario adventures on Nintendo Switch.

Motion controls in handheld mode are the only real friction point. Collecting Star Bits by pointing at the screen works, but it’s awkward compared to the Wii’s natural pointer controls. It’s a compromise — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing before you buy.

What the Collection Gets Right

Fans of polished platforming adventures may also want to explore our Ratchet and Clank PS4 Review: 8 Smart Reasons to Play for another highly creative action-platformer experience.

• Three all-time great games accessible in one Switch cartridge
• Portability brings real new value — Galaxy on a handheld is remarkable
• Sunshine’s HD debut is genuinely impressive
• The music player is a sleeper-hit feature
• Accessible for new players discovering these games for the first time

What the Collection Gets Wrong

• No actual remasters — ports are minimal in technical effort
• Zero bonus content: no art, no history, no extras
• Artificial scarcity makes it expensive and inaccessible for late buyers
• Mario 64 needed more work than it received
• Galaxy’s motion controls feel like an afterthought in handheld mode

Super Mario 3D All-Stars — Pros and Cons

What the Collection Does Well

• Bundles three legitimately legendary games into a single package
• Portable Switch play is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade for all three
• Sunshine and Galaxy benefit noticeably from HD output
• Music player adds meaningful bonus value
• Strong appeal to both nostalgic veterans and new players

Where the Collection Falls Short

• Ports are minimal — no visual overhauls or modern additions
• No anniversary extras — feels like a missed creative opportunity
• Artificial limited availability punishes anyone who didn’t buy at launch
• Mario 64 is the weakest port of the three
• Galaxy handheld motion controls are functional but awkward

Pros vs. Cons Table

Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars Worth It?

At Original MSRP ($59.99) — Was It Worth It?

At launch price, this was one of the easiest Nintendo purchase recommendations in years. Three full, substantial games — each offering 15–25+ hours of content — at a standard single-game price. It was exceptional value, and reviews across the board reflected that. If you paid $59.99, you got an outstanding deal.

At Current Resale Price ($80–$120+) — Is It Still Worth It?

This is where the answer gets nuanced. Physical copies of Super Mario 3D All-Stars now sell well above their original retail price, and the digital version has been removed from the Nintendo eShop entirely. Whether it’s worth the resale premium depends largely on which games you’re after.

If you want Sunshine and Galaxy on Switch — and have no other way to play them — the collection is still worth it under $80. Above $100, it becomes a collector’s purchase more than a practical one.

Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars Rare?

Yes — genuinely. Nintendo intentionally produced and sold it as a limited-run title, pulling both physical stock and digital distribution on March 31, 2021. No reprint has been announced. Physical copies are increasingly scarce at standard retail, and when they do appear new and sealed, they command significant premiums.

Why Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars So Expensive?

The price inflation comes down to one factor: deliberate artificial scarcity. Nintendo chose to limit production as part of a 35th anniversary marketing strategy. High demand combined with a hard supply cap means secondary market sellers — on eBay, Amazon, and local game stores — set prices based on collector demand rather than original retail value.

It’s a controversial practice, and it’s a legitimate criticism of Nintendo’s handling of this release.

Where to Buy Super Mario 3D All-Stars in 2025

Super Mario 3D All-Stars — Individual Game Ratings

Score Breakdown Table

Super Mario 3D All-Stars vs. Buying Games Separately

Comparison Table

Key Takeaway

The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack now gives subscribers access to Super Mario 64 as part of the N64 library — which meaningfully changes the value equation. If Mario 64 is your primary interest, the NSO route is smarter and cheaper.

However, Sunshine and Galaxy have no other legal Switch option outside of 3D All-Stars. For players specifically after those two games on Switch, the collection remains the only route — making it justifiable even at a mild resale premium.

Who Should Buy Super Mario 3D All-Stars?

Players looking for more classic Mario experiences on Switch may also enjoy reading our Super Mario Bros U Deluxe Review: 7 Essential Pros & Cons for a modern take on traditional side-scrolling Mario gameplay.

Ideal Buyer Profile

• Nintendo Switch owners who never played Sunshine or Galaxy on original hardware
• Collectors building a complete Switch physical library
• Parents looking to introduce children to classic Mario games in a single package
• Anyone who finds a copy at or under $75 — buy without hesitation

Who Should Skip It or Wait

• Players who only want Mario 64 — the NSO Expansion Pack covers that more cheaply
• Budget-conscious buyers unwilling to pay above the original $59.99 MSRP
• Anyone expecting a true remaster with modern visuals and quality-of-life improvements
• Players hoping Nintendo will reprint it — there’s no announcement to suggest that’s coming

Super Mario 3D All-Stars — Final Verdict

Overall Score Table

Final Buy Recommendation

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is an imperfect collection of perfect games. Nintendo put in the minimum viable effort on the ports themselves — no remasters, no extras, no anniversary features — but the three games inside are so fundamentally excellent that the collection rises above its shortcomings regardless.

At its original price, it was a must-own. At current resale pricing, it depends entirely on how much Sunshine and Galaxy on Switch mean to you specifically. If you find a copy under $80, pick it up. If you’re seeing it above $100 and only want Mario 64, open an NSO subscription instead.

For first-time players who’ve never experienced Super Mario Galaxy — do whatever it takes to play that game. It remains, across any platform, one of the greatest gaming experiences ever created.

About Super Mario 3D All-Stars (250 words)

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a Nintendo Switch exclusive collection released on September 18, 2020, to celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary. Developed and published by Nintendo, the package bundles three of the most iconic 3D platformers in gaming history — Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy — into a single cartridge at a standard game price of $59.99.

Super Mario 64, originally released in 1996, takes Mario through 15 painting-based worlds in search of 120 Power Stars. Super Mario Sunshine, the beloved 2002 GameCube title, sends Mario to the tropical Isle Delfino armed with the FLUDD water-pack in a game that remains uniquely creative to this day. Super Mario Galaxy, widely considered one of the greatest games ever made, delivers gravity-defying platforming across spherical planets backed by a sweeping orchestral soundtrack.

All three games are playable on Nintendo Switch in both docked and handheld modes, with upscaled resolutions improving the visual experience over original hardware. The collection also includes a built-in music player offering access to the full original soundtracks of all three games — playable even with the Switch screen off.

The collection was deliberately discontinued on March 31, 2021, and has not been reprinted since, making physical copies increasingly rare and expensive on the secondary market. It remains the only official way to play Sunshine and Galaxy on Nintendo Switch, which continues to drive strong demand among collectors and fans alike.

System Requirements — PC

Important Note: Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a Nintendo Switch exclusive and was never released on PC. There are no official PC system requirements for this title. It cannot be played on PC through any official or licensed channel.

To play this collection legally, a Nintendo Switch console is required — either the original model, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED. No PC version, PS4 version, or Xbox version exists.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars Still Available?

Physical copies are available through secondary markets like eBay and Amazon third-party sellers. The digital version was permanently removed from the Nintendo eShop on March 31, 2021, and is no longer purchasable digitally.

Why Was Super Mario 3D All-Stars Discontinued?

Nintendo released it as a deliberate limited-edition title tied to Mario’s 35th anniversary celebration. The company chose March 31, 2021 as a hard end date for both physical production and digital availability — a controversial decision that remains widely criticized.

How Much Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars Worth Now?

As of 2025, new sealed copies typically sell between $90 and $130+. Complete used copies in good condition range from $70 to $100. Cartridge-only copies can be found for $50 to $75 depending on the seller.

Can You Still Buy Super Mario 3D All-Stars Digitally?

No. The digital version was removed from the Nintendo eShop on March 31, 2021. It is no longer available for digital purchase through any official Nintendo channel.

Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars Worth It in 2025?

Yes — with caveats. If you want Sunshine and Galaxy on Switch and find a copy under $80, it’s worth it. If you’re primarily after Mario 64, the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack is the better value option.

Will Nintendo Reprint Super Mario 3D All-Stars?

No reprint has been announced by Nintendo as of this writing. The company has not indicated any plans to reissue the collection physically or digitally.

How Does Super Mario 3D All-Stars Compare to the NSO Expansion Pack?

The NSO Expansion Pack includes Super Mario 64 as part of its N64 library. However, it does not include Sunshine or Galaxy. For those two games specifically, Super Mario 3D All-Stars remains the only official Switch option.