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Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: A definitive modern collection, with Switch 2 enhancements

Two acclaimed platformers arrive together with interface improvements, extra Storybook chapters, Assist Mode and a 154-track player; Switch 2 adds 4K TV output via free update.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the most convenient, polished modern way to play two standout platformers: both games arrive together with updated interface features, added Storybook content, Assist Mode and a soundtrack player. On Switch 2, a free update enables 4K output in TV mode. It is a Nintendo Switch collection enhanced for Switch 2, not a separate Switch 2-exclusive release.

What is included in the collection?

Nintendo released Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Nintendo Switch on October 2, 2025. The package brings both games together physically, while Nintendo also offers each game digitally through the eShop. That makes this a straightforward way to get the pair without tracking down separate Wii-era releases.

The collection preserves the original games rather than rebuilding them. Its appeal is the combination of two acclaimed adventures in one package and a set of practical presentation and play options. Nintendo lists improved menus and interface elements, additional Storybook chapters, Assist Mode, and an in-game music player containing 154 tracks.

How do the Switch and Switch 2 versions differ?

This is a Nintendo Switch release that can be played on Switch 2. Nintendo lists 1080p output on Switch and 4K output on Switch 2 through a free update. Its UK product listing specifies 4K in TV mode and 1080p in handheld or tabletop mode, so 4K should not be taken to mean that the Switch 2 handheld display itself runs at that resolution. Nintendo UK’s product listing describes the modes and collection features; Nintendo Canada’s listing describes Switch and Switch 2 resolution support.

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#1 Best Overall
Sale
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2
  • Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
  • Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
  • Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
  • Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
  • Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.

The distinction matters if you are buying specifically for a Switch 2. You are not choosing between two separately sold platform editions: the collection plays on Switch, and Switch 2 owners get the listed 4K TV-mode enhancement through a free update. Nintendo’s announcement also confirms the combined physical release and individual digital availability. Nintendo’s announcement

What is new beyond the resolution?

Interface and Storybook additions

Nintendo lists interface improvements and extra Storybook chapters. These additions give the collection more than a resolution bump, though they do not turn either game into a radical redesign. The Storybook material also makes the release a more complete package for players who want the games’ accompanying content in the same place.

Rank #2
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (European version )
  • Explore the galaxy in two classic games Travel the stars with Mario in enhanced versions of these beloved adventures—coming soon to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2!
  • Super Mario Galaxy Mario meets Rosalina in this star-studded adventure. In Super Mario Galaxy, Mario must rescue Princess Peach and recover the stolen Power Stars from Bowser.
  • Super MarioGalaxy 2 Mario teams up with an old friend and travels to different worlds on Starship Mario! In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario is once again called upon to rescue his friend, Princess Peach. This time, he teams up with Yoshi and travels across the universe in Starship Mario, a flying vessel shaped like Mario’s head!
  • A free update will be available for the Nintendo Switch 2! Enjoy the game at 4K resolution in TV mode or 1080p in Handheld and Tabletop mode.* *4K resolution and 120 fps are available in supported games and require a compatible display. Frame rates capped at 60 fps for 4K output.

Assist Mode

Assist Mode is an option for players who want a more forgiving run. TechRadar’s review describes it as adding survivability and helping players recover after falls. It is a welcome accessibility-minded choice, especially in games built around unusual gravity and platforming routes, but it remains an option rather than a requirement for experienced players.

Music player

The built-in player includes 154 soundtrack tracks, according to Nintendo’s product listing. It is a substantial extra for players who want to revisit the music outside the flow of a level.

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Rank #3
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version
  • A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
  • Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
  • Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
  • Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
  • Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.

How does it play?

The control options include buttons, sticks and motion input. That flexibility is important because these games originated in the Wii era, where motion was part of their control language. The collection lets players choose a setup that suits their hands and play space instead of requiring one specific controller or input style. Nintendo’s product information outlines the available control methods.

That choice is more useful than a blanket claim that one scheme is best. Motion may feel familiar to returning players, while button-and-stick play can be a better fit for someone who prefers conventional controls or is playing in a setup where motion is awkward. A Switch 2 Pro Controller is optional; the games do not require it.

Rank #4
Sale
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version
  • New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
  • Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
  • Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
  • Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
  • Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer

Reviews support the view that this is a refinement rather than a reinvention. Nintendo Life judged the new release an improvement on the Galaxy version in Super Mario 3D All-Stars, whose treatment it considered minimal. TechRadar characterized the changes as restrained and discussed the translation of Wii-era controls to Switch 2. Those are reviewers’ assessments, not objective measurements. TechRadar says its reviewer played around 25 hours across both games on an OLED TV and in handheld and docked modes, using a Switch 2 Pro Controller; that figure describes the reviewer’s own playtime, not an official completion-time estimate.

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Is it worth buying if you own Super Mario 3D All-Stars?

If you already own the first Super Mario Galaxy through Super Mario 3D All-Stars, the decision is about how much you value the collection’s refinements and the addition of Super Mario Galaxy 2. Nintendo Life’s comparison treats the new release as a meaningful improvement over the earlier Galaxy presentation, but the first game is still fundamentally the same adventure. For an owner of the older collection, the strongest reason to buy is having Galaxy 2 alongside the updated Galaxy experience, plus the new features—not expecting a wholly different version of the first game.

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Best Value
Sale
Mario Party Superstars - US Version
  • Bring the party on 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games
  • Show your friends and family who’s boss in 100 minigames from throughout the Mario Party series
  • All game modes can be played online
  • Matches with friends in board game mode are saved after each turn both locally and online—pick up where you left off
  • Play using a single Joy-Con controller, two Joy-Con with the Joy-Con grip accessory, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or Nintendo Switch Lite system

If you do not already own the games, the case is simpler: one collection provides both platformers, modern control choices, added content and a soundtrack player. Choose physical or digital according to how you prefer to keep games; Nintendo confirms the combined physical package and separate digital editions, but prices and stock vary by market and retailer.

Verdict: the best modern way to play both?

For most players seeking these two games on current Nintendo hardware, yes. The collection brings both together and updates the experience without changing what makes the originals distinctive. Switch 2 owners also get the option of 4K TV output through a free update, while Switch owners have the listed 1080p presentation. It is a polished, convenient return to two exceptional platformers, not a ground-up remake—and that is the right expectation to bring to it.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2
Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content; Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
$64.99
SaleBestseller No. 4
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version
Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go; Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
$52.99
SaleBestseller No. 5
Mario Party Superstars - US Version
Mario Party Superstars - US Version
Bring the party on 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games; All game modes can be played online
$52.79

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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