With enticing visual enhancements, creative new bosses, and multiplayer mayhem, is Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Nintendo Switch 2 worth the upgrade? Heres what I think after collecting every Wonder Seed

Date:
Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Description:
I spent 25 hours stomping on Koopas and Goombas in Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Switch 2, and although its multiplayer minigames left me conflicted, I still had a wonderful time.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park has arrived, and aims to bring enhanced graphics, improved multiplayer functionality, and even more surreal levels to the table. Review info
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: March 26, 2026 Ive spent more than 25 hours playing through the game, during which time I collected every Wonder Seed, completed the new Bellabel Park content, and took on other journalists in competitive multiplayer minigames. Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park at Amazon for 59 But after all of this, do I think that this Nintendo Switch 2 edition is worth picking up? And should existing Super
Mario Bros. Wonder owners consider upgrading? Ill reveal my thoughts down below. Were coming for you, Koopalings (Image credit: Nintendo) I want to
kick things off by looking at the new stuff a lot of which is centered
around a new area, named Bellabel Park. In this garden-like playground, you can play minigames, take on brand new bosses, or decorate the park. And
theres quite a bit of fun to be had here overall.

First, lets tackle the new levels, which focus on the dastardly Koopalings. Thats right, Bowsers minions are back, and theyve stolen the coveted Bellabel Flowers. In order to reclaim them, youll need to venture all across the
Flower Kingdom and enlist the help of Captain Toad and his Brigade along the way.

Now, this approach may keep new content evenly spread out, but in reality,
its never particularly hard to find the Koopalings. Youll easily encounter Captain Toad tents as you progress through the story, which you can approach to instantly battle it out against the likes of Wendy, Iggy, and Ludwig. But anyway, are these boss fights actually any good?

Well, in my view, yes, they are. Each Koopaling will assume a Wonder Form,
and these all impressed me with their creativity. For instance, Wendy becomes almost like a Cheep Cheep, while Morton turns into a puppet-like creature, controlled by a malevolent pair of Lakitu (Lakitus? Lakitii?). These battles are engaging and bursting with imagination, although I certainly found them
to be on the easy side I dont think I lost a single life to any Koopaling. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Best bit
(Image credit: Nintendo) I absolutely adored the musical levels, like Piranha Plants on Parade and Ninji Jump Party. Bounding to the beat was seriously joy-inducing, and watching these characters jive along to the beat was magical. Still, the charismatic designs of each boss, and figuring out how to take them down was entertaining, and I expect that most fans will enjoy these battles.

Another new addition I had fun with was the Toad Brigade Training Courses. Here, youll take on a range of challenges, including time-restricted courses, as well as levels where you cant touch an enemy, to name a couple. These are usually pretty quick to blast through, and some genuinely offer a challenge, making them ideal to dip into between worlds, or when youve got a few spare minutes to play.

By completing Training Courses, youll earn Bellabel Water, which can be exchanged for flowers and used to decorate Bellabel Park. You might adorn a Wiggler Topiary with fungi, or you may even cover your courtyard in Butterfly Bloom petals. But to be honest, I didnt get any kicks out of decorating theres not much of an incentive to do so, and you could easily neglect this feature entirely without missing out on anything substantial.

However, you can also use Bellabel Water at the shop or the Fountain area, which will earn you items like flowers, but also reactions and instruments. Reactions can be used to communicate during online play, while the
instruments can be collected to flesh out a Poplin band. And both of these felt like better rewards than the decorative flowers to me. But I still think there could be a better incentive for completing Training Courses, like unlockable costumes for Mario and friends, for example. Mario Party lite (Image credit: Nintendo) Weve spoken about the new single-player content, which is pretty good overall. However, its the multiplayer additions that
have been placed front and center in much of this games marketing.

And I have to say, I found the multiplayer games to be a bit of a mixed bag. Nintendo set up a session for me, and a few fellow gaming journalists to duke it out in online minigames, and although there were some fun highlights, I
was left feeling pretty conflicted.

Many of these online minigames felt reminiscent of Mario Party. For instance, there are games where youll race in a roller-skate or even with a propeller flower, and I found the racing games to be some of the best. Totally not because they were some of the only ones Id win

However, there are more options. One that stuck out was a hide-and-seek game, where two players can morph into a block or coin, while others are tasked
with hunting them down and tagging them. If youre it when the time runs out, you lose, and this setup created a couple of last-second twists. Its fun for
a little while, but I didnt feel compelled to play this game more than a few times.

You can also access competitive and co-op minigames when playing locally,
with options including Yoshi enemy-eating contests, games where you use mouse mode to assist players through a course, and a relay where you have to get a Bob-omb to the finish line before it explodes. Theres a decent amount of variety, but its nothing compared to the eclectic collection of minigames in Super Mario Party Jamboree , for instance.

Overall, Id argue that the multiplayer additions arealright. Some of the attractions did put a smile on my face but only for a few minutes, and they didnt have the same chaotic and addictive edge that Mario Party minigames possess. Sure, if youre looking for some quick multiplayer fun, the attractions are by no means bad. But can I see myself coming back to these
for years to come just as Ive done with Jamboree s minigames? I dont think so. (Image credit: Nintendo) A wonderful core-experience, re-planted Even if the multiplayer content didnt blow me away, its worth noting that the core Super Mario Bros. Wonder experience is better than ever on Nintendo Switch 2.

There are a few new additions, including a new Assist Mode which prevents you from taking damage ideal for younger players. Theres also the option to play as fan-favorite princess Rosalina, while a second player can take on the role of Co-Star Luma, and use mouse mode controls to defeat enemies and collect coins.

But theres more! You can also skip around with the Super Flower Pot power-up, which enables you to hover in the air and throw petals upwards to attack enemies. And of course, badges which enhance abilities or provide new ways
to progress through a level are back. But this time, you can make use of new Dual Badges, which combine the powers of two badges into one like Parachute Cap and Boosting Spin Jump, for example. The badge system was already a phenomenal way to add depth and customizability to the game, so expanding
that further was always going to be a positive for me.

All of these additions are most welcome, and I loved making use of the new Dual Badges to experience levels in a brand new way. (Image credit: Nintendo) Oh, and its also worth mentioning that the main game itself is absolutely exquisite once more. The game is filled with phenomenal level design, and Wonder Flowers provide a psychedelic take on classic 2D Mario thats
absolutely intoxicating.

The game is packed with so many stand-out moments, from transforming into a blob, a wrecking ball, or Goomba, through to riding on a flying horde of bulls. This zaniness is something the somewhat bland New Super Mario Bros. series was missing, and if youve never played Super Mario Bros. Wonder
before, this version is a must-buy.

And this really is the definitive way to play, thanks to the games improved graphics on Nintendo Switch 2. I tried comparing this new version to the original Switch alternative which just so happens to be bundled in with this game and the difference was night and day.

Characters and enemies alike appear way sharper on the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, with details like Marios moustache or writing on his cap appearing substantially clearer. On top of this, colors pop beautifully on this 4K release, with intense pinks and deep reds cutting through with vigor. The overall presentation is great on Switch 2, and pair that with basically faultless 60fps gameplay, and youve got great all-round performance. Image 1 of 4 Nintendo Switch 2 edition (Image credit: Nintendo) Nintendo Switch edition (Image credit: Nintendo) Nintendo Switch 2 edition (Image credit: Nintendo) Nintendo Switch edition (Image credit: Nintendo) So, I suppose we should wrap things up now, shouldn't we? The ludicrously long-titled Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is certainly the definitive way to play through the greatest 2D Mario game in many a year. The improved visuals, inclusion of new characters, and introduction of Dual Badges are all great to see.

Most of the new single player content is enjoyable too, with some
entertaining albeit easy boss fights and fast-paced Training Courses. Multiplayer attractions are a mixed bag, and Im not sure theyre going to
offer the long-standing appeal of Mario Party minigames. As a result, Im not sure this edition is a must-buy for those upgrading from the original Super Mario Bros. Wonder unless you really want to scrap the Koopalings, that is. But for first-time players, this Switch 2 revamp is a great overall package, and Id highly recommend scooping it up. (Image credit: Nintendo) Should you play Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park?: (Image credit: Nintendo) Play it if... You never got to play Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Switch If you never got to play the game on Switch,
this is the time to give it a go. With upgraded visuals, more characters, and a new area to explore, this is certainly the definitive edition of an already excellent 2D platformer. You want more mind-bending boss battles If youre hankering for more of Super Mario Bros. Wonder s whacky boss showdowns, then this version may well be worth upgrading to. You get to duke it out against the Koopalings across the course of your playthrough, and you can revisit these battles through the Toad Brigades Training Courses. Don't play it if... Youre expecting Mario Party levels of multiplayer fun The new multiplayer games are decent fun in this revamped version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder , but only for a while. I found that they didnt have the hold on me like Super Mario Party Jamboree s minigames, and felt a little flat and repetitive after a while. Youre looking for a challenging platformer Although there are a few challenging Training Courses in this version, the core experience remains
very much on the easy side in Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Switch 2. While accommodations have been made for young players, with assist mode and the re-inclusion of the damage-resistant Yoshis and Nabbit, theres not a ton of challenge for more experienced Mario fans. Accessibility features Although there arent a ton of accessibility features in this game, the settings menu does enable you to make some changes. For instance, you can select a number
of spoken and text languages, adjust the camera, alter some controls, and
have rumble turned on or off. Unfortunately, theres nothing like a colorblind mode or similar. How I reviewed Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park: (Image credit: Nintendo) I spent in excess of 25 hours playing through Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park . During this time, I played through the entire main game, regained all of the Bellabel Flowers, and even played multiplayer minigames online.

For the most part, I played the game in docked mode, with my Switch 2 console hooked up to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, I did also enjoy playing in handheld mode, and I occasionally connected up the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones to my console when doing so.

More generally, Ive reviewed a whole lot of games for TechRadar, including Switch 2 titles like Kirby Air Riders and Drag x Drive . Ive also owned the Switch 2 since launch, and have been playing Mario games for decades, with my favorite entry in the series being Super Mario Odyssey (sorry, Super Mario Galaxy fans).

First reviewed March 2026 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park: Price Comparison 59 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/super-mario-bros-wonder-nintendo-switch-2-edi tion-plus-meetup-in-bellabel-park-review


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