Super Mario game now supports online multiplayer in wildest GameCube mod we've seen so far

The Nintendo Switch 2 is sorely lacking in GameCube games at the moment, making phenomenal PC ports and mods on PC more popular than ever.

One of the latest is an online multiplayer mod created for an oddly underrated Super Mario game, Super Mario Sunshine.

It’s not a black sheep in the franchise by any means - a lot of gamers including myself adore it - but when compared to the likes of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy/Galaxy 2, it gets little praise.

Perhaps Super Mario Sunshine Online will change people’s minds, and it does exactly what it says on the tin: let’s you explore Isle Delfino with friends.

It’s similar to Super Mario 64 Deluxe which gained popularity through several viral videos online.

While Super Mario Sunshine Online is made by a different dev team, the experience aims to be largely the same as it allows synchronous online multiplayer for up to 10 players.

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Player movements and animations are tracked allowing you to see in real-time what your friends are doing, and this can even be used to complete levels co-operatively rather than separate. It’s said a full 120 shine playthrough of the game can be completed with this mod.

Those that don’t want to beat the game ,however, can play a custom gamemode of hide-and-seek, where players take turns hiding on a random level before a seeker attempts to track them down.

If you want to get sillier, the mod also supports custom models. This means you can tear through Isle Delfino as Sonic The Hedgehog if that’s more your speed, or Luigi if you think Mario can’t get the job done by himself. We’d love to see Link from The Legend of Zelda pop up too.

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To set this all up for yourself you’ll need to download the mod and launcher required. You’ll also need an NTSC-U ROM of Super Mario Sunshine along with the Dolphin emulator to play it with. There are plenty of guides online if you find yourself struggling.

Super Mario Sunshine Online sounds like an absolute blast, and it’s surprisingly more accessible than the version of the game on Nintendo Switch/Nintendo Switch 2…

Why can’t you easily play Super Mario Sunshine on Nintendo Switch/Switch 2?

The short answer is Nintendo’s only re-release of Super Mario Sunshine was done through a limited-time collection, Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Three games were included: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy.

Nintendo no longer sells copies itself so the second-hand market is listing them for silly prices, even though Super Mario 64 is already playable through Nintendo Switch Online, and Super Mario Galaxy got a re-release alongside its sequel last year.

Super Mario Sunshine, however, stands in a weird spot of limbo. We’re sure it’ll eventually be added to Nintendo Switch Online for the Nintendo Switch 2, but doing so would practically be admitting the 3D All Stars collection was a waste of time.