Nintendo Switch's rarest game now available to play on Switch 2

Super Mario Sunshine fans can now relive the nostalgia thanks to a brand new Nintendo Switch 2 port which has been released this week.

As announced by Nintendo, subscribers of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on Nintendo Switch 2 can now play a new port of Super Mario Sunshine via the GameCube Classics catalogue.

This new port of Super Mario Sunshine features the original game in the resolution and framerate that it ran at back in 2002.

Prior to this, Nintendo fans could only play Super Mario Sunshine on Nintendo Switch 2 using Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a limited release collection made for the 35th anniversary of the franchise that was discontinued shortly after.

With Super Mario Sunshine unavailable to play on modern platforms, at least Switch 2 owners can now access the game once again.

Of course, the caveat here is that the GameCube Classics version runs at a lower resolution, and is also locked behind a subscription service, while the 3D All-Stars release cranks the game up to 1080p and is also freely available to play if you own it, no subscription required. It's also available on the first Nintendo Switch, which also counts for something.

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Super Mario Sunshine was previously available for a limited time

Alongside Super Mario Sunshine, the collection also included Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. It was available from September 2020 before being discontinued in March 2021.

The limited release was criticised at the time for its exclusive time window, where new Switch owners who bought their console after March 2021 would be unable to play the collection.

Then-president of Nintendo of America Doug Bowser said at the time: “I think I use a simple word: celebration. It just — this is a celebration of Mario’s 35th anniversary. And we wanted to celebrate in unique and different ways, and we’ve done that through games like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, or we will be doing that through future releases.”

He added: “Yeah, at this point, the decision was really made around that celebration feature and aspect. I can’t speak to plans beyond the end of March.”

With Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy being re-released on Switch over the past few years, that made Super Mario Sunshine the rarest game on the platform until now.

Super Mario Sunshine is a divisive part of Nintendo history. It seems that whatever corner of the internet you ask about the game, you’re going to get people who either love it or hate it.

Many feel that 3D Mario wasn’t perfected until later games like Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario 3D World, while others say that those imperfections of the earlier 3D games is what made Super Mario Sunshine such a charming entry.

If you’ve missed out on this, we’d recommend checking out Super Mario Sunshine if you’re a subscriber to Nintendo Switch Online. The game has some great ideas, the levels are fun, and the music is beautiful. Just don’t try to 100% unless you want to be in for a miserable time.