One Month Left for Mario

If you haven’t already, then now is the time to jump on your Switch, head to the Nintendo eShop and get yourself the Mario 35th Anniversary celebratory games.

In an unusual move, Nintendo chose to make their collection of games to mark the Mario anniversary a limited time product—both online and in physical stores. Such gems as Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Super Mario Bros. 35 have only a few weeks left before they are gone—potentially forever. March 31st 2021, represents the final day they will be available.

And why would you want to lose out on games as brilliant as these?

The limited-time offer is for purchase only—you don’t need to worry that you won’t be able to play them from April onward as once bought, they are yours forever.

It’s a controversial move, to be sure and means that people unable to find the funds this month to get their hands on these treats will be stopped from ever doing so, but Nintendo is sticking to their guns about it.

As Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo America, said when asked about it:

“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.”

For ultimate collector heads (and those who just really want to play Super Mario 64 on the Switch), there’s a real sense of FOMO surrounding this decision, but sadly it is what it is.

The full list of games affected are:

• Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a bundle containing:
  • Super Mario 64
  • Super Mario Sunshine
  • Super Mario Galaxy
• Super Mario Bros. 35
• Game and Watch Super Mario Bros.
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light

Note that Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is unaffected by the deadline and will remain available.