Top 7 Video Games to Experience After Watching the Super Mario Galaxy Film

You’ve just exited the cinema after watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Your mind is racing from the visual excitement, and you’ve been hit with a wave of nostalgic callbacks. You’re eager to fire up your Switch (2) and journey into the Mushroom Kingdom for a while. Perhaps you’re in search of a few recommendations to satisfy your Mario cravings, or you might want to explore games featuring the various crossover characters showcased in the film? Here are several titles you can easily enjoy on contemporary hardware.
Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64 is often regarded as the pinnacle of Fox McCloud’s interstellar escapades, perhaps due to the fact that this poor character hasn’t seen a new title in over ten years. Fortunately, it’s accessible on Switch and Switch 2 via a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. Although Star Fox 64 might seem a bit antiquated by today’s standards, the space combat simulator still shimmers with a retro-futuristic flair and has plenty of character. It’s definitely the ideal starting point for newcomers to the Star Fox series.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2 can be played through the NES Nintendo Classics available on the Switch, and if you’ve watched The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, you’ll spot a few foes that Mario encounters in this platformer. Wart, Birdo, and Mouser were all introduced in this title back in 1988. Initially named Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic in Japan, the game was later adapted with Mario characters to create the version we recognize today as Super Mario Bros. 2. This origin story is partly why some legendary characters from the series, like Bowser, are absent from the game, although it did introduce several characters that would later become iconic fixtures.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
In the film, you saw Mario and Luigi momentarily transform into babies, with their pacifier-sucking hides protected by Yoshi. In Yoshi’s Island, you get to spend an entire adventure encapsulated in this concept. Offered through Switch Online, this SNES platforming adventure is filled with imaginative levels brimming with puzzles and secrets to uncover. It stands out as the best Yoshi game and ranks among the finest Mario experiences ever created. All the whimsical exploration that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie didn’t delve deeply into is presented in stunning 16-bit detail, accompanied by an excellent soundtrack. – Ethan Gach
Super Mario Galaxy 1+2
Chances are, many players will want to dive straight into the games upon which the movie is ostensibly based, and luckily, Nintendo has successfully ported both Super Mario Galaxy titles to the Switch. And indeed, they stand the test of time. You can purchase both games on the Switch for a $70 bundle, which is admittedly on the pricey side, but still cheaper than buying them separately for $40 each. The Wii platformers remain some of Mario’s most enchanting adventures to date, and you’ll experience a profound sense of wonder.