“Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2” Review by Nick Navarro
When Nintendo first unveiled “Super Mario Galaxy” back in 2007, it felt like the kind of game that could only happen once in a generation. A dazzling leap forward, it took the already well-established formula of 3D Mario and sent it spiraling into the stars, where gravity itself became part of the playground. Three years later, “Super Mario Galaxy 2” somehow managed to raise the bar even higher, refining and expanding on the original’s foundation while delivering some of the most inventive levels in the series’ history. Now, both games have landed together on the Nintendo Switch, and playing them again in 2025 reminded me why these titles aren’t just highlights of Mario’s career—they’re some of the best video games ever created.
The package is simple but effective. You can buy the two games bundled together for $70 or individually for $40 apiece, though I’d strongly suggest going with the collection. Not only does it save you a bit of money, but honestly, separating these two masterpieces feels almost wrong. They belong together, complementing each other in a way that makes this dual release feel like one of the finest offerings currently available on the platform. Going back to the original “Super Mario Galaxy” feels like revisiting a place I never wanted to leave. The central hub, the Comet Observatory, still radiates warmth and mystery, guiding you toward domes that unlock an expanding set of galaxies. Each galaxy offers a miniature burst of imagination, sometimes asking you to sprint across rotating planets, other times pulling you through tight 2D sections that feel like tributes to Mario’s earliest days. The gravitational pull mechanic still feels brilliant, letting Mario run upside down, sideways, and across bizarre planetary surfaces in a way that constantly refreshes the gameplay loop. Collecting Power Stars hasn’t lost any of its thrill, and there’s a comforting sense of rhythm in how the game opens up new challenges as you progress deeper into the cosmos.
Then there’s “Super Mario Galaxy 2,” which takes everything great about the first game and fine-tunes it into something even sharper. Instead of a sprawling hub, it opts for a more traditional world map, pushing you from one incredible idea to the next at a brisk pace. This game doesn’t just revisit old tricks; it constantly introduces new mechanics, from riding Yoshi through dizzying obstacle courses to manipulating gravity in fresh, mind-bending ways. If the first “Galaxy” felt like a grand experiment, “Galaxy 2” felt like Nintendo taking those results and crafting a perfectly polished jewel from them. On the technical side, this Switch release benefits from the console’s modern hardware. The original Switch version runs beautifully at 1080p, but if you’re fortunate enough to own a Switch 2, you’ll see these games in native 4K resolution. The effect is striking; colors pop, textures feel sharper, and the already stunning art direction gains a new vibrancy that makes it look like these games were designed yesterday. Considering how well Nintendo’s visual design has aged, the resolution bump feels less like a minor improvement and more like a complete rejuvenation.
Controls are the only area where there’s a noticeable adjustment. The original Wii versions leaned heavily on the pointer controls, and here they’ve been replaced with Joy-Con gyro aiming. It works fine, and after a short adjustment period it becomes second nature, but I’d be lying if I said it felt quite as intuitive as the Wii Remote did back in the day. Still, this is a minor quibble in the face of gameplay that’s otherwise as precise and joyous as ever. What continues to amaze me, even after all these years, is just how boundless the creativity feels in both games. Levels aren’t simply designed to be completed; they’re crafted to surprise you, to make you laugh, and to challenge you in ways you didn’t expect. One galaxy might have you hopping across collapsing platforms as lava rises beneath your feet, while the next asks you to carefully navigate a tiny sphere covered in ice. Every stage is a new idea brought to life, and very few games manage to deliver that sense of surprise with such consistency.
I also have to mention the music, which still stands as one of the greatest soundtracks in Nintendo’s history. The sweeping orchestral score matches the grand sense of scale perfectly, giving even the smallest planetoid a sense of majesty. Hearing those strings swell as Mario soars through space brought me right back to the first time I experienced it, and it’s every bit as powerful today. For me, the “Galaxy” games are Nintendo at the absolute peak of their creative powers. As much as I adore “Super Mario Odyssey,” both of these titles feel more daring and inventive, unafraid to bend the rules of 3D platforming in ways that still haven’t been matched. Playing them again, I felt that same awe I did back in 2007 and 2010, a reminder of how special it is when a developer takes a simple set of mechanics and turns them into something truly magical.
What makes this Switch release so exciting is how it gives new players a chance to discover these masterpieces without having to track down old hardware, while also giving longtime fans the definitive way to experience them. They’re presented with such care that they hardly feel like games from a decade and a half ago. Instead, they feel timeless, as though Nintendo somehow bottled the very essence of joy and creativity and handed it to us all over again. Whether this is your first time setting foot among the stars with Mario or you’re returning after years away, “Super Mario Galaxy” and “Super Mario Galaxy 2” are experiences you can’t afford to miss and belong in every Switch owner’s collection. Together, they represent not just the pinnacle of the Mario series but also some of the finest achievements in video game history.
Both games deserve a full 10/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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