Super Mario Sunshine is back on a Nintendo platform once again. The GameCube classic is now available on Nintendo Switch 2 through the Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics library.
Players need a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership to access the game. Unlike the NES, SNES and Game Boy libraries, Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
That makes this release particularly interesting for players who missed Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Sunshine previously appeared on Nintendo Switch as part of that collection, but Nintendo ended digital sales of Super Mario 3D All-Stars in March 2021.
The new Nintendo Classics release gives Switch 2 owners another official way to return to Isle Delfino without needing the discontinued collection.
Super Mario Sunshine Returns Through Nintendo Switch Online
Originally released for Nintendo GameCube in North America in 2002, Super Mario Sunshine sends Mario to Isle Delfino instead of the Mushroom Kingdom.
The vacation does not last long.
Mario is soon blamed for covering the island in strange graffiti. He then teams up with FLUDD, a water-powered device used for both exploration and platforming. Players can clean polluted areas, attack certain enemies and reach otherwise inaccessible locations.
FLUDD also changes how Sunshine feels compared with other 3D Mario games. Its Hover Nozzle lets Mario stay in the air for a short time. Other nozzles add more movement options as the adventure continues.
The main goal is still to collect Shine Sprites across Isle Delfino. However, FLUDD and its unusual movement system give Sunshine much of its identity.
What Does the Switch 2 Version Include?
Super Mario Sunshine is being offered through the Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics app rather than as a separate eShop release.
Nintendo’s GameCube library includes several system-level improvements for these older titles. Players can take advantage of sharper image quality and higher-resolution output, while the app also includes options such as customizable controls and a CRT-style display filter.
These features are part of the Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics service, rather than a new remaster made specifically for Super Mario Sunshine.
Players should also remember that the GameCube library is not available on the original Nintendo Switch. A Nintendo Switch 2 console and an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription are both required.
Super Mario Sunshine Music Is Available Too
Nintendo has also added music from Mario Sunshine to the Nintendo Music app.
This gives subscribers another way to revisit the game’s tropical soundtrack without launching the game itself. Nintendo Music is available as part of a standard Nintendo Switch Online membership, so the Expansion Pack tier is not required just to access the music service.
The timing makes sense. With Sunshine returning through the GameCube catalog, Nintendo is giving the game a little more attention than a simple library update.
A Second Chance for Players Who Missed 3D All-Stars
Super Mario Sunshine has technically been playable on modern Nintendo hardware before, but accessibility has been awkward for several years.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars brought Sunshine to Nintendo Switch in 2020 alongside Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. However, Nintendo removed the collection from digital sale on March 31, 2021.
Physical copies still exist, but they are no longer the most straightforward way for a new player to access the game.
The Nintendo Switch Online release changes that situation for Switch 2 owners. It does not replace a permanent digital purchase, since access depends on an active subscription, but it makes Sunshine officially available again without requiring players to search for an older physical copy.
For anyone already subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, Super Mario Sunshine is now another substantial addition to the growing GameCube catalog.
