Walked out of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with stars in your eyes? You’re not alone. If you’re itching to keep that momentum going, these seven picks hit the sweet spot between easy access on modern hardware and smart ties to what you just saw on the big screen.
Star Fox 64 Takes The Cockpit
Before Mario ever hopped across planetoids, Nintendo was already sending players into space dogfights. Star Fox 64 remains the series high point, and it’s playable on Switch and Switch 2 through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. It’s a little creaky by modern standards, sure, but the Arwing’s tight rolls, branching routes, and squad chatter still have that "retro-future" charm.
If you’ve never touched Star Fox, this is "the best place to start." The subscription route keeps it simple, and the campaign’s score-chasing loop holds up when you’re hunting for a quick, arcade-style hit between longer Mario sessions.
Classic Mario Picks With Movie Ties
Super Mario Bros. 2 (via the NES library on Switch) is the one that’ll have you pointing at the screen. Wart, Birdo, and Mouser—recognizable faces after the movie—debuted here back in 1988. Because it began life as Japan’s Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic before being reworked with Mario characters, you won’t see Bowser. You will, however, get a playful grab-and-throw platformer that still feels delightfully off-kilter within the series.
Craving more of that baby Mario and Luigi gag from the film? Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (available through the SNES Switch Online app) turns that bit into a full adventure, layering inventive level ideas on top of clever platforming and gentle puzzles. The hand-drawn look is ageless, and the soundtrack is a breezy earworm. Plenty of fans still call it "far and away the best Yoshi game," and it’s an easy recommendation if you want heart and whimsy without the movie’s breakneck pace.