The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t just a visual masterpiece, it’s the Director’s Cut I didn’t know I needed

One of my favorite things about upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 so far is being able to go back and experience original Switch games in a whole new way. From smoother framerates and upgraded 4K graphics to entirely new ways to play, there’s never been a better time to revisit the best Nintendo Switch games — and that’s certainly the case with Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

I have fond memories of playing the game when it first came out thanks to the more colorful direction Nintendo took with 2D Mario. The Talking Flowers made me chuckle every time I ran by one, the badges added new abilities to Mario’s arsenal, and best of all, the Wonder Flowers completely transformed a level each time you found one.

In my Super Mario Bros. Wonder review, I praised the game’s fresh take on the 2D Mario formula. However, it felt a bit on the short side, and the original Switch didn't always do the game’s impressive visuals justice. Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and the new "Meetup in Bellabel Park" expansion address those minor gripes.

Whether you played the original and enjoyed it as much as I did or this is your first time stepping into the Flower Kingdom, it’s a must-play for 2D Mario fans. On the Switch 2, it feels more like a Director’s Cut than just another upgrade.

Now with more Wonder

With a total of 152 different levels across seven worlds (and a bonus one), there’s already quite a lot to do in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, especially when you factor in Wonder Flowers and how they change each level or even Mario himself. It took me about 12 hours to see the credits roll, though I did miss a few Wonder Seeds here and there.

Now with the Switch 2 Edition of the game and the new Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion, you get a chance to revisit those seven worlds and explore an entirely new one. While the game and its unique art style certainly stood out on the original Switch, it absolutely shines on the Switch 2.

Right off the bat, the jump from 1080p to 4K makes a massive difference. At that higher resolution, all of the details baked into each level really pop and gameplay just feels faster with a rock-solid 60fps. Likewise, levels load even faster and it takes even less time to jump back into the action.

The badges were one of my favorite parts of Super Mario Bros. Wonder when I first played it as they grant unique abilities and perks or can even instantly increase the game’s difficulty.

Now with the Switch 2 Edition, you can still equip any of the 24 badges from the original but there are also new, dual badges that grant the effect of two badges at once. For instance, one of them pairs my all time favorite badge, the Parachute Cap, with a Floating High Jump one. When equipped, it lets you glide through the air using Mario’s cap or hang in the air after a jump in a similar way to Yoshi’s signature flutter jump.

You aren’t just getting new dual badges though, as there’s also a brand new Flower Pot power-up. As the name suggests, just like with the Cat power-up in Bowser’s Fury, this one lets Mario don a flower costume while gaining some useful new moves. In flower mode, Mario can throw flowers that rise upward to either break items or take out enemies. Using this new power-up is a lot of fun and I’d even argue that it feels a bit better than transforming into Elephant Mario in the original.

Catching Koopalings

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t just add visual and mechanical upgrades to an already excellent 2D Mario game. In fact, there’s a whole new area to explore and a story that sees you transform the abandoned Bellabel Park into a flower-filled getaway for up to four players locally or 12 online.

After learning of the Bellabel Park ruins discovered by Captain Toad, Mario and the gang set out to see the site for themselves. Before you can reach Attraction Central — the hub for the game's competitive modes — you have to pass through Camp Central. At its heart stands a grand arch where seven magical Bellabel Flowers once hung. Unfortunately, Bowser’s elite minions, the Koopalings, arrive and make off with every single one of them.

To get them back, you team up with Captain Toad and the Toad Brigade. What I really liked about this quest is that it scatters the Koopalings across the game’s seven main worlds. Finding and defeating them one by one gave me serious Super Mario Bros. 3 vibes, albeit with a modern, more stylized twist that looks stunning in 4K.

Joining the Brigade

Your time in Bellabel Park isn’t just spent hunting for clues to the next Koopaling's whereabouts. To sharpen your skills and earn some coveted Bellabel Water, Mario officially joins the Toad Brigade right at the start of the expansion.

Much like the search for the Koopalings, the Toad Brigade’s training exercises take you back to various levels throughout the game. While the early tasks are simple, some of the higher-difficulty training courses can be quite challenging, serving as a clever way to push you into mastering badges from the main game that you might have overlooked in 2023.

During my playthrough, I found that tackling a few training courses between each Koopaling boss fight was the perfect way to mix things up. Not only are they a blast to play, but they’re also the key to restoring Bellabel Park to its former glory. As you earn badges for your Toad Brigade backpack and collect Bellabel Water along the way, you can literally see the park blooming back to life around you.

Getting the band back together

The Talking Flowers were one of my favorite additions to Super Mario Bros. Wonder as they provide humorous commentary and make the game a bit more fun. However, these flowers can also encourage you to keep going when things get tough, while their red variants will actively discourage you — which can be pretty funny.

Flowers play a big role in Meetup in Bellabel Park, too. Throughout the Camp Central area and Attraction Central, there are plots of land that need to be watered. Pouring Bellabel Water on these spots causes new flowers to bloom. There are loads of different flowers to collect which you can use to customize both areas to your liking, but sometimes when you water several at once, you’ll unlock social greetings or even musical instruments.

As you collect more instruments, new members are added to the Poplin Band in Bellabel Park. In my experience, I mainly got new flowers or greetings when watering plots of land, but every now and then, I’d get an instrument instead. There’s a bit of a "gacha" mechanic here, but the gameplay loop of completing challenges, watering the ground, and having a chance to get a new musical instrument is pretty addictive.

I’ve played the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for an additional eight or so hours so far, and while I have managed to defeat all the Koopalings, I’m still a few members short of a full Poplin Band. Granted, I mainly played the expansion on my own, but by playing local co-op with friends or heading online, it’ll be a lot easier to earn the Bellabel Water needed to fill out the band and finally see the credits roll.

Flowers, flowers everywhere

The original Super Mario Bros. Wonder was easily one of the best Nintendo Switch games when it first came out. However, as that was well into the original hybrid console’s lifespan, I bet a lot of people skipped out on the game at the time which is a real shame given the breath of fresh air Nintendo added to the classic 2D Mario formula.

Now though with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and the new Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion, Super Mario Bros. Wonder truly feels complete. Like with a Director’s Cut of your favorite film, you get to revisit the Flower Kingdom in crisp 4K with shorter load times to boot. And without giving too much away, the Koopaling boss fights are reason enough to pick up the expansion given how well designed and fun those extra levels are.

Just like how the Bowser’s Fury expansion takes Super Mario 3D World in a completely new direction, so too does Super Mario Bros. Wonder for 2D Mario. Whether you grew up playing the original Mario games or are just looking for your next local multiplayer fix, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has never looked nor played better than it does on the Switch 2.

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