Mario Strikers Comes to Nintendo Switch Online

Super Mario Strikers, known as Mario Smash Football in Europe, is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2's Nintendo Switch Online GameCube library next week. It's the first title added to the collection since the Switch 2 launched earlier this month.

Nintendo Switch Online is the subscription-based service for the Nintendo Switch platform, offering online multiplayer for competing or teaming up with friends, plus a growing catalog of classic Nintendo games spanning four decades. This includes titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and, most recently, the newly added GameCube library. A free seven-day trial is available.

The current GameCube lineup features The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. Upcoming additions expected for the service include Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more.

"Mario and the crew face off in this high-speed soccer showdown, originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005," Nintendo announced. "Experience blistering matches where shells, mushrooms, and other familiar items give you the edge—but the ultimate game-changer is the Super Strike, a special shot that scores two points at once! Easy-to-learn controls let you dive right in, refine your tactics, and take to the field with Mario and friends. Play it exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership."

IGN rated Super Mario Strikers as "Good" back in 2008—almost two decades ago!—noting in our review: "Nintendo's latest sports title, Super Mario Strikers, delivers a soccer experience unlike any other on the field."

And for the full nostalgic throwback, an officially licensed GameCube controller replica is also up for grabs.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a solid start, moving 3.5 million units, though an analysis of its first-week sales suggests a mixed performance for non-Nintendo titles.

As we noted in IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 review, where we scored it 7/10: "The Switch 2 is an essential upgrade if you’ve only had the original Switch for the past eight years, but with mostly catch-up improvements and a higher price tag, this sequel feels about as thrilling as a long-overdue phone upgrade in the bigger picture."