New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Review — Is It Worth It in 2026?

TL;DR: New Super Mario Bros. 2. U Deluxe is a slick 2D platformer for the Nintendo Switch, combining New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U into one. It has tight controls, strong multiplayer and a large library of content. At its current price point, it’s good value for families, Nintendo fans and players new to the series – with some limitations for those who have already played the Wii U originals.

Game Details

Few platformers have stood the test of time as well as Nintendo’s 2D Mario series. In January 2019, the Nintendo Switch got New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, a re-release of the 2012 Wii U game, now with updated character options and with both the base game and its Luigi-centric expansion on one cartridge. It didn’t change the formula. It didn’t need to. This New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Nintendo Switch review covers the full picture, what the game is, how it plays, what it looks and sounds like and who it actually makes sense for. If you’ve seen the discussion on places like Reddit about whether this is worth buying in 2025, this break down tackles those questions head on with specific detail rather than general impressions. The short answer is that this is a good package with a well defined audience. The longer answer depends on your situation – and that’s what the rest of this review goes into.

What Is New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe?

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a Nintendo Switch bundle that includes two full games: New Super Mario Bros. U, which was originally released for the Wii U in 2012, and New Super Luigi U, which was originally released as a Wii U DLC expansion in 2013 before being released as a standalone disk. The Deluxe edition also lets players play as Nabbit and Toadette, who has a Super Crown power-up that lets her turn into Peachette — a Peach with a double jump and float that makes some sections easier.

The base game is your typical Mario rescue plot: Bowser has invaded Peach’s castle and Mario must fight thru nine worlds to retrieve it. New Super Luigi U swaps out Mario for Luigi in a remix of shorter, faster stages. Both modes are included and can be accessed from the main menu.

menu.

Gameplay Overview

he core gameplay is what you would expect from a 2D Mario title. Run, Jump, Stomp, Collect. What makes New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, like the other entries in the New Super Mario Bros. series, features a high density of level design. The steps are various, but not arbitrary. The difficulty curve climbs at a reasonable pace for casual players but becomes genuinely challenging in later worlds and secret stages.

The controls work well in all Nintendo Switch setups – handheld, docked and tabletop. The Joy-Con setup is fine, and if you want something that feels a bit more familiar, the game does support Pro Controller input.

Power-ups are the standard kit, plus the returning Super Acorn (which gives you a gliding ability), Ice Flower, Mini Mushroom and Propeller Mushroom. Each is functional, not a gimmick, and the stage design frequently tells you which power up you have.

New Super Luigi U changes the structure significantly. Stages are shorter but far more difficult, with a 100 second time limit instead of the normal clock. Luigi’s increased jump and slipperier movement are hard to get used to, and the challenge level is a lot higher across the board. New Super Luigi U will be a little more difficult for those who thot the base game was a little too easy.

Multiplayer supports up to four local players. The co-op is gloriously messy — character collision physics resulting in both accidental saves and preventable deaths. It stands up as one of the better local multiplayer options in the Switch library for mixed skill groups.

Graphics & Visual Style

In docked mode, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe runs at 1080p and in handheld mode, it runs at 720p, both at a steady 60 frames per second. The visual style is the same bright, rounded look the New Super Mario Bros. series has sported since 2006. It’s colorful, readable and designed to communicate information quickly.

It does nothing to push the Switch hardware. The game was developed for the Wii U, and it shows. The character models are smooth rather than detailed, and while the backgrounds change from world to world, they lack the visual complexity of newer Switch titles.

That said, the readability is consistent in both docked and handheld modes. It is more important to be able to follow your character on a busy screen than to have pretty graphics, especially in multiplayer. Art direction is a dependable servant of the game’s functional needs.

Sound & Music

The soundtrack adheres to the established New Super Mario Bros. template: upbeat, melodically familiar arrangements with world-specific instrumentation. Themes for ice worlds are slow and reserved, ghost houses have suitably unsettling variations, and the athletic theme is the one in your head probably since childhood.

Sound design is clear and consistent. The sound of Mario’s jumps and stomps are still satisfying, and audio cues reliably communicate what’s happening on screen—a useful feature in multiplayer when the camera can’t always follow every character closely.

The music isn’t revolutionary. Those that have played the series over multiple titles will immediately recognize the compositional DNA. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on what you expect.

Game Modes & Content

The entire content library is really huge. Throw in Challenge Mode and the unlockable Star World and Superstar Road stages and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe has more content than most 2D platformers for the same price.

One notable absence: The Boost Mode on the Wii U GamePad that allowed a user to place platforms on screen for other players is not fully supported on the Switch version due to hardware differences. This takes away a cooperative dynamic that was unique to the original release.

Pros & Cons

How Does New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Compare to Similar Nintendo Switch Platformers?

Super Mario Bros. is the best candidate to fill the gap this game has in a Switch library. Wonder, 2023. Wonder is a completely new entry with new mechanics, new level design, and a scope that justifies its price without the repackaging question. Players who haven’t played either and are choosing between the two should start with Wonder.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe remains a viable local multiplayer option for mixed-skill groups and the dual-campaign structure gives it more total playtime than most single-entry alternatives.

Who Should Buy New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe?

Understanding whether this game fits your situation comes down to three clear distinctions.

Buy it if:

• You have kids or play with mixed skill level groups. The Toadette/Nabbit accessibility options and adjustable difficulty make this one of the better family co-op options on Switch.
• You never played the original on Wii U. It’s a full-blown, polished 2D Mario experience, and there’s plenty of content for players only owning a Switch.
• You want a huge library of content for one price. There are a lot of stages in both the campaigns and the challenge modes.
• You’re making a Switch library, and you don’t have a modern 2D platformer yet.

Skip it if:

• You already have the WiiU version. The additional stuff (Toadette, Nabbit) isn’t big enough to buy again.
• You’re craving a next-generation visual experience. You can see the Wii U roots of the game everyplace.
• You like online multiplayer. The game only supports local co-op.
• You’re competing with this and Super Mario Bros. Marvel. Wonder is more original for the same price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Switch?

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe includes the complete game – New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U. It also introduces Toadette and Nabbit as playable characters. Toadette can transform into Peachette with the Super Crown power-up, which gives her a double jump and floating ability that makes the game more accessible for new players.

Is New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe worth buying in 2025?

If you didn’t get to play the Wii U original, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is still worth your time — especially if you’re playing with families or groups in local multiplayer. If you already have the Wii U version, there’s not a lot of new content here to make the purchase worthwhile. Players deciding between this or Super Mario Bros. Wonder Those who haven’t played should generally start with Wonder.

What is the difference between New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U?

New Super Mario Bros. U is the main Mario campaign set across nine worlds. New Super Luigi U swaps out Mario for Luigi, and features remixed, shorter courses with a 100 second time limit. Mario and Luigi play differently – he jumps higher but has less grip. New Super Luigi U is substantially more difficult than the original game.

Does New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe have online multiplayer?

No. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe supports local multiplayer for up to four players but does not include online multiplayer functionality.

How long does it take to complete New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe?

The main story of New Super Mario Bros. U takes about 8 to 10 hours to complete. The game is 20-30 hours long to complete at 100% with secret exits, Star World stages and Superstar Road. New Super Luigi U adds another 8-15 hours depending on how difficult you find it.

What are the new features added in the Deluxe version compared to the Wii U original?

The Deluxe version features Toadette and Nabbit as playable characters. Toadette’s Peachette form also has accessibility features that were not present in the original. The Deluxe version also contains New Super Luigi U, which was sold separately on Wii U. There were no new levels added. The Switch version doesn’t fully support Boost Mode, which used the Wii U GamePad.

Is New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe good for young children?

Yes. Toadette and Nabbit are designed specifically to be more accessible: Nabbit is protected from enemy damage and Toadette’s Peachette form gives extra jump help. These options make the game playable for young children who would find the base difficulty too difficult.

Final Verdict

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a well-made package that does exactly what it says on the tin: Two full 2D Mario campaigns, good multiplayer, and smooth performance on Nintendo Switch.

Its limitations are genuine. This is a game that’s a reminder of its origins on the Wii U back in 2012, it has no online multiplayer, and it offers little incentive for those who bought the original to upgrade to Deluxe. The re-packaging raises fair questions of value that the community has been asking since launch. And those questions are legit.

But for the right crowd this game is still good. For families, local co-op groups and Switch players building a library that have never played the Wii U original, it’s a reliable, polished platformer with more total content than most alternatives for the same price.

Final Score

Recommended for: Families, local co-op groups, Nintendo Switch owners without a current 2D Mario title.
Not recommended for: Wii U owners, players seeking online multiplayer, or those deciding between this and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.