When Super Mario Bros. Wonder launched on the original Nintendo Switch back in October 2023, I called it “quite simply the best 2D Mario platforming game ever made” – and I stand by every word. So when Nintendo announced a Switch 2 Edition complete with the mouthful subtitle + Meetup in Bellabel Park, the question was never whether the base game still held up; it absolutely does.
The question was whether the new content could justify the premium price tag – and on that front, the answer is a little more complicated.
A Familiar Kingdom, Looking Better Than Ever
Let’s get the basics out of the way: Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Switch 2 is still an absolute triumph. The six worlds of the Flower Kingdom remain as inventive and joyful as ever, the Wonder Flowers still deliver those delirious, unpredictable set pieces that made the original such a standout, and the badge system continues to reward experimentation. If you somehow missed it on Switch 1, this is a no-brainer purchase.
The visual upgrade is modest but welcome. HDR support adds real warmth and depth to those already vibrant colours when playing in docked mode, the kaleidoscopic Flower Kingdom genuinely pops in a way that feels fresh even after hours of playtime. Don’t go in expecting a jaw-dropping overhaul; Wonder was already gorgeous, and this is more a polish than a reinvention. But with HDR enabled on a big screen, it’s hard to complain.
What’s New in Bellabel Park
The headline single-player additions centre on a new story thread running through the existing worlds. The Koopalings have scattered throughout the Flower Kingdom, using Bowser’s Wonder powers to transform certain levels into warped, enemy-packed remixes.
Tracking them down via Captain Toad’s Toad Brigade tents leads to some genuinely excellent boss encounters with each Koopaling utilising a Wonder effect in surprisingly creative ways, and they stand as some of the most entertaining boss fights in the entire Mario canon. Giant puppet Morton and an ever-expanding fish-shaped Wendy alone are worth the trip.
Rosalina joins the playable roster, and while the cynic in me notes the timing aligns rather neatly with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, playing through the Flower Kingdom as her is a genuine delight. A new Flower Pot power-up – found in the remixed levels but usable across the base game – and a handful of combo badges that pair existing modifiers together round things out nicely.
The expanded Assist Mode, now covering all characters rather than just Yoshi and Nabbit, is a genuinely important accessibility win that families in particular will appreciate.
Camp Central and Attraction Central: A Mixed Bag
Here’s where things get complicated. Bellabel Park also serves as the gateway to Camp Central, a hub housing 74 training challenges that task you with replaying existing levels under new conditions – beat the clock, avoid all enemies, collect every coin. Some of these push back with genuine difficulty, and it’s a solid way to revisit stages with fresh purpose.
But there is no escaping the fact that you are running through the same levels you’ve already completed, with a few extra conditions bolted on.
Attraction Central is the big new multiplayer mode, and it is where the Switch 2 Edition shows its limitations most clearly. The local and online Attractions boast minigames built around Wonder’s core mechanics. The best way to describe them is perfectly fine. It feels like more of a Mario Party Jamboree-infused add-on, rather than an essential extension of Super Mario Bros Wonder itself.
That’s not to say it’s bad; there is some fun to be had here. The hide-and-seek Phanto Tag is a highlight where one player must try to find all of the other characters who can morph into objects in the background. There is also a level where you have to get to the end of the levels, but the level and platforms change and warp around you. It’s frustrating, it’s maddening and most of all, a lot of fun.
There are also co-op challenges like passing a Bob-Omb to the finish line or splitting movement and jump controls between players, which have a chaotic charm. Overall, the package as a whole feels thin next to a proper Mario Party Jamboree experience, and the online options in particular are over before they’ve started.
It is hard not to feel that a new world or two of original platforming would have hit far harder and made it a must-have.
Final Thoughts
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is still a brilliant game at its core. The Koopaling boss remixes, Rosalina, the Pikmin cameos, the expanded Assist Mode and a warm HDR glow are all genuine additions that will bring a smile to your face. For newcomers especially, this is the definitive version of one of the Switch era’s finest platformers.
For those already well-acquainted with the Flower Kingdom, the multiplayer extras may not be enough to justify a return trip at full price. But for families, new Switch 2 owners, or anyone who simply cannot say no to Rosalina gliding through Elephant-filled levels with a gaggle of Pikmin looking on? Bellabel Park is a pretty wonderful place to be.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Koopaling boss fights are the best in the game; Rosalina is a fantastic addition to the roster; HDR visual upgrade is subtle; Pikmin cameos are an unexpected delight
Lowlights: Attraction Central minigames feel thin and tacked on; Camp Central leans heavily on replaying old levels; single-player additions feel modest given the premium price tag
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
Available: Now
Review conducted on Nintendo Switch 2 with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
