Nintendo has confirmed three classic Mario titles are joining Nintendo Switch Online on March 10, timed to the annual MAR10 Day celebration that turns the date into a tribute to gaming's most iconic plumber.
Three Games, Two Platforms
The March 10 additions span two legacy systems and cover a surprisingly wide range of Mario sub-genres. Here is what is arriving:
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Game Boy Advance) via the Switch Online Expansion Pack
- Mario Clash (Virtual Boy) via the Switch Online Expansion Pack
- Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy) via the Switch Online Expansion Pack
All three titles require the Expansion Pack tier of Switch Online, which adds access to Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy, Nintendo 64, and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis libraries on top of the base subscription.
What Each Game Brings to the Table
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
Originally released for the Game Boy Advance, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a puzzle platformer built around self-contained stages. The premise: Donkey Kong has broken into Mario's toy factory to steal the newly released wind-up Mini Mario toys, and players must navigate Mario through each level to recover them. The game is a spiritual successor to the 1994 Donkey Kong title on Game Boy.
It is worth noting that Nintendo released a full Switch remake of this title in 2024, so this GBA original gives players a direct look at the source material that remake was built on.
Mario Clash (Virtual Boy)
Mario Clash takes the basic structure of the original Mario Bros. arcade game and pushes it into three-dimensional space using the Virtual Boy's stereoscopic display. Players guide Mario up a 99-floor structure called the Clash House Tower, stomping Koopa Troopas, picking up their shells, and hurling them at enemies across both foreground and background planes. It is one of the more inventive uses of the Virtual Boy's depth effect.
Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy)
Mario's Tennis holds a notable place in Nintendo history as the first tennis game to feature Mario and friends as playable characters. The game launched bundled with the Virtual Boy in North America, though Japanese buyers did not receive it in the box.
The roster includes seven characters: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Toad, Princess Toadstool, Koopa Troopa, and Donkey Kong Jr., each with distinct speed, power, and accuracy ratings. It is the direct ancestor of the Mario Tennis series that continues today.
Subscription and Hardware Requirements
Here is the key thing to understand before diving in: accessing these titles is not as simple as owning a base Switch Online membership.
The two Virtual Boy games require both the Expansion Pack subscription and a physical Virtual Boy accessory, available through the My Nintendo Store. Nintendo offers two options: a replica of the original console hardware at $100/£67, or a more affordable cardboard viewer at $25/£17.
important
The Virtual Boy games on Switch Online cannot be played without purchasing the physical accessory separately from the My Nintendo Store. Factor this into the cost before subscribing to the Expansion Pack solely for these titles.
MAR10 Day Tradition
MAR10 Day has become a reliable moment for Nintendo to spotlight its flagship mascot. The date, March 10, reads as "MAR10" when written numerically, and Nintendo has used it in recent years to announce deals, new content drops, and library additions tied to the Mario franchise. Adding three titles simultaneously, including two from the rarely revisited Virtual Boy catalog, makes this year's celebration one of the more substantial MAR10 drops in recent memory.
The Virtual Boy produced only a small library of games during its short commercial run in 1995, and Nintendo has been slowly bringing those titles to Switch Online subscribers. Mario Clash and Mario's Tennis joining the service gives players one of the most accessible ways to experience that hardware's unique visual style without tracking down original hardware.
Source: Videogameschronicle
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When are these Mario games available on Switch Online?
All three titles, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Mario Clash, and Mario's Tennis, arrive on Nintendo Switch Online on March 10, coinciding with MAR10 Day.
Do I need the Expansion Pack to play these games?
Yes. All three titles require the Switch Online Expansion Pack, which costs $49.99 per year. The base Switch Online subscription does not include access to Game Boy Advance or Virtual Boy games.
Do the Virtual Boy games require extra hardware?
Yes. Playing Mario Clash and Mario's Tennis on Switch Online requires a physical Virtual Boy accessory purchased from the My Nintendo Store. The replica console accessory costs $100/£67, while a cardboard viewer alternative is available for $25/£17.
Is Mario vs. Donkey Kong different from the 2024 Switch remake?
Yes. The version joining Switch Online is the original Game Boy Advance release. Nintendo published a separate remake for Switch in 2024, but this addition gives players access to the original GBA version that the remake was based on.
