Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review – Meetup in Bellabel Park Elevates a Modern Classic

Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park Review Nintendo has a celebrated history of refreshing its most acclaimed titles for new hardware, and the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 continues this tradition with the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Originally launched in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Bros. Wonder quickly earned universal praise, notable for revitalizing the 2D Mario platforming genre with joyfully creative mechanics. Now, Nintendo elevates the experience for Switch 2 players, packaging the critically acclaimed game with upgraded features and significant new content, including the expansive “Meetup in Bellabel Park” expansion. A Seamless Upgrade Built for Modern Hardware Upon launching Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park, users are prompted to select either the original Switch or Switch 2 Edition. Unlike the recent Super Mario Party Jamboree, which split its new content, here the transition is smooth and user-friendly. Existing save data is fully compatible, removing all concerns about lost progress. The Switch 2 Edition showcases technical enhancements such as crisp 4K resolution in TV mode, dramatically reduced load times, an expanded Assist Mode, and GameShare capabilities, cementing this version as the definitive way to experience the Flower Kingdom. Retaining both versions also enables cross-platform online play, which helps preserve the original Talking Flower’s voice, now recast in the Switch 2 update. A Princess-Powered Roster & New Gameplay Mechanics Timed to coincide with the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo has expanded the character roster by adding Rosalina—playable across all new and existing levels, alongside Peach and Daisy. This is the first instance all three iconic princesses are playable in a mainline Mario title. Voice actor Laura Faye Smith returns, lending Rosalina new, galaxy-themed lines. Rosalina is trailed by a signature yellow Luma during gameplay, but for the first time, an orange Co-Star Luma joins as a separate, fully controllable character—a notable homage to the Super Mario Galaxy co-op mechanic. Co-Star Luma is available exclusively in multiplayer sessions and, like Yoshi and Nabbit, is impervious to damage and remains unaffected by power-ups. Meetup in Bellabel Park: A Sizable Expansion For seasoned players who have thoroughly explored the Flower Kingdom, the “Meetup in Bellabel Park” expansion injects a wealth of new content. Bellabel Park is accessed via Pip-Rock Plateau and introduces a host of fresh attractions, many designed with multiplayer in mind but equally enjoyable solo. Notably, this update marks the return of the Koopalings—Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig—absent from the base game. Players are introduced to the Super Flower Pot power-up, enabling adorable flutter jumps and vertically launched flower attacks. The Koopalings’ Wonder transformations provide some of the most innovative and engaging boss battles in 2D Mario history. In a series of Showdown stages, Captain Toad and the Poplin Brigade assist players in tracking down the Koopalings across the map. Each boss encounter is preceded by remixed platforming challenges and crowned by inventive, pattern-based boss fights. Nintendo’s attention to feedback is evident here, directly addressing previous criticisms regarding boss variety. Replay Value and Multiplayer Reinvented Back in Bellabel Park, the Toad Brigade Training Camp offers dozens of inventive challenge courses, echoing the beloved Challenge Mode from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Types of challenges range from timed coin collection to enemy defeat and invincibility runs, with a notable difficulty curve that will test even veteran players. Success rewards Bellabel Water, a versatile resource used to unlock and purchase decorative and functional floral items throughout the park. Meanwhile, Attraction Central offers a multiplayer paradise with two dedicated sections: Local Multiplayer Plaza (supporting up to four players with cooperative and competitive attractions) and Game Room Plaza (hosting online-only minigames for up to twelve players). The variety of attractions—ranging from classic coin sprees and hide-and-seek Phanto Tag to collaborative platforming—ensures broad appeal and replayability. Players can even opt for the Attraction Tour mode for randomized, rapid-fire rounds in both co-op and versus formats. The Verdict: A Definitive Upgrade for Super Mario Bros. Wonder Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park stands as a benchmark for what a generational re-release can bring to an already beloved game. Nintendo expertly balances nostalgia and innovation, enhancing old strengths with new content, technical refinements, and multiplayer improvements. Whether you’re revisiting this wonderland as Rosalina, tackling the park’s robust boss gauntlet, or diving into hours of co-op and competitive fun, this Switch 2 Edition is an essential, value-packed upgrade underlining Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to quality and replayability. Review copy courtesy of Nintendo UK.