Super Mario Advance 4: Unlocked e-Reader Levels Now Playable on Wii U Virtual Console

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros.

3—originally launched for the Game Boy Advance—holds a special place in the Mario franchise, not just for its acclaimed gameplay but also for its innovative use of the e-Reader accessory.

The e-Reader, released in the early 2000s, allowed players to access exclusive levels by scanning special cards.

However, due to limited hardware distribution, many of these levels remained a mystery for fans outside Japan, making them some of the rarest Mario content ever produced. That changed with the arrival of Super Mario Advance 4 on the Wii U Virtual Console.

Released globally in 2016, this digital version marked the first time Nintendo made all 38 e-Reader levels—including 33 previously rare stages—available to a broader audience.

Players on the Wii U have the opportunity to explore these newly unlocked courses, which had only been accessible through imported hardware and cards or not at all outside of Japan. Discussing the significance of this release, Nintendo representatives highlighted that the Virtual Console edition aimed to preserve Mario’s rich legacy and make hard-to-find content accessible for today's players.

In their words, the re-release "gives all fans the opportunity to experience gameplay that was once limited by hardware availability." The e-Reader stages offer a distinct twist on the classic Super Mario Bros.

3 formula, featuring unique challenges, items, and even elements borrowed from other Mario adventures like Super Mario Bros.

and Super Mario World.

For dedicated players and completionists, the inclusion of these levels means that Super Mario Advance 4 on the Wii U Virtual Console is the most comprehensive official version of the game to date. Super Mario Advance 4’s digital debut complements Nintendo’s broader push to preserve and celebrate gaming history through its eShop and Virtual Console platforms on hardware such as the Wii U and Nintendo Switch.

As a result, a new generation of Nintendo fans now have access to content that once required niche peripherals and was often out of reach for those in the West. For anyone eager to revisit Super Mario Bros.

3 with a fresh twist or keen to experience every secret stage ever created, the Wii U Virtual Console edition of Super Mario Advance 4 is an essential addition to the library.

Now, both longtime Mario enthusiasts and new players can conquer all 33 'new' levels of delight—no import hardware required.

Nintendo Super Mario Advance 4 Wii U Virtual Console e-Reader Game Boy Advance