2025 marks the Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary, a milestone that shows just how much Mario has shaped gaming history. And, on Mar10 Day, it’s the perfect time to celebrate his legacy—while also asking why Super Mario games in the cloud still don’t exist.
As a lifelong gamer, Mario has been part of every gaming era for me. My first experience wasn’t even as Mario—it was as Jumpman in Donkey Kong, climbing ladders and dodging barrels. Then came Super Mario Bros. on the NES, where I struggled with World 1-3. Super Mario World on the SNES introduced me to Yoshi. Mario 64 on the N64 was a mind-blowing jump to 3D. Super Mario Sunshine on the GameCube became a summer obsession. New Super Mario Bros. on the DS brought back the classic feel. I poured hours into Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii, raced through Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS, and spent too much time in Super Mario Maker on the Wii U. Now, with Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch, Mario’s still going strong.
But there’s one big problem—these games are stuck on hardware. Nintendo has dabbled in cloud gaming, offering select third-party titles through streaming, but none of Mario’s adventures have made the jump. And, with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, we aren’t sure just yet what Nintendo will do. Cloud gaming could change that, making his best games playable anywhere, anytime.
With that in mind, here are 10 Super Mario games that deserve a spot in the cloud.
Super Mario Galaxy
When Super Mario Galaxy launched on the Wii, it completely changed how I saw Mario games.Instead of running across flat ground, you were jumping between planets and dealing with crazy gravity shifts. Floating through space felt magical. I still remember the first time I launched off a tiny planet, expecting to fall into the abyss—only to land on another one seconds later. That moment blew my mind. It was one of those “holy crap, this is amazing” moments that only Mario games pull off. Even now, Galaxy still stands out with tight platforming, a memorable soundtrack, and creative level design that holds up today.
Super Mario Galaxy deserves to be playable anywhere. Right now, the only legal way to play it is on old Wii hardware. The limited-time 3D All-Stars collection was removed from the eShop and store shelves. That’s just ridiculous. The Switch version already proved the motion controls work fine with a controller. There’s no reason this game shouldn’t be on the cloud.
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World took everything great about 2D and 3D Mario games and mashed them together into one of the most fun multiplayer platformers ever made. It kept the tight level design of classic Mario but added depth, movement, and co-op chaos. I still remember my first co-op session, where we all started out trying to work together—only for things to devolve into chaos within minutes. One friend stole the Super Bell, another tossed someone off a cliff, and by the end, we were fighting for the crown instead of finishing the level. That mix of precision platforming and friendly sabotage made every session feel fresh, whether solo or with friends.
This is the perfect cloud gaming Mario title. It’s an online-friendly game that already works well with modern controllers, and it wouldn’t lose anything if streamed. 3D World was locked to the Wii U for years, and while the Switch version added Bowser’s Fury, the main game is still one of the best multiplayer Mario experiences. Having it available on the cloud would let you hop into a session anywhere, whether you’re playing solo or with friends.
Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario wasn’t your typical Mario RPG. Instead of the usual turn-based battles, it mixed platforming with RPG storytelling, letting you switch between 2D and 3D views to solve puzzles and find hidden paths. The game’s story was surprisingly deep, introducing memorable characters like Count Bleck and a narrative that went far beyond the usual “save Peach” setup.
The first time I flipped the world from 2D to 3D, it completely changed how I looked at levels. A simple wall turned into a hidden path, a dead-end became a new route, and suddenly, every stage felt full of secrets I hadn’t noticed before. That mix of puzzle-solving and platforming made every area feel like a discovery, constantly pushing me to experiment and see what I was missing.
Right now, Super Paper Mario is stuck on the Wii, with no modern way to play it. That’s a shame, because it’s one of the most unique Mario games ever made. Since it doesn’t rely on motion controls, it would work perfectly with cloud streaming, letting more gamers experience its clever mechanics and great story without digging out old hardware.
Super Mario 64 DS
Super Mario 64 DS wasn’t just a remake of the N64 classic—it was an enhanced version with new characters, extra stars, and new challenges. It gave Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario playable roles, added mini-games, and refined the level design to offer even more reasons to revisit Peach’s Castle. While the original Super Mario 64 is legendary, this version had enough new content to feel like an entirely different experience.
Playing this game on a DS screen was fun, but the controls always felt a little off without an analog stick. I remember trying to land tricky jumps with the D-pad, and while it worked, it never felt as smooth as the original N64 version. That’s why a cloud version with full controller support would finally let this underrated remake shine the way it was meant to.
Despite being an improved version of Mario 64, this game has never been re-released outside the DS. The extra characters, new levels, and refined visuals make it a must-have for any modern Mario collection. Right now, the only way to play it is on old hardware or through workarounds. Bringing it to cloud gaming would make it easily accessible, while full controller support would finally fix its biggest issue—movement that felt limited by DS hardware.
Mario Strikers Charged
Mario sports games are usually lighthearted and fun, but Mario Strikers Charged took a different approach. This wasn’t just arcade-style soccer—it was aggressive, chaotic, and over-the-top, with electric fences, powerful shots, and full-contact tackles that made every match feel like a battle. The gameplay was fast, skill-based, and genuinely intense, making it one of the most competitive Mario sports games ever made.
That’s why it’s frustrating that the best version of Mario Strikers isn’t playable on modern hardware. Mario Strikers Battle League on the Switch felt barebones at launch, with fewer characters, fewer modes, and a lack of content compared to Charged. The Wii game had better single-player options and a deeper roster. Its more creative gameplay mechanics make it the clear choice for a cloud gaming revival.
Mario Strikers Charged is still one of the most requested Mario sports games to make a comeback. However, it’s currently stuck on Wii hardware. Since it was fully playable with a standard controller, it would work flawlessly on a cloud platform. Online play was already a big part of the Wii version. Bringing it back with modern online features would give gamers the best version of Mario’s wildest sports game without needing outdated hardware.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
The Mario & Luigi series has had some fantastic RPGs, but Bowser’s Inside Story stands out as one of the best. Instead of just playing as Mario and Luigi, you spent a huge part of the game inside Bowser’s body. There, you solved puzzles and helped him regain his strength. Meanwhile, you also controlled Bowser himself, letting you unleash powerful attacks and bulldoze enemies in a way that made him feel stronger than ever. The mix of real-time button commands and turn-based battles made it stand out. Sharp writing helped make it one of the most creative Mario RPGs ever.
The battle system made every fight feel active. Timed button presses weren’t just for attacking—they also let you dodge, counter, and chain attacks together. Controlling Bowser added a whole different playstyle, making him feel huge and unstoppable compared to Mario and Luigi’s usual quick movements.
Even though a 3DS remake exists, it never came to the Switch and is now hard to find, making the game just as inaccessible as the original DS version. Unless you own an old DS or 3DS, there’s no easy way to play it today. A cloud version would finally fix that, letting more gamers experience this hilarious, action-packed adventure without needing outdated hardware.
Mario Party 9
Mario Party games are all about fun, chaotic mini-games and board game-style competition, but Mario Party 9 took things in a different direction. Instead of moving separately, everyone traveled together in a shared vehicle, changing the pace of the game completely. While this format was divisive at the time, it led to faster matches and more strategy in dice rolls. Unique boss battles also set it apart from other entries.
At first, I wasn’t sure about everyone moving together, but after a few rounds, it clicked. It made turns feel more dynamic. You had to plan around who would land on the next space and whether they’d help or sabotage you. The boss battles stood out the most. They turned what was usually just a race for stars into mini-game showdowns against big enemies. It gave Mario Party 9 a distinct feel that no other game in the series has matched.
While Mario Party Jamboree is the newest entry, Mario Party 9 offers something completely different from both it and the more traditional Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars. Since it’s been locked to the Wii for over a decade, cloud gaming would finally make it easily playable again. With no forced motion controls and a controller-friendly setup, it would be a perfect fit for cloud play.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
The New Super Mario Bros. series brought classic 2D Mario gameplay back in a big way, but New Super Mario Bros. Wii was the first to introduce four-player co-op, turning what was usually a solo experience into a chaotic, laugh-out-loud adventure. Whether you were helping your friends survive or throwing them into pits for fun, the multiplayer aspect made every level unpredictable.
I remember jumping into a co-op session with a few friends, thinking we’d work together to beat the game. That lasted about five minutes before someone accidentally (or maybe not) threw me into a lava pit. From there, it became a mix of actual teamwork and pure sabotage, with moments of genuine clutch saves and rage-inducing betrayals. It was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a Mario game, and it’s still one of the best multiplayer experiences in the series.
Unlike New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which is available on the Switch, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is stuck on the Wii with no modern way to play it. Since it doesn’t rely on motion controls for its core gameplay, it would work perfectly with cloud streaming, allowing for smooth online co-op. This is one of the best multiplayer Mario platformers, and it deserves to be playable without needing old hardware.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
If Super Mario Galaxy felt like a groundbreaking evolution of 3D Mario, then Super Mario Galaxy 2 was a masterclass in level design. It refined everything that made the original great while packing in new mechanics, power-ups, and challenges. Yoshi made his grand return, adding another layer of movement and puzzle-solving. The gravity-based platforming pushed the series even further. Every level felt like a creative experiment, constantly introducing new ideas and mechanics that kept the game fresh from start to finish.
What amazed me most about Galaxy 2 was how there was never a dull moment. Every stage felt like it had a brand-new twist. Whether it was riding Yoshi up vertical walls, dealing with gravity shifts mid-jump, or figuring out how to use Cloud Mario to reach impossible platforms, the game constantly introduced new challenges. Even after finishing the main story, the Green Stars gave me another reason to dive back in. They challenged me to fully master every level.
Unlike the first Super Mario Galaxy, which was included in the limited-time 3D All-Stars collection, Galaxy 2 has been completely ignored by Nintendo. There’s no official way to play it on modern hardware. That’s a huge loss, considering it’s often considered one of the best Mario games ever made. Cloud gaming would finally make it easily accessible, allowing more gamers to experience one of the most creative and polished Mario adventures without needing an old Wii or Wii U.
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine took Mario on a tropical vacation. Instead of relaxing, he had to clean up the entire island with FLUDD, a water-powered jetpack that completely changed how he moved. Instead of just running and jumping, you could hover, blast through the air, and spray away obstacles, adding a whole new layer to platforming. The game had a bright, colourful world with creative level design. It also featured some of the toughest platforming challenges in any Mario game.
Although this isn’t my favorite Mario game, I still appreciate how different it feels from the rest of the series. The way FLUDD changed movement made platforming feel unique, and even when some levels were frustrating, pulling off long jumps, wall kicks, and FLUDD boosts to barely land on a platform always felt satisfying. Even the brutal, FLUDD-less platforming sections, where every jump had to be perfect, kept me coming back for more.
Like Super Mario Galaxy, Sunshine was included in the limited-time 3D All-Stars collection. Since Nintendo removed it from the eShop and store shelves, there’s no official way to play it now. The GameCube original has never been re-released outside of that collection, making it one of the hardest Mario games to access today. Cloud gaming would fix that, letting more gamers experience this unique take on 3D Mario without needing outdated hardware.
It’s Time for Mario to Join the Cloud
With Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary happening this year and Mar10 Day reminding us how much Super Mario has shaped gaming, it’s surprising that none of his games are available on cloud gaming. Whether it’s 3D platformers, RPGs, or multiplayer-focused titles, many of his best games are stuck on older hardware. That makes them difficult—or even impossible—to play today.
Looking at this list, it’s clear how much variety Mario games offer. From the planet-hopping adventure of Super Mario Galaxy 2 to the multiplayer chaos of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, these games all deserve a way to be played without needing a specific console from the past 20 years. Nintendo has made efforts to re-release some of them. However, limited-time collections and platform restrictions mean they still aren’t truly accessible.
Cloud gaming could change that. It would let more gamers jump into these classics anytime, anywhere, without worrying about outdated hardware. Whether Nintendo ever embraces this idea remains to be seen, but for now, these 10 Super Mario games are more than worthy of a second chance in the cloud.
Drop your thoughts below—what Super Mario games do you want to see in the cloud? Do you think Nintendo will ever make the jump and fully support cloud gaming?
As always, remember to follow us on our social media (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube and Facebook) to keep up with the latest news.
