Starting July 3, Nintendo is unleashing the manic, no-holds-barred soccer action of Super Mario Strikers (Mario Smash Football in Europe) on the Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. No referees, no offside calls—just chaotic five-on-five brawls set inside an electrified fence, where the only rule is to outscore your opponent by any means necessary.
Back in 2005, the GameCube version of Super Mario Strikers introduced fans to a brand of arcade-style soccer unlike anything seen before. Players chose captains like Mario, Luigi, Peach or Wario and armed themselves with power-up items—mushrooms for bursts of speed, shells to blast through defenses, even Chain Chomps as living wrecking balls. Executing a perfectly timed Super Strike could flip the scoreboard in an instant, turning underdogs into heroes and sending stadium crowds into a frenzy.
On the Nintendo Switch 2, that same frantic gameplay arrives with modern polish. Whether you’re wielding the dedicated wireless GameCube-style controller or relying on standard Joy-Cons, you’ll find responsive inputs and seamless online multiplayer for up to four competitors. Thanks to the console’s SSD, arena transitions are nearly instantaneous, so you’ll spend less time staring at load screens and more time battling for glory on the pitch.
To dive into Super Mario Strikers on Switch 2, you’ll need the new console itself and an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. For those craving authenticity, the optional premium controller brings back the classic layout—complete with a Capture Button for highlights and C-Button support for in-game chat—though any Joy-Con setup will let you join the fray.
This revival of Super Mario Strikers underscores Nintendo’s push to honor its storied past while adapting fan-favorite titles for today’s audience. By blending vintage gameplay with online connectivity and upgraded controls, Nintendo is creating a bridge between players who grew up on the GameCube and newcomers eager to experience these classics for the first time.
As July 3 approaches, rumors swirl of additional GameCube entries landing in the Nintendo Classics lineup this summer. Whether you’re fine-tuning your Super Strikes or plotting a four-player local tournament, this is the perfect moment to warm up your K-sticks and prepare for some electrifying soccer mayhem.
