New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe Review – The best Mario game you never played is back, and it’s better than ever
As close to a definitive Mario experience as you'll ever find, and one the whole family can enjoy at once
PEGI 3+
★★★★★
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
NEW Super Mario Bros U was great when it first came out in 2012 -- but because it was on Wii U, you didn't play it, and neither did (almost) anyone else.
It even got some great DLC, Super Luigi U, that even fewer people played. Thankfully, Nintendo has now bundled the two together and released them as one great standalone package for Nintendo Switch, and it's stellar.
You can play it on your own or with up to three other people, with a choice of Mario, Luigi, Toad and Toadette to play as.
The slight differences in feel are minor, but noticeable enough that you'll find a favourite pretty quickly.
- New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, £44.99 at Game -
The levels are classic two-dimensional left-to-right affairs, populated with pipes, piranha plants and Koopa Troopers, and work in exactly the same way as Mario of old.
Even if you haven't played a Mario game since the Super Nintendo, you'll feel right at home here.
The levels are as gorgeous as the controls are right, and the level design more than holds up.
They're challenging enough the first time through, but beg to be replayed as you find that perfect line.
MOST READ IN GAMING
That happens to be where Super Luigi U comes in. As a stand-alone game it didn't really work, but as both DLC and an alternate game here it suddenly makes sense.
The old-school nature of the game itself saves it from feeling dated -- if you want a Bowser-bashing experience that everyone in your family can enjoy, then this is definitely a game you do not want to miss.
★★★★★
- New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, £44.99 at Game -