Nintendo Releases Rare Mario & Wario for the First Time Outside Japan After 32 Years

Nintendo has quietly made gaming history by releasing Mario & Wario, a previously Japan-exclusive Super Famicom title, to global audiences through Nintendo Switch Online. The 1993 puzzle game, which remained locked to the Japanese market for over three decades, is now available to players worldwide as part of the SNES Virtual Console lineup.

A Hidden Gem from Pokémon’s Creators

Mario & Wario stands out as one of the most obscure entries in the Mario franchise, developed by Game Freak before the studio achieved worldwide fame with Pokémon. The development team included industry legends Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori, and Junichi Masuda, who would later create the Pokémon empire.

The game presents a unique twist on traditional Mario gameplay. Players control Wanda, a fairy tasked with guiding Mario through 100 challenging levels after his rival Wario drops various objects—buckets, barrels, and eggshells—on his head, obscuring his vision. Unable to see where he’s going, Mario needs Wanda’s magical assistance to reach Luigi, the only character capable of removing the obstructing items.

Mario & Wario gameplay showing the bucket-headed plumber

Perfect Timing for Switch 2’s Mouse Functionality

The release timing proves particularly clever, coinciding with the Nintendo Switch 2’s innovative Joy-Con mouse functionality. The original game required the Super Famicom Mouse peripheral, which prevented its inclusion in previous Virtual Console releases on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS. Switch 2 owners can flip their Joy-Con controllers over to use them as a mouse, while original Switch users can connect a USB mouse to play.

This marks the third notable use case for the Switch 2’s mouse feature, following Drag x Drive and a minigame in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The functionality effectively removes the technical barrier that kept Mario & Wario confined to Japan for more than three decades.

Additional SNES Titles Join the Lineup

Mario & Wario isn’t arriving alone. Nintendo added two other SNES classics to the service:

Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind makes its Nintendo Switch Online debut, bringing the infamous bobcat’s first adventure to subscribers. The 1993 platformer features 16 sprawling stages where players help Bubsy recover stolen yarn from alien invaders called the Woolies. Despite mixed critical reception, the game has developed a cult following thanks to Bubsy’s memorable one-liners and creative death animations.

Fatal Fury Special enhances the Fatal Fury 2 experience by doubling the roster from eight to sixteen characters, including a guest appearance from Art of Fighting’s Ryo Sakazaki. The game introduces a new combo system reminiscent of Super Street Fighter II, making it a compelling addition for fighting game enthusiasts.

Expanding the Classic Library

These additions bring the total number of SNES games available through Nintendo Switch Online in Western regions to 77 titles. The service continues to fill gaps in Nintendo’s classic catalog, with Mario & Wario representing a particularly significant addition given its unavailability outside Japan since its August 1993 release.

All three games are immediately available to Nintendo Switch Online members at no additional cost beyond the subscription fee. The releases demonstrate Nintendo’s commitment to preserving gaming history while leveraging new hardware capabilities to overcome previous technical limitations.

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Photo by joatseu on Pixabay