When Nintendo launched the Wii U back in 2012, it arrived alongside New Super Mario Bros. U—a game that was brilliant but ultimately trapped on a commercially struggling console. Fast forward to the Nintendo Switch era, and Nintendo did what it does best: rescued a masterpiece, polished it to a mirror shine, and dropped it as New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.
If you are looking for a game that perfectly bridges the gap between old-school nostalgia and modern chaotic multiplayer, this is the definitive package. Here is why Deluxe deserves a permanent spot on your Switch dashboard.
1. The Value Proposition: Two Games in One
The “Deluxe” moniker isn’t just marketing fluff. Nintendo bundled two massive, standalone titles into a single package, offering serious bang for your buck:
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New Super Mario Bros. U: The core adventure featuring 82 masterfully crafted levels, traditional world maps, and classic power-ups like the Acorn Suit (which lets you glide like a flying squirrel).
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New Super Luigi U: A massive expansion featuring another 82 levels designed for veteran players. Luigi takes center stage with higher jumps and more slippery physics, and every level gives you a strict, frantic 100-second timer to reach the goal.
That is a total of 164 levels spanning traditional platforming challenges, hidden exits, and star-coin hunting.
2. Breaking Down the Characters: Accessibility Meets Chaos
One of the best updates in the Switch version is the expanded character roster. Mario games have historically been tough for younger kids or casual gamers, but Deluxe introduces clever built-in difficulty balancing via the character selection screen:
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Mario, Luigi, and Toad: The baseline experience. Standard physics, classic item interactions, and zero safety nets.
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Nabbit: The ultimate “easy mode” character. Nabbit is entirely immune to enemy damage and items. The only way to lose a life is by falling into a pit or lava, making him perfect for toddlers or non-gamers.
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Toadette (and Peachette): By picking Toadette and grabbing the exclusive Super Crown power-up, she transforms into Peachette. This character can double-jump, hover gracefully through the air, and gets a massive vertical boost if she falls into a pit.
3. The Unintentional Comedy of 4-Player Local Co-Op
While the game is a wonderfully tight single-player experience, playing it with three friends on a couch turns it into a beautiful, hilarious disaster.
Unlike Super Mario Bros. Wonder—where online players pass through each other like ghosts—Deluxe features full physical collision.
The Couch Co-Op Reality: You will accidentally bounce off your friend’s head and send them into a pit. You will steal the Fire Flower they desperately needed. You will pick them up and throw them at a Bowser clone just to save yourself.
It turns a standard platformer into a dynamic party game where communication (and shouting) is part of the core loop.
4. Technical Performance on the Switch
From a technical perspective, the game is flawlessly optimized for Nintendo’s hardware.
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Resolution: A crisp, native 1080p when docked to your TV, and a sharp 720p in handheld mode.
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Framerate: A locked, butter-smooth 60 frames per second in both modes, ensuring your precise mid-air twirls and jumps never drop a frame.
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Controls: The game supports individual Joy-Cons, meaning a single pair of Joy-Cons allows two players to jump right into the action without buying extra controllers.
The TechKow Verdict
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe represents the absolute peak of the “New” sub-series era. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel with psychedelic reality shifts like Wonder does. Instead, it focuses on perfecting the classic physics, momentum, and level layouts that made Mario a global icon in the first place.
Whether you missed it on the Wii U or you’re looking for the ultimate local multiplayer game to play with family and friends, this deluxe port is worth every penny.
Over to you: Who is your go-to character when the platforming gets tough? Are you team Luigi or team Peachette? Let us know in the comments below!