Honestly, walking into the Last Resort hotel for the first time feels a bit like a trap. Not just for Luigi, but for us. We’ve seen the "spooky mansion" trope before. We’ve sucked up ghosts with a vacuum since 2001. But Luigi's Mansion 3 Switch is different. It’s dense. It’s tactile. Every single room feels like a miniature diorama you just want to reach in and shake.
It's 2026. We’re well into the lifecycle of the Switch’s successor, yet people are still booting this one up. Why? Because Next Level Games did something almost impossible with the hardware. They made a game that looks like a high-budget Pixar movie and runs like a dream.
Luigi is a masterpiece of animation here. He doesn't just walk; he skitters. He trembles. When he gets close to a wall, he reaches out a shaky hand to steady himself. This isn't just a game about catching ghosts. It’s a game about being a coward in the most charming way possible.
The Gooigi Factor and Why It Works
You can't talk about this game without mentioning Gooigi. He’s a weird, lime-green clone made of coffee and ghost energy. It sounds dumb. On paper, it's a gimmick. In practice? It’s the mechanical heart of the game.
Basically, Gooigi can slip through grates and spikes that would kill Luigi. But water is his kryptonite. He dissolves instantly. This simple "fire and ice" dynamic creates some of the most satisfying puzzles on the platform.
Playing Together (Or Not)
The co-op is a big draw. You can hand a Joy-Con to a friend and they become Gooigi. It makes the game significantly easier, especially during some of the more frantic boss fights. However, playing solo is totally viable. You just click the right stick to swap.
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It actually feels a bit more "big brain" when you do it yourself. You’re managing two bodies at once. You’re pulling a lever with Luigi while Gooigi sneaks through a pipe to grab a gem. It’s rhythmic.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Hotel
Most players think the floors are just themed levels. They are, but they're also technical showcases. Take the "Paranormal Productions" floor. You’re basically in a haunted movie studio. You have to jump between different sets—a castle, a city, a fire scene—to find a megaphone for a ghost director named Morty.
It’s meta. It’s clever. And it’s surprisingly long.
A lot of critics at launch complained about the "backtracking" involving Polterkitty. If you haven't played it yet: yes, there’s a ghost cat that steals your elevator buttons. You have to chase it through floors you’ve already cleared. Honestly? It’s not that bad. It gives you a reason to see how the environments change once the "boss" is gone. It makes the hotel feel like a real place, not just a series of disconnected arenas.
The Money Problem
You’re going to find a lot of money. Gold bars, coins, pearls—they're everywhere. You’ll vacuum up thousands of dollars. Here’s the kicker: there isn't much to buy. You can get "Gold Bones" (lives) or finders for Gems and Boos.
That’s basically it.
The money mostly exists for your end-game rank. If you want that Rank A, you need to be a greedy vacuum-wielding hoarder. If you don't care about the letter on your report card, the currency loses its luster pretty fast.
Breaking Down the ScareScraper
If the main story (which takes about 15 hours) isn't enough, there’s ScareScraper. This is the multiplayer mode where up to eight players (online or local) climb a tower.
It’s chaotic. It’s also the only way to find Rare Ghosts.
You won't find these guys in the Story Mode. We’re talking about:
- Speed Goobs: They move like they’ve had six espressos.
- Regen Hammers: They heal if you don't keep the pressure on.
- Bomb Oozers: Exactly what they sound like.
You usually encounter these on the 5th floor of a 10-floor run. If you're a completionist trying to fill out Professor E. Gadd’s gallery, you’re going to spend a lot of time here. Just a heads up: the boss at the top is almost always the same, which is a bit of a letdown compared to the variety in the main campaign.
The Technical Wizardry of 2019
How does a 2019 game still look this good? It comes down to physics. Nearly everything in the environment reacts to your vacuum. Curtains flutter. Books fly off shelves. Dust piles actually get sucked up grain by grain.
The lighting is the secret sauce. Luigi’s flashlight (the Strobulb) creates real-time shadows that dance across the peeling wallpaper. When you use the Dark-Light to reveal hidden objects, the purple glow reflects off the floorboards. It’s gorgeous.
Even with the "Switch 2" or whatever we're calling the successor these days, Luigi’s Mansion 3 holds up because it isn't trying to be "realistic." It’s trying to be a cartoon. Cartoons don't age the way "realistic" graphics do.
Is It Still Worth Buying?
If you haven't played it, yes. 100%.
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It’s one of those rare games that appeals to everyone. Kids love the slapstick. Adults appreciate the clever level design and the references to classic horror cinema.
Wait for a sale? Nintendo games rarely drop in price. You might find it for $40 on a good day, but it usually sits at that $60 mark. Even years later, the value is there.
Actionable Tips for New Players
- Don't ignore the suction shot. You can use the plunger to rip shields away from ghosts, but you can also use it to pull hidden panels off walls. If something looks out of place, shoot a plunger at it.
- Flash everything. The Strobulb doesn't just stun ghosts. It triggers green sensors that open safes or activate machinery.
- Listen to the HD Rumble. The Switch’s haptics are actually useful here. You can often feel where a Boo is hiding based on the vibration in your controller.
- Kill the maid ghost fast. On the 5th floor, the maid ghost (Chambrea) swallows a briefcase. Use the Suction Shot on the case to slam her. Don't just try to vacuum her normally.
The game is a masterclass in "Nintendo polish." It’s not the longest adventure, and it’s certainly not the hardest, but it’s one of the most memorable. Whether you're playing on an original Switch, a Lite, or the newer hardware via backward compatibility, the Last Resort is a vacation worth taking.
Check your local retailers or the eShop for the "Multiplayer Pack" DLC if you really get into the ScareScraper. It adds new costumes for Luigi that actually change the look of the floors in that mode. It’s a nice touch for those who want to keep the ghost hunting alive after the credits roll.