Honestly, trying to keep track of every single Mario game release date is like trying to catch a Super Star while sliding down a mountain in Super Mario 64. It’s slippery. You think you’ve got it, then you realize you’re looking at a Japanese launch date instead of the North American one, or you’ve accidentally mixed up a remake with the original.
Nintendo isn't exactly a company that moves in a straight line. They loop. They pivot. One year they're reinventing the wheel with a 3D masterpiece like Odyssey, and the next they're dropping a weirdly addictive mobile runner. But if you’re looking at the current landscape in 2026, things are getting even more interesting with the Switch 2 finally out in the wild.
The Foundation: Where It All Actually Began
People love to say Mario started in 1985. Technically, they’re right if we're talking about the "Super" era, but the jumpman was around way before the NES changed the world.
September 13, 1985. That's the big one. Super Mario Bros. hit the Famicom in Japan. North America followed in October, though the exact date is often debated by historians because the NES launch was such a localized, messy rollout. We usually stick with October 18, 1985, for the US launch.
Then things got weird. Most fans know about the "Lost Levels" debacle, where the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 (1986) was deemed too hard for Americans. Instead, we got a reskinned Doki Doki Panic in October 1988. It’s funny looking back—our "fake" Mario 2 basically invented Shy Guys and Birdo.
The Golden Age Jumps
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (February 12, 1990): Arguably the best on the NES. It actually came out in Japan in 1988, but the US had to wait two years.
- Super Mario World (August 13, 1991): The SNES launch king.
- Super Mario 64 (September 29, 1996): This changed everything. 3D was the frontier, and Mario owned it.
The Switch 2 Era and Beyond (2025–2026)
We’re sitting here in early 2026, and the "Release Dates" calendar for Mario games has never looked more crowded. Nintendo is currently celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the franchise, and they aren't being subtle about it.
If you've been following the leaks—and let's be real, who hasn't?—there’s a lot of noise about a new 3D Mario. The current rumor mill, backed by some fairly reliable French insiders, points toward a February 10, 2026, Nintendo Direct. The word on the street is that this will be the official reveal for the successor to Super Mario Odyssey.
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Confirmed and Rumored Dates for 2026
- Mario Tennis Fever: Scheduled for February 12, 2026. It's supposed to have a massive roster of 38 characters.
- New Super Mario Bros. (Switch 2 Remaster): This one is slated for February 19, 2026. It's a total overhaul of the DS classic, which is a bit of a curveball for Nintendo.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Switch 2 Edition: Coming in Spring 2026 (likely Q2). This includes the "Meetup in Bellabel Park" DLC, which adds a bunch of co-op challenges.
- Yoshi and the Mysterious Book: Another Spring 2026 title. Technically a Yoshi game, but it's part of that broader Mario ecosystem we all track.
Why the Gaps Matter
Have you ever noticed how long we go between 3D Marios? It’s agonizing.
Super Mario Odyssey came out on October 27, 2017. Since then, we've had Bowser’s Fury (attached to the 3D World port on February 12, 2021) and Super Mario Bros. Wonder (October 20, 2023). But a full-scale, open-zone 3D adventure? We haven't had one in nearly nine years.
That’s a massive gap. Nintendo’s Production Group No. 8 has been busy, apparently splitting their time between the recent Donkey Kong Bananza and this upcoming 3D Mario project. It shows a shift in how they handle Mario games release dates. They aren't just pumping them out; they're curating "events."
The Ports and Remakes Trap
Don't let the "New" titles fool you. Nintendo is the king of the re-release.
Back in September 2020, they gave us Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It was a limited-time thing, which was super annoying, but it put 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy on one Switch cart. Then, just last year in October 2025, they dropped the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 collection.
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It feels like they use these release dates to fill the "dry" years while the main teams build the next big engine. If you're a collector, it's a nightmare. If you just want to play Mario on modern hardware, it's a goldmine.
Navigating the Future
If you're trying to plan your gaming budget for the rest of 2026, keep your eyes on the second half of the year. While the "Galaxy Movie" is taking up a lot of the oxygen right now, there’s a conspicuous lack of Mario games scheduled for the holiday season.
Historically, Nintendo loves an October or November launch for their "big" Mario title.
Super Mario Odyssey: Oct 27
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Oct 20
Super Mario Party Jamboree: Oct 17
If that 3D Mario reveal actually happens in February, expect a late October 2026 release date. It fits the pattern perfectly.
To stay ahead of the curve, don't just look at the official Nintendo Twitter account. Watch the ratings boards in Korea and Australia. Games usually pop up there 3–6 months before they hit shelves. Also, keep a close watch on the "Switch 2 Edition" upgrades; Nintendo is clearly using the 40th anniversary to bridge the gap between their old hardware and the new console.
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Stop waiting for a "Super Mario 128" or some mythical "Odyssey 2" name—Nintendo usually picks a title that highlights the new gimmick. Look for the next date to drop right after the fiscal year ends in March.