Honestly, looking back at the 3DS library is a trip because Nintendo was in this weird, experimental phase where they just kept throwing Mario at different walls to see what stuck. One of those experiments was Mario Sports Superstars Nintendo fans likely remember as that "five-in-one" deal. It came out in early 2017, right as the world was losing its mind over the Switch launch. Because of that timing, a lot of people just... missed it. Or they bought it, played for ten minutes, and realized it wasn't exactly Mario Power Tennis or Strikers. It was something else entirely.
It’s a strange beast. You’ve got Football (Soccer), Baseball, Tennis, Golf, and Horse Racing.
Wait, Horse Racing?
Yeah. It’s the outlier that actually has a surprising amount of depth compared to the others. But we'll get to that. The game was co-developed by Bandai Namco and Camelot, which is basically the "A-Team" for Mario sports titles. You’d think that pedigree would make it an instant classic, but the reality is a bit more complicated. It’s a game of compromises.
The Identity Crisis of Mario Sports Superstars Nintendo
When you boot up the game, the first thing you notice is the polish. It looks great for a 3DS title. The character models are crisp, and the animations are fluid. But there's a catch. Instead of being a deep, mechanical masterpiece for one specific sport, it’s a broad, somewhat shallow collection. It’s like a buffet. You get a little bit of everything, but nothing is quite as good as a full steak dinner.
Take the Football (Soccer) mode. If you’re coming from Mario Strikers, you’re going to be confused. There are no electrified fences. No gritty, street-style art. It’s basically a simplified version of FIFA but with Mario characters. You play 11v11, which is actually a first for Mario soccer. It feels more "professional" and less "chaotic." Some people hated that. They wanted the violence and the items. Here, it’s about passing, positioning, and timing your special shots. It’s functional. It’s fun. But it lacks that "Strikers" soul.
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Then you have the Baseball mode. It’s very similar to Mario Super Sluggers on the Wii but scaled down. The pitching and batting mechanics are solid. If you’ve played a baseball game in the last twenty years, you know exactly what to do. The problem? It feels a bit sterile. Without the wacky stadiums or the complex team chemistry mechanics from previous standalone games, it feels like a very well-made tech demo.
Golf and Tennis: The Camelot Special
This is where the game shines. Camelot knows their way around a golf club and a tennis racket. The Golf portion of Mario Sports Superstars Nintendo is essentially a "Greatest Hits" version of Mario Golf: World Tour. It uses the same engine, same physics, and even some of the same assets. If you liked World Tour, you’ll like this. It’s arguably the most "complete" feeling sport in the package.
The Tennis side is similarly robust. It feels like a streamlined Mario Tennis Open. The "Chance Shots" return—those glowing spots on the court that let you unleash a powerful slice or lob—which remains a polarizing mechanic among purists. Personally, I think it keeps the pace fast, though I get why people find it repetitive.
Here is the thing about these two modes: if you already own Mario Golf: World Tour and Mario Tennis Open on the 3DS, there is almost no reason to play them here. They are essentially lighter versions of those games. It’s a convenient way to have them all on one cartridge, sure, but you're losing out on the specialized content and single-player depth of the standalone titles.
The Wild Card: Horse Racing
Let's talk about the horses. This isn't just a mini-game. It’s a full-on racing sim-lite. You can actually go into a stable, groom your horse, feed it carrots, and build a bond with it. It’s weirdly wholesome and easily the most unique thing about the entire package.
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When you’re actually racing, it’s not just "hold A to win." You have to manage stamina, find drafting lanes behind other racers to save energy, and collect stars to build up a boost meter. It’s surprisingly tactical. You can’t just gallop at full speed the whole time or your horse will burn out before the final stretch. Out of all five sports, this is the one that felt like it had the most "new" effort put into it. It’s also the most difficult to master, which is a nice change of pace for a game that often feels like it’s holding your hand.
The Amiibo Elephant in the Room
We can't talk about this game without mentioning the Amiibo cards. Nintendo released a specialized line of cards specifically for this game. If you tapped a card, you’d unlock the "Star" version of that character, which basically just gives them a stat boost.
It felt a bit... "pay to win"?
Not exactly, because you can unlock Star characters through gameplay by winning tournaments, but the grind is real. The Amiibo cards were a shortcut. In 2026, finding these cards is a nightmare of eBay hunting and overpriced collectors' listings. The good news is that the game is perfectly playable without them, but you’ll definitely feel the absence of that "Star" power in the higher-level CPU tournaments.
Why It Didn't Set the World on Fire
Timing is everything in the gaming industry. Mario Sports Superstars Nintendo launched in March 2017. Do you know what else launched in March 2017? The Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
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The 3DS was effectively entering its twilight years. Most gamers were moving on to the shiny new hybrid console, and a "jack of all trades" sports title for an aging handheld just wasn't a priority. Furthermore, the lack of a cohesive "Story Mode" or "RPG Mode" really hurt the longevity. Games like Mario Tennis on the Game Boy Advance were legendary because of their RPG elements. You started as a rookie and worked your way up. In Superstars, you just pick a sport and play a tournament. It’s very arcadey, which is fine for short bursts, but it doesn't give you a reason to keep coming back after you've won a few trophies.
The online multiplayer was also a bit of a mixed bag. When it worked, it was great. But 3DS online infrastructure was always a bit hit-or-miss, and today, the servers are a ghost town. If you’re buying this now, you’re buying it for the local play or the solo experience.
Is It Worth Playing Today?
If you find a copy for $20 at a local game shop, honestly, grab it. It’s a fantastic "travel game." If you’re on a flight or a long train ride, having five different sports to swap between is a godsend. It prevents burnout. Tired of golfing? Switch to soccer. Frustrated with a tennis match? Go brush a horse.
It’s also one of the few ways to play a decent baseball or soccer game on the 3DS that isn't a dedicated sim. The pick-up-and-play nature of the game is its biggest strength. You don't need to remember complex combos or deep lore. You just play.
However, if you're looking for the best version of each sport, you’re better off looking elsewhere.
- For Soccer: Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) or Battle League (Switch).
- For Golf: Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS).
- For Tennis: Mario Tennis Aces (Switch).
Actionable Insights for Players
- Prioritize Horse Racing: If you get the game, spend your first few hours in the stable. It’s the most rewarding part of the game and offers a level of customization the other sports lack.
- Tournament Grind: To unlock Star characters without Amiibo, you need to win the Star Cup in each sport. Focus on one character you like (e.g., Yoshi or Bowser) and run them through all five sports to maximize your roster power.
- Local Multiplayer: This game is 10x better with a friend. If you have a buddy with a 3DS and a second copy of the game, the competitive aspect of the soccer and baseball modes suddenly becomes way more engaging.
- Manage Expectations: Go into this expecting a "Minigame Plus" collection rather than five full-scale games. You'll enjoy it much more if you view it as a variety pack.
The legacy of Mario Sports Superstars Nintendo is that of a "lost" title. It’s a competent, polished, and fun collection that simply got overshadowed by a generational shift in hardware. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a solid piece of Nintendo history that deserves a spot in any 3DS collector's library, if only for the sheer novelty of seeing Mario ride a horse with such professional intensity.