You remember the 3DS era, right? It was a strange time for Nintendo. They were obsessed with 3D, then they weren't, then they released a console that literally couldn't do 3D at all. But tucked away in the middle of that handheld's lifespan was a game that felt like a fever dream about wealth. Honestly, New Super Mario Brothers 2 Gold Edition is one of the most specific, oddball releases the company ever put out. It wasn't just a sequel. It was a statement about excess, digital distribution, and why Mario probably needs a financial advisor.
It’s easy to look back and think this was just another "New" Mario game. You’d be wrong.
The Problem With Being "New"
By the time 2012 rolled around, fans were starting to get a little tired of the "New" sub-series. The art style felt a bit sterile. The music was heavy on the "bah-bah" vocals. People wanted something different. So, Nintendo gave them gold. Everything in this game is about coins. You aren't just saving Princess Peach; you're basically auditioning for a role in an economic thriller. The goal? One million coins. It sounds impossible. It’s actually not, but the grind is real.
Then came the New Super Mario Brothers 2 Gold Edition bundle. This wasn't a standard retail release at first. It was a digital-first experiment. If you bought a specific 3DS XL—the one with the little gold Mario icons stamped all over it—you got this version pre-installed. It felt exclusive. It felt premium. It also raised a lot of questions about what Nintendo was doing with DLC.
🔗 Read more: Why the 20 Questions Card Game Still Wins in a World of Screens
What Actually Makes It "Gold"?
So, what’s the difference? If you find a physical cartridge of the base game, you’re getting the standard experience. But the Gold Edition is the "complete" package. It includes all the Coin Rush DLC packs right out of the gate. That’s 30 extra challenges. Back in the day, buying those individually was a bit of a headache. Having them baked into the software was a huge deal for completionists who wanted to hit that million-coin mark without losing their minds.
The gameplay doesn't change, but the vibe does. You have the Gold Flower, which turns Mario into a walking Midas touch. Every brick he hits turns into coins. Every enemy he touches explodes into a shower of gold. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s arguably the most "arcadey" Mario has ever felt on a handheld.
The Rarity Factor and the eShop Death
Here is where things get tricky for collectors. Since the New Super Mario Brothers 2 Gold Edition was primarily a pre-installed digital title on specific hardware bundles, finding a "clean" way to play it today is getting harder. With the 3DS eShop officially closed, you can't just hop online and grab the DLC packs anymore. If you didn't buy them before the shutdown, you're stuck with the base game.
💡 You might also like: FC 26 Web App: How to Master the Market Before the Game Even Launches
This makes the Gold Edition hardware bundles—and the rare instances where the game appeared as a standalone digital promotion—highly sought after. It’s a snapshot of a moment when Nintendo was testing the waters of "Definitive Editions."
Why Nobody Talks About the Coin Rush
The Coin Rush mode is actually the best part of the game, yet it’s the most overlooked. It’s stressful. You have one life. You have a ticking clock. You have to blast through three random levels and collect as many coins as humanly possible. It changed the way we look at Mario levels. Usually, you want to get to the end safely. In New Super Mario Brothers 2 Gold Edition, the end is secondary. The journey—specifically the shiny yellow objects found during that journey—is everything.
There were specialized DLC packs like the "Nerve-Wrack Pack" and the "Gold Classics Pack." The latter was a nostalgia trip, recreating levels from the original Super Mario Bros. and Mario 3 but coated in a layer of 24-karat paint. It was fan service before Nintendo started doing fan service every five minutes.
📖 Related: Mass Effect Andromeda Gameplay: Why It’s Actually the Best Combat in the Series
Is It Actually Better Than the Original?
"Better" is a strong word. It's more "complete." If you’re a purist who likes the tight platforming of Super Mario World, this game might frustrate you. It’s flashy. It’s noisy. It’s designed to trigger those little dopamine hits every time a coin "dings."
But as a piece of history? It's essential. It represents the peak of the 3DS's experimental phase. It showed that Nintendo was willing to mess with their most sacred franchise to see if people would bite on micro-challenges and digital bundles.
How to Play It Now
If you’re looking to experience New Super Mario Brothers 2 Gold Edition today, you have a few options, though none are as simple as they used to be:
- Secondary Markets: Look for the limited edition Gold 3DS XL. Verify the seller hasn't formatted the system in a way that deleted the pre-installed license, though usually, these are tied to the hardware's ID.
- The "Standard" Route: Buy the physical cartridge of New Super Mario Bros. 2. You’ll get the core game, but you'll miss out on the Gold Edition’s built-in DLC unless the previous owner already downloaded it.
- Legacy Transfers: If you have an old 3DS with the game, take care of it. That digital copy is now a finite resource.
The hunt for a million coins is still one of the most satisfying (and carpal-tunnel-inducing) goals in the Mario universe. It’s a grind, sure. But there’s something genuinely hypnotic about watching the counter tick up. It’s not just a game; it’s a digital piggy bank.
Actionable Steps for Collectors and Players
Check your 3DS library immediately. Many people bought the Gold Edition bundle years ago and forgot they even had the DLC packs installed. If you're looking to buy, prioritize the "Star Edition" or "Gold Edition" listings on reputable gaming sites, but be wary of "loose" cartridges claiming to be the Gold Edition—the "Gold" status was almost entirely a digital/bundle designation. If you own the base game and never finished the coin count, try the "Gold Mushroom" trick in World 1-1 to kickstart your savings. It’s the fastest way to see if you actually have the stomach for a million-coin run.