Nintendo recently unleashed a Nintendo Direct stream that highlights the birthday of its Italian plumber mascot, Mario. Here’s a recap of what went on during the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Direct.

Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch

This special Game & Watch liquid colour display device features Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. The Lost Level (NES version), and an updated Game & Watch Ball minigame starring Mario. The limited-edition device will be out 13th November.

Super Mario 3D World+ for Nintendo Switch

About damn time. The best Wii U 3D Mario game will be ported onto the Switch later. This version comes with a new DLC called Bowser’s Fury, featuring new and tougher levels. Out 12th February 2021.

Super Mario Bros. 35

Yes, Nintendo is going the battle royale route with our 2D plumber. Compete against 34 other players in Super Mario Bros. original courses. If you kill enemies on your screen, you send them over to a random opponent’s screen to mess up their game and flow. Players can also access an item roulette that grants them random power-ups and also a way to target your debuffs to random players based on either the lowest time, the most coins, or the last person who attacked them.

The game is free, but only for Nintendo Switch Online members from 1st October until 31st March of next year. If you want in on this action, you’ll have to fork over US$19.99 for a 12-month membership.

Mario Kart Live

What’s the next step for the Mario Kart franchise? Setting up a mini race track in your living room and piloting Mario via your Switch console. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit lets you set up your course of choice and race against either the enemy AI or another player with their own Kart set. Available 16th October.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Nintendo saved the best for last: a collection of all the best 3D Mario games for the Nintendo Switch. This bundle includes Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64, Super Mario Sunshine for the Gamecube, and Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. These games will be tailor-made for Switch controls, feature their own respective OSTs you can listen to, and 16:9 ratio.

My only question: where Super Mario Galaxy 2? The sequel is clearly the superior version. Two out of three ain’t bad though. This collection will be out from 18th September in both limited physical form and digital form. The latter will be available until the end of March 2021.

The full stream is just down below. Also, we do wonder what is up with the recent limited-time availability window for the digital editions? Is this a new kind of business model Nintendo is adopting ala Disney?