Get ready to dust off your FLUDD pack, because one of the most debated games in Nintendo history is making its way to the Switch 2. Super Mario Sunshine, the GameCube classic that has split the Mario fanbase for over two decades, is officially joining the Nintendo Switch Online catalog — and the internet is already buzzing with opinions.
Originally released back in 2002, Super Mario Sunshine took players to the sun-soaked Isle Delfino, swapping out traditional platforming for a water-spraying jetpack adventure that felt unlike anything the franchise had done before. Some players absolutely adored the tropical setting, the creative mechanics, and the sheer weirdness of it all. Others found it frustrating, clunky, and too far removed from what made Mario great. That divide never really went away, which is exactly what makes this announcement so exciting.
The game is being added as part of a major Nintendo Switch Online update that is also bringing some truly unexpected surprises — including previously unreleased Virtual Boy titles. Yes, you read that right. Nintendo is apparently diving deep into its vault, and fans are living for every second of it.
For Switch 2 owners, this is shaping up to be a fantastic time to revisit gaming history. The GameCube library has been steadily growing on the platform, and Sunshine is arguably the biggest title to join the lineup yet. Whether you are a longtime defender of the game or someone who bounced off it years ago, playing it on modern hardware with a fresh perspective might just change your mind.
What makes this moment particularly special is the conversation it is reigniting. Social media is flooded with takes ranging from “Sunshine is criminally underrated” to “I still can’t believe they made Mario clean up graffiti.” And honestly? Both camps make valid points. That tension is exactly what has kept this game in the cultural conversation for so long.
Nintendo continues to prove that its back catalog is one of its most powerful assets. By bringing beloved and controversial classics to new audiences, the company is ensuring that the debate over which Mario era reigns supreme will never get old. So fire up your Switch 2, jump into that warm tropical water, and decide for yourself — is Super Mario Sunshine a forgotten masterpiece or a flawed experiment? The answer might surprise you.
