New Super Mario Bros. U

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is an enjoyable re-release, but doesn't stand quite as tall next to modern platformers.

Mario and Luigi are as agile as ever in Nintendo Switch's latest remaster, but they're starting to show their age.

If Super Mario Odyssey is the culmination of 3D Mario games, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is the same for 2D Mario

One of the best Wii U games gets a wonderful Switch remaster that brings to life its multiplayer mayhem better than ever before.

This platformer was fun on Wii U, and the Deluxe version gives the game a well-earned extra life on Switch

With straightforward 2D linear play this game can feel anachronistically flat – but chaotic multiplayer action is where the infectious fun lies

Well, if you never played New Super Mario Bros. U for the Nintendo Wii U, or if you want to experience it again with friends—or Toadette—maybe it’s worth it to you. If you absolutely require an official 2D Mario game on your Nintendo Switch, here it is. If you’re just looking for a platform game and you’ve never played either this or Celeste, get Celeste.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is an impressive package if you skipped the original, offering the best of modern-era 2D Mario, madcap multiplayer and glimpses of the outrageous invention that was to come in Super Mario Odyssey. Only the most fervent fans will find enough new content here to justify double-dipping, though, especially if you already played the Luigi expansion.

While I wouldn’t put this latest entry on the same pedestal, this is still a very solid game with a lot of what we’ve all come to love about the series thrown into a melting pot. I don’t think Nintendo would ever put out a “bad” Mario, honestly. There’s plenty here to keep fans and next of kin busy and entertained for quite some time.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a great Mario package, although still feels incredibly familiar. Multiplayer chaos is fun for a short while, but testing your skills against difficult stages is where Super Mario excels, as always. If you've not played a 2D Mario platformer in a while, this is well worth it, though Wii U fans who've played it before should think twice before purchasing.