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What Super Mario games are going away on March 31, 2021?

Nintendo is taking away several Mario titles on March 31, but why?

Donovan Erskine

March 31, 2021 11:35 AM

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The Super Mario franchise is easily one of the most celebrated and cherished in all of gaming. With so many beloved entries, it was a big deal when the Mario series celebrated its 35th-anniversary last year. Now, there’s a lot of talk and confusion about Nintendo removing several Super Mario games from digital stores on March 31. Here’s why.

Why are Super Mario games going away on March 31?

In celebration of Mario’s 35th anniversary back in 2020, Nintendo released Super Mario All-Stars, a 3-game bundle that includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy all for the Switch. They also released Super Mario Bros. 35, a brand new 35-player battle royale done in the same vein as Tetris 99. However, these games do not have a permanent shelf life.

As limited-edition releases, Nintendo made clear its plans to remove these titles from the eShop on March 31, 2021. Unfortunately, that day has finally come. After March 31, both the Super Mario 3D All-Stars bundle and Super Mario Bros. 35 will be gone from the eShop. This has led many to dub March 31 as “the day Mario dies.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us in commemorating the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. We hope you continue to Power-Up and enjoy Mario and friends’ adventures! #SuperMario35 pic.twitter.com/gwZDUaXiSF

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 31, 2021

Though Mario’s 35th anniversary was in 2020, Nintendo kept the games up throughout the early months of 2021 in order to give fans ample time to pick them up, should they choose to do so. Although the games may no longer be available in the eShop, fans may still be able to find physical copies of Super Mario 3D All-Stars at retailers. As for Super Mario Bros. 35, there will be no other way to play the game, as it only received a digital release.

So there you have it. That is why several Super Mario games are going away on March 31. It’s a move that raised a lot of questions among fans, but one that The Big N is sticking with. For more on Nintendo and the Super Mario franchise, stay right here on Shacknews.

Donovan Erskine

News Editor

Donovan is a journalist from Maryland. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge film fanatic and will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_