Nintendo is celebrating Mario Day (March 10) once again, this time focusing on its Nintendo Switch Online service and providing discounts on digital Switch games that feature the iconic mustached mascot. Select retailers are also offering discounts on select games and bundling gift cards with Switch consoles.
Even seven years after the Nintendo Switch launched, the console is still going strong — and these Mario Day (or Mar10 day, if you’re fancy) deals make it a great time to jump in.
Mario Day 2024 console and hardware deals
When purchasing any Nintendo Switch model from participating retailers, you’ll also receive a $25 gift card. This deal goes from March 10 to March 16, and retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Target. Additionally, Verizon is offering a free Nintendo Switch, in addition to either a Chromebook or $200 Target gift card, for those who sign up for a 5G Home Internet or LTE Home Plus plan through March 31.
Our favorite overall Nintendo Switch, this model features twice the storage of the original Switch, a much-improved kickstand for tabletop play and a stunning 7-inch OLED screen that's perfect for playing games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at their best. There's even a special Mario Red Edition for die-hard fans.
If you don't want to spend the extra $50 for OLED, the classic Nintendo Switch is still a great value that'll let you play your favorite Mario games (and tons more) both at home and on the go.
These two bundles are available at Target and Walmart, respectively. They even include a full game download of Animal Crossing: New Horizons which saves you $60. While it isn’t a Mario game, it’s still one of the best Switch games available. The Nintendo Switch Lite is compact and easy to hold, making it the perfect handheld to play on the go. Depending on whether you like the coral-pink color with Isabelle or the teal color with Timmy and Tommy, you can’t go wrong with either.
GameStop and Target are selling a Red and Blue Joy-Con bundle that includes a digital copy of Super Mario Party and saves you about $40. It’s a fun multiplayer game that’s perfect for parties and small gatherings.
Mario Day 2024 game deals
On the Nintendo eShop and participating retailers, there are discounts on select games starting on March 7 and lasting through March 16 (retailers) and March 17 (eShop). Here are five games that we recommend.
This crossover between the Mario and Rayman universes creates one of the most compelling strategy games in recent memory. You get to play as characters from the Mario series as well as their Rabbid counterparts as you save the Mushroom Kingdom.
This is the direct sequel to Kingdom Battle, and it’s just as good, if not better than its predecessor. Following the events of the first game, Mario and the Rabbids coexist peacefully until one day a new enemy emerges and they have to save the day once again.
Mario Party Superstars is a fun multiplayer game to play with a group of friends. It includes 100 minigames from previous Mario Party titles, so the party never stops. Not to be confused with Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars caters to fans of older Mario Party games while Super Mario Party is for those who want a fresher experience.
Yoshi's Crafted World is an incredibly adorable platformer that sees Yoshi and his friends traveling across the world to recover gems of the Sundream Stone after Kamek and Baby Boswer attempt to steal it. There’s also a co-op multiplayer mode, so you and a buddy can play together as your own Yoshis through the various levels.
The Mario Kart series has always been a staple of each Nintendo platform, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a huge amount of content for players to sink their time into. With its Booster Course Pass expansions, there are plenty of tracks to race on for endless hours of entertainment.
Nintendo Switch Online deals
Players can sign up to try the Nintendo Switch Online 14-Day free trial now through March 17. The trial usually lasts seven days, so this is the perfect opportunity to try out Nintendo Switch’s online services if you haven’t already.
You can also play classic Mario games through the online service’s classics catalog, such as Mario Kart 64 on Nintendo 64, Super Mario Bros. on NES, and Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga on Game Boy Advance.
