A Really Weird New Mario Release Just Hit the Nintendo Switch for Free

A free app called Hello, Mario is now available on Nintendo Switch. It lets longtime Nintendo fans recreate the iconic face of Mario, and introduces a new generation to the fun. Though it’s not the biggest Super Mario release of the year, Hello, Mario is a nostalgic look back at Nintendo’s history, updated with a modern, stylish design.

Last September marked the beginning of the 40th anniversary celebration for the Super Mario series, and Nintendo has been consistently delighting fans with new releases and surprises all year. While Mario has been Nintendo’s main character since the original NES, their newest game revisits an earlier part of his story.

Hello, Mario Lets Nintendo Fans Smash In Mario’s Face All Over Again

Image via Nintendo

A free app is now available on the Nintendo eShop that lets players experience a bit of late ’90s fun! You can grab, stretch, and play with different parts of Mario’s face, just like in the original game. Called Hello, Mario, this app is part of Nintendo’s new My Mario line, which includes games and toys designed for young children. The game is easy to play – you mainly manipulate Mario’s face to create silly expressions. While it’s simple enough for toddlers, longtime Nintendo fans will likely enjoy the nostalgic throwback to the original!

Image via Nintendo

This app’s design is heavily inspired by the opening screen of the classic Nintendo 64 game, Super Mario 64, released in 1996. That game was groundbreaking for bringing Mario into a fully 3D world, letting players explore Princess Peach’s castle with incredible freedom. While the game offered many different worlds to discover through paintings, many fans especially remember the fun, interactive title screen. Before starting the game, players could manipulate Mario’s head, moving his hat, mustache, nose, and other facial features around to create funny images.

Image via Nintendo

While the game borrows its core gameplay from the original Hello, Mario, it introduces new features not found in Super Mario 64. Players can use touch controls on the Switch screen to create unique facial expressions for Mario. A classic question mark block appears on screen, offering interactive elements that influence Mario’s reactions. This includes familiar power-ups like Super Mushrooms and Super Stars, along with iconic elements like green pipes and enemies. The app is lightweight, requiring only 171-172 MB of storage, and is fully playable offline on both Switch and Switch 2.

Nintendo has a lot planned for Mario’s 40th anniversary, and it’s more than just a new app! They recently released Mario Tennis Fever on February 12th, bringing back a fan-favorite sports series after eight years. Plus, Super Mario Wonder is coming to the Switch 2 on March 26th, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will be released sometime this spring, giving fans plenty to enjoy. And for those who want even more Mario, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives in theaters on April 1st, bringing the Mario universe to the big screen.

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2026-02-20 02:04