Blimey, Old School Mario Mouse Mayhem & The Phantom 'Switch 2' – What’s Brewing on NSO?

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer · Thu Oct 09 2025

Nintendo Switch Online is adding three SNES games, including the previously Japan-exclusive *Mario & Wario* thanks to the 'Switch 2's' newly rumored mouse controls, alongside *Bubsy* and *Fatal Fury Special*, sparking curiosity about Nintendo's future hardware plans and the value of game preservation.

Alright, mates, gather 'round, because the digital tea leaves have been swirling again, and I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning. Honestly, it's wilder than a rogue spell in a wizard's tower! Apparently, Nintendo just dropped a rather peculiar set of classics onto the Switch Online service, and one of them is throwing up more questions than answers about the future of, well, *everything*.

First up, the star of our odd little show: *Mario & Wario*. Now, if you're like most gamers, you're probably scratching your head, wondering if I've finally gone and conjured up a game that never existed. But fair dinkum, it's real! This delightful, if deeply niche, SNES title originally graced Japanese Super Famicoms back in '93. The catch? It was built from the ground up to be played with the Super Famicom Mouse – a peripheral so obscure it makes the Virtual Boy look like a mainstream success. You'd control a fairy, guiding Mario (who's stuck with a bucket on his head, bless him) through various puzzles. A true curiosity of gaming history, previously locked away behind geographical and hardware barriers.

So, why the sudden global release on Switch Online, you ask? Because, and this is where it gets really interesting, according to Ed Nightingale over at Eurogamer, it’s all thanks to the *Switch 2's mouse controls*.

HOLD ON A WIZARD'S BEARD. The 'Switch 2'? And it has *mouse controls*? Bloody hell, did someone just accidentally blow a hole through reality and land us in 2025? Because that's the kind of casually dropped bombshell that normally sends the internet into a frenzy of speculation and half-baked theories! It seems the new console – or 'Switch 2' as the original report refers to it – will feature mouse input, either via the mysterious 'Joy-Con 2' or a good old USB mouse. This, apparently, is the key to unlocking *Mario & Wario* for a global audience, joining *Mario Paint* as another mouse-centric title on the service.

Now, let's take a moment to unpack this 'Switch 2' business. Nintendo, bless their secretive hearts, are usually tighter-lipped than a mimic's treasure chest about upcoming hardware. To have this detail casually mentioned in a news blurb about SNES games – dating from October 2025, no less, if we're going by the original publication date – is like finding a glowing, enchanted artefact hidden in a dusty old attic. What does this mean for the future of Nintendo's hardware philosophy? Mouse controls on a Switch successor? Is it a nod to more creative applications, like those promised by *Mario Paint* all those years ago? Or perhaps a hint at more PC-like experiences, blurring the lines further between traditional console gaming and something... else? My brain is already conjuring up visions of hybrid gaming setups, competitive RTS titles on a Nintendo console (unlikely, I know, but a wizard can dream!), or maybe, just maybe, an even deeper dive into digital art and creation tools. It's a tantalising thought, isn't it? A cautiously optimistic one, mind you, because corporate promises often evaporate like morning mist, but it certainly sparks the old curiosity circuit.

Beyond the headline-grabbing mouse shenanigans, the library of classics also gets a couple of other familiar faces. We're talking about the mascot platformer that everyone loves to gently poke fun at: *Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind*. Released in 1993, this was the original adventure of the wise-cracking bobcat who dared to ask, "What could possibly go wrong?" (Spoiler alert: a fair bit, usually). Bubsy was, for better or worse, one of those quintessential 90s attempts to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle success of Sonic and Mario, and while he didn't quite reach those stratospheric heights, his games certainly hold a nostalgic (and sometimes cringe-worthy) place in gaming history. Having him available on Switch Online is a nice bit of preservation, allowing a new generation to experience the platforming oddities of yesteryear.

Rounding out this month's additions is the formidable fighting game, *Fatal Fury Special*. This 1995 gem was a revised and expanded version of *Fatal Fury 2*, bringing in additional characters and tweaks to the combat that made it a fan favourite. For anyone who cut their teeth on arcade fighters, *Fatal Fury Special* is a welcome dose of classic SNK action, proving that sometimes, a good old-fashioned brawl is exactly what the doctor ordered.

So, what does all this mean for us, the actual gamers? Well, for starters, it's a win for game preservation, especially with *Mario & Wario* finally escaping its Japanese mouse-controlled prison. Making previously inaccessible games available globally is always a good thing, a gentle nudge towards making sure gaming history isn't lost to obscure peripherals and region locks. And while I maintain a healthy dose of skepticism about anything branded 'revolutionary,' the possibility of 'Switch 2' mouse controls is genuinely intriguing. Is it just for these niche retro titles, or does it hint at a bolder, more experimental future for Nintendo hardware? Only time, and perhaps another accidental leak, will tell.

As initially reported by Ed Nightingale for Eurogamer on October 9, 2025, this batch of NSO games is certainly more than just a few dusty old cartridges. It's a curious blend of history and potential future, leaving us to wonder what other digital spells Nintendo is cooking up. What do you reckon? Is the thought of a mouse-controlled Switch 2 exciting, or just a bit bonkers?

Tags: Nintendo Switch Online, SNES Classics, Game Preservation, Nintendo Switch 2, Gaming History

Original article: Eurogamer