25 Years Later, Nintendo’s Spookiest Game Is a Must-Play On Switch 2
25 years after its original 2001 debut on GameCube, Luigi’s Mansion is highlighted as a must-play title for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The article explores how Nintendo’s console launches have historically varied in their relationship to Mario platformers. While Super Mario World launched alongside the Super Nintendo in 1991 and Super Mario 64 was the N64’s flagship title in 1996, more recent hardware releases have often featured different launch offerings.
The GameCube exemplified this shift. Rather than launching with a new Mario platformer, the console’s biggest launch title was arguably Luigi’s Mansion, which placed Luigi in an unusual role as the game’s protagonist. Meanwhile, Super Mario Sunshine, the intended follow-up to Super Mario 64, didn’t arrive until July 2002—nearly a year after the console’s September 2001 launch. This departure from Nintendo’s traditional formula established a new pattern for the company’s hardware releases, where flagship Mario titles were no longer guaranteed launch-day experiences.
The article’s focus on reviving interest in Luigi’s Mansion for the Switch 2 suggests the spooky adventure game has enduring appeal that warrants rediscovery by modern audiences, even as Nintendo continues to evolve its launch strategy for new hardware.