Nintendo is adding ‘Super Mario Strikers’ to its Switch Online GameCube library

Super Mario Strikers, the first game in the Mario Strikers series that was originally released for GameCube in 2005, will soon be available to play on Switch Online. Nintendo is adding it to its GameCube library for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members, though it will only be accessible from the Switch 2. If you’ll recall, the company announced the addition of a GameCube library to its $50-a-year subscription service as a Switch 2-exclusive upgrade before the console even shipped.

In Super Mario Strikers, you play soccer (or football to most of the world) in an arena, where there are no penalties and you can quite literally hurt your opponent to get the ball. You can select your captain from the franchise’s characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario and Waluigi. And you can obtain and use various Mario-themed items, such as bananas, shells and mushrooms for power-ups and to hinder your opponent’s progress. In addition to the captain, your team will also have a goalkeeper and three “sidekicks.” However, it’s only the captain who’s capable of taking a shot called the “Super Strike,” which gives you two points when it’s timed correctly.

You’ll be able to play Super Mario Strikers matches alone, but you’ll also be able to play local and online multiplayer matches with up to four friends. For local matches, every player must have their own controller. The game will be available from the GameCube library on July 3, alongside other classic GameCube games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcaliber 2 and F-Zero GX.