Nintendo has just delivered a nostalgic surprise: Mario Paint, the beloved SNES title from 1992, is now available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online SNES Classics library no extra subscription tier required. Whether you’re playing on a Switch or the new Switch 2, you can now unleash your creativity in vibrant ways.
This classic game offers a suite of creative tools: a full-color drawing canvas, a coloring book, rudimentary animation options, a music composer, and even the cult favorite minigame Gnat Attack. It was initially designed to be used with the SNES Mouse peripheral, and now modern control methods let you play just as intended.
On the Nintendo Switch 2, players can now explore Mario Paint using the enhanced Joy-Con 2 controller, which features built-in mouse functionality. If you’re using a classic Switch or the OLED model, simply plug in a compatible USB mouse (sold separately) to replicate the original experience.
In addition to the full game release, Nintendo has added the Mario Paint soundtrack, 19 total tracks, to the Nintendo Music app on iOS and Android. Switch Online members can access it at no extra cost and enjoy the game’s music library anywhere.
Long-time fans are excited. For countless fans, this marks the first official re-release of Mario Paint since its SNES debut, making its comeback after over three decades. Many players have already praised how smoothly mouse controls translate into the modern Switch environment.
This move also adds to Nintendo Switch Online’s growing collection of SNES titles that support mouse input, others include Mario’s Super Picross and Nobunaga’s Ambition, showing Nintendo’s commitment to preserving and enhancing classic experiences for modern platforms.
From a broader view, this release aligns perfectly with Mario’s 40th-anniversary celebrations, offering fans both nostalgia and a fresh creative outlet. It’s likely this fresh nod to retro creativity could spark renewed interest in both Mario Paint itself and potentially inspire future tools or even sequels down the line.
An active Nintendo Switch Online subscription is all that’s required to get started. Once you download the SNES Classics app, you’re ready to draw, animate, compose, and play just like it was 1992 again. For those who remember Mario Paint fondly, this is more than a game; it’s a creative time capsule, unlocked for a new generation.
