Key Points:
- Mario Paint launches on Nintendo Switch Online for all subscribers with full mouse support.
- Enhanced control options now include Joy-Con 2 mouse mode and USB mouse compatibility.
- Nintendo released the full Mario Paint soundtrack on the Nintendo Music app for free.
Nintendo has officially brought Mario Paint to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online collection, launching it for subscribers on July 29, 2025. This surprise drop resurrects one of the most iconic creativity tools from the 16-bit era, originally released in 1992 for the Super NES. Unlike many Switch Online retro titles, Mario Paint is available to all Nintendo Switch Online members, not just Expansion Pack subscribers.
What sets this release apart is Nintendo’s faithful emulation of mouse-based gameplay. Players on the Switch 2 can use the Joy-Con 2’s built-in mouse mode, while original Switch and OLED users can connect a standard USB mouse to emulate the original SNES Mouse peripheral.
Classic Tools with Modern Support
More than just a port, this version of Mario Paint retains all its original charm — from the pixel drawing canvas and quirky animation tools to the famously frustrating “Gnat Attack” minigame. What’s new, however, is enhanced control support. Joy-Con 2 functionality mimics cursor behavior, offering precision drawing, while USB mouse input provides a near-identical feel to the SNES experience.
In addition to Mario Paint, other SNES-era games within the Switch Online app, such as Mario’s Super Picross and Nobunaga’s Ambition, have also received updates for mouse support. These improvements are part of a broader push to modernize retro titles while keeping their core experiences intact.
Nintendo Switch has also rolled out new emulator features, including button remapping and CRT filter options, giving players more control over how they experience the SNES classics.
Nostalgia Meets New Sound: Full Soundtrack Available
To complement the release, Nintendo has launched the official Mario Paint soundtrack—featuring 19 nostalgic tracks—on the Nintendo Music app, accessible for free to all Switch Online users. The game’s quirky, MIDI-style tunes have long been beloved, and now players can relive them outside the game for the first time.
The fan reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Forums lit up with excitement, particularly around the mouse support and the hope this signals the return of other creativity-focused classics. One Reddit user posted:
“We’re in the creative renaissance of retro Nintendo bring on Mario Artist next!”
Across gaming platforms like ResetEra and GBAtemp, players have expressed admiration for Nintendo’s unexpected yet welcome attention to its artistic heritage.
With Mario Paint now part of the Switch Online lineup, Nintendo has not only revived a cult classic but also given it meaningful enhancements. The blend of nostalgia and functionality offers both longtime fans and new creators a fresh canvas to express themselves — pixel by pixel, beat by beat.
As Nintendo Switch continues to explore its retro archive, Mario Paint sets a hopeful precedent for what’s possible when classic creativity tools meet modern hardware.
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