New Super Mario Bros. Wii

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a side-scrolling Super Mario game for the Wii and the twelfth game in the Super Mario series. The game was released in Oceania on November 12, in North America on November 15, in Europe on November 20, and in Japan on December 3, 2009; it is the first main series game to be released first in the Oceanian regions, and the first and currently the only Super Mario platformer to be originally released outside Japan or America. It is a follow-up to the 2006 Nintendo DS game New Super Mario Bros.

In addition to the single-player experience, New Super Mario Bros. Wii also features a multiplayer mode for up to four players. This is the first Super Mario game to feature co-op and vs. modes at the same time since Mario Bros. It features more items, new levels, and more enemies than the DS predecessor. It is also the first title to support Nintendo's new Super Guide mode. The game introduces two new power-ups, the Propeller Mushroom and the Penguin Suit, which turn characters into their propeller and penguin forms, respectively.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first 2D platformer Super Mario title to hit a home console since Super Mario World for the SNES (released 19 years prior). To date, the game has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling Wii game overall and the second best-selling Super Mario game on the system, after Mario Kart Wii. New Super Mario Bros. Wii received two follow-ups in 2012: New Super Mario Bros. 2, a direct sequel to New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS, and New Super Mario Bros. U, a direct sequel to this game as a launch title for the Wii U.

This is the first of two games released outside of Japan and South Korea to feature a different-colored game box, the second being the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The box for New Super Mario Bros. Wii is red, as opposed to most other Wii games with a white box.

Story
Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad are celebrating Princess Peach's birthday, when a huge cake slides in. Immediately, Bowser Jr. (who masterminded the plot to infiltrate via the birthday cake ) and the Koopalings jump out and throw the cake on top of Peach and the Toads, trapping her inside and leaving the Toads stunned. From there, the villains load her onto their airship while Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad follow closely. The Toads from the castle soon use a cannon to blast away presents containing Propeller Mushrooms and Penguin Suits so Mario and the others can obtain them, but they explode in the air and spread the items in nine worlds.

Throughout the chase, Mario and co. battle the Koopalings in their fortresses, followed by in their castles. Afterward, Bowser Jr. flies in the airship with Peach stuck in it, though during two occasions, the airship leaves without Bowser Jr., allowing the Mario Bros. and Toads to chase after him. When the gang defeats Bowser Jr. in World 8, Magikoopa appears and takes Peach away, taking her to Bowser's Castle and locking her in a cage.

When Mario and the gang finally get to Bowser's Castle, they find Bowser. One of them has to jump on a ! Switch behind Bowser to defeat him, sending him falling into the lava below. After Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad celebrate their victory, they see Princess Peach crying in a cage. However, she actually turns out to be Magikoopa disguised as her. Magikoopa then powers Bowser up, making him giant. After Bowser has been powered up, the four can do nothing but flee from the giant boss. Soon they find a dead end with a huge ! Switch, and the real Princess Peach in a cage above them. They push it, and Bowser falls through the floor in final defeat as the princess is released from her cage. As Mario and Peach venture out, they see Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad arrive in their hot air balloons. Luigi lets Mario and Peach into his balloon but is accidentally left behind. Yellow Toad and Blue Toad then offer Luigi a ride in their balloon. As they sail off, Peach asks Mario if she told him about the secret world. If the player beats the level again, Peach will ask Mario to tell her about his adventure again.

In a post-credits scene, Larry Koopa is seen limping toward Bowser's Castle. As he collapses, Bowser Jr. walks up to him and shows him the rest of the Koopalings trying to push Bowser, who is back to normal, right side up. They finally succeed and celebrate, but the castle begins to fall on top of them before Bowser is heard groaning as the screen cuts to black.

Gameplay features
The gameplay of the game is mostly based on its DS predecessor. The story mode of the game can be played in either single-player mode or multiplayer cooperative mode. Players can be freely added and removed in between levels on the world map. The camera pans as players move, and it zooms in and out depending on their distance to one another. However, there is a limit, and players who are far behind lose a life.

After players clear World 1-3 for the first time, a Toad runs up and tells the heroes that Bowser Jr. ordered his minions to stuff Toads they capture into ? Blocks. If the level was cleared in single-player mode, a Goomba then appears and carries the Toad to a ? Block in World 1-1, where the player must carry him to the goal. Toads can be rescued only in single-player mode.

When a player loses a life in multiplayer, they reappear inside a bubble. The player inside the bubble can shake the Wii Remote to bring themselves closer to the other players that are currently not in a bubble. Bubbles can burst only when a player not in a bubble comes in contact with the bubble or throws a fireball, ice ball, shell, or frozen enemy at the bubble. A player can place themselves in a bubble purposefully without losing a life by pressing the button on the Wii Remote or the  button on the Nunchuk if it is connected. The player inside the bubble cannot be harmed by anything and retains their previous form. However, if everyone has lost all their lives, or if someone loses a life and everyone else is in a bubble, then all players have to restart the level from the beginning or the midway point if the players touched it on a prior attempt. The players in bubbles return to their normal forms but do not lose any lives.

When one player grabs the pole at the end of the level, the timer stops and the other players would have three seconds to grab the pole before the level ends. If they do not make it in time, the level still ends; however, there is no penalty to the players left behind other than the lost opportunity for points or a 1-Up by grabbing the pole.

Players play the game by holding the Wii Remote sideways or by using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination. If a player tilts the Wii Remote, certain actions can be performed, such as changing the direction of a light or tilting special platforms when they have been activated. Players can activate these by standing on them; the color and the symbol of the character on the platform determine who is controlling them.

Shaking the Wii Remote activates the Spin Jump, as seen in Super Mario World. Players can carry objects such as frozen enemies and barrels by ( with the Nunchuk) and shaking the Wii Remote near the object.

It is possible to ride on Yoshi as well. In addition to his usual ability to consume most enemies, he can retain many different objects in the game in his mouth, including hammers, fireballs, ice balls, shells, Toads, power-ups, and other players. Yoshi can also use his Flutter Jump, a move first introduced in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Similar to in Super Mario World, Yoshi can eat five apples in a course to produce an egg with a power-up or 1-Up. Yoshi cannot be harmed by sharp objects and enemies such as Spinies and Piranha Plants as long as he lands on them. Yoshi(s) brought to the end of the course must be abandoned, and therefore there are only certain levels in which players can ride Yoshis.

Enemy Courses return from Super Mario Bros. 3, as well as Toad Houses; items obtained are stored in an inventory that can be accessed with the button ( button with the Nunchuk) on the map screen. Unlike in New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World, there is no spare item box, so players cannot activate items during levels. Pressing on the map allows the player to go to any previously visited world.

Up to five stars can appear on a player's profile. The first appears after the player has beaten Bowser for the first time (using any method), the second appears when all levels in the first eight worlds (except Warp Cannons/Pipes and Toad Houses) have been beaten, the third appears if all Star Coins from Worlds 1 to 8 are obtained, the fourth appears when all Star Coins in World 9 have been obtained, and the fifth appears once the player has beaten every level (including Warp Cannons, etc.) and has collected every Star Coin. The stars shine if the Super Guide block did not appear at all during the game, even if it is not used when it appears.

Super Guide
Debuting in this game, the Super Guide provides players assistance to clear levels. When the player has failed to pass a level at least eight times in single player, a green box appears at the start of the level or at the checkpoint. When the player hits the green box, the level restarts in autopilot mode: A computer-controlled Luigi plays the level on his own. The Super Guide shows the player how to beat the level, but it does not use shortcuts, take damage, or reveal secrets. While the Super Guide is running, the player can press the button on the Wii Remote at any time to take control back; the game starts exactly where the Super Guide left off. Once the player has taken control back, they cannot turn it back on in the middle of the level. Even when the Super Guide assistance is used, the level is still considered complete, though it is now marked red, and any stars on the profile do not shine. If the player takes over, they continue to play as Luigi rather than Mario. Losing a life as Luigi allows the player to control Mario again, without losing a life.

Free-for-all
Free-for-all is a multiplayer-only mode that is selectable from the game's main menu. Every course from the main game is selectable in this mode, although the worlds have to be beaten once in the main game in order to play them in Free-for-all. This mode is very similar to the main game, but there are no midway points, and on the end of a level, the number of points each character got is seen. However, unlike in Coin Battle, the character does not say a "happy" phrase after winning, and the number of times each player won is also not seen. Additionally, if all of the players manage to get to the pole, the level is marked on the level-selection menu with a gold frame, and the words "TEAM FINISH!" is seen for about a second. If not all players manage to reach the pole, it is marked with a silver frame and the word "CLEAR!" is seen instead.
 * Names in other languages

Controls
When playing on a Wii or Wii U, the game requires a Wii Remote by itself horizontally or attached to the Nunchuk. The controller for the has a more conventional layout and lacks the same motion-sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote. To compensate, actions that originally involved shaking the Wii Remote are performed by pressing the trigger or bumper buttons.

Levels
The game has nine worlds with a world map similar to the one in New Super Mario Bros. There still are Toad Houses, towers, castles, Warp Cannons, Warp Pipes (in World 2 and World 6), vines (in World 7), and horizontal "platform" Pipes (in World 6). Enemies also patrol the map screen. If the enemies come in contact with players, they must play an Enemy Course. Players must collect eight Toad balloons to make a chest with a Toad trapped in it appear. If the Toad is saved, three Super Mushrooms are rewarded. Each Enemy Course is different in each world. The layout of the worlds (either horizontally or vertically) alternates among the worlds, with the odd-numbered worlds, Worlds 1, 3, 5, and 7, all going in a horizontal left-to-right direction, and the even-numbered worlds, Worlds 2, 4, 6, and 8, all going in a vertical down-to-up direction.

There are 77 courses in the main game, 14 of which have secret exits, bringing the total number of exits to 91. Kidnapped Toads are sometimes hidden in previously beaten levels in single-player mode. If the Toad is carried to the level exit without being damaged, Mario is rewarded with three 1-Ups. However, only one 1-Up is rewarded to Mario if the Toad took damage before reaching the goal. Additionally, when Toad is saved, the "Course Clear" theme from Super Mario Bros. is played instead of the normal one, fireworks go off, and a Toad House opens at the starting point of the world. The type of house that appears depends on the last digit in the level timer when Toad and/or Mario touch(es) the pole. If the Toad is damaged twice, it is defeated, and Mario cannot bring it to the goal anymore.

Captured Toads appear only in the following levels: Other than the game's main campaign, which can be played with up to four players, New Super Mario Bros. Wii offers special multiplayer challenges. Those challenges have some levels taken from the campaign and some newly created levels. There is a Free for All mode and a Coin Battle mode. The Free for All mode has players competing for a high score, while the Coin Battle mode has them competing for the most collected coins in the level.

World 9 is unlocked after completing the game. There are eight stages in that world, and each stage is unlocked by collecting all the Star Coins in each of the preceding eight worlds.

Worlds
The world names originate from the game's Prima guide.

Bosses
This game is the first game to feature the Koopalings in their new 3D models. This is also the only 2D Super Mario game to have both tower and castle bosses be a Koopaling.

Staff
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development developed the game, with the director being Shigeyuki Asuke and the producers being Takashi Tezuka and Hiroyuki Kimura.

Development
As demonstrated by development information for various games, Shigeru Miyamoto had been struggling to add multiplayer to Super Mario games for a long time. He tried to experiment with multiplayer aspects at the start of most of his Super Mario projects, as can be seen in prerelease screenshots of games such as Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros.: different multiplayer aspects were evidently intended for both of those games during early stages of development. When the experiments with multiplayer failed to come to fruition, in part due to technical limitations, the developers refocused on what they were used to, single-player; for both of the aforementioned games, multiplayer was put on the back-burner and was only used in in-engine side modes and unrelated minigames. The Wii's hardware allowed Miyamoto to ensure that the game could process all loaded items and enemies at once, and have the camera focus on all players.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was developed as the flagship title for Super Guide. This feature first surfaced as a June 30, 2008 patent for a "Kind Code" with three demo play modes: Game, in which, when the player gets stuck during standard gameplay, they can view a walkthrough video that appears in the screen's top right corner; Digest, in which the player watches developer gameplay and can join the game at a particular point, but cannot save; and Scene Menu, in which players go directly to specific parts of the game without loading their games or watching the digest. Super Guide uses the Digest mode, and Hint Movies appear to use the Scene Menu mode.

Reception
The current Mario and Luigi voice actor, Charles Martinet originally stated that this game is his favorite Super Mario game of all time. His new favorite Super Mario game is Super Mario Maker.

Sales
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the 4th best-selling game on the Wii, having sold 30.32 million copies worldwide as of September 30, 2021.

Promotion


Trading cards were released to promote the game's release. They feature various characters, enemies, items, and levels from the game. Each booster pack contains four regular cards and one each of Tips & Tricks, Standee, Foil, and FunTats. A book published by titled New Super Mario Bros. Wii Intermediate / Advanced Piano Solos was released, containing sheet music for seventeen songs from the game.

Arcade adaptation
A Japan only arcade game developed by Capcom was released in 2011 called New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World.

Infinite coins
The player needs an Ice Flower in and get to the place with the large flip panel with a Climbing Koopa on it. Mario must stand on the front side, then jump to throw an Ice Ball at the Climbing Koopa. The player must hold the fence again and spin the flip panel as fast as possible. The Climbing Koopa freezes, falls to the ground and drops infinite coins.

Pre-release and unused content


During development, Princess Peach was planned to be a playable character. This idea was scrapped because the Toads better suited Mario's stature and the need for special programming to handle the physics of the dress. The development team wanted the game opening sequence to be more dramatic, causing a dispute between them and Shigeru Miyamoto.

In the game's E3 2009 trailer, it shows an early design of the motion-controlled platforms in World 7-4. They lack they indicator which shows the player in control of the platforms and do not make a sound when they travel on the tracks. The bottom of the platforms are also less round compared to the final design. The tracks feature a simpler design, being completely black with red endpoints instead.

References to other media

 * Donkey Kong: Broozers hit barrels when a player is near, rolling the barrel towards them, similar to Donkey Kong's ability to throw barrels in this game.
 * Mario Bros.: The POW Block reappears and has the same design as in Mario Bros. The POW Block can also be carried. The first underground Coin Battle area in also bears some resemblance to the Mario Bros. arena.
 * Super Mario Bros.: The secret "Level Clear" tune and fireworks are taken from this game. The first tunes from the overworld theme is played during the beginning of the Staff Roll. The overworld theme is once again used as a cover for the Toad Houses. The underground theme is used as a cover for the volcano underground theme. The ending fanfare is covered when Kamek and Princess Peach are rescued in addition to when Mario and Princess Peach leave Bowser's Castle. Near the beginning of the game, Bowser Jr. states in a letter that he ordered his minions to stuff every Toad they see into a ? Block, which might be a reference to the fact that Bowser transformed them into ? Blocks, according to the instruction book. Also, Roy Koopa's Castle has three way corridors, with only one being the correct path. This puzzle mimics the puzzles in World 4-4, World 7-4, and World 8-4. is nearly identical in layout to World 1-1 from this game.
 * Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels: World 2-4 features wind. The extended version of the ending fanfare can be heard exclusively when Bowser is defeated in multiplayer.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: The Penguin Suit is based on the suits in this game, mainly the Frog Suit. The Koopalings' battle theme is a cover and once again played when fighting against them. The Airship theme is a cover that plays on the Airships. The design on the Fortresses are based on the Fortress sprite in this game. Jellybeams resemble the in-game sprites of Jelectros. Stalking Piranha Plants resemble Ptooies whose behavior is largely given to River Piranha Plants. The Enemy Courses are similar to the levels when fighting against a Hammer Bro, Fire Bro, Boomerang Bro, or Sledge Bro and even use a cover of the song. Also, reserved power-ups can be used on the world maps. The game features an inventory window rather than a summonable item. This window can only be accessed from the overworld, reminiscent of that in Super Mario Bros 3. Most of the Koopalings are fought in the same kind of land they are, like in Super Mario Bros. 3. For example, Lemmy Koopa is in charge of the ice-themed world in both games, and Wendy O. Koopa is in charge of the water-themed world in both games. In addition, Power-up Panels is likely based on a card-matching minigame in this game. Artwork of Mario holding a Green Shell resembles promotional artwork of Raccoon Mario holding a Green Koopa Troopa from this game. Artwork of a Spike throwing a spiked ball resembles its promotional artwork from this game.
 * Super Nintendo Entertainment System: On the cover of the game disc (the side opposite with the part that reads the console), Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad are positioned in the same way that the buttons on the European and Japanese SNES controller are.
 * Super Mario World: The design on the Fortress-doors leading to the boss is noticeably similar. Yoshis reappear, along with the sound heard when mounting onto Yoshi and the drumbeat that is added to the music, similar to this game. Parts of the castle BGM can be heard in the castle levels. The sound effect that plays when the invincibility wears off is taken from the Switch Block when the activation is going to stop, as well as the sound that plays when the Super Star power-up runs out. A small portion of the fortress theme from this game can be heard in the castle theme, though it is incredibly short. The World 9 is similar to the Star World and the Special Zone. Also, World 3 has a switch that activates blocks to appear. This may be a reference to the Switch Palaces in Super Mario World, without having to go through a level. The Koopa Clown Car returns. World 4-Castle, whose boss is Wendy O. Koopa, features Skewers, much like #6 Wendy's Castle. River Piranha Plants resemble Jumping Piranha Plants. Jumbo Rays don ovalic goggles like Blurps and Dolphins. King Bills are shortened in length like the Banzai Bills from this game. Artwork of Mario jumping with a Green Yoshi resembles this game's box art. Artwork of Blue Toad riding a Pink Yoshi resembles promotional artwork of Yoshi eating a berry from this game. Artwork of Bowser resembles his promotional artwork from this game.
 * Donkey Kong Country: The animal buddy mechanics used in this game, are used on the Yoshis; players can only use Yoshi in certain levels, and they ditch him after clearing the level.
 * Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: Just before the main boss of the world, Kamek appears and flies all over the room, using his magic on the room and boss. Fake walls reappear. The room Kamek's battle takes place in is similar to the final room of King Bowser's Castle, containing autoscrolling blocks that can be transformed by s. Kamek turns Bowser into a giant for the final battle. Bubbles reappear to protect players from harm, as they did for Baby Mario. also makes a reappearance in several levels. The introduction to the castle boss theme is a shortened cover of the introduction to the boss theme from this game.
 * Super Mario 64: "Inside the Castle Walls" is played inside Peach's Castle. Also, when the mini-game Power-up Panels is lost (when the player gets two Bowser or Bowser Jr. cards), the short tune heard when trying to enter a locked door is played here. In the same vein, winning a Toad House mini-game plays an arrangement of the course clear fanfare. The fanfares for clearing a tower, castle, or airship are rearrangements of the "Koopa Clear" fanfare. The bassline of Bower's theme from this game is very similar to that of the outside volcano theme. When the player goes into a Warp Cannon or aims a cannon in 1-up Blast, cannon sounds from this game are heard. In both games, Chain Chomps are freed by Ground Pounding their posts three times. One Chain Chomp in World 7-2 may be freed to destroy a brick wall and uncover a Star Coin, which is reminiscent of how the Chain Chomp in Bob-omb Battlefield must be freed to uncover a jailed Power Star.
 * Mario Kart 64: About 30 seconds in the Rainbow Path, a cover from the Rainbow Road theme can be heard.
 * Super Mario Sunshine: When Iggy is hit during his second battle, the Big Chain Chomp pulling his carriage becomes enraged and glows red like the Chain Chomp in Pianta Village.
 * Mario Party 7: Luigi's artwork on the back of the Japanese cover art next to the Super Guide description is based on one of his artwork from this game.
 * New Super Mario Bros.: New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a follow-up to this game. Most of the songs are covers of songs from this game, such as the overworld theme (and subsequently the snow theme), course clear theme, athletic theme, P Switch theme, tower and castle boss clear themes (and subsequently the airship clear theme), and multiplayer results theme. The introduction to the airship boss theme is a rendition of the introduction to Bowser Jr.'s battle theme from this game. A portion of the melody that plays 22 seconds into this game's volcano theme is reused in the outside volcano theme. The tower themes in both games are very similar. Certain renditions of older tracks in this game, like the underground theme from Super Mario Bros. are covered. The Mini Mushroom returns. Some text in New Super Mario Bros. Wiis instruction manual is reused from its instruction manual (for example, the Blunders and Game Over section in New Super Mario Bros.s manual is reused in New Super Mario Bros. Wii's manual, except the word "whacked" is replaced with "clobbered"). Various pieces of promotional artwork are reused as are all eight world themes from this game. Vibrant-purple Poison returns in forest levels.
 * Yoshi's Island DS: Kamek turns Bowser into a giant for the final battle.
 * Super Mario Galaxy: During the Staff Roll, an outtake of a Princess Peach voiceover states that she will wait for Mario at the night of the Star Festival, but she is interrupted by Bowser. The 1-up sound effect from this game plays when the player gets a 1-up in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but only from the speakers of the Wii Remote. In World 9, multicolor star-shaped objects fall from the sky, like Star Bits. The Ice Flower returns from this game, but has a different function (in Super Mario Galaxy, Ice Mario can walk on liquid and in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he can throw ice balls). Some of the voice clips from this game are borrowed. Clampys make a reappearance. Bowser Jr.'s second battle is very similar to those of Topmaniac.
 * Mario Kart Wii: The character's icons are reused in the character selection screen.

References in later media

 * Super Mario Galaxy 2: The Checkpoint Flag appears in this game and it plays a similar role. The Cosmic Guide and the Tip Network are similar to the Super Guide and to the videos of the Peach's Castle. The function of the world maps are similar to those from this game. Bowser Jr.'s defeat voice clip is recycled.
 * Nintendo 3DS: This game's box artwork was used for the Nintendo 3DS demo at E3 2010.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns: The map screen has level pads that look highly similar to the ones from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The pads even use the same colors; red for a non-cleared level, and blue for a cleared level. Super Kong is the equivalent of the Super Guide. During 2 Player mode, if either Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong lose a life and the other one is still alive, the Kong that was defeated floats back inside a DK Barrel hanging from a balloon, similar to the bubble system in this game.
 * New Super Mario Bros. Mii: A very similar trial based on New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: Propeller Boxes are based on the Propeller Blocks in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Stars can be earned on the files of both games. Super Mario loses his hat when getting the maximum 1,110 lives (while Small Mario receives a hat) similar to how Mario loses his hat after gaining 99 lives. Also, Mario's voice clips are reused including, "Let's-a go!", "Here we go!", "It's-a go time!", and "Let's-a play!".
 * Mario Party 9: A lot of this game's content originated from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
 * StreetPass Mii Plaza: One of the Puzzle Swap panels in the StreetPass Mii Plaza app for the Nintendo 3DS is New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
 * New Super Mario Bros. 2: This game is a follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The music is reused in this game, with added vocals to the overworld and athletic themes, as well as vocal riffs "bah" included in the Tower, Castle and Ghost House themes. Stars can be earned on the file in both games.
 * New Super Mario Bros. U: This game is a sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii; many elements from this game return, such as Yellow Toad and Blue Toad, and the Propeller Mushrooms and Penguin Suits.
 * Yoshi's New Island: Bowser's model is very similar to the one used in this game.
 * Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: One of the planes in Sunshine Airport has a logo for Propeller Toad Transport with an insignia of a Propeller Mushroom.
 * Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: Various voice clips of the Koopalings are recycled in these games. Propeller Mario, Penguin Mario, and Big Urchin appear as trophies in the Wii U version.
 * Mario Party 10: Jumbo Rays and Foos appear, the former in the minigames Bouncy Brawl and Bubble Squabble, and the latter in the minigame Foo Me Once, respectively. Kamek's artwork is reused in box art. Some voice clips are recycled in this game.
 * Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition: The world and course designs are heavily similar to those of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Ice Mario and Penguin Mario appear in this game as Leaders.
 * Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash: Bowser Jr. uses his Junior Clown Car in the game.
 * Super Mario Maker: The fanfare for completing the easy 100 Mario Challenge in the New Super Mario Bros. U style is the fanfare that plays when rescuing Kamek in disguise.
 * Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Dry Bowser's theme is an arrangement of the final boss music from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Larry and Wendy's themes are arrangements of the castle boss theme, and the ground theme appears as an arrangement.
 * Mario Party: Star Rush: The castle and underwater themes appear as songs in the Rhythm Recital mode for this game, but the latter appears under New Super Mario Bros. U's name.
 * Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Some voices are recycled.
 * Mario Tennis Aces: Some of Bowser Jr.'s voice clips are recycled.
 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Bowser (Fighter Spirit), Peach (Fighter Spirit) Big Urchin, and Mechakoopa appear as spirits, using their artwork from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The Koopalings' voice clips are recycled once again.
 * Super Mario Maker 2: Toadette's cage in Meowser Showdown! resembles Princess Peach's cage. Roy and Ludwig's behaviors are similar to those from their castle battles. The Koopalings' icons in the parts menu are taken directly from their New Super Mario Bros. Wii artwork.
 * Mario Kart Tour: Penguin Luigi, Penguin Yellow Toad and Penguin Mario appear as playable characters.
 * Paper Mario: The Origami King: Yellow Toad's victory line and some of Bowser Jr.'s voices are recycled.
 * Mario Strikers: Battle League: Some of Bowser Jr.'s voice clips are recycled.
 * The Super Mario Bros. Movie: The hills and Mushroom Platforms surrounding Peach's Castle resemble those from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Two Bramballs appear in the scene where Mario meets Toad for the first time. Kamek dresses as Princess Peach during Bowser's practice of his proposal to her. Ice Peach also makes an appearance. The Ghost house theme is arranged in "The Darklands". A portion of the tower theme can be heard in various scores, such as "Imprisoned", "An Indecent Proposal", and "Grapple in the Big Apple".

Trivia

 * The save data reads "A 4-player Mario adventure!" in the British English version of the game.