Polygon Argues Mario Paint Deserves a Modern Reboot on Switch 2
An editorial suggests the 1990s creative suite is a forgotten spinoff ripe for a revival on Nintendo's next console.
Nintendo's next console could be the perfect home for a revival of one of the Super Nintendo's most unique creative tools. Polygon has published an editorial arguing that Mario Paint deserves a modern reboot on the rumored "Switch 2," positioning the title as a missed opportunity in the Mario spinoff ecosystem.
The original Mario Paint, developed by Nintendo R&D1 and Intelligent Systems, was a departure from traditional gaming that focused entirely on user-generated content. Rather than navigating levels, players used a drawing tool, an animation tool, and a music composer to create digital art and simple melodies. To facilitate this, the software was designed for use with the SNES Mouse, a specialized peripheral that provided the precision necessary for digital illustration—a rarity for console gaming at the time.
A Legacy of Creativity
Released in Japan in 1992 and North America in 1993, Mario Paint became a cult favorite by transforming the console into a workstation. While Nintendo has since released various creative tools across its hardware lines, the specific Mario Paint brand has remained absent from the company's modern lineup. This stands in stark contrast to other Mario spinoffs, such as Mario Kart and Mario Party, which have evolved into massive, multi-generational franchises with constant iterations.
The Case for a Revival
According to Polygon, Mario Paint is a "forgotten" spinoff that could blossom into something significantly larger if brought back today. A reboot would align with the current industry shift toward "cozy" games and creative sandboxes, where players prioritize expression over competition. Furthermore, the evolution of hardware makes a revival technically viable; the popularity of touch-screen and stylus inputs seen in the DS and 3DS lines mirrors the precision once offered by the SNES Mouse.
Future Outlook
Whether Nintendo will act on this potential remains unconfirmed, as the company has not officially detailed its plans for the next console. However, a modernized version of the software could theoretically bridge the gap between nostalgic adults who grew up with the SNES and a new generation of digital artists. For now, the call for a reboot remains a community and editorial push to see if Nintendo is willing to revisit its early experiments in digital creativity.