Originally released in late 2005,Super Mario Strikersis a five-on-five soccer title created by Nintendo and Next Level Games. Each team is represented by a captain like Mario, Luigi, or Peach, three “sidekick” characters like Toad and Koopa, and a Kritter as the goalkeeper. Along with traditional soccer gameplay, players can alsocollect iconicMariofranchise power-ups like the Mushroomor Star to gain an advantage during a match.Super Mario Strikersalso holds the distinction of being the last game in theMariofranchise to be released on the GameCube in North America and Japan, as the Wii console was released the following year.
Super Mario Strikers Arrives On Nintendo Switch Online July 3
However, the popularity ofSuper Mario Strikershas drawn the attention of clones looking to capitalize on the franchise’s likeness. Back in January 2025,an Xbox title namedMariostro Strikers: Soccer Leaguewas briefly available on Microsoft’s storefront before being taken down days later. Along with the similar name, the game’s key art featured a character that bore a striking resemblance to Mario. It is unclear if Microsoft or Nintendo were responsible for the game’s removal from the Xbox Store.
Between the arrival ofSuper Mario Strikersand thelaunch ofSuper Mario Party Jamboree’s Switch 2 edition, July will be a busy month for Mario fans. It remains to be seen what surprises Nintendo has planned for the GameCube catalog.
