New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a great Mario game that builds on the classic side-scrolling formula and delivers one of the cleaner modern takes on traditional 2D Mario gameplay. The levels are colourful, the controls are excellent, and the overall presentation has the familiar polish you would expect from Nintendo.
The graphics are clean and beautiful, while the soundtrack and sound effects do a great job of bringing each stage to life. Most importantly, the controls feel spectacular, making running, jumping, and navigating through levels incredibly smooth and responsive.
The biggest drawback is the length of the main story. While the adventure is consistently enjoyable, it can feel short in terms of overall playtime, which hurts the value of what is otherwise a very polished Mario experience.
Graphics 9.0
The graphics in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe are very detailed, with sharp environments that give each world a clean and polished look. The bright colours and crisp presentation help the stages stand out while keeping the classic Mario style intact.
The character models are also nicely detailed and fit perfectly with the overall visual direction. There are a few smaller areas that could have used some extra tweaking or polish, but overall the game looks great and remains visually appealing throughout.
Gameplay 9.3
The gameplay in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is excellent. The controls feel incredibly smooth while still being snappy and responsive, making every jump, sprint, and movement feel precise. Whether you are navigating a difficult platforming section or simply racing through a stage, controlling Mario is an absolute joy.
The game also runs extremely well, which helps everything feel consistently polished and fluid. The different playable characters add another layer to the experience, giving players slightly different ways to approach stages and making the game more accessible for different skill levels.
Overall, the gameplay is easily one of the strongest parts of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. It takes the classic side-scrolling Mario formula, refines it, and delivers an experience that is simply a joy to play.
Audio 8.8
The audio in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is great overall and immediately feels like it belongs in a Mario game. The soundtrack has that familiar upbeat energy the series is known for, while the smaller sound effects—from jumping and collecting coins to defeating enemies—are spot on.
That said, it would have been nice to hear a little more variety throughout the adventure. The audio works extremely well, but experimenting with some new sounds or musical styles could have helped give this entry more of its own identity.
Value 7.8
The value is where New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe takes its biggest hit. The story itself is fun and charming, but the main campaign can be completed in roughly 9.5 hours, which feels a little too short for a full Mario adventure.
Adding New Super Luigi U brings the total closer to around 14 hours, while players aiming for 100% completion—including all Star Coins, secret exits, and additional challenges—can expect roughly 25 to 30 hours of gameplay.
There is definitely more content available for completionists, but the short length of the main story still makes the overall package feel somewhat limited. More stages or additional meaningful content would have helped the game feel like a stronger value.
Pros
- Clean, colourful graphics with sharp and detailed environments.
- Smooth, snappy controls that make the game feel excellent to play.
- Polished side-scrolling gameplay that stays responsive throughout.
- Great audio with classic Mario-style music and satisfying sound effects.
- Strong overall visual presentation with detailed characters and environments.
Cons
- The main story is too short and can be completed fairly quickly.
- The limited campaign length hurts the overall value.
- More stages or meaningful post-game content would have made the package feel more complete.
Verdict
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a fantastic side-scrolling Mario game that shines because of its smooth controls, polished gameplay, colourful graphics, and excellent audio. Every movement feels responsive, the different playable characters add variety, and the overall presentation has the level of quality you would expect from a Mario title.
The biggest issue is simply that the main adventure feels too short. While completionists can get more hours out of collecting everything and playing through New Super Luigi U, the core story ends sooner than we would have liked and that ultimately hurts the game's replayability.
Overall, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is an incredibly fun and polished platformer that is easy to recommend. It delivers excellent gameplay from beginning to end — we just wish there was more of it.