On the eShop, the official Super Mario Bros. you can buy outright is the Arcade Archives: Vs. Super Mario Bros. There is no standalone NES version of Super Mario Bros. for permanent purchase on the Switch. The NES version is exclusively available through the Nintendo Switch Online service as part of the NES app (which cannot be bought separately). So, if you search “Super Mario Bros.” on the eShop and see a $7.99 option, that is the arcade version, not the NES original.
"Super Mario Bros." is a legendary platformer developed and published by Nintendo. It was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 and has since become one of the most iconic video games of all time. The game follows Mario, a plumber, as he navigates through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The game is known for its tight gameplay, charming graphics, and memorable music.
Pick Super Mario Bros. (NSP eShop) if:
| Feature | Arcade Archives (Vs. SMB) | Super Mario Bros. NSP (eShop) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Difficulty | Extremely Hard (Arcade) | Moderate (NES Classic) | | Price | $7.99 | $4.99 (or free w/ NSO) | | Save States | No (but has password feature) | No (standalone); Yes (NSO app) | | Online Leaderboards | Yes | No | | Screen Filters | Yes (CRT, scanlines, bezels) | No | | Input Lag | Very low (~2-3 frames) | Moderate (~3-4 frames) | | Multiplayer | Alternating (high score battle) | Alternating (2-player) | | Unique Content | DIP switches, Caravan Mode | The Minus World Glitch | arcade archives vs super mario bros nspeshop
For 90% of players, Nintendo Switch Online is the better value. You get Super Mario Bros., The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and hundreds of other games for less than the price of two Arcade Archives titles.
However, for the 10% who truly understand the difference between a home port and an arcade cabinet—the ones who want to see "INSERT COIN" flash on the screen and fight for every pixel—Arcade Archives: Vs. Super Mario Bros. is a fascinating historical artifact.
Just don't blame the game when you run out of lives at World 1-3. On the eShop, the official Super Mario Bros
Have you tried both versions? Do you prefer the quarter-crunching arcade or the cozy NES classic? Let me know in the comments below!
While both games share the same core mechanics, they are different versions of the original title. Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Switch Online NES library
is the faithful home console version most people remember. In contrast, Arcade Archives: VS. Super Mario Bros. Pick Super Mario Bros
is a modified arcade port specifically designed to be significantly harder to encourage more "coin insertion". Key Differences at a Glance Super Mario Bros. Arcade Archives: VS. Super Mario Bros. Availability Nintendo Switch Online subscription Individual eShop purchase Difficulty Standard / Original Expert-level ; redesigned for arcades All 32 original NES levels Mix of original and harder levels from The Lost Levels Standard placement Reduced supply ; fewer 1UP mushrooms and fire flowers Warp Zones Leads to Worlds 2, 3, 4, and 8 Modified to lead only as far as Rewind, save states, online play High Score & Caravan modes, online rankings Detailed Comparison
When browsing the Nintendo Switch eShop, two ways to play classic Super Mario Bros. stand out: the Arcade Archives version (from Hamster Corporation) and the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) NES app version (sometimes loosely referred to as the “NSP” eShop version). While both offer the original 1985 platformer, they are fundamentally different products with distinct strengths and weaknesses.