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Can two kids play Super Mario Galaxy on Switch? Player 2 helps, but doesn't run as Mario

Published 2026-11-04 · Facts checked 2026-11-04

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Short answer
  • Two can play, but player 2 doesn't control Mario. Nintendo lists one or two players on one console. The second player collects Star Bits and attacks enemies.
  • It works on Switch 2. Nintendo lists it as supported, and a free update lets player 2 use mouse controls.
  • If both kids want their own character, look at Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Nintendo lists up to four players on one console, and Nabbit and Yoshi don't take damage from enemies.
  • A Switch Lite needs one more controller. Nintendo's comparison page says the Lite doesn't come with Joy-Con.
  1. Galaxy fansSuper Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo Switch)Two games, one box
  2. Two runnersSuper Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo Switch)Everyone gets a character
  3. Switch Lite homesJoy-Con (L)/(R) (Nintendo Switch)For player 2
In this guide
  1. What does player 2 actually do?
  2. Is that a good fit for your kids?
  3. What if both kids want to play as a character?
  4. Does Galaxy work on Switch 2?
  5. What about a Switch Lite?
  6. How much space does it take?
  7. The picks
  8. Who can skip this
  9. Sources

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has been streaming on Peacock since July 30, 2026. If your kids have watched it a few times, the games it shares a name with are on Switch: Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, released together on October 2, 2025.

The question most parents hit next is whether two kids can play it together. They can, but not the way you might picture.

What does player 2 actually do?

Player 2 doesn't get their own Mario. Nintendo calls the two-player setup Co-Star Mode.

Nintendo's support page says a second player joins by sharing the Joy-Con, each one held sideways. You turn it on from the + menu.

Nintendo's store page describes the Switch 2 update this way: it lets a second player use mouse controls for collecting Star Bits and attacking enemies. Player 1 still does all the running and jumping.

Digital Chumps put it well in its review: it's "akin to playing a game with a smaller sibling."

Player 2 is the sidekick here.
Player 2 is the sidekick here.

Is that a good fit for your kids?

It depends on who's playing.

An older kid and a little one is the best match. The older kid plays Mario, and the younger one helps out without having to steer through the levels.

There's also an Assist Mode. Nintendo says it adds extra health and recovery from falls, and calls it a good option for beginners.

Two kids who both want to run and jump will likely argue over who gets to be Mario. For them, a game where each player gets a character is the better buy.

What if both kids want to play as a character?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the one to look at. Nintendo lists single system (1-4), so up to four players share one console.

Nintendo also says Nabbit and Yoshi don't take damage from enemies, and calls them perfect for players who are just starting out. A younger sibling can pick one of them and still run alongside everyone else.

It's a side-scrolling game, not a 3D one like Galaxy. Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2, with game behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch.

Does Galaxy work on Switch 2?

Yes. Nintendo lists both games as supported on Switch 2, with game behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch.

There's also a free update for Switch 2. Nintendo says it brings 4K visuals and the mouse controls for player 2.

What about a Switch Lite?

You'll need one more controller. Nintendo's comparison page says the Lite comes without Joy-Con, since its controls are built in.

The built-in controls cover player 1. Player 2 needs a controller of their own, and a pair of Joy-Con is the simplest one to get.

Get the original Joy-Con, not Joy-Con 2. Nintendo says Joy-Con 2 are only for use with the Switch 2, and its Joy-Con support page covers pairing them wirelessly to a Lite.

An original Switch and an OLED model come with a set of Joy-Con, per Nintendo. Those two can split the pair, and nobody needs to buy anything extra.

How much space does it take?

Nintendo lists 3.6GB for Super Mario Galaxy and 2.9GB for Super Mario Galaxy 2 if you download them. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is 3.7GB.

The picks

1Galaxy fans

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo Switch)

Two games, one box

Get this if your kids loved the movie, and one plays while the other helps.

Skip it if both kids want to run as a character at the same time.

Includes
Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2
Players
1-2 on one console
On Switch 2
Supported, per Nintendo

Nintendo's free Switch 2 update lets player 2 use mouse controls.

Find it on Amazon
2Two runners

Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo Switch)

Everyone gets a character

Get this if both kids want to play as a character at the same time.

Skip it if it's the Galaxy story from the movie they're after.

Players
1-4 on one console
On Switch 2
Supported, per Nintendo

Nintendo says Nabbit and Yoshi don't take damage from enemies.

Find it on Amazon
3Switch Lite homes

Joy-Con (L)/(R) (Nintendo Switch)

For player 2

Get this if the game will be played on a Switch Lite.

Skip it if you have an original Switch or an OLED model. They come with a set already.

Use
A controller for player 2
Not Joy-Con 2
Joy-Con 2 are only for Switch 2

Nintendo's comparison page says the Lite comes without Joy-Con.

Find it on Amazon

Who can skip this

If the kids want a game for three or four players at once, Galaxy isn't it. Nintendo lists one or two players on one console.

If your family has a Switch 2, an original Switch, or an OLED model, you don't need an extra controller for Co-Star Mode. The Joy-Con that came with the console can be shared.

Sources