Nintendo’s creative cult classic is back, and it’s not just for nostalgia. With mouse support now live, the Switch 2’s future as a precision gaming platform just got more interesting, because Nintendo has officially added Mario Paint to the Super Nintendo Classics library on Nintendo Switch Online, making the 1992 creative suite available to both Switch 1 and Switch 2 users. The game supports mouse input, either through a USB mouse on the original Switch or via Joy-Con 2’s motion-based mouse mode on Switch 2.
What is Mario Paint?
Originally bundled with the SNES Mouse, Mario Paint lets players:
- Draw pixel art using stamps, shapes, and freehand tools
- Animate short sequences with frame-by-frame editing
- Compose music using a quirky soundboard featuring dogs, cats, and Mario heads
- Play mini-games, including the iconic fly-swatting challenge
The Switch Online version includes four save slots, letting users preserve multiple creations or revisit unfinished projects.
How to play with a mouse
- Switch 1: Plug in any compatible USB mouse to the dock or USB-C adapter
- Switch 2: Use Joy-Con 2 in “mouse mode,” which mimics pointer movement via motion controls, or connect a USB mouse to the console
This marks the first time Nintendo has enabled native mouse support across both console generations, and it’s already sparking speculation about future applications.
Could Switch 2 support real mice in the future?
While Joy-Con 2’s motion mode is clever, it’s not quite the same as using a physical mouse. But with Mario Paint now live and USB mouse support already baked into Switch 1, it’s easy to imagine Nintendo enabling direct mouse input on Switch 2 down the line, especially for:
- First-person shooters, where precision aiming is key
- Real-time strategy games, like Civilization or StarCraft
- Creative apps, including drawing tools or level editors
If Nintendo expands mouse support beyond retro titles or specific ones like Metroid Prime 4, Switch 2 could become a hybrid powerhouse, offering console comfort with PC-like control, which some might say the mouse function in the Joy-Cons already does, but it gets really uncomfortable after a little while to play heavy FPS games like that.
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