The Week In Games: Mario Brothers Of Days Past

Not one but two older entries into the Mario Bros. canon resurface this week, because in the world of video games what’s old is eternally new again. And I do hope you like new old games, because otherwise you’re out of luck.

In a test of just how many Nintendo fans will buy games they probably already owned for new platforms, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey arrive on Friday. The latter is an especially bold proposition since it’s only on 3DS.

I loved Inside Story when I originally played it on the DS, as I’ve loved almost all of the Mario & Luigi games. For anyone who already owns it and could just as well plop it back into their 3DS to boot up its decade old magic, Nintendo’s thrown in a Bowser Jr. side story to help sweeten the deal, similar to what the company did with Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions a couple years ago. With any luck, Nintendo will keep the 3DS kicking along in 2020 as well with the inevitable Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time + Princess Shroob’s Summer Vacation.

Here’s everything else coming out over the next couple weeks.

Monday, January 7

• Absolver | Xbox One

Tuesday, January 8

• Megalith | PS VR

• Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 | PC

Thursday, January 10

• Bury Me, My Love | Switch, PC

• Combat Core | Switch

• Double Cross | Switch, PC

• Inside My Radio | Switch

• Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes | Switch

• Overdriven Reloaded | Switch

• Snowboarding: The Next Phase | Switch

• Aftercharge | Xbox One

• Outrun | Switch

Friday, January 11

• Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition | PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

• Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey | 3DS

• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Switch

• Hive Jump | Xbox One

• Void Vikings | Xbox One

Coming Soon

Tuesday, January 15

• Onimusha: Warlords | PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

• The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 3: Broken Toys | PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

• Vane | PS4

• The Grand Tour Game | PS4

• Smoke and Sacrifice | PS4

Thursday, January 17

• YIIK: A Postmodern RPG | PS4, Switch, PC

• Build a Bridge! | Switch

• DYING: Reborn | Switch

• Feudal Alloy | Switch

• Holy Potatoes! We’re In Space?! | Switch

• Octahedron: Transfixed Edition | Switch

• The Office Quest | Switch

• The Shrouded Isle | Switch

Friday, January 18

• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown | PS4, Xbox One

• Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes | Switch