Nintendo Switch Online Introduces New Icons Inspired by Retro Mario Titles

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can now access a limited-time set of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels-themed icons, including designs featuring Mario, Luigi, and Bowser's Brother, as part of the service's ongoing Mission and Rewards program, which encourages players to engage with the classic game library by offering exclusive avatar, icon, and background customization options, with the current Lost Levels icons available to unlock until August 5th.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can now unlock a new set of profile icons inspired by the classic Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, which will only be available for a limited time, following the pattern of previous exclusive avatar and icon offerings provided through the service's Mission and Rewards system that encourages players to engage with the available retro game library, allowing Nintendo Switch Online members to customize their profiles with the Lost Levels-themed icons by playing the corresponding title during the designated unlock period.

Originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2, the notoriously challenging game known in the West as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels was added to the Nintendo Switch Online NES library in 2019, preserving the core look and feel of the original Super Mario Bros. while presenting players with a more punishing experience that even seasoned veterans may struggle with, a stark contrast to the more accessible Mario sequel that was ultimately chosen for publication in North America, though the inclusion of The Lost Levels within the Switch Online retro game offerings now allows modern audiences to experience this infamously difficult entry in the iconic franchise.

According to the NSO Icons Alerts Twitter account, Nintendo Switch Online members can now unlock a new set of profile icons inspired by Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, featuring the iconic duo of Mario and Luigi, as well as the intriguing inclusion of the character known as Bowser's Brother, whose distinctive bluish hue has drawn positive feedback from fans, representing the latest in a series of limited-time Mario-themed avatar offerings made available through the service's unlockable icon system, further expanding the customization options for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers following the previous release of Mario vs. Donkey Kong-based icons.

Nintendo Switch Online members can now unlock a new set of profile icons inspired by the classic Super Mario Bros.:

The Lost Levels, including the following designs:

Mario

Luigi

Princess Peach

Bowser's Brother

Mushroom

Cloud

Bloopers

Piranha Plants

This latest addition to the service's exclusive icon offerings allows players to customize their Nintendo accounts with nostalgic imagery from the infamously challenging entry in the iconic Mario franchise, providing a fresh set of retro-themed avatar options for Switch Online subscribers.

The Missions and Rewards system implemented by Nintendo Switch Online in 2022 has served to incentivize subscribers to engage with the service's classic game library, offering exclusive avatar, icon, and background customization options as rewards, including the recently introduced Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels-themed icons. This system not only promotes newly added retro titles on the platform, but also requires players to first experience the corresponding games before being able to purchase the associated icons, further encouraging exploration of Nintendo's growing catalog of NES and SNES games available through the Switch Online subscription, ensuring greater exposure and participation in the classic gaming content provided.

Though some may view the Nintendo Switch Online Missions and Rewards system as merely a novelty, it holds significant potential beyond its promotional capabilities for the service's classic game library. By offering exclusive, time-limited avatar, icon, and background customization options as tangible rewards for player engagement, the system provides a sense of achievement and trophy-like distinction for subscribers. With many more titles potentially joining the Nintendo Switch Online catalog in the future, fans eagerly anticipate the possibility of unlocking graphics and icons featuring their favorite characters from beloved games, an opportunity that Nintendo would be wise to explore, further incentivizing players to immerse themselves in the growing collection of retro gaming content available through the subscription service.