Skip to main content

There’s a secret character in ‘New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe’

How to Unlock Blue Toad in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

The Nintendo community has been collectively freaking out about “Peachette,” and the horrible fan art she has influenced, since New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe was announced last year, but it appeared that the Blue Toad character was cut as a result of the newcomers. However, this isn’t entirely accurate, as players have discovered a way he can be unlocked in the new game.

Recommended Videos

More New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Guides

As YouTube user BeardBear pointed out in a video posted shortly before New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe‘s release, you can still play as Blue Toad by selecting the standard Toad on the character selection screen and then pressing either the “L” or “ZL” buttons on your Switch controller. You can swap between the Yellow Toad and Blue Toad this way, though you shouldn’t see any difference in their performance.

According to BeardBear, this trick will also work with the New Super Luigi U add-on that’s bundled with the Switch game.

Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe includes all the content from the original Wii U game, but also adds the playable Toadette and Nabbit characters. The course design and tricky platforming you remember from the original are still here, and up to four people can enjoy it at one time. Since it can be played with just one Joy-Con controller, two people can play at the same time without needing to purchase any more controllers.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Different playable characters (if you don’t count a palette swap) were first added to the series in Super Mario Bros. 2, which featured Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. Each played differently, with Toad’s extra strength helping him grab objects more quickly, Luigi and Peach’s jumping abilities making them ideal for tricky gaps, and Mario’s all-around skills performing well in any situation. Since then, the differences between characters haven’t been quite as relevant in Mario platforming games, but that hasn’t stopped us from always choosing our favorite character.

If Mario games aren’t your thing, you’ll have another platformer to try out when Yoshi’s Crafted World launches on March 29. The game will support two-player cooperative play and is undeniably adorable, if you can get past the music.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Switch 2 vs. Switch OLED: is the new system a worthy upgrade?
A Switch 2 in its dock.

The Nintendo Switch 2 promises to be the future of Nintendo consoles with tons of upcoming Switch 2 games, new features, and better hardware. However, how different is this system from the newest and most expensive Switch model, the Switch OLED? The two don't look very different from the outside, and the new console is not going to be cheap, either. We already compared the Switch 2 vs. Switch and Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck to see how these systems stack up, but what about your precious OLED? There are a lot more factors than specs and screen types to consider when choosing between two systems so we have broken down all the important things you need to know to decide if the Switch 2 is a worthy upgrade.

Switch 2 vs. Switch OLED specs

Read more
I played 11 Nintendo Switch 2 games. Here’s what I thought of each
Bowser in Mario Kart World.

It's been a whirlwind week for Nintendo fans. On Wednesday, the company fully lifted the lid on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a perfectly executed Direct presentation. That moment of elation gave way to anxiety as players sorted through the console's controversial new pricing strategy. Then came complete panic as President Donald Trump's freshly announced tariffs on foreign imports caused Nintendo to postpone preorders for the system in the United States. You can't blame Nintendo fans for feeling a little stressed out right now.

The saving grace of all this is that the Switch 2 is still slated to launch on June 5 and it's bringing a ton of exciting games along with it. At a press event on Wednesday, I went hands-on with nearly a dozen Switch 2 games, from first-party heavy-hitters to Switch 2 Editions of old favorites. I've posted my impressions of several games throughout the week, but for the sake of ease, I'm rounding them all up in one place. Curious about just how good Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is? How does it feel to drive a wheelchair around with mouse controls? Is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour really worth a few bucks? You can find all those answers right here.

Read more
The Switch 2’s higher prices won’t hurt its chances at success, analysts say
Bowser in Mario Kart World.

The most controversial thing about Nintendo Switch 2 has been its price tag. While a Nintendo Switch console costs $300 and its first-party games are (typically) $60, the Switch 2 hikes that price way up. The console will cost $450, while games will range in price from $70 to $80 in the United States, depending on the game in question. Fans did not take kindly to the news when the prices were revealed following the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Is there a chance that those angry voices could hurt Nintendo's bottom line?

For insight, I consulted game industry analysts at firms like Omdia and Alinea Analytics. While there are certainly concerns over Switch 2 pricing certain people out of it, analysts still seem confident that the console and its games will perform well. They believe that Nintendo is pricing the console and the games its way because it knows its hardcore fans will still be interested in buying them at that price and want to remain financially conservative as we enter an unprecedented time with the United States' harsh new tariffs.

Read more