Mario Day, also called MAR10 Day or simply March 10, is here. This is the date for Celebrate Nintendo's iconic plumber. It's not your birthday or anything, but rather a random day on the calendar that looks like your name when spelled a certain way. You know, like Star Wars Day which falls on May 4th.
Still, Nintendo has been putting its corporate might behind the celebration since 2015, offering Mario-themed experiences in the company's official store, discounts on games, and various contests. Retailers have also followed suit in recent years, marking down Nintendo products to coincide with March 10. With that in mind, here are the best deals for MAR10 that might well provoke a “wahoo” or two.
You get a $25 gift card when you buy a new Switch using the coupon code nswoled25.
One of the biggest deals is for the Switch itself. There's no real discount on the console, but each purchase includes a $25 gift card from the retailer where you purchased it. Participating retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, Game stop and Aim and the promotion runs from March 10 to 16. This deal applies to the OLED Switch, the latest and greatest version of Nintendo's console, the original Switch, and the Switch Lite. It's the perfect way to catch up Metroid Dread, Super Mario Wonder and of course, The legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
There is an important caveat here. The Switch is on its way out, with a replacement likely arriving early next year, and we don't know how long Nintendo intends to support the original hybrid console after that. Still, Switch has a huge catalog worth exploring.
Speaking of that back catalogue, many retailers offer $20 discounts on several Nintendo games. These include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, Luigi's Mansion 3, and more. This reduces the price to $40 per game. There is also a cool package available that includes a tropical-themed Switch Lite and a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for $200, available at Target and Walmart. It's not part of the MAR10 festivities, but it's a good deal nonetheless.
The company has also doubled the free trial period for Nintendo Switch Online, from seven days to 14 days. This allows people to play online, as the name suggests, but also opens up their catalog of retro NES and SNES games. Switch owners have until March 17 to activate the trial, and it's even available to people who've tried the service in the past.
Finally, there are some real-world events for Nintendo fans. There's a meet and greet with Mario and Luigi at the Nintendo store in New York City, with lots of giveaways and a screening of The Super Mario Bros. movie GameStop will also hold in-person giveaways on March 16.
Continue @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget offers newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying tips.