Pre-Super Bowl Super Mario Galaxy Footage Nods to the 2000s–2010s Mario Kart Era, Plus a Retro Console Easter Egg
Nintendo dropped its Super Bowl Sunday preview of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie early, giving game fans a glimpse of new worlds and characters being introduced in the sequel to the 2023 box office smash.
Level up. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is only in theaters April 1. pic.twitter.com/74fkKVuVZF
— The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (@supermariomovie) February 6, 2026
In the never-before-seen footage, Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy), along with buddy Toad (Keegan Michael-Key), meet new friends and foes alike as their world of adventures alongside the Mario brothers goes intergalactic.
As Mario franchise fans got their teeth into the new clips and hunted for easter eggs, users quickly picked up on some easter eggs for long-time players.
One of the worlds Peach and Toad appear to visit is Neo Bowser City (named Koopa City in some international versions of the Mario games), a futuristic, Blade Runner-style metropolis, seemingly ruled by main boss Bowser.
Is that Neo Bowser City!? pic.twitter.com/1mtPSS5d5a
— Manimal (@Manimal1014) February 6, 2026
Neo Bowser City made its Mario franchise debut during the Star Cup in Mario Kart 7(2011). Later, it appeared as a retro track in also appears as a retro track inMario Kart 8(2014), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe(2017), and the mobile game Mario Kart Tour (2019).
THE N64 LOGO?!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Wgd8BhntQ7
— IceFire2104 (@IceFire2104) February 6, 2026
What's more, Neo Bowser City seems to showcase a pretty meta reference in another in-movie Easter egg. As fans on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out in the replies to the upcoming movie's official page, the Nintendo 64 logo flashes above a skyscraper above the city.
The Nintendo 64, for those unaware, is a much-loved and missed game console released by the company back in 1996 — meaning it celebrates its 30th anniversary the year of the new film's release, which may explain the nod.
The N64 had ten Mario games, namely the signature Super Mario 64(1996), Paper Mario (2000), Dr. Mario(2001), Mario Kart 64 (1996), as well as the Mario Party and Mario Golf and Mario Tennis franchise games. Additionally, the console carried spin-offs and related games such as Yoshi's Story(1997) and Super Smash Bros. (1999).
The launch of the N64 marked Mario's transition from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional character, and his successful venture into the 21st century helped affirm Mario, his friends, and his world as Nintendo's signature, rather than a mere fad during the popularization of modern video games. Will the logo mean anything more than just a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment? Gamers will have to see on April 1.