Every fact on this page applies to update 1.1.4, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Super Mario 3D All-Stars runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Super Mario 3D All-Stars runs
Super Mario 3D All-Stars plays on the Mac with two of its three games: Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Super Mario Galaxy is built for 32-bit ARM, which Apple silicon cannot run, so it stays out. No iPhone or iPad run has been made yet.
How it runs
The collection is packed as one app, as on the cartridge: the menu, Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine come out of one Pack as one iPhone app or one Mac app, and the menu starts the games inside it. They share one save folder.
On the Mac, the opening, the title and every tile with its movie work. Choosing Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Sunshine starts that game, and each game's Return to title brings you back to the menu.
- Super Mario 64 ran at 30 fps from the Mario head and the file select through a new file, Peach's letter and Lakitu, to the castle grounds and the walk to the castle. Memory there was about 0.64 GB.
- Super Mario Sunshine ran at 30 fps through the opening, the file select, a new file's plane scene and control at Delfino Airstrip. Memory there was about 0.95 GB.
Super Mario Galaxy's tile, artwork and soundtrack stay in the menu. Choosing its tile fades the screen and brings the title back. Super Mario Galaxy, the later stand-alone release, has its own page.
On iPhone and iPad, an app cannot start a new copy of itself. Switching from the menu to a game, or back, closes the app and leaves a notification; tapping it opens the app on the chosen game. Opening the app any other way starts the menu.
Bring update 1.1.4
Tested with update 1.1.4. Put it in the same folder as the base game before you Pack.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout for the menu. Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine are set to the 3D touch layout.
- In the menu, A starts the game shown and Right moves between tiles.
- In Super Mario 64, A closes text, B jumps and Y attacks. Plus starts at the Mario head.
- In Super Mario Sunshine, A talks and picks a file at the file select (stand under its block), B closes a talk, and Plus skips scenes.
- In either game, Minus opens the menu's pause page.
Good to know
- In Super Mario 64, a part of the game the iPhone app was not prepared for stops the app. The fix is to play that part in a Mac build of the Game first and Pack again.
- In Super Mario Sunshine, some point and line effects are drawn one pixel wide. Whether FLUDD's spray is one of them was not seen.
- nxnative's
--romfs separatepacking option does not work for this Game.
Known issues
- Super Mario Galaxy cannot run: it is built for 32-bit ARM, which Apple silicon cannot run. Its tile stays in the menu, and choosing it brings the title back.
- No iPhone or iPad run yet: the iPhone app builds and packs, but has not been played on a device.
- On iPhone and iPad, switching between the menu and a game closes the app, and a tap on a notification opens it again on the chosen game.
- In Super Mario 64 no course has been played through, and in Super Mario Sunshine FLUDD was not reached.
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/super-mario-3d-all-stars -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Super Mario 3D All-Stars work with nxnative?
Yes. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is tested with nxnative on update 1.1.4.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Super Mario 3D All-Stars?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.2.
Is Super Mario 3D All-Stars included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Super Mario 3D All-Stars from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Super Mario 3D All-Stars?
Online play in Super Mario 3D All-Stars is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
