The 1980s and 1990s witnessed a golden age for athletic sports games, with titles like Summer Games, Track & Field, Athlete Kings, and Virtua Athlete achieving immense popularity. However, this once-thriving genre has largely faded, with much debate surrounding the reasons for its decline—many speculate that a shift towards greater realism and away from a ‘mini-game’ feel contributed to its eventual disappearance.
Amidst this decline, one notable exception continues to attract attention and sell well: the Mario & Sonic series. Yet, even this celebrated franchise appears to be facing challenges. Its most recent installment, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for the Nintendo Switch, released in 2019, received positive reviews upon launch. But for those looking to purchase it, time is rapidly running out.
Reports indicate that the game has now been completely delisted from the eShop in several major markets, including Australia, Japan, and the United States. While it remains available in Europe at the time of writing, this move suggests a high likelihood that its digital availability will cease entirely across all regions very soon. (Existing owners who already possess the game can still redownload it from their purchase history.) Consequently, anyone wishing to experience Mario and Sonic’s vibrant take on the Olympic Games in the future will need to secure a physical copy.
It is highly improbable that further cartridges will be manufactured, making this a limited-time opportunity for collectors and fans. A quick check with major retailers confirms that copies are still obtainable—at least for the moment. If you want this game in your collection, now is the time to act.