Super Mario Galaxy remains one of the most beloved 3D platformers ever created, and its inclusion in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection on Nintendo Switch introduced the game to a new generation. With modern displays supporting higher refresh rates, many players wonder whether Mario’s cosmic adventure can be experienced at 120 frames per second. The short answer is no — Super Mario Galaxy does not natively support 120fps on any official platform.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Depending on how you play the game, there are ways to push the frame rate beyond its original limits. This guide covers everything you need to know about Super Mario Galaxy’s frame rate, why it’s locked where it is, and whether you can achieve 120fps through emulation or mods.
Official Frame Rates for Super Mario Galaxy
To understand whether 120fps is possible, it’s essential to know the game’s intended performance on each platform where it has been released.
Wii Original (2007)
The original Super Mario Galaxy on the Nintendo Wii targets 60 frames per second. However, due to the Wii’s limited hardware, the game occasionally dips below that target during particularly demanding scenes, such as those with many enemies or complex particle effects. While these drops are generally minor and rare, the Wii version never comes close to 120fps. The Wii’s maximum output is 480p at 60Hz, so even the console itself cannot output a 120Hz signal.
Nintendo Switch (Super Mario 3D All-Stars)
In the 2020 Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation, the game runs at a locked 60fps on Nintendo Switch, both in docked and handheld modes. This is a significant improvement over the original Wii release, as the frame rate remains consistent even during intense moments. The Switch’s display output tops out at 60Hz, meaning the hardware is not designed to deliver 120fps to a television or the built-in screen. Nintendo has not included a 120fps mode in any game on the standard Switch, and the Switch OLED model retains the same 60Hz panel. Therefore, Super Mario Galaxy will never officially support 120fps on Switch.
Nvidia Shield (China Exclusive)
An officially licensed version of Super Mario Galaxy was released for the Nvidia Shield in China in 2018. This port runs at 1080p and targets 60fps, similar to the Switch version. The Shield hardware is capable of 120Hz output via HDMI, but the game itself is capped at 60fps with no option to uncap it. Once again, 120fps is not officially supported.
Why 120fps Isn’t Supported on Official Hardware
Several technical and design factors prevent Super Mario Galaxy from running at 120fps on official platforms.
Console Limitations
The Nintendo Wii simply wasn’t built for high refresh rates. Its GPU and CPU were designed to output at 60Hz, and the games were coded with that ceiling in mind. The Nintendo Switch, while more powerful, does not support 120Hz output through its hardware. Even when docked, the Switch’s HDMI port follows the HDMI 1.4 specification, which theoretically could support 1080p at 120Hz, but Nintendo’s software stack and system firmware cap the refresh rate at 60Hz. The handheld screen is a standard 60Hz LCD, so even if the game ran at 120fps internally, you wouldn’t see the benefit.
Game Engine and Physics Ties
Many games from the Wii era tied their physics and game logic directly to the frame rate. While Super Mario Galaxy was developed with a 60fps target in mind, simply uncapping the frame rate to 120fps could break the game’s mechanics. Animations, movement speeds, and collision detection may behave erratically when the game runs twice as fast as intended. Without significant reworking of the engine, a 120fps mode isn’t feasible on official hardware.
Artistic Intent
Nintendo’s developers designed Super Mario Galaxy with a consistent 60fps experience as the gold standard for fluid platforming. The team prioritized a stable frame rate over pushing for higher numbers, and that philosophy likely extends to their decision not to implement 120fps support even on more powerful platforms like the Switch. The game’s timeless art style doesn’t necessarily benefit from the slight motion clarity improvement that 120fps provides, so there’s little incentive to overhaul it.
Can You Play Super Mario Galaxy at 120fps Through Emulation?
Emulation opens up possibilities that official hardware cannot match. Using a powerful PC and the right software, you can run Super Mario Galaxy at 120fps — but it requires some tinkering.
Dolphin Emulator and 120fps Hacks
The Dolphin emulator is the go-to method for playing Wii games on PC. By default, Dolphin runs games at their original target frame rate, but with community-created codes and patches, you can uncap the frame rate. For Super Mario Galaxy, specific Action Replay or Gecko codes exist that disable the internal 60fps lock and allow the game to run as fast as your hardware can push it. However, these codes are not perfect. Since the game’s physics are tied to frame rate, running at 120fps without compensating for the speed increase often results in a game that plays twice as fast. Separate patches are needed to adjust game speed and physics to match the higher frame rate, and even then, bugs can occur. As of now, there is no universally stable 120fps hack for Super Mario Galaxy that preserves the original gameplay feel. The modding community continues to work on it, but it’s a complex task.
Hardware Requirements
Running Super Mario Galaxy at 120fps in Dolphin demands a modern CPU with strong single-thread performance and a dedicated GPU. You’ll also need a monitor that supports at least 120Hz refresh rate. Even with top-tier hardware, maintaining a locked 120fps throughout the entire game can be challenging due to the emulator’s overhead and the game’s occasional CPU-intensive moments.
Modding Super Mario Galaxy for 120fps
Beyond emulation, some players hope to mod the official Switch version of Super Mario Galaxy to run at 120fps. However, this is currently impossible. The Switch’s system software and hardware cap the display output at 60Hz, and no homebrew solution has successfully bypassed that limit for retail games. Even if a frame rate uncapping patch existed, the physical display limitations of the Switch would prevent you from seeing more than 60 frames per second. Modders have focused on other enhancements, such as texture packs and custom levels, rather than frame rate unlocking.
For the Wii original, hardware modifications like overclocking the console are theoretically possible but impractical. The Wii’s video encoder is hardwired to 60Hz, so outputting a 120Hz signal would require extreme modifications that are not worth the effort.
Will Mario Galaxy Ever Officially Support 120fps?
It’s highly unlikely that Nintendo will ever release an official update adding 120fps support to Super Mario Galaxy. The Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection was a limited-time release with no post-launch updates that added major features. Nintendo has moved on to other projects, and the Switch successor (if it supports higher refresh rates) might see 120fps modes in future games, but retroactive updates for older titles are rare. Even if a more powerful Nintendo console emerges, the effort to re-engineer Super Mario Galaxy for 120fps would likely be deemed unnecessary given the game’s age and the niche appeal of high frame rates in platformers.
For now, the best way to experience Super Mario Galaxy is at its intended 60fps, which is already a smooth and responsive way to play this classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Super Mario Galaxy 60fps?
Yes, Super Mario Galaxy runs at a stable 60fps on the Nintendo Switch via the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. The original Wii version targets 60fps but may experience occasional drops.
Does the Switch support 120fps?
No, the Nintendo Switch does not support 120Hz output. The console’s hardware and software are capped at 60Hz for both the built-in display and external TVs.
Can I force 120fps on the Wii version with a mod?
Not on original hardware. The Wii’s video output is limited to 60Hz, and no practical mod exists to increase it. Emulation on a PC is the only way to achieve higher frame rates.
Is a 120fps patch for Dolphin stable?
Not yet. Existing patches can uncap the frame rate, but they often cause game speed and physics issues. The community continues to refine them, but a fully stable 120fps experience is not currently available.
Will the next Nintendo console support 120fps for older games?
There is no official information on this. While a more powerful system could theoretically run games at higher frame rates, Nintendo typically focuses on new titles rather than retroactive enhancements for legacy games. It’s best to keep expectations in check.
Why do some people want 120fps in a platformer?
A higher frame rate reduces motion blur and input lag, making fast-paced platforming feel even more responsive. For competitive gaming, 120fps and beyond are highly valued. For a single-player game like Super Mario Galaxy, the benefits are less critical, but enthusiasts enjoy pushing games to their limits.
