Luigi’s Mansion has just arrived on Nintendo Switch Online’s GameCube Classics, perfectly timed for Halloween. Originally a launch title for the GameCube in 2001, it was an unexpected choice… It wasn’t a grand Mario platformer and didn’t have a familiar Bowser showdown, just Luigi, a vacuum cleaner, and a house full of ghosts. What started as a quirky experiment has since found its feet as a budding franchise built around Nintendo’s eternal understudy, giving the green plumber a well-earned spotlight of his own. For younger players, this NSO release might be their first real look at where Luigi’s ghost-hunting journey began. So, nearly twenty-five years later, is Luigi’s Mansion still worth playing in 2025?
If you can humour an old man for a moment, despite my brain injury, I still remember getting my Gamecube. Fresh out of high school, I had a one-week job working for my uncle’s construction company as a traffic controller. I desperately wanted a GameCube, so I spent the week under the harsh Australian sun on the Gold Coast, juggling parking meters when the builder would shout that the inspector was coming, all while dodging flak from frustrated motorists. After that short contract ended, I finally walked into EB Games and walked out with a GameCube, Rogue Squadron, and Luigi’s Mansion. At the time, I thought Luigi’s Mansion was a weird choice for a launch title. But Luigi was always my favourite Nintendo character, so I figured, why not? Little did I know it was the start of a game trilogy that would make Luigi a star in his own right and give players a haunted adventure full of charm and personality. Both the sequels brought something new to the franchise. Dark Moon on 3DS added more mansions and challenges, while Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Switch refined the formula with new mechanics and polished visuals.
But let’s head back to 2001… The GameCube itself was a huge leap over the N64, and the animations and lighting effects in the mansion immediately grabbed me. It was my first introduction to the “new generation” of gaming, and I was in awe. Luigi’s personality finally got to shine as a reluctant hero rather than just being “green Mario.” For me, this was the first time I really felt like we got to know the character. He was brought to life through clever animation featuring the smallest details: chittering teeth, nervously humming the title song while creeping through the darkened corridors, and every little squeak and startled jump. Those traits would be perfected in future games, further bringing Luigi to life, but here, Luigi was already stepping out of Mario’s shadow.
While the game was never genuinely scary, I love how it captures the ghostbusting feeling. Every room offers little puzzles and surprises, and the Poltergust 3000 still feels fantastic to wield while suctioning up ghosts. Characters like Professor E. Gadd keep the mood light with his eccentric inventions and humour, giving the mansion just the right balance of spooky and playful. It’s quite funny because this morning, I actually texted a mate to tell him I hoped the NSO release would live up to my rose-tinted nostalgia goggles. When it dropped at 11 a.m, I jumped straight in and I wasn’t disappointed. Sure, the graphics engine has aged, especially compared to Luigi’s Mansion 3 or the HD remake of Dark Moon, but within five minutes, I forgot all about that. I was fully invested in the haunted mansion again, and that’s a testament to how well the gameplay holds up even more than two decades later.
It’s no surprise that I was fully invested in the haunted mansion again. That level of engagement is largely due to the gameplay mechanics, which were thoughtfully designed from the start. The mix of light puzzles, ghostbusting action, and deliberate pacing keeps the experience satisfying even today. The game encourages exploration without ever feeling overwhelming. Every ghost encounter is a fun battle, and figuring out how to reveal a boss heart to capture them is rewarding. Even with its relatively short length, the game never feels rushed. The balance between solving puzzles, capturing ghosts, and uncovering secrets creates a rhythm that draws you in, making it easy to lose track of time as you wander through the mansion. It’s a design that proves Nintendo knew exactly how to make a haunted house adventure engaging without relying on pure scares or endless content.
It’s wonderful to see Luigi’s Mansion finally reach a new audience 25 years after its original release, completing the trilogy on Nintendo Switch 2. Luigi has long deserved his moment in the spotlight, and revisiting these games reminds us just how much personality and charm he brings to every haunted adventure. From his nervous quivers and humming to clever ghostbusting mechanics, Luigi shines as a character who is brave in his own unique way. The trilogy has grown beautifully over the years, where the sequels have refined the formula with polished visuals and playful new mechanics. Now, thanks to NSO, players old and new can enjoy the full series. While graphics may age, thoughtful gameplay, engaging characters, and clever design never do. For this Halloween or any time of year, the original Luigi’s Mansion still delivers fun, charm, and most importantly, heart. It’s joyous to see Luigi take centre stage again, and this NSO release opens the doors for a whole new generation to wander the haunted halls, discover his adventures, and fall in love with the game just as we did twenty-five years ago.
