Summary
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moonwas released on the 3DS in 2013, over a decade after the original game launched alongside the Nintendo GameCube. Due to such a large time gap between the two games,Dark Moonwas a sequelthat many fans weren’t expecting. Although the first game sold over three million copies and was received positively by both fans and critics, the subpar performance of the GameCube led many to believe that Nintendo wouldn’t experiment with the franchise again. In even more surprising news, it was announced in a Nintendo Direct earlier this year thatDark Moonwill be receiving an HD remaster for the Switch.
A two-minute trailer revealed in the September Nintendo Direct showcases the series' classic ghost-busting gameplay, as well as Luigi’s cowardly, yet heroic, personality. Most importantly, fans were able to catch a glimpse of how the 3DS game looks in high definition on the Nintendo Switch. The preview concluded with a tease of a release date, confirming that the game can be expected to launch sometime in the summer of 2024. Since there are only four installments in theLuigi’s Mansionfranchise (including a remake of the first game), it’s a little more difficult to predict the launch date, as there aren’t any concrete previous release patterns. However, a general window of September or October 2024 seems like a solid guess despite a Summer 2024 window being officially teased.
Breaking Down Previous Luigi’s Mansion Release Dates
MostLuigi’s Mansiontitles appear to launch around the fall. The firstLuigi’s Mansiongame was released on June 23, 2025, and the 3DS remake of that title was released around the same time, 17 years later. The most recent title,Luigi’s Mansion 3,was released on Halloween Day of 2019.Dark Moonwasreleased on the 3DS in March around ten years ago, however, and it seems likethe Nintendo Switch remake of the gameis also aiming to break the pattern of the franchise games launching in the fall. However, that plan might not work out.
It’s possible to narrow down the launch date for the remaster ofDark Moonby taking the alleged “Summer of 2024” release window with a grain of salt. By simply looking at previous Nintendo remake release dates, it’s clear that the season the company plans to release by doesn’t always align with the time the games actually do launch. For instance, the announcement trailer forThe Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3Dclaimed that the game was slated for release in the spring of 2015. Yet, the game launched within the first two weeks of February of that year, around a month earlier than Nintendo’s stated goal. While it may seem like a superficiality, it very well could mean that the HD remaster ofDark Mooncould follow the precedent set by mostLuigi’s Mansiontitles and be released sometime in September or October of next year, even if the suggested window says otherwise.
What Nintendo’s Future Of Remakes Could Mean For The Company
Nintendo has an extensive lineup of remastersset for the Switch in 2024, such as the GameCube’sPaper Mario: The Thousand Year Doorand the Game Boy Advance’sMario vs. Donkey Kong. Furthermore, a remake of the SNES classicSuper Mario RPGwasreleased earlier this November. This long list of remasters is important to note in the context of the plethora of rumors surrounding anew Nintendo console that could launch next year, as the company seems to be winding down on major blockbuster titles. The Switch seems to be aging like fine wine, however, as it is currently the third best-selling console of all time entering its seventh year on store shelves.Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moonwas well-received by fans and critics alike, and will compliment the large library of high-qualityMariogames that already exist on the hybrid console today. When Nintendo ports the game to the Switch, fans will be able to access the completeLuigi’s Mansiontrilogy in high-definition.
Luigi’s Mansion
WHERE TO PLAY
Luigi’s won a mansion! The bad news is that it’s crawling with ghosts…and Mario seems to be trapped inside… Luigi’s in for a spooktacular surprise as he creeps into the pitch-dark mansion he won, armed with only a flashlight and a vacuum custom-made for sucking up ghosts.Ghosts lurk in every nook and cranny. You’ll have to master the Poltergust 3000 to vacuum them all up! Jewels, coins and cash are hidden throughout the mansion—and finding it all will the worth your while… You’ll have to solve the mansion’s many mysteries to catch a gallery of quirky ghouls, such as the fire-belching Mr. Luggs.Deep inside the mansion hide elusive boss ghosts like Bogmire, each with ghastly powers and a ghostly bone to pick with Luigi! After collecting special medals, you’ll be able to shoot fire, water, and ice from your vacuum to unearth secrets and thwart extra-eerie ghosts!
